July 23, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 22

by Kevin Goldstein

Printer-friendly

Contact Author

Charlie Furbush, LHP, Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K

When you thought about the players who would potentially lead the minors in strikeouts this year, chances are good that Furbush didn't make the list.  A fourth-round pick in 2007, Furbush missed the entire 2008 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and was merely average as a 23-year-old in the Florida State League last year, but in 2010 he's now reached Triple-A while striking out 153 in just 116 1/3 innings.  It's far more deception and command than stuff, as the tall southpaw sits at 90-92 mph with his fastball while feature a good curveball and average-at-best change, but as he keeps proving himself at every level, at some point he'll get a chance to see if it works in the big leagues.

Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-4, 2 HR (17), 2 R, 3 RBI, K

When talk turns to the best catching prospects in the minors, Rosario now has to be in the discussion.  The 21-year-old Dominican has slugged six home run in his last seven games while batting .283/.336/.558 overall to go with one of the better catcher arms in the minors.

Others Of Note:

• Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (9), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.  Few short-season players making more noise; 19-year-old Venezuelan up to .388/.436/.777 in 30 games with 25 of 47 hits going for extra bases.
• Blake Beavan, RHP, Mariners (Double-A West Tenn): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K.  Second start for Mariners org; going to eat up innings in the big leagues.
• Peter Bourjos, OF, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 3-for-6, 2B, R, CS.  15-for-34 in last seven games and .301/.355/.455 overall; just fourth caught stealing in 31 attempts.
• Louis Coleman, RHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.  Nice sleeper in Royals system as future bullpen piece.
• Christian Colon, SS, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 3-for-5, RBI.  Clearly adjusting to pro life; 10-for-26 (.385) in last six games.
• Danny Duffy, LHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K.  With Montgomery, Lamb and Dyson, the Royals group of top-tier lefties grows to four now that Duffy as un-retired.
• Todd Glaesmann, OF, Rays (Rookie-level Princeton): 4-for-4, 3B, 2 HR (3), 4 R, 3 RBI, SB.  Monster game for 2009 third-round pick that has otherwise struggled; Big and ultra-athletic with overall line of .196/.281/.363.
• Dee Gordon, SS, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 3-for-3, BB, SB, CS.  11-for-18 in last four games; still little power or patience.
• Grant Green, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, SB.  Batting .415/.437/.662 in July and clearly needs a new challenge, at least offensively.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, K.  First two Midwest League hits for last month's draftee who crushed the Northwest League.
• Junior Lake, SS, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 2-for-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI.  Still a prospect; highly athletic, just 20 and hitting .299/.347/.582 in July.
• Ryan Lavarnway, C, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K.  12-for-27 in first seven Double-A games; he can hit, but can he catch?
• Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Double-A West Tenn): 2-for-4, HR (10), R, 2 RBI, K.  Home runs in four straight games has lifted slugging by nearly 50 points; .275/.344/.471 overall.
• Matt Lipka, SS, Braves (Rookie-level GCL Braves): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (1), 3 R, RBI, BB, 2 SB.  First pro home run for top Braves pick; up to .347/.407/.459 and has stolen six bases in his last three games.
• Devin Mesoraco, C, Reds (Double-A Carolina): 4-for-6, 2 R; Double-A line stands at .315/.370/.646; with only five weeks left in the season it's not like we can call this just a fluke.
• Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (High-A Charlotte): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K.  Last year's minor league strikeout leader only trails Furbush this year; 143 whiffs in just 104 innings.
• Will Myers, C, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 3-for-4, 2 2B, R.  Like Trout, another top Midwest League hitter showing no signs of slowing down in High-A; .357/.446/.471 in 20 Carolina League games.
• Chris Nelson, INF, Rockies (Triple-A Colorado Springs): 3-for-5, HR (11), 3 R, RBI.  Batting .408/.438/.724 in 18 July games; deserves a better shot at the big leagues, like at second base.
• Joseph Ortiz, LHP, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K.  It's hard to get too worked about a 5-foot-7 lefty, but Ortiz has crazy great command and a good slider, thus 38 strikeouts and four walks in 25.1 innings.
• Stephen Parker, 3B, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 3-for-5, HR (13), R, 2 RBI, K. Bit of a sleeper as a third baseman with power and patience; up to .296/.394/.468.
• Francisco Peguero, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-for-5, 3B, HR (6), R, RBI, K.  Ten hits in last three games and 40-for-92 (.435) in last 22 contests; .312/.345/.475 overall.
• Garrett Richards, RHP, Angels (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K.  Still bafflingly inconsistent; has the stuff to do this every night, but also gets hammered once over three or four starts.
• Mel Rojas, OF, Pirates (Short-season State College): 4-for-5, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB.  Third-round pick has plenty of tools; only position player Pirates took in first ten rounds.
• Yorman Rodriguez, OF, Reds (Rookie-level Billings): 17-year-old Venezuelan starting to show signs of life with .375/.378/.500 line; one walk in 17 games.
• Miguel Sano, 3B/SS, Twins (Rookie-level GCL Twins): 2-for-4, HR (2), R, RBI, K.  17-year-old is up to .300/.345/.520 in 13 state-side games; the sky is the limit.
• Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 2-for-4, HR (4), R, 6 RBI, 2 K. Can I come back to the big leagues now?
• Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-5, 2 R, RBI, K, SB.  Batting .373 (25-for-67) during 17-game hitting streak; even season numbers don't look so bad at this point (.275/.350/.411)
• Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves (High-A Myrtle Beach): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K.  2.98 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 63.1 High-A innings; 19-year-olds next start might be at Double-A.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 2-for-5, R, RBI, K.  .314/.400/.514 in nine High-A games.
• Chris Valaika, 2B/SS, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K.  9-for-18 in last four games and .299/.328/.393 overall; future utilityman.
• Brett Wallace, 1B, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI.  Three straight multi-hit games and .296/.359/.497 overall; where did his reputation as an on-base machine come from? 93 career walks in 1230 plate appearances.
• Adam Warren, RHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K.  Second Double-A start; many scouts project as solid-but-unspectacular big league starter.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see Kevin's other articles. You can contact Kevin by clicking here