August 6, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of August 5

by Kevin Goldstein

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Melky Mesa, OF, Yankees(High-A Tampa): 4-for-6, HR (16), 2 R, 4 RBI

A bit of a late bloomer, Mesa is 23-year-old and only just getting into the swing of things at High-A, but it's hard to deny the tools.  His power is above-average, as are his wheels (28 stolen bases) and his outfield arm.  There's still a lot of swing and miss in his game, and he needs to learn how to make in-bat adjustments, but with a hot streak that's seen him go 20-for-40 with three doubles and five home runs in his last eight games, the tools are starting to blossom onto the stat sheet with a line of .275/.344/.488.

Wil Myers, C, Royals(High-A Wilmington): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI

Will an on-base percentage sitting at an even .500, you'd think that Myers is just hot after a recent promotion.  Instead, it's 30 games we're talking about, as after going 12-for-17 in his last four games, his triple-slash line sits at an astounding .396/.500/.515.  He's yet to go deep in 101 at-bats, but like Eric Hosmer, wait until he gets to the Texas League.

Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Cubs(Triple-A Iowa): 6 IP, 3 H 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K

I've taken more than my fair share of shots at the Cubs overpaying for Samardzija in 2006, but there's finally some good news on this front.  Always in need of a second pitch, he's suddenly added a 88-90 mph cutter to his mix, and according to scouts, it's generating swings and misses.  Since moving back to the rotation, Samardzija has a 2.18 ERA in nine starts while limiting Pacific Coast League hitters to a .177 batting average, and there's reason for hope once again – not far stardom, but at least for a usable big league arm.

Others Of Note:

