June 29, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 28

by Kevin Goldstein

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J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays(Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (18), 2 R, 4 RBI, K

This is starting to get a little nuts.  On one of the hottest streaks around, Arencibia is 8-for-13 with three doubles and three home runs in his last three games, and in his last 19, he's 35-for-81 (.432) with ten home runs and a .938 slugging percentage.  It all adds up to a season line of .306/.354/.616, and a lot of people wondering if there's some way to get him playing time in Toronto.

Bryan Morris, RHP, Pirates(Double-A Altoona): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Morris continues to be one of the best stories in the Pirates system.  Two starts ago, he get pounded for 10 hits and eight runs, but in his other seven outings since moving up to Double-A, he has a 1.99 ERA while throwing strikes with plus stuff.  He's the only pitcher at the upper levels of the Pirates system with a chance to make an impact at the big league level, as both his stuff and command are above average.

Thomas Neal, OF, Giants(Double-A Richmond): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (8), 2 R, 3 RBI.

Remember when this guy was on the report on at least a weekly basis last year while bashing away at a .337/.431/.579 clip in the California League?  The Eastern League has been far crueler to Neal, but after a slow start, the fast bat and the power are starting to show up in the stat sheet.  10-for-20 with four home runs in his last four games, and his .348/.414/.584 line in June makes it look like he's back in San Jose.

Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers(Short-season Spokane): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI

That Profar is hitting .308 in his nine error-free professional games with three doubles and a home run is awfully good, but even more so when adding a bit of context.  This isn't some complex league, where 17-year-olds like Profar get their feet wet, this is the Northwest League, a predominantly college circuit that plays nearly Low-A level baseball, as 16 of Profar's teammates are four or more years older than him.  He looks like he belongs with them, and that's a rare find.

Others Of Note:

• Wilfredo Boscan, RHP, Rangers (High-A Bakersfield): 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K.  20-year-old Venezuelan had been holding his own in the Cal League, but nearly 30% of his strikeouts have come in his last two starts.
• Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox (Short-season Lowell): 2-for-3, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, BB. First pro home run for supplemental first round pick; was 3-for-30 coming into the game.
• Darrell Ceciliani, OF, Mets (Short-season Brooklyn): 3-for-4, 2 R. 11-for-19 in last five games and batting .409 in 11 games; Has line drive bat and plus speed.
• Johermyn Chavez, OF, Mariners (High-A High Desert): Almost a forgotten name in the Brandon Morrow deal, massive Venezuelan has gone deep in three straight games and has six in his last ten contest for an overall line of .291/.358/.536 with all warnings about High Desert numbers in full effect.
• Chris Dominguez, 3B, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (12), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.  Has raised OPS 49 points in two days to .281/.325/.458 by going 7-for-11 with a double, triple and two home runs in last two games; plus-plus raw power and arm strength, and that's about it.
• Danny Duffy, LHP, Royals (Rookie-level AZL Royals): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  No. 6 prospect in system entering the year suddenly retired in spring training; but now it was just a breather.  Lost development time remains lost development time.
• Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 3-for-5, R.  18-year-old in 10-for-22 in first five Florida State League games; no extra-base hits, one walk.
• Scooter Gennett, 2B, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 3-for-7, 2 2B, R, 2 K.  Yes, he's tiny, but he's also one of the best pure hitters in the Midwest League; batting .333/.393/.481 and generating plenty of buzz.
• Chris Hawkins, 3B, Blue Jays (Rookie-level GCL Blue Jays): 2-for-6, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, K. Third-rounder pick from June has size, power and arm strength.
• Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-for-5, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI.  4-for-10 with two home runs in two Double-A games; starting to wonder how high on an overall prospect list he belongs.
• Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, SB. Any worries about slow start on a thing of the past; batting .351/.497/.526 in June.
• Mycal Jones, SS, Braves (High-A Myrtle Beach): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, K. Batting .364/.384/.500 in June; plenty of holes in his game, but plenty of tools as well.
• Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays (Rookie-level GCL Blue Jays): 2-for-6, 2B, RBI, K. $1 million bonus-baby from third-round of last year has massive tools and a ton of rawness; 10-for-28 with five extra-base hits.
• Jim Negrych, 2B, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 2-for-4, R, 2 RBIs, K, 2 SB. The bat is the only thing resembling a tool, but it's a good one; batting .411/.459/.625 in 16 games since promotion.
• Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K.  May be turning a corner here; 15 Ks over 12 shutout innings in last two starts.
• Michael Pineda, RHP, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 11 K.  21-year-old has had two impressive Triple-A outings; big league debut could happen this year.
• Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (Rookie-level GCL Yankees): 3-for-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB. Looking every bit as good as advertised, and then some; 19 total bases in six games.
• Michael Taylor, SS, Nationals (Rookie-level GCL Nationals): 4-for-4, 2 3B, 2 RBI, CS. Sixth-round pick from '09 is nice sleeper with size and tools.
• Oscar Tejeda, 2B, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Breakout season continues with .395/.439/.512 in 22 June games.
• Matt Thompson, RHP, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 8 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K.  Extreme strike-thrower has been for more hittable than expected; scouts like the projection.
• Cory Vaughn, OF, Mets (Short-season Brooklyn): 2-for-4, 3B, HR (3), R, 3 RBI. Fourth-round pick is hittting just .250, but walks and power bring line up to .250/.362/.575.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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