Notice: Trying to get property 'display_name' of non-object in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/src/generators/schema/article.php on line 52
keyboard_arrow_uptop

 

Jake Arrieta, RHP, Orioles (Triple-A Norfolk): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K.

 I was recently having a discussion with a scout who had recently seen the Norfolk team, and I asked him who should be up in the big leagues first, Arrieta or Chris Tillman.  His answer? Both.  While unfortunately there's some service time management issues here, Arrieta, who now has a 1.93 ERA, and Tillman  both make the big league team better.  I'm still very optimistic about the Orioles' pitching staff of the future, I just don't know where the runs are going to come from.

Engel Beltre, OF, Rangers (High-A Bakersfield): 5-for-5, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI

Beltre's stock took a big hit last year after a bad year and a bit of bad behavior, but while he's repeating the Cal League, at 20 he's still one of the youngest players in the league, and the tools remain very impressive.  More importantly, there have been some clear adjustments, as he's walking more, striking out less, and as a result, finding more pitches to drive.  Batting .351/.393/.494 in May, there's some real progress here in a pitching-heavy system that could use some good news from the bats.

Ernesto Frieri, RHP, Padres (Triple-A Portland): SV (9), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

It might be too early to call for a sleeper alert, but keep an eye on this one.  Frieri has always had one of the better arsenals in the system, but as a starter he was effective, but highly inefficient, rarely getting into the late innings without racking up a high pitch count.  Converted to a closer role this year, he's low-90s fastball has ticked up a bit in shorter stints, and his power curve gives him a second true plus pitch.  He's still walking too many batters, with 12 in 18 innings, but the just six hits allowed and 27 strikeouts could land him in the big leagues this year.

Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-4, 2 HR (10), 2 R, 4 RBI.

Arguably the hottest bat in the minors, Moustakas is 11-for-20 with four home runs in his last five games, and batting .394/.468/.779 overall.  A revamped Top 101 prospects list would move him up considerably, as the scouts have always believed.  The Royals system overall is having a great year, and scouting was always seen as general manager Dayton Moore's strength, so give him some more time?  Maybe?

Others Of Note:

  • Lars Anderson, 1B, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-4, HR (2), R, RBI, K.  Had has some slumps since promotion, but power and patience are still there.
  • Darwin Barney, SS, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 3-for-5, 2 R.  Batting .402 in May and .313/.333/.406 overall, with Starlin Castro around, he has no chance of starting with the Cubs.
  • Reymond Fuentes, OF, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): Definitely a successful first-full year for '09 first-rounder; batting .279/.333/.442, showing improvements throughout the year and has 13 stolen bases without getting caught.
  • Chris Johnson, 3B, Astros (Triple-A Round Rock): 4-for-4, 3B, HR (2), 2 R, 4 RBI.  Just because he's not a gold glove defender doesn't mean he's not a better big league option than Pedro Feliz.
  • Ian Krol, LHP, Athletics (Low-A Kane County): 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 7 K.  Featured in Monday's Ten Pack; was perfect through five.
  • Rudy Owens, LHP, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.  Scouts continue to come around on him as a future No. 4 or 5 big league starter.
  • Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers (Low-A Hickory):  7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K.  You want inconsistent?  He's had three starts of six innings and zero or one run allowed.  In his other five starts, he has a 9.64 ERA.
  • Ben Revere, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SB.  7-for-14 in last three games and .301/.374/.368 overall.  More walks, and a bit of power.
  • Jerry Sands, OF/1B, Dodgers (Low-A Great Lakes): 2-for-3, HR (14), 2 R, RBI, K.  Now just one behind Mike Stanton for the overall home run lead, but also two years older and two levels lower.
  • Max Scherzer, RHP, Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K.  Still think he'll be fine in the end, but still not convinced that his best value might come out of the bullpen.
  • Kyle Skipworth, C, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI.  The significant steps forward continue.
  • Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, K.  On-base percentage is still the same of the batting average, but when that number is .361, it doesn't bother you so much.

Thank you for reading

This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.

Subscribe now
You need to be logged in to comment. Login or Subscribe
bflaff1
5/21
That's a nice outing for Scherzer. Since the big eyebrow raiser for him in Detroit was his decreased velocity, I wonder if you have any word on how hard he was throwing?
deadwings112
5/23
I'm not KG, but I heard 93-95 from friends at the game.
crperry13
5/21
Any hint on when Scherzer might be back up?
makewayhomer
5/21
Who gets up first - Wallace or Moutsakas? Who is more ready?
antoine6
5/21
Anything on Jon Singleton, young (18) 1st baseman currently tearing up Low-A for the Phillies? He just got put on the roster, but in a week of games he seems to be showing both power and plate discipline. Anything on him from scouts?
ramp101
5/21
a teeeeency bit excited about Kyle Skipworth
spundin
5/21
When does Sands get promoted to High A? This seems just ridiculous almost.
iorg34
5/21
Brett Jackson is a candidate for honorable mention, hitting his first homer in 134 ABs. He hit 7 bombs in 112 MWL at-bats last year. Appears to be managing his strikeout propensities and has been honing his plate discipline, currently at .321/.431/.448. Wondering if the power will come or if he's sacrificing power to fit a leadoff hitter profile.
lukejazz
5/21
Jackson is definitely proving his success last year wasn't a fluke. The power seems to be coming, as he's slugging .556 in his last ten games, and what is really a pleasure to see is his ability to hit LHP. Both Castro and now Vitters have really turned on the afterburners after promotion to Tennessee - I have to imagine Jackson is primed to do the same.
TGisriel
5/21
Following up on your comment that you don't know where the Orioles runs will come from - what are you hearing about Nolan Reimold at AAA? Is he showing that his early struggles this year were not an indication of his talent, or is he showing that last year's success was a fluke?
baserip4
5/21
Given his performance record in the minors, I don't think it is ever going to be fair to call his 2009 a fluke. I do, however, question how healthy he is after Achilles surgery that ended his 2009.
nils707
5/21
No Kyle Gibson honorable-mention? He's striking people out, inducing ground balls at a crazy rate and not walking batters. Really, this guy is dominating
chabels
5/23
7 IP, 6K, 4H, 1BB, 2R isn't a dominant performance in the least.
Peter7899
5/21
Would you see the Cubs non tendering both Fontenot and Baker next year with Barney being promoted to utility role? They also have Lee and LeMaheiu coming through that are up the middle.
blcartwright
5/22
I was at Rudy Owens start on Thursday, second time I've seen him this year. He pounds the strike zone for 70-75% strikes (66 of 92 in this game) with a fastball that sits at 90-90 and touches 92. As Kevin said, likely a bottom of the order starter, but on a team like the Pirates that can get you a fast promotion. Easily better than Brian Burres, probably as good or better than Zach Duke or Paul Maholm.
Schere
5/25
The Orioles runs are going to be buttressed, one hopes, by whatever they can get for Milwood, Guthrie, Ohman, Atkins (ha!), et al, at the deadline.