Minor League Update: Games of October 16-18

Friday

Ramon Torres, SS, Kansas City Royals (Surprise Saguaros) 4-7, 2 2B, 2 RS

Torres' calling cards are his defense and speed as he displays clean actions and shortstop range in the field. The arm isn't an asset at short but his quick feet and accuracy make up for just average arm strength. This was a good hitting day for all parties involved and it showed in Torres' line. There's enough projection in the bat to allow for a utility role at the major-league level, so while we shouldn't expect this level of performance from Torres moving forward, there's enough here to make him interesting.

Patrick Wisdon, 1B, Saint Louis Cardinals (Surprise Saguaros) 3-5, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4 RS

He's displayed plus power potential in the past but things went sour for Wisdom in Double-A Springfield this year, making it the third straight disappointing professional season for the young third baseman. Wisdom still has a plus arm at third and he flashes enough competence at the hot corner to project a long-term future there, but the questions about his bat cap his OFP. If he's found something in the desert, he could find himself back on the prospect map once again.

Connor Sadzeck, RHP, Texas Rangers (Surprise Saguaros) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

He's got a reliever fastball that touches 98 in short bursts, but his slurvy breaking ball limits his role in that capacity to middle relief.

Bubba Starling, CF, Kansas City Royals (Surprise Saguaros) 3-5, 2 HR, 3 RS

When I close my eyes and start to slip off into the dream world I start to wish for things that are just beyond the reach of reality and yet close enough to entice and excite me with the possibilities of what could be. Most of these are foolish and silly, backed up by bias, wishful thinking, or the loosest and least concrete samples of evidence that are mostly pleasant lies I tell myself to sleep better.

I don't know what category "Bubba Starling figures it out" lies in, but there's loose evidence and verbal whispers that I've heard in the background. The phrase "Bubba fixed?" has crossed my mind at least a few times a day in light of his moderate success at Double-A. The tools are there again and the pensive player I saw for a brief snapshot in spring training cannot seem further away at this point.

We all know what the picture looks like if Starling is indeed "fixed" to some degree. There will be swing and miss in the profile, but the other tools are loud enough to more than make up for the strikeouts. After all these years it finally seems possible and it would appear that we have another example of the twists and turns player development can take.

Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Chicago Cubs (Mesa Solar Sox) 5-5, 3 2B, 2 HR, 2 RS

10 total bases in one game is absurd and Candelario is making a case to once again land on the Cubs top prospect radar. I'm not in love with the defensive profile, but Candelario's bat looks like it's had a serious rebound from his past issues.

Willson Contreras, 1B, Chicago Cubs (Mesa Solar Sox) 2-4, 1 HR

Contreras has grown a lot in the past year and it's not simply because his production has shown through. He's an athlete but one with unrefined baseball skills and a need for more playing time to help realize his potential. Contreras is a catcher by trade with a strong arm and the requisite athleticism to be an everyday receiver. His run tool was described to me as "borderline elite," which is impressive from a catcher who has a chance to develop an average hit tool with some pop. Contreras is a strong candidate to be high on the Cubs list.

Saturday

Ildemaro Vargas, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks (VZL Cardenales de Lara): 0-4, 1 BB, 1 SO

Vargas is the type of guy that bounces from org to org, plying his craft as a competent MiLB middle infielder with enough aptitude to play short at the lower levels and provide some energy here and there. He’s not going to have much of a major-league future.

Roman Quinn, CF, Philadelphia Phillies (DWL Tigres del Licey) 1-5, 2 SO

Tough night for Quinn but don't let that fool you. There's an average-or-better hit tool laced with a pure 80 run and plus defense in center. He's gonna play even with a power tool that's at the bottom of the scale.

Manuel Margot, CF, Boston Red Sox (DWL Toros del Este) 2-4

Margot still has some refining to do offensively but his defensive profile is exciting in its own right. The bat control is there for him to take the step forward with the bat, which should round out an enticing profile.

Sunday

Jandel Gustave, RHP, Houston Astros (DWL Gigantes del Cibao) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 RA, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Gustave's fastball will keep getting him looks in the hope that someone will teach him the magic pitch to replace a short slider that does his arsenal no favors. Working lower in the velocity band with his heater would help out as his fastball is much too straight.

Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins (DWL Leones del Escodigo) 1-3

He has a plus potential hit tool and a feel for short, which will give him a longer leash than most to stick there with an average arm.

Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox (DWL Leones del Escodigo) 1-4, 1 RS, 1 2B

On an episode of the short-lived Raw Projection, Tucker Blair referred to the home runs Devers hit in his viewing as "atomic bombs.” There's not a lot of hope that he avoids a defensive relegation to first base, but it hardly matters because his bat is that special.

Steven Moya, OF, Detroit Tigers (DWL Toros del Este) 2-4, 1 RS, 1 2B

It's a good thing Moya can absolutely crush mistakes; he will make a great living in Japan because of it.

Carlos Tocci, RF, Philadelphia Phillies (VZL Tigres de Aragua) 2-2

Tocci has some feel for the barrel and the type of speed that will make him an asset offensively. That's a really nice bonus because he has plus defense in center field and a plus arm.