July 29, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 28

by Kevin Goldstein

Printer-friendly

Contact Author

Jiwan James, OF, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 4-for-5, RBI. 

James' .283/.330/.380 line doesn't blow anyone away, but the tools are just starting to blossom as he's at .337/.374/.442 over his last 50 games. A converted pitcher, he has far less experience than most 21-year-olds, and there is still a significant amount of potential growth in his overall game, as well as a decent-sized bust factor. Either way, he's certainly one of the more intriguing prospects in the game.

Matt Moore, LHP, Rays(High-A Charlotte): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K

After leading the minor leagues in strikeouts last year, Moore struggled to throw strikes early in the year, but he's been firing bullets of late. That's led to longer outings, more whiffs, and with his fifth double-digit effort in his last seven outings, he's now just two off Charlie Furbush for the lead once again, with 153 punchouts in 111 frames. With a 75-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last 50.1 innings, he's ready for the advanced levels, and could be ready for the big leagues at some point in 2011.

Others Of Note:

• Yonder Alonso, 1B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-4, HR (8), 2 R, RBI. Just eighth home run in 282 Triple-A at-bats; has never hit for the power expected.
• Xavier Avery, OF, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 3-for-5, 2B, 3 R, K. Stock is rising quickly with .330/.398/.443 mark in last 25 games; has made great strides in approach, is 70+ runner and shows gap power with some potential for more down the line.
• Wladimir Balentien, OF, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (20), 3 R, RBI, K. 26-year-old ex-prospect has seven home runs in last nine games; strange overall line of .246/.303/.504.
• Josh Bell, 3B, Orioles (Triple-A Norfolk): 3-for-5, HR (13), 2 R, 3 RBI. Doing his best to let Baltimore know he's ready for the at-bats when they trade Tejada in the next 72 hours.
• Cord Phelps, 2B, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 3-for-3, HR (4), 3 R, RBI, BB, K. Shocking line of .365/.439/.577 in 37 Triple-A games; big, stocky second baseman with gap power and fundamentals.
• Harold Garcia, 2B, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 4-for-6, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K, SB. Florida State League hitting streak star not slowing down at Double-A; .321/.411/.474 in 19 games.
• Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (4), R, 3 RBI. Super-scrapper with some tools; batting .389/.437/.589 in last 24 games and .306/.380/.422 overall.
• Kyle Gibson, RHP, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K. Best Double-A start since mid-May Eastern League debut; one scout recently compared him to current Twin Carl Pavano.
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 4-for-6, HR (29), 2 R, 4 RBI, SB. Taking advantage of a series in Lancaster; three home runs in last four games and .314/.371/.612 overall.
• Slade Heathcott, OF, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 2-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB, K. '09 first-round pick has been heating up of late; hitting .329 in last 18 games and .287/.372/.360 overall. 
• Bryan Holaday, C, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K. Fifth-round pick out of TCU lacks tools and ceiling, but he's a plus defender, and top-of-the-scale makeup player, and he's hitting .373/.508/.588 in 15 pro games.  Teams will be sorry they passed on him.
• Derek Holland, LHP, Rangers (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, K. Great line, but stuff isn't all the way back.
• Austin Hyatt, RHP, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K. 24 years old and not a ton of stuff or projection, but it's hard to ignore 146 strikeouts in 111.1 innings.
• Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 0-for-5, 2 K. In ugly extended slump, batting just .227/.292/.318 in 23 July games.
• Joe Kelly, RHP, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 11 K. Third-round pick from '09 could be one of the few Cardinals to generate trade interest; Plus velocity but secondary pitches lag behind.
• Matt Lollis, RHP, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Sleeper alert! 15^th-round pick from 2009 is six-foot-eight, 280+ pound monster who has been getting into the mid-90s.
• Nick Longmire, OF, Cardinals (Short-season Batavia): 2-for-3, HR (7), R, 3 RBI, 2 BB. Highly athletic fifth-rounder has been a near revelation so far as pro; .302/.381/.579 in 32 games with speed and power.
• Zach Lutz, 3B, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 3-for-4, 2 2B, HR (10), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB. 14 total bases in last two games and .291/.417/.575 in 37 Eastern League games. 
• Mitch Moreland, 1B/OF, Rangers (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 1-for-4, HR (12), R, RBI. Coming to Texas with Kinsler hitting the DL; should provide something at first base, which the Rangers have lacked all year.
• Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI. First three-hit game since promotion; still at just .250/.258/.406 in 16 games.
• Brad Peacock, RHP, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K. Double-A debut; converted catcher has above-average velocity and command with developing curveball.
• Francisco Peguero, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 K. Sixth game with 3+ hits in last eight starts; batting .417/.464/.680 in 24 July games.
• Alex Pressley, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB. 22-for-48 in last 12 games; up to .352/.406/.557 overall as scouts remain mixed.
• Trayvon Robinson, OF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 2-for-4, HR (9), 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K. Up to .347/.458/.571 in July; dramatically increased walk rate bodes well for future.
• Willin Rosario, C, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 1-for-3, HR (19), R, 3 RBI, BB, SB. Eight home runs in last 11 games and .284/.336/.564 overall; one of the best catching prospects in the game.
• Jerry Sands, OF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 3-for-4, 2 HR (11), 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, K. 29 home runs overall on the season and .283/.407/.636 at Double-A; time to take him seriously as a future run producer.
• Jake Skole, OF, Rangers (Short-season Spokane): 3-for-3, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB, SB. 18-year-old first-round pick is more than holding his own in college-heavy league; .286/.394/.357 in eight games.
• Zach Stewart, RHP, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Considered by some as one of the top prospects in the system entering the year; had 6.02 ERA in April/May, just 2.28 since.
• Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 6 BB, 3 K. Ugly Double-A debut.
• Tony Thompson, 3B, Athletics (Short-season Vancouver): 3-for-4, HR (3), 2 R, RBI, K. Sixth-rounder has ten hits in last four games and overall line of .316/.385/.444; slow and slugging defender, but excellent bat.
• Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 3-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI, K. 14-for-27 in last six games and .290/.347/.547 overall; deserves a look.
• Allen Webster, RHP, Dodgers (Low-A Great Lakes): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K. Power arm combines nasty stuff with inconsistent command; 1.36 ERA in six July starts.

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