• Junior Arias, SS, Reds (Rookie-level AZL Reds ): 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, R, RBI.  18-year-old Dominican is loaded with tools and one of the AZL's most impressive prospects; up to .312/.356/.536 in 33 games.
• Homer Bailey, RHP, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K.  Should give the Reds a boost in NL Central race.
• Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants (Double-A Richmond): 3-for-5, HR (6), 2 R, 3 RBI, K, SB.  Ends 18-game homerless streak and mini drought, still at .345/.413/.664 since promotion.
• Charles Blackmon, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 4-for-6, 2 HR (9), 2 R, 6 RBI, CS.  Not a future star, but will have a big league career based on ability to play all three outfields, speed and gap power; up to .282/.353/.468.
• Bobby Borchering, 3B, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 2-for-3, HR (11), 3 R, RBI.  Hottest hitter in the Midwest League; 14-for-23 with 25 total bases in last five games.
• Matt Carpenter, 3B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 3-for-5, 2B, R.  Up to .323/.417/.500 in 77 Texas League games; gutsy move would be to give him a chance at third base with Freese down.
• Daniel Descalso, 2B, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 3-for-4, HR (6), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB.  Up to .278/.358/.420 and deserves a chance to prove he's better than Skip Schumaker.
• Rashun Dixon, OF, Athletics (Low-A Kane County): 2-for-3, R, RBI, K.  13-for-22 in last six games have brought averages up to .265/.372/.396.
• Todd Frazier, 3B/OF, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-3, HR (15), R, RBI, BB.  Home runs in back-to-back games as late-season surge continues.
• Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 3-for-4, HR (15), R, 3 RBI, SB.  The excellent David O'Brien of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution thinks he might come up if Glaus' struggles continue; the opportunity for Half Life 2 quotes that only I'll be entertained by is enormous.
• Mat Gamel, 3B/OF, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 2-for-4, HR (9), R, 2 RBI, CS.  Still can hit (.302/.378/.480); still can't play third base (13 errors in 56 games).
• Joe Gardner, RHP, Indians (High-A Kinston): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K.  15 ground ball outs last night an crazy 3.37-to-1 ratio overall; Carolina League hitting just .196 against him.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 4-for-5, 2B, 3 R, RBI.  Up to .340/.417/.415 in 14 Midwest League games; everyone knew he could hit, but he's been surprisingly solid at third base as well.
• Su-Min Jung, RHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K.  20-year-old Korean has been dominant at times with low-90s heat and good breaking ball; 23 Ks in last 12.2 IP.
• Craig Kimbrel, RHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.  Throwing more strikes of late; should be a part of September bullpen.
• Jason Knapp, RHP, Indains (Rookie-level AZL Indians): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K.  11 whiffs in first six innings of season after shoulder issues.
• Brett Lawrie, 2B, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 2-for-6, 2B, 3B, RBI, K.  .284/.346/.462 line is good for the Southern League, but great for a 19-year-old; second in the minors with 15 triples.
• Jake Lemmerman, SS, Dodgers (Short-season Ogden): 4-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, SB.  Fifth-round pick out of Duke has solid-but-unspectacular tools across the board; batting .357/.416/.554 in first 39 pro games.
• Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 3-for-4, R, K, CS.  9-for-18 in five games after missing almost three months with fractured hamate; .318/.411/.418 in 31 games.
• Cameron Maybin, OF, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 2-for-5, 3B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K.  Eight hits in last three games and .342/.407/.479 overall; might be a nice change-of-scenery pickup in off-season.
• Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (11), 2 R, 2 RBI, CS. Hitting .319/.345/.575 since the All-Star break and .294/.348/.479 overall; both bat and glove have impressed.
• Matt Miller, RHP, Brewers (Short-season Helena): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K.  Second straight seven-inning, one-hit outing for fifth-round pick; big (6-6, 220) and sits at 91-94 mph, but scouts rarely see good secondary stuff.
• Mike Minor, LHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinett): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K.  On strict pitch count; makes big league debut in Monday start.
• Nick Noonan, 2B, Giants (Double-A Richmond): 3-for-4, 3B, R, RBI.  Athletic middle infielder has had miserable year, but 16-for-35 (.457) in last eight games; up to .268/.313/.338 overall.
• Carlos Perez, C, Blue Jays (Short-Season Auburn): 2-for-5, 3B, R, RBI, 2 K.  18-year-old Venezuelan catcher is one of New York-Penn League's best prospects; how many catchers have ever hit seven triples in 41 games?
• Cesar Puello, OF, Mets (Low-A Savannah): 3-for-3, BB, SB.  Ultra toolsy and ultra hot; batting .475 (28-for-59) during 15-game hitting streak with 14 stolen bases and scouts think there will be some power down the road.
• Erasmo Ramirez, RHP, Mariners (Low-A Clinton): 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 12 K.  20-year-old Nicaraguan has superb command of solid stuff; 91 Ks and just 14 walks in 117 innings.
• Josh Reddick, OF, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-4, 2B, R.  Now 20-for-39 in last nine games; OPS up nearly 100 points in the process but still at just .246/.288/.427.
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI, K.  First two hits as a Red Sox employee.
• Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (Rookie-level GCL Yankees): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI.  Still mashing away after missing two weeks with a minor injury; up to .378/.448/.611 in 24 games.
• Giovani Soto, LHP, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K.  Crafty southpaw picked up from Detroit in Peralta trade has allowed three hits over 11 innings since trade.
• Oscar Tejeda, 2B, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 3-for-4, HR (9), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.  Continues to hit, but has suddenly turned into a walk machine with 14 walks in his first 60 games, but 15 in his last 29; overall at .317/.356/.470.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 3-for-4, 2B.  Almost lost in the shuffle of the tremendous season is the fact that he turns just 19 tomorrow.
• Miguel Velazquez, OF, Rangers (High-A Bakersfield): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (4), R, RBI.  .293/.344/.429 in 33 games since the promotion; power has to come along for him to project well.
• Zach Von Rosenberg, RHP, Pirates (Short-Season State College): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K.  Projectable righty who got $1.2 million in '09 has allowed one run and just eight hits over 15 innings in last three starts.
• Jordan Zimmerman, RHP, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.  Don't forget that this guy was the top prospect in the system before the number one picks came along; stuff has looked great since TJ surgery and should be good part of '11 rotation.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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