May 17, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of May 16

by Kevin Goldstein

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Adam Miller, RHP, Indians (High-A Kinston): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

Once the top prospect in the system, Miller's career was derailed by a bizarre finger ailment that made it painful for him to even grip a baseball at times, but he's back, he's in the bullpen, and he's pitching very well of late, whiffing seven over four shutout innings. Now 26 years old, Miller has been showing 90-93 mph heat while occasionally touching 95, but his once-sharp slider is a bit flat and his command has been wavering. He hasn't been healthy and good since 2006, and didn't even pitch the last two years, so the fact that he's simply here is a testament to his desire and makeup, and it's impossible not to root for him.

Others Of Note:

• Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-3, R, RBI, 2 BB. Coming on strong with a .359/.475/.594 line in May.
• Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 2-for-4, 2 2B. 7-for-13 in last three games leading up to tonight's podcast interview; .379/.426/.562 overall.
• Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Right-hander has above-average fastball and curve; 2.80 ERA in seven starts while limiting Southern League hitters to .190 batting average.
• Daniel Fields, OF, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 3-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI, K. Not great, but certainly better and still toolsy; .246/.333/.393 in 33 games.
• Jae-Hoon Ha, OF, Cubs (Double-A Tennesee): 2-for-4, 2B, R. Double-A debut for 20-year-old Korean outfielder who hit .311/.344/.523 in 35 High-A games.
• Jason Hagerty, C, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 3-for-3, 3B, HR (3), 4 R, 2 RBI, BB. Offense-first catcher with power and patience; hitting .278/.355/.474 but need to improve behind the plate.
• Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 0-for-5, R, BB, K. First back-to-back zero hit games since the second and third games of the season; still at .366/.447/.656.
• Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB, K. Up to .325/.381/.578 at 38 games; Jays could probably live with the bad defense considering their third base situation.
• Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K. 18 total bases in last five games and up to .257/.329/.493 after horrific start.
• Brian Matusz, LHP, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K. Struggled with command a bit in first rehab start, but good news is he felt fine afterward.
• Tyler Matzek, LHP, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 5 BB, 5 K. Has lasted just ten innings in his last three starts while allowing 12 runs and walking 16.
• Tommy Mendonca, 3B, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (10), R, 2 RBI. Hitting .317/.338/.579 in 35 games, but can it last with four walks and 44 strikeouts in 145 at-bats?
• Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Has shaken off bad April with a .327/.410/.596 line in May.
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, R, BB, 2 K. A better option than Fernando Martinez, but not on the 40-man; .312/.416/.567 in 39 games.
• Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 10 K. Career high in both innings and strikeouts; can he finally shake the inconsistency label?
• Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 2-for-4, 2 HR (12), 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, K. Even playing in the friendly confines of Tucson can't explain away a .376/.448/.723 line; as there significant growth here as well.
• Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 1-for-3, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. K. Here comes the hot streak? Three home runs in last four games and up to .231/.292/.417.
• Blake Smith, OF, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 3-for-5, 2 HR (9), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Some preferred him as a power reliever out of college; plenty of power, but also big holes in swing and a .270/.321/.507 line in 36 games.
• Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-4, RBI. Back from a wrist injury and 6-for-16 in his first four games.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 2-for-5, 3B, 2 R. Snaps out of 2-for-15 slump; .307/.386/.559 in 33 games and doesn't turn 20 until August.
• Cory Vaughn, OF, Mets (Low-A Savannah): 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. First home run in 29 games, but he's hardly been slumping; 10-for-19 in last five games and .349/.481/.484 overall.
• Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, Pirates (Low-A Pirates): 2.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 K. Has been nothing short of awful since excellent season debut; 9.00 ERA in last six starts while allowing 39 hits in 28 innings.
• Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-4, 3B, HR (12), R, RBI, K. Hitting .414 in May with six home runs in 15 games and overall line of .326/.411/.695 in 36 games; average-to-plus tools across the board lend to possibility of this being real.
• Joe Wieland, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K. In his last five starts, he's struck out 34 over 32.1 innings while walking zero.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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