Pitching Prospect of the Day: Max Fried, LHP, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 8 K; polished high-school arm; plus fastball; plus-plus curveball; changeup could be solid-average; started a no-hitter on this evening; room to add mass to his frame; number-two-starter ceiling; 19.0 IP, 17 H, 8 ER, 10 BB, 22 K in four starts.
Position Prospect of the Day: Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Indians (Double-A Akron): 4-5, HR, R, 3 RBI, K; plus raw power; fringy hit tool; I’m not the biggest fan but I did hear one source who believed he could be in the lineup every day.
Other notable prospect performances from May 9:
“The Good”
- Javier Baez, SS, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 2-4, 2B, 3B, R, RBI, SB; major-league bat speed; potential to contend for batting titles; plus-plus raw power; plus-plus arm; may have to eventually move off of shortstop; still working to slow the game down; crazy fantasy value.
- Tyler Collins, OF, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; solid-average hit tool; developing over-the-fence power; plays mostly as gap power currently; average runner; hardnosed player; being stuck in a corner-outfield position creates a tough profile.
- C.J. Edwards, RHP, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; plus fastball; curveball flashes plus; developing changeup; stock rising; 28.2 IP, 19 H, 8 ER, 9 BB, 31 K in six starts this season.
- Jesus Galindo, CF, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 2-4, 2B, 3B, 3 R, BB, K, 2 SB; plus-plus runner; slap hitter; minimal power; potential to stay in center field; repeating Low-A at 22; fringy prospect; .263/.365/.273 with 1 2B, and 16 SB in 99 at-bats.
- David Holmberg, LHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K; acquired in the Edwin Jackson deal; average fastball; solid-average changeup; throws both a curveball and slider, two usable breaking pitches; back-end starter profile; 41.0 IP, 34 H, 9 ER, 13 BB, 31 K in seven starts.
- Micah Johnson, 2B, White Sox (Low-A Kannapolis): 3-4, 3B, 4 R, RBI, BB, 4 SB; plus runner; hit tool will be challenged at higher levels; gap power; did not like him defensively at second; plays very hard at all times; stock is on the rise but will have to prove his hitting ability after promotion; .303/.389/.477 with 6 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, and 29 SB in 109 at-bats;
- Tom Murphy, C, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB; easy plus power potential; solid-average hit tool; college bat; defense behind the plate is still a work in progress; .415/.531/.892 with 6 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR in 65 at-bats.
- Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K; fastball sits in low 90s and will touch higher; slider flashes plus, but can get inconsistent; fringy curveball; stuff ticks up in bursts.
- Matt Reynolds, SS, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 3-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 5 RBI; plus potential hit tool; gap power; well-below-average runner; will have to move off shortstop in time; utility-type prospect; .277/.356/.412 with 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR in 119 at-bats .
- Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; plus-plus potential fastball; plus potential curveball and changeup; creates major plane on fastball; high-number-two ceiling; how’s that Dickey trade looking right now? 38.0 IP, 35 H, 11 ER, 13 BB, 38 K in seven starts.
- Aaron Westlake, 1B, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 5-6, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI; plus power potential; smooth hitting stroke; can try to do too much at the plate; limited to first base defensively; below-average runner; will have to really hit to fit an everyday profile; .299/.333/.425 with 9 2B, 3B, and 2 HR in 134 at-bats this season.
- Dan Winkler, RHP, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; solid-average fastball; plus slider; fringy changeup; may fit better in a relief role long term.
“The Bad”
- Sean Coyle, 2B, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 0-4, 3 K; has made great improvements at the plate in 2013, but nights like this happen.
- Maikel Franco, 3B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 0-5, 2 K; have gotten very good reports about Franco; this was just one of those nights; .300/.345/.538 with 13 2B and 6 HR in 130 at-bats this season.
- Tyson Gillies, OF, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 0-4, 2 K; after a demotion back to Double-A, it looks like Gillies is now on his way off the prospect radar.
- Michael Taylor, CF, Nationals (High-A Potomac): 0-4, 3 K; the swing never really did it for me; has trouble recognizing spin. Last year the defense was very good, but he took a few sloppy routes to the ball tonight.
- Addison Russell, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 0-3, 2 K; the early-season struggles continue for the 2012 first-round selection, who is tackling High-A at age 19.
“The Ugly”
Andre Rienzo, RHP, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 0.1 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K; potential plus fastball; solid-average curveball; command is below average at best.
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