May 11, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of May 10

by Kevin Goldstein

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Jeurys Familia, RHP, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 6 K

The Mets do have some good news in the farm at least, especially when it comes to power-armed righties Matt Harvey (who struggled last night) and Familia, who delivered an excellent Double-A debut last night. The stuff was always there for the 21-year-old Dominican, but the fact that he's suddenly harnessing it, and without a single blip in seven starts, should be a cause for plenty of optimism, as he's coming to the table every night with plus to plus-plus velocity and a good slider.

Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 13 K

Quickly becoming a constant feature at the top of this report every time he throws, Odorizzi has whiffed 41 over 25 innings in his last four starts while giving up just 14 hits and five walks. I've received plenty of questions about his stuff taking a step forward, and it hasn't. He's still in the low-90s while touching 94-95 on occasion, and he's still throwing a good curveball and solid change. This isn't about a jump in stuff, it's more about a jump in pitchability, and those can be just as important for a pitcher's future.

Allen Webster, RHP, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K

I recently mentioned my regret about not putting Robbie Erlin in this year's Top 101 prospects, and Webster is another one of those guys. With a low-to-mid 90s fastball, plus changeup and solid breaking ball, he's not only pitching well, but doing it in the Southern Division of the California League. In his last four starts, the 21-year-old has allowed two runs over 25 innings, and the scouting reports are as impressive as the stats.

Others Of Note:

• Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB, K. Five game hitting streak with two doubles and two home runs ups averages to .237/.362/.393.
• Manny Banuelos, LHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Earned his first credit victory since, believe it or not, August of 2009.
• Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 3-for-5, 2 2B, R, RBI, K. Featured yesterday; 22-game hitting streak has him up to .364/.427/.643.
• Gary Brown, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-for-5, 3 R, 2 SB. 12-for-19 in his last four games and .366/.444/.496 overall in 31; could be in Double-A soon and in San Francisco at some point in 2012.
• Matt Carpenter, 3B, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 3-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB, K. Has reached base 28 times in his last ten games to lift season averages to .307/.454/.416; is lack of power that big a deal when you are making so few outs?
• Dusty Coleman, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (5), 2 R, 5 RBI, K. Combination of health, hitting skills and ability to play shortstop are doing wonders for his stock; .278/.370/.492 in 31 games.
• Rubby De La Rosa, RHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 8 K. Has struck out 25 over 19 innings in his last three starts while throwing in the upper 90s; Dodgers' bullpen woes have to create some temptation.
• Todd Frazier, 3B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-4, 2 2B, K. Eight hits and 18 total bases in last three games up averages to .277/.351/.555; deserves a look in Cincy at the hot corner.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Has reached base in 29 of 32 games as part of .367/.442/.625 line.
• Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 2-for-5, RBI, 2 K. Fifth straight two-hit game; .377/.459/.679 overall.
• Fernando Martinez, OF, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 2-for-5, HR (3), R, RBI. Home runs in back-to-back games and .292/.361/.477 overall; as usual, when he's healthy, he's good.
• Mike Minor, LHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K. Six-for-six in good starts and a 1.82 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 39.2 innings.
• Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K. 24 strikeouts over 17 innings in last three starts while allowing just seven hits; could play a big role in 2012 big league rotation.
• Rafael Ortega, OF, Rockies (Low-A Ashville): 4-for-5, 2 2B, HR (1), 2 R, 5 RBI. Starting to look like the player that impressed Pioneer League scouts last year; 13-for-23 in last five games and .310/.357/.397 overall.
• Jarrod Parker, RHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K. Best start since return from Tommy John surgery, but still struggling with command.
• Tyler Pastornicky, SS, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 2-for-4, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI, K, SB. Three home runs in last six games and up to .310/.362/.457. Deserves more attention than he gets, as he's a true shortstop with plus speed.
• Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K. Even his good outings seem to create more questions than answers, as he's walked 14 over 20 innings in his last four starts.
• Addison Reed, RHP, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. 2010 third-round pick has whiffed 24 in 19 innings while allowing just 12 hits and three walks; scouts think he could reach the big leagues very quickly with mid-90s heat and plus slider.
• Edinson Rincon, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 3-for-5, HR (3), 2 R, RBI, K. 20-year-old Dominican seems to be taking much anticipated step forward with the bat; .350/.388/.528 in 31 games.
• Hayden Simpson, RHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. Left game w/ tightness in his shoulder.
• Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K. 32 strikeouts over 23.2 innings in last four starts and the new minor league leader with 53.
• Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 3-for-3, 2 R. Now 18-for-38 since returning from a hamstring injury and hitting a cool .500 (26-for-52) overall.
• Trayce Thompson, OF, White Sox (Low-A Kannapolis) 2-for-4, 2B, HR (7), 2 R, 4 RBI; 1-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K. Not much progress in the approach department, but tools still leave scouts intrigued; .238/.304/.437 in 31 games.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 3-for-5, 2 2B, R. Batting .467 (14-for-30) in May and .327/.415/.614 overall; running out of clever things to say about him (or maybe I just did).
• Dayan Viciedo, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (5), 2 R, 5 RBI, BB. The White Sox don't have much of a youth movement to start, but Viciedo's .303/.343/.496 line could help him begin it.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 4-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB. 14-for-25 (.560) in last seven games and .321/.415/.481 overall; one of the better pure hitters in the 2010 draft, and certainly looking like it.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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