May 31, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of May 30

by Kevin Goldstein

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Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, RBI, K.

It's not even July 1, and Martin is looking like one of the best international signing of the year. In his first 17 games as a professional, he's hitting .353/.438/.588, but the most impressive number might be the three (count 'em three) strikeouts in 68 at-bats. An above-average defender with plus speed and a true leadoff man's approach, Martin has the potential to be the answer to the center field question in Texas by turning into a better version of what Julio Borbon was supposed to be.

Others Of Note:

• Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, K. 14 hits and 23 total bases in last seven games; .292/.394/.472 overall and franking it's surprising that he's still here.
• Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 2-for-4, 2 R. It's what he does; .404/.448/.587 in 51 games.
• Joe Benson, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 1-for-4, HR (5), R, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB. 12-for-24 during seven game hitting streak and .289/.376/.480 overall; won't hit for a high batting average in the big leagues, but power, patience, speed and defense will more than make up for it.
• Bobby Borchering, 3B/1B, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 3-for-5, 2B, RBI. Hitting .322 in May and .287/.327/.480 overall; pretty swing with power, but approach and defense need significant work.
• Gary Brown, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB. Hitting .407 in May in .374/.440/.537 overall; only knock against his game is a minor league leading 12 caught stealing in 42 attempts.
• Ryan Buch, RHP, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 6.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 3 K. 2009 draftee has good body, decent stuff; future bullpen possibilities.
• Daniel Butler, C, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 7 RBI, BB, K, SB. Red Sox best sleeper is an undrafted free agent with power and patience; .252/.356/.496 in 40 games as has future backup possibilities if receiving skills improve.
• Garrett Claypool, RHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. 2.00 ERA in 12 games and 66 strikeouts in 54 innings; A 22-year-old with outstanding command who doesn't belong at this level.
• A.J. Cole, RHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Best start of year for seven-figure 2010 draftee; 23 strikeouts in first 21.1 innings as a pro.
• Chelsor Cuthbert, 3B, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 2-for-5, RBI. 18-year-old Nicaraguan has impressed with both the bat and the glove in his first ten days in a full-season league; .314/.368/.543 in nine error-free games.
• James Darnell, 3B, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 3-for-5, R. Hitting .337/.424/.594 in May, and that's his bad month; .369/.468/.642 overall in 47 games.
• Matt Davidson, 3B/1B, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 2-for-5, HR (7), R, 4 RBI, K. Home runs in back-to-back games and .286/.347/.459 overall in 48 games; 58 strikeouts in 196 at-bats is cause for concern.
• Eduardo Escobar, SS, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 2-for-3, 2B, HR (4), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, K. Needs more days like this; .252/.299/.411 in 49 games.
• Christian Friedrich, LHP, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Worst start of career followed by best start of year; 4.64 ERA in 10 starts.
• Garrett Gould, RHP, Dodgers (Low-A Great Lakes): 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Has been remarkably consistent with a 1.83 ERA in 10 clunker-free starts; slight uptick in velocity also improving his cause.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Mini-slump ended flirt with .400; still at .373/.439/.660 through 51 games.
• Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI. Even with this game, he's still at just .204/.287/.293 in 48 games.
• Adeiny Heccevarria, SS, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 4-for-5, 2B, R. Batting average up 30 points over just five games (11-for-22); .246/.271/.377 in 50 with expected plus-plus defense.
• Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 1 K. Only 17 of his 50 pitches went for strikes; stretching his arm out for starting is a confusing decision, as his only maintained success was in short stints.
• Jeff Larish, 1B, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (10), 7 RBI, BB, K. Ex-prospect, huge day.
• Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB. 21 total bases in last three games and .354/.413/.677 overall; could be in Toronto by second half, but scouts still very down on his defense.
• Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3-for-4, 3 2B, R, RBI, K. Hitting .322/.397/.591 in May with significantly reduced error rate.
• Ethan Martin, RHP, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 2.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K. Former first-round pick is still a mess command-wise; 53 strikeouts in 45.1 innings is the only positive takeaway from 7.35 ERA in 10 games.
• Francisco Martinez, 3B, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 3-for-4, R. 20-year-old Venezuelan looked over-matched for the level early on, but has made adjustments; hitting .366 in 18 May games and .275/.322/.435 overall.
• Jared Mitchell, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 2-for-2, R, RBI. Showing sings of life finally; still only at .224/.277/.408 in 46 games.
• Tyler Moore, 1B, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 2-for-2, HR (9), 2 R, RBI, BB. Four home runs in last nine games and .288/.318/.538 overall; Way too free a swinger to profile well in the big leagues.
• Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R. Hitting .317 in May with more than 40% of his hits going for extra bases and showing much more consistency with the glove as well; in other words, he could be up soon.
• Kyle Parker, OF, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K. While his .297/.362/.479 line is hardly bad, he's shown significant contact issues without hitting for as much power as expected.
• Wily Mo Pena, OF, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (17), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. 17 home runs in 169 at-bats and .361/.438/.740 overall.
• Henry Rodriguez, 2B, Reds (High-A Bakersfield): 3-for-5, 2 R, HR (6), 2 R, RBI. 12-for-21 in last five games and .340/.379/.498 overall; somewhat unknown second base prospect who deserves more attention because he can really hit.
• Austin Romine, C, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI. 14-for-32 (.438) during eight-game hitting streak and .301/.366/.434 overall; still struggles against the running game.
• Adrian Salcedo, RHP, Twins (Low-A Beloit): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K. First career complete game and 3.38 ERA in 10 games; throwing more strikes than missing bats.
• Scott Sizemore, 3B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-4, 2B, 4 R, 2 BB. On base 11 times in his first three games as an Athletic while playing exclusively at the hot corner.
• Sammy Solis, RHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 7 K. Season-debut for 2010 second-round pick who suffered groin injury during spring training.
• Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (2), R, 2 RBI, BB. Home runs in back-to-back games and 18-for-43 (.419) in his last ten; .343/.409/.460 on the season and could be headed to High-A soon.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 3-for-4, HR, RBI, BB, SB. Was under .300 for a couple of days but back to .305/.413/.512; after stealing six games in his first 33 games, he has seven in his last 12.
• Jemile Weeks, 2B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-5, 3B, 2 R, BB. 13-for-28 with six walks in last seven games; .335/.427/.470 in 39 games overall and how could he be worse than Mark Ellis?
• Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 3-for-5, 2 R, K. 15-for-29 (.517) in last seven games and up to .337/.416/.643 overall; does Eric Young's promotion help get him to AAA?

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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