July 20, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 19

by Kevin Goldstein

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Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (3), 2 R, 3 RBI

See what getting out of Wilmington can do for a guy? With three home runs and 17 total bases in four Texas League games, Hosmer is show that he can hit and hit for power, and it's time to start talking about him as one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues. Could the Royals system be more stacked right now?

Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians (Double-A Akron): 3-for-3, 2B. 

A second-round pick last year, Kipnis has an excellent pro debut, and his first full-season showing has exceeding all expectations, as he's hasn't just reached Double-A, he's dominating the level. 13-for-20 in his last five games, the converted second baseman is batting .336/.416/.511 in 33 games for the Aeros, and could be a very real part of the discussion for a starting role next spring.

Mike Minor, LHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K

It's long overdue to simply state I was wrong about Minor, but I was wrong for all the right reasons if you well. The player I evaluated entering the year, the pitcher we saw at Vanderbilt for three years, is not the player we're seeing now, as Minor continues to flash an extra 2-4 ticks on his fastball from his college days, while retaining his command and secondary offerings. In three Triple-A starts, the International League is batting .197 against him, and some scouts think he could hold his own in the big leagues right now.

Alex Presley, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 5-for-5, 2B, 2 R

An eighth-round pick in 2006 out of the University of Mississippi, Presley is five-foot-nine, not especially toolsy, likely limited to a corner as a pro, and turns 25 this coming weekend. Combine that with a career line of .270/.325/.403 entering the year, and he was nothing more than an org player. He began the year by hitting everything at Double-A Altoona, and that never really stopped, as by the time he was promoted, his averages sat at .350/.399/.533 in 269 at-bats. Now 10-for-13 in his last three games, his Triple-A line stands at an even more impressive .356/.398/.598 in 23 contests, and it's time to start taking this a little more seriously.

Others Of Note:

