Hitting
Placeholder provides an ongoing clinic on how to hit .300. He works the count in his favor, waiting for his pitch or settling for a walk. He's still a singles hitter at heart, and knows how to shorten up and protect the plate with two strikes. Placeholder was a line-drive hitter when he first came up, but over the last few years has become more of a true home-run hitter, lofting more high flyballs. He hits righthanders and lefthanders with equal consistency. A spray hitter in the classic sense, Alton puts the ball all over the park.

Baserunning & Defense
He doesn't get good jumps on grounders, but his routes are fine and his hands aren't bad. He has a strong, accurate arm. Placeholder's speed is now average at best and he steals only infrequently.

2014 Outlook
Placeholder has impressed at the A-ball level. Look for the Chicago Windbags to give him a shot in Double or Triple A before the year is up.

          -- Ska Nyman, A-Ball Scout