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

Lisalberto Bonilla, RHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K.

Your pitching line of the night might have come from a name you haven't heard before, but he's quickly becoming a big pop-up guy in the Sally League that has scouts lining up for another look. Moved to the rotation in early June, Bonilla features an average-to-plus fastball with natural sink, but his changeup is his best pitch, as a true plus offering with plenty of depth and fade. Limiting Sally League hitters to a .179 batting average, with an improved breaking ball, he'll continue to climb Phillies prospect lists.

Others Of Note:

  • Stetson Allie, RHP, Pirates (Short-season State College): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Best outing as pro; 13 IP, 13 H, 9 BB, 16 K in four starts.
  • Adrian Cardenas, UT, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 4-for-4, 2B, 3B, R. Hitting .320/.394/.427 in 76 games; has played 2B, 3B and LF, which might be what he does in the future as multi-positional bench player.
  • Michael Choice, OF, Stockton (High-A Stockton): 3-for-5, HR (22), R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 K. Home runs in five straight games have lifted slugging percentage 51 points; .272/.372/.551 overall.
  • Tony Cingrani, LHP, Reds (Rookie-level Billings): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. Third-round pick has eight whiffs over four shutout innings in first two pro games; pro body and big velocity from the left side.
  • Pat Corbin, LHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K. First career complete game and shutout; Lefty with plus command projects as back-end starter.
  • C.J. Cron, DH, Angels (Short-season Orem): 2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, K. First-round pick is too good for this level; on base 16 times in five games with .400/.516/.720 line.
  • Derek Deitrich, SS, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 1-for-3, HR (10), R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Three home runs in last two games and up to .275/.343/.468; dings are that he's old for the level and not really a shortstop.
  • Scooter Gennett, 2B, Brewers (Low-A Brevard County): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (5), 2 R, RBI, K. Hitting .317 in last 30 games and up to .281/.322/.373 overall.
  • Brandon Guyer, OF, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 4-for-4, 2 2B, 4 R, R, BB, SB. Has been slumping of late, but still hitting .316/.390/.513 overall in 76 games.
  • Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 3-for-3, RBI, SB. 5-for-10 in first three Eastern League games; still three-plus months away from turning 19.
  • Braulio Lara, LHP, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 12 K. Career-high in strikeouts for big-armed lefty with control issues (usually); 4.54 ERA in 16 starts.
  • Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 HR (17), 3 R, 4 RBI, BB. Hitting .260/.331/.487 on the season; has played shortstop primarily of late, but won't play there in the big leagues.
  • Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Angels (Short-season Orem): 10-for-16 in last three games and .357/.392/.543 in 15 games; profiles as offense-first second baseman.
  • Chris Martin, RHP, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Sleeper Alert! Six-foot-seven, 175 pound beanpole was signed out of indy leagues after years of shoulder problems; 92-94 mph fastball with good mid-to-upper 80s slider.
  • Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K. Lost no-hitter on home run in the seventh inning; 2.14 ERA on the season and 28 IP, 9 H, 5 BB, 33 K in last four starts.
  • Adrian Nieto, C, Nationals (Short-season Auburn): 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB, K. Over slot 2008 pick was all but off the radar but is having nice comeback year; .333/.397/.574 in 15 games.
  • Justin O'Conner, C, Rays (Rookie-level Princeton): 0-for-4, BB, 3 K. Biggest question about last year's first-rounder revolved around the bat; 7-for-50 (.140) with 23 Ks adding to the concerns.
  • Rafael Ortega, OF, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Hitting .333 in last ten games to up season line to .287/.322/.416; 20-year-old Venezuelan is small, but has tools.
  • Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Indians (High-A Kinston): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Arguably best outing of the year could be final Carolina League start; 1.87 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 77 innings.
  • Mel Rojas, OF, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 4-for-5, 3B, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Has made slow and steady progress throughout the year; still at just .260/.302/.341 in 78 games.
  • Jerry Sands, OF, Dodgers (Triple-A Albuquerque): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (13), 2 R, 5 RBI. 7-for-13 with 17 total bases in last three games; .404/.457/.831 line in home games at very friendly park.
  • Miguel Sano, SS/3B, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethon): 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 K. Has been horrendous defensively with 11 errors in 16 games, but bat looks awfully good at .303/.338/.576.
  • Hayden Simpson, RHP, Cubs (Rookie-level AZL): 2.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 0 K. Just going backwards, and it's hard not to feel bad for him.
  • Cory Spangenberg, 2B, Padres (Short-season Eugene): 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB. Stats remains wacky, as he's not 27-for-69 with 25 walks for a .391/.557/.565 line.