• Yonder Alonso, 1B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 4-for-5, R, K. Batting .414 (24-for-58) in July and up to .279/.321/.410 overall; no future in Cincinnati and one of their top trade chips.
• J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (28), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. Minor league leader in home runs and slugging as a .316/.369/.669 line that is impressive enough, but don’t forget about slow start; 20 home runs have come in last 35 games.
• Eric Arnett, RHP, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K. Back from Arizona after trying to fix mechanics; looks like progress to me.
• Xavier Avery, OF, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Growing into tools with .284/.351/.396 line; very good upside play.
• Rocco Baldelli, OF, Rays (High-A Charlotte): 0-for-4, 4 K. Not exactly the comeback attempt that dreams are made of.
• Omar Beltre, RHP, Rangers (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K. PCL hitting .181 against him in seven starts.
• Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox (Short-season Lowell): 0-for-4, 3 K. Supplemental first-round pick struggling mightily; .147/.223/.248 in 29 games with 36 whiffs in 109 at-bats.
• David Bromberg, RHP, Twins (Triple-A Rochester): 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Triple-A debut; 22-year-old righty wasn't especially good as Double-A as secondary stuff is better than fastball.
• Matt Carpenter, 3B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 2-for-3, HR (6), R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, K. One of the few offensive bright spots in the Cardinals system; home run was two-run walk off winner.
• Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 4-for-6, 2 HR (21), 2 R, 3 RBI. Up and down season continues as he was in a 3-for-23 slump going into game; possibly notable that he's had a couple of outfield starts recently.
• Zach Cozart, SS, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-5, HR (14), R, 3 RBI. 12-for-29 in last seven games with three home runs; slick fielder is batting .265/.330/.450 and is a better big league option than Orlando Cabrera right now.
• Jaff Decker, OF, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 3-for-4, HR (6), 2 R, RBI, BB. Batting .314/.424/.457 in July; on-base skills are back, power not there yet.
• Kentrail Davis, OF, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB. Overslot pick from last year has had some injury issues this year, but is hitting .373/.475/.590 in the Midwest League with gap power, fantastic approach, and bat speed with barrel control.
• Randall Delgado, RHP, Braves (High-A Myrtle Beach): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K. Excelling on fastball that combines velocity, command and movement; scouts are mixed on secondary offerings.
• Lucas Duda, 1B, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 1-for-2, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB, K. Ten home runs in 109 Triple-A at-bats and .312/.377/.670 in 29 games.  Bat-only guy who can hit, but not like this.
• Danny Espinosa, SS, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 5-for-5, 2 HR (13), 2 R, 3 RBI. Second-half surge continues; .261/.338/.453 line almost matches last year's line, but walks have gone down considerably.
• Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, 4 RBI, K. Batting .373/.384/.491 in 25 Florida State League games; just two walks and seven errors proves how young he is.
• Juan Francisco, 3B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-5, HR (12), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. Four home runs in last five games and .278/.315/.538 overall; a strange prospect with massive power and a great arm, but little else going for him.
• Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 2-for-4, HR (12), R, 4 RBI, SB. Batting .333/.377/.556 in July; Should be up in September to prepare for every day job in '11.
• Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 4-for-5, 3B, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, 3 SB. Is .279/.329/.363 line at Double-A progress or holding serve? Approach still needs work, and power remains rare.
• Grant Green, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 4-for-5, HR (10), R, 3 RBI. 21-for-50 (.420) in last 12 games and .329/.376/.504 overall; with the good comes the bad, as he also committed error number 26 last night.
• Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 3.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R (5 ER), 5 BB, 6 K. Easily his worst start of the year.
• Corban Joseph, 2B, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 3-for-3, R, 2 RBI, BB. Certainly one of the most consistent hitters around; batting .313/.386/.457 and has been between .308 and .313 for the last three weeks.
• Kila Ka'aihue, 1B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 3-for-4, 2 HR (20), 2 R, 4 RBI. Royals really can't find some at-bats for a guy hitting .310/.462/.595?
• Mark Krauss, OF, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): Not sure why he's still here; since All-Star break, he's batting .426/.451/.815 with 11 home runs in 108 at-bats.
• Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Double-A West Tenn): 2-for-5, HR (8), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. 6-for-12 with two doubles and two home runs in last 12 games; up to .270/.341/.448.
• Fabio Martinez, RHP, Angels (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 K. Has some of the best raw stuff in the league; this is what happens when he throws strikes with it.
• Jesus Montero, C, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 3-for-3, 2B, R, BB. Batting .364/.482/.568 in 13 July games; stock was never really down in the first place, but now the more statistically inclined can come on board the bandwagon as well.
• Mike Montgomery, RHP, Royals (Rookie-level AZL Royals): 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K. So far, so good.
• Trent Mummey, OF, Orioles (Short-season Aberdeen): 3-for-6, 2B, HR (3), 3 R, RBI, K. Fourth-round pick out of Auburn up to .312/.379/.538 in first 21 pro games; impressive tools in small package.
• Chris Nelson, INF, Rockies (Triple-A Colorado Springs) 2-for-4, HR (10), R, 2 RBI, K. Three home runs in last two games and .335/.395/.574 overall; should be coming off the bench in the big leagues down the stretch.
• Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers (Short-season Spokane): 3-for-4, 2 R, BB, K. Eight hits in last three games and .297/.400/.505 overall for supplemental first-round pick.
• Lance Pendleton, LHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K. Quietly having good year; more strikeouts (93) than hits allowed (83) in 101.1 innings.
• Aaron Poreda, LHP, Padres (Triple-A Portland): 1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 0 K. Threw 26 pitches . . . 7 for strikes.
• Rich Poythress, 1B, Mariners (High-A High Desert): 4-for-4, 2 HR (18), 2 R, 7 RBI. Hard to get excited about a polished college guy batting .287/.354/.500 in this environment; road OPS is under .800.
• Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-4, HR (14), R, 2 RBI. Six home runs in last 10 games and .283/.335/.529 overall; for all the Rockies trade talk at catcher, this guy remains their future at the position.
• Adrian Salcedo, RHP, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K. 19-year-old Dominican has 42 Ks and a whopping four walks in 41 innings; Low-90s fastball with sink, plus curve and tons of projection.
• Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-6, HR (5), 2 R, 5 RBI, K. Batting .370 (20-for-54) during current 14-game hitting streak, including 10-for-21 in last five games.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (High-A Rancho Cucomonga): 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 B, 2 R, RBI, K, CS. Yeah, the California League isn't going to be much of a challenge here, either.
• Jacob Turner, RHP, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K; Finding another gear? Ten shutout innings in last two starts.
• Cory Vaughn, OF, Mets (Short-season Brooklyn): 2-for-4, HR (9), R, 2 RBI. Greg's son doing his father proud so far; .291/.373/.590 and leads the New York-Penn League in home runs and total bases.
• Nick Weglarz, OF, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 2-for-3, 2B, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. 13-for-27 in last seven games with four doubles and two home runs; OPS up more than 100 points in a week to .286/.385/.474.
• Alex White, RHP, Indians (Double-A Akron): 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K. '09 first-round pick has a 1.50 ERA in 11 Double-A starts while limiting Eastern League to .194 batting average; command has been fantastic and he could be in the big leagues as early as next year.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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