September 8, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of September 7

by Kevin Goldstein

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Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (High-A Charlotte): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 BB, 10 K

Pitching in the Stone Crabs playoff opener, Moore's start was really a microcosm of his scouting reports. Utterly dominant, bat-missing stuff, combined with the occasional wildness. There was no better pitcher in the minors during the second half of the season than Moore, who had a 1.39 ERA in his last 14 starts while striking out 130 over 84 innings while allowing just 47 hits, and with two big league-level swing-and-missing offerings in his fastball and big-bending curve, he projects easily as an All-Star level starter.

Others Of Note:

• Michael Choice, OF, Athletics (Short-season Vancouver): 3-for-5, K. First-round pick is building on impressive debut in the Northwest League playoffs; Power, patience, and the kind of tools rarely found in a college talent.
• Leon Landry, OF, Dodgers (Rookie-level Ogden): 3-for-4, 2B, R. Hard to judge a college player in the Pioneer League, but Landry isn't responsible for his own assignments and has impressed with a .356/.402/.515 line in 55 games.
• Nick Longmire, OF, Cardinals (Short-season Batavia): 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. Fifth-rounder hit .287/.372/.483 during regular season; true center fielder with plus speed and intriguing power potential.
• Kyle Lotzkar, RHP, Reds (Rookie-level Billings): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K. One of the best pure arms in the system took longer than expected to return from Tommy John surgery; has been crazy dominant in Pioneer League with 33 strikeouts over 20 innings and just eight hits allowed.
• Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers (Short-season Spokane): 1-for-2, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. Supplemental first-rounder hit .293/.390/.464 in pro debut; Lots of strikeouts, but power potential, walks and very good defense at the hot corner.
• Cory Vaughn, OF, Mets (Short-season Brooklyn): .Building on .307/.396/.557 pro debut; fourth-round pick suddenly looked far more polished than he did before the draft.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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