June 25, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 24

by Kevin Goldstein

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Grant Green, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 3-for-6, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K

Green hasn't played the field for two weeks due to a shoulder strain, but that hasn't slowed him down with the bat.  With 10 hits in his last three games and a 21-game run that's seen him go 40-for-88 (.455), the '09 first-rounder is up to .324/.373/.477 and could finish the year in Double-A.

Tyler Matzek, LHP, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K

This is really Matzek's debut in a nutshell.  He's been unhittable at times, limiting the Sally League to a .172 average while striking out 32 in 29 1/3 innings, but at the same time, control is an issue, as he's walked 21.  For now, all that matters is that he's showing the ability to dominate, and you hope the strikes come later.

Rick Porcello, RHP, Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 3 K.

It was certainly a successful first step at Triple-A, as the 21-year-old needed just 85 pitches to cruise through his eight nearly flawless innings in his first start since being demoted from the big leagues.  Still, one is forced to wonder if Porcello will ever be the strikeout power pitcher that was projected for him when drafted.  With just three whiffs, was Porcello really any different from the pitcher that struggled in Detroit? 

Kolbrin Vitek, 3B, Red Sox (Short-season Lowell): 2-for-4, RBI, 2 K, SB

Nobody questioned Vitek's hitting ability in this year's draft, and he's 8-for-15 in his last four games.  The question was where he would end up defensively.  Most teams though it was outfield or bust for the Ball State product, and it might still be looking that way, as in only three games at the hot corner, Vitek has committed four errors, including two last night.

Others Of Note:

Omer Beltre, RHP, Rangers (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K.  Almost 29 after missing years due to visa issues, but 1.25 ERA  since being moved to the rotation.

Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 0-for-3, 2 BB, K.  Notable only because it's his last Eastern League game, as he's been promoted to Triple-A.

Jaff Decker, OF, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 3-for-3, 3B, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.  Here he finally comes?  .288/.343/.492 in June.

Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (Short-season Eugene): 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI.  49^th overall pick out of West Virginia is 13-for-30 (.433) in first seven pro games.

Greg Halman, OF, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-3, 3B, HR (13), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Still striking out a ton, but at .244/.328/.556 he's drawing some walks for the first time in his career and there's still tools and upside.

Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 2-for-4, HR (4), R, RBI.  .358/.426/.540; do the 24 doubles in 265 at-bats tell us that more home runs are coming down the road?

Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 3-for-5, 3B, HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI.  Batting .348/.406/.674 in June, one league observer says, "He's officially too good for High-A."

Brandon Laird, 3B, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 3-for-4, 2 HR (18), 2 R, 7 RBI, K.  Continuing to keep his trade value up; Josh Norris, who covers the team for The Trentonian, reports that in just 71 games, Laird is just 25 RBIs short of the team record.

John Lamb, LHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K.  One scouts calls him, "among the best lefties I've seen this year."

Nick Longmire, OF, Cardinals (Short-season Batavia): 2-for-5, HR (3), R, 4 RBI, K.  Toolsy fifth-round from earlier in the month has 23 total bases in six games.

Andrew Miller, LHP, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 6 K.  Progress?  ERA still sits at 7.59.

Logan Morrison, 1B, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 2-for-4, R, RBI, K.  Batting .361/.454/.518 in June; could get the call soon . . . or at least should.

Hector Noesi, RHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 10 K. If scouts were in Trenton looking at players for a potential Yankee trade, they sure got a good show.

Cody Scarpetta, RHP, Brewers (High-A Brevard County): 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 10 K.  Season-high in whiffs and 68 in 65.2 innings on the season; has the stuff to miss bat, but also misses the strike zone too often.

Jake Skole, OF, Rangers (Rookie-level AZL Rangers): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, K.  15^th overall pick with first big pro game, but many had a big game in messy 23-run outburst that included 14 walks and five Cub errors.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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