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
andtinez
7/07
What position is Sano playing that he looks so horrendous at defensively?
kgoldstein
7/07
Both 3B and SS. Still think he's a RF in the end.
zasxcdfv
7/07
10 games 3B, 6 games SS.
delorean
7/07
Michael Choice in full beast mode. Move to Midland has to be be coming soon.
kgoldstein
7/07
Michael Choice also in full High Desert mode, where his last three games have been played.
delorean
7/07
touche!
SirVLCIV
7/07
Do you agree with the Nationals' plan of slowly promoting Harper? I don't know anything about his defense, but if he keeps hitting like this, I just don't understand keeping him in AA all year.
SaberTJ
7/07
He just got to AA
kgoldstein
7/07
And he's 18.
ddufourlogger
7/08
Nats aren't doing anything this year except building. Bring him up next year at the earliest, once Strasburg is back and himself. Fans will then get a look at what should start to be a pretty darn good ballclub.
briankopec
7/07
Youngest guy in AA <> slowly promoted

That said, if he is still hitting .500 in another month, I have a feeling he'll get promoted. Let's give it more than 10 at bats.
delorean
7/07
Ehh, I think he should stay at AA for the remainder of the season, regardless of performance. What's the benefit of moving him to AAA this season? Let him continue to mature, and if he absolutely dominates AA, then great. He's still got lots to learn.
cooper7d7
7/07
1. Improves relationship between AAA owners/management and Nats' front office.

2. I know AA is the hardest jump to make, but I think AAA will offer him the most consistent look at near MLB pitches.
gilgamesh
7/07
Give him the rest of the season at AA. If their AAA affiliate is in the playoffs, move him up for that. If not, let him have a full season in the minors without hitting every level.
Out of ST next year, let him get six weeks at AAA. If that goes well.... then, well, he can get Jayson Werth to buy him beer on the road.
mbrophy
7/07
Mike Montgomery puts up another decent start. Are we going to see him in the majors before rosters expand?
rgmoore68
7/07
Speaking of slow promotion, what is Matt Moore still working on? He's been incredibly dominant - any chance he gets moved up to the big league pen before September?
zasxcdfv
7/07
0.
timber
7/07
Not when he has yet to throw a AAA pitch. Not the Rays MO.
ptullar
7/07
Sorry for the WATG, but anything on Elvis Araujo? 6'6" lefty coming off TJ for the AZL Indians. I've heard reports he's touching 98 and last night he handled a talented AZL M's team that features 3 guys who'll generate some buzz when list season comes around(Morales, Castillo, Peguero).
jparks77
7/07
I was at the AZL game last night. Araujo was impressive, sitting 92-95 and touching a little higher. Good feel for command and secs. Too advanced for level. The body is huge.

Working on article on some of the other talent involved: Peguero, Morales, Castillo, etc.
ptullar
7/07
Thanks a lot Professor. I hope the rest of your trip is dust storm free.
drewsylvania
7/07
"Six-foot-seven, 175 pound". Good lord, no wonder he's had shoulder problems. I expect his arm to completely fall off.

Anything on Chih-Hsien Chiang? The Sea Dogs' outfielder is tearing it up after being pretty bad up to this point in his career? Change in approach/stance?
petebromaghim
7/07
Any scouting reports on Robby Ray? He got out-pitched by the Bonilla (Lisalberto, not Bobby) last night, but has excellent numbers on the season. Wondering if the scouts can back up the numbers.
yadenr
7/07
I want a "CJ Cron 2000 On Base Machine" for Christmas. Are those sold in stores, or just online?
hyprvypr
7/08
Alex Liddi = Kevin Kouzmanoff??? And not a good thing...
LynchMob
7/08
Here's a comment about Spangenberg from a friend in Eugene ...

Spangenberg is a hydroplane among row boats.

Does everything quicker and faster than other players around him.

Real, real small sample. But the last time I had this kind of first impression of a fledgling Emerald was Mat Latos.

Yeah, I know Cory plays 2B and Mat pitches....but the tools pop out no matter where they play.

... and if "he's not 27-for-69", then what is he? :-)
cpaddock
7/08
Based on what scouts say, what sort of production do you see from Cardenas at the next level? Seems to have the bat, but projections roundly place him coming off the bench. Is that all about his fielding, or are there concerns about his offense, too?
cjrhgarmon
7/08
BA just published their mid-season top 50. Will you do any mid-season update of your top 101 or, if not, an article about who is rising into and who is falling out of the top 101?