Minor League Update: Games of October 21st-23rd

Prospect of the Weekend:

Dylan Moore, SS, Braves (AFL, Salt River): 2-3, R, 2B, HR, BB. Already 24-years old, Moore is far from a high-end prospect, but he’s shown some bat-to-ball ability and gap pop since signing as seventh round pick in 2015. Traded as part of a three-team deal that sent international bonus pools in every direction, Moore has the feel and high effort style of play to make his modest tools work in a utility role at the big league level.

Friday, October 21^st

Tyler Marlette, C, Mariners (AFL, Peoria): 2-4, R, HR, 2 K. Because of the position he plays and his potential for a solid bat, Marlette will continue to get chances to prove himself well into his twenties. With an offensive game that could peak with a solid batting average and decent pop, Marlette just needs to figure out how to be something more than an abysmal defender behind the plate.

Luiz Gohara, LHP, Mariners (AFL, Peoria): 2 IP, 4 H, R/ER, 0 BB, 3 K. Gohara experienced a breakout season across two levels, posting a sub-2.00 ERA and better than a strikeout per inning as a 19-year old. An ultra-talented lefty, Gohara must continue to improve his ability to locate the pitches in his arsenal, but his ceiling pushes toward the front of a big league rotation.

Gleyber Torres, SS, Yankees (AFL, Scottsdale): 2-4, R. The biggest prize in the Yankees deadline haul, Torres is an electric player with the potential to contribute across the board. He’s going to be a quick mover through the Yankees system and could be a cornerstone piece of their next championship caliber team.

Bradley Zimmer, OF, Indians (AFL, Mesa): 1-2, 3 R, HR, 2 BB, SB. Though there are no more debates about which Indians outfield prospect you prefer (Zimmer or Clint Frazier), Zimmer’s performance has not slipped with the loss of competition. An all-around performer, Zimmer should be a quality Major League outfielder in short order.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies (DWL, Gigantes del Cibao): 2-4, 2B, K. Hoskins and teammate Dylan Cozens tortured Eastern League pitchers last season, and he has continued to hit during his fall experience in the Dominican. There are still plenty of skeptics throughout the scouting community, and all Hoskins can do is keep hitting at a high level to prove them wrong.

Saturday, October 22^nd

Trey Ball, LHP, Red Sox (AFL, Surprise): 0 IP, 0 H, 5 R/ER, 5 BB, 0 K. Ball continued to show slow and steady improvement in 2016, but that was not on display Saturday. Walks have been an issue since the day Ball signed his first professional contract, but Saturday’s result is extreme, even for him.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies (DWL, Gigantes del Cibao): 2-3, 2 R, BB. See above.

Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Blue Jayes (DWL, Estrellas Orientales): 3-4. I saw plenty of Tellez last summer, and while I remain quite skeptical of his big league future, he has the natural hitting ability to post a solid average and on-base percentage against advanced pitching. The power is where things fall apart when trying to project Tellez to a role as a Major League first baseman, and his three singles Saturday are just further evidence of that challenge.

Carlos Tocci, OF, Phillies (VWL, Tigres de Aragua): 2-5, R, 2B, BB. Speaking of a lack of power, Tocci’s offensive game needs every ounce of power he can muster if he wants to avoid settling in as a fourth outfielder. Tocci can make contact, run, and defend in center field, giving him the bench outfielder starters kit, but to take his profile to the next level, he has to drive the ball to the gaps more, just as he did in this game.

Sunday, October 23^rd

Jose Marmolejos, 1B, Nationals (DWL, Tigres del Licey): 1-3, 3B. Marmolejos posted a strong season split between High-A and Double-A in 2016 and he’s continued hitting in the Dominican so far this month. You won’t see too much mention of Marmolejos on top prospect lists, but he warrants some attention as a fringe player that could find his way onto a big league roster at some point.