September 3, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of September 2

by Kevin Goldstein

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• Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 3-for-4, 2B, 3 R, BB, K. Hitting .377 in last 30 games and .304/.335/.524 overall; home/road splits are jarring (.997 OPS vs. .702)
• Jesse Biddle, LHP, Phillies (Short-season Willamsport): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R (2 ER), 6 BB, 0 K. Control has been an issue all along, but the stuff is outstanding and first two starts for Crosscutters were impressive.
• Drake Britton, LHP, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K. Best start of year for Tommy John survivor; plus-plus velocity for lefty and more than a strikeout per inning.
• Matt Dominguez, 3B, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI. 8-for-16 over last five games; .255/.333/.416 line isn't great, but just turned 20.
• Danny Duffy, LHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. 41 strikeouts in 39.2 Double-A innings with nine walks; stuff has been better than ever with increased velocity and no loss of command.
• Eduardo Escobar, SS, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 2-for-4, HR (3), 3 R, RBI, BB, 2 K. Slick fielder is batting .263/.296/.376 in 47 Double-A games; just needs to hit a little bit because the defense is so good.
• Johnny Giavotello, 2B, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI; 2-for-3, HR (9), R, RBI. 27 total bases in last six games and .327/.398/.465 overall.
• Rick Hague, SS, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB. Third-round pick out of Rice is 16-for-38 in last nine games and .326/.392/.504 overall; high-energy scrapper who probably can't stay at short.
• Craig Kimbrell, RHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. 16 strikeouts over 7.2 innings in last seven appearances; won't be trusted in the big leagues until the walks come down.
• Brandon Laird, 3B, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/WB): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R. Still hitting just .183 in last 24 games and hasn't hit a home run in a month.
• Brett Lawrie, 2B, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 2-for-5, 3B, RBI, 2 K. Second in the minors with 16 triples; .287/.348/.457 on the season.
• Jake Lemmerman, SS, Dodgers (Rookie-level Ogden): 3-for-4, 2 HR (11), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. Fifth-round pick out of Duke is putting on a show of late; four home runs in last three games and overall line of .364/.434/.603.
• Kyle Lotzkar, RHP, Reds (Rookie-level Billings): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K. Still just 20 years old and always had one of the better pure arms in the system; after tons of injuries, including a Tommy John surgery, he's whiffed 53 in 39.1 innings during return.
• Shelby Miller, RHP, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K. First-round pick has 140 strikeouts in 104.1 innings; arguably the best stuff in the Midwest League, but maddeningly inconsistent from inning to inning.
• Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 1-for-4, HR (15), R, 2 RBI, BB. Takes over minor league lead with 36 home runs; 14-for-34 in last eight games with eight home runs and 24 RBIs.
• Derek Norris, C, Nationals (High-A Potomac): 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB. Hand issues sapped his power; combined with strange .242/.424/.435 line and he's a tough one to evaluate.
• Marcel Ozuna, OF, Marlins (Short-season Jamestown): 1-for-4, HR (20), R, RBI K. 20 home runs in just 256 at-bats, but also up to 92 strikeouts.
• Francisco Peguero, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-for-4, HR (10), R, 4 RBI, K. Hitting .375 during 16-game hitting streak and .322/.352/.476 overall.
• Josh Reddick, OF, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-4, HR (17), R, RBI. Batting .440 and slugging .880 during 11-game hitting streak; up to .363/.385/.643 since the All-Star break.
• Jean Segura, 2B, Angels (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (10), 2 R, RBI, SB. Seriously people, I love this kid. Hits, gap power with projection, plus-plus runner and good approach. Highly underrated prospect.
• Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacremento): 2-for-5, HR (6), R, 2 RBI. Trying to end year on a high note with seven-game hitting streak; .266/.347/.389 showing is one of the organization's bigger letdowns.
• Jacob Turner, RHP, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 7 K. One earned run over last five starts while allowing 13 hits over 25.1 innings.
• Christian Yellich, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro) 2-for-4, R, K. 17^th overall pick is 13-for-31 (.419) as a pro.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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