May 10, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of May 9th

by Kevin Goldstein

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Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 3-for-6, 2B, HR (7), 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 K.

Despite being a supplemental first-round pick last year who signed for just under $900,000, Brentz had trouble sniffing a Red Sox prospect list after a miserable pro debut in while he hit .198 with 76 strikeouts in 69 games. Trying to get him away from some college bat habits in the off-season, Brentz has exploded in the first month of his full-season debut, reaching base in all 30 games he's played with hits in 29 of them, and an overall line of .355/.420/.629. There are still some questions about how his aggressive approach and pull-happy swing will work in the levels, but it's still night and day from last year.

Robby Ray, LHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

2010 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper added two more hits last night to continue his blazing debut, but he wasn't the biggest story on the team, as Ray made his debut, and as you can see, pitched quite well. A 12th-round pick last year who signed for $800,000, Ray has a loose arm that had been up to 94 in the past, as well as a good changeup for his age, but his high school career was marked by inconsistency in terms of both velocity and the quality of his breaking ball. All the ingredients are there for a good pitching prospect, and they seem to have been all on display Monday night.

Others Of Note:

• Matt Adams, 1B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 1-for-4, HR (10), R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Four home runs in last four games and .319/.352/.655 on the year; fat guy can hit.
• Yonder Alonso, OF/1B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-8, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, 3 K. On base in 12 straight games and batting .305/.358/.476 overall; can hit, but is it enough for the position?
• Tim Beckham, SS, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 2-for-3, 2 R, BB, K. Just when it looks like a slump is starting, he reels off four straight multi-hit games; .298/.382/.404 in 30 games with improved defense and a leaner frame.
• Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K. Arguably his best start of the year, but also arguably his sloppiest; there are still scouts who think he's a late-inning reliever in the end.
• Kyle Blanks, 1B, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 2-for-3, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, K. Up to .305/.348/.500 in 21 games and with extra-base hit in six straight, is the power finally returning?
• Yordy Cabrera, SS, Athletics (Low-A Burlington): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 K, SB. 13-for-30 (.433) during seven-game hitting streak and .303/.354/.447 on the year; if he can stay at shortstop, he rockets up prospect lists.
• Nick Castellanos, 3B, Tigers (Low-A West Michigan): 3-for-4, 3B, 2 R, CS. Finally finding his swing after a miserable first month; 9-for-21 in last five games but still at just .230/.278/.320 overall.
• James Darnell, 3B, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 2-for-3, HR (5), R, 2 RBI, BB. Starting up another hot streak and .374/.489/.617 in 29 games; ability to stay at third base still in question.
• Randall Delago, RHP, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 10 K. Season-high in strikeouts but also gave up first two home runs of the year; 2.75 ERA in seven starts with 41 Ks in 39.1 IP.
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 1-for-4, HR (12), R, 3 RBI. Three home runs in last four games and .347/.485/.752 overall; the bat is for real and last year's numbers were not just a product of the California League.
• Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 0-for-5, 3 K, SB, 2 E. Right now, all he has is speed, as he's on a 6-for-48 (.125) run that has dropped his season line to .207/.290/.279 with 14 errors, 23 hits, 12 walks and 28 stolen base attempts.
• Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 2-for-4, 2 K. 14-for-28 in his last seven games and .376/.462/.693 on the season; a ridiculous talent.
• A.J. Jimenez, C, Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin): 2-for-3, 2 R, BB. The best catching prospect that nobody talks about? .354/.398/.510 in 25 games while throwing out more than half of opposing base stealers.
• Casey Kelly, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Has allowed just four runs over last three starts to dip ERA to 3.43 in highly-inflated offensive environment.
• Marcus Knecht, OF, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 4-for-4, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI. 20-year-old sleeper has good hitting skills and some raw power; .329/.402/.526 in 22 games.
• Francisco Martinez, 3B, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 2-for-5, R, 2 K. 20-year-old is finally hitting; six-game streak has batting average up 68 points to .237/.301/.419.
• Jio Mier, SS, Astros (Low-A Lexington): 1-for-2, 3 BB, 2 R. 2009 first-round pick is having a nice bounce-back season while repeating the level; .288/.413/.462 in 28 games.
• Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, CS. Hitting ..344 in May and now .261/.344/.443 in 29 games; approach is much improved, but glove remains spotty.
• Rafael Ortega, OF, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 3-for-5, R, 2 K. 19-year-old speedster is starting to heat up; 9-for-18 in last four games and .288/.339/.333 overall.
• Kyle Parker, OF, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Just three home runs in a power-friendly Low-A park is the only disappointment; .316/.358/.505 in 24 games.
• Carlos Perez, LHP, Braves (Low-A Rome): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K. High ceiling left-hander has combined great starts like this with plenty of bad ones all year.
• Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Best start of the year by a wide margin; 5.53 ERA in six starts.
• Trayvon Robinson, OF, Dodgers (Triple-A Albuquerque): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (7), 2 R, RBI. Three home runs in last five games and .336/.397/.609; speed and up-the-middle abilities makes him more valuable than Jerry Sands.
• Wilin Rosario, C, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 3-for-5, 2B, R. Seven hits in last two games and .301/.341/.578 on the season; one of few catching prospects with above-average offense and defense.
• Eric Thames, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR (6), R, 2 RBI. A bit of a bat-only prospect as his other tools are mediocre, but he can hit, and hit for power, and is up to .349/.428/.619 in 31 games.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 2-for-4, HR (6), 2 R, RBI, BB. Home runs in back-to-back games and .313/.407/.594 overall; will messy big league outfield situation accelerate timetable?
• Sebastian Valle, C, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Has taken OPS up more than 100 points in last five games; .294/.310/.447 in 22 contests thanks to one walk in 85 at-bats.
• Jemile Weeks, 2B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB. 6-for-13 since returning from the disabled list and .352/.448/.545 in 22 games; if he stays healthy, he's the every day second baseman next year.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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