June 8, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 7

by Kevin Goldstein

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Zack Cozart, SS, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-5, 3B, R, 3 RBI, 2 K.

I know I'm out on an island here, but I continue to believe that Cozart is the Reds best option at shortstop. Paul Janish is a wonderful defender, but the team can only put up with sub-.300 on-base and slugging percentages for so long. Cozart is no slouch himself with the glove, currently riding a 20-game error-less streak, and after hitting just .225 in April, he's batting .378 since and .315/.353/.500 overall with above-average power for a middle infielder and enough speed to steal a few bases. I really don't know what the Reds are waiting for, as they have an instant upgrade just waiting at Triple-A.

Others Of Note:

• Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-4, HR (9), R, RBI. Already a career high in home runs and 11-for-23 with 10 walks in his last six games; .305/.421/.504 overall and should be up already.
• Tim Beckham, SS, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 2-for-3, R, BB, SB. Has continued to show real progress both at the plate and in the field; .299/.354/.430 in 55 games.
• Christian Bethancourt, C, Braves (Low-A Rome): 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB. 19-year-old catcher is maturing offensively before our eyes; 17-for-38 (.447) in last ten games and .286/.304/.434 overall.
• Andrew Brackman, RHP, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 2 K. Slide continues; 6.75 ERA in 11 starts with more walks (40) than strikeouts (39) in 52 innings.
• Vinnie Catricala, 3B/1B, Mariners (High-A High Desert): 1-for-4, HR (14), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. 11 home runs in last 23 games and .370/.434/.621 overall; I'd love to get excited here, but this is exactly the kind of guy that will put up huge numbers at High Desert.
• Jose Ceda, RHP, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Three perfect innings with six whiffs in last three appearances; 1.03 ERA in 24 games with 34 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.
• Colin Cowgill, OF, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 5-for-6, 2B, 3B, HR (11), R, 4 RBI, SB. Ability to play all three outfield positions could get him in the big leagues soon; .366/.429/.612 in 57 games.
• Chase D'Arnaud, SS/2B, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K, SB. 7-for-17 since returning from DL and .285/.355/.436 overall; max-effort grinder who should have solid big league career as second-division starter/utility player.
• Travis D'Arnaud, C, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 3-for-4, K. Snaps out of 3-for-26 slump; .308/.400/.508 in 38 games.
• Lucas Duda, OF, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 2-for-4, HR (9), R, 3 RBI. Limitations are well known, but really can hit; four 11-for-25 with four home runs in last seven games and .295/.405/.566 overall.
• Jonathan Galvez, 2B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-5, HR (6), 2 R, 5 RBI, K. Hitting .393 in June and .278/.357/.439 overall; Middle infielder with speed and power who seems to be flying under the radar.
• Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI. 23-for-58 (.397) during 13-game hitting streak and .308/.370/.421 overall; everyone focuses on the big names but don't forget about this guy because he's a better player right now than Chris Getz.
• Darin Gorski, LHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. 0.57 ERA in last five starts with 35 strikeouts in 31.2 innings; scouts still see a reliever for the most part, but they're starting to take more interest.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 5-for-6, 2 2B, HR (13), 4 R, 4 RBI. Massive game as part of 24-run outburst on a windy day in Lancaster; .368/.430/.648 in 59 games.
• Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 2-for-5, 3B, R, RBI, K. Third straight multi-hit game and hitting .379 in June; .282/.381/.486 overall and scouts say he almost seems bored.
• Austin Kirk, LHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Lefty with very good command and secondary offerings; 1.96 ERA in 12 appearances.
• Marcus Knecht, OF, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI, K. 2010 third-round pick offers plenty of tools and bat speed; .339/.418/.556 line in 47 games bears keeping an eye on.
• Mark Krauss, OF, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 3-for-3, HR (9), 2 RBI, BB. Great game in otherwise disappointing year; .241/.344/.467 in 54 games.
• Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 3-for-5, R, RBI, 2 SB. Hitting .327/.355/.461 in 52 games. Plus speed, gap power, good defense, but real concerns about his approach, which he makes up for in part with outstanding plate coverage.
• Carlos Martinez, RHP, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K. 19-year-old Dominican has most impressive raw stuff in the Midwest League; 35 strikeouts in 26.2 innings but command and control has waivered.
• Jose Martinez, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 3-for-5, HR (4), R, 3 RBI, K. Impressive return from non-stop injuries; still just 22 and hitting .306/.346/.419 in 57 games.
• Devin Mesoraco, C, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB. If anything he keeps getting better; 17 hits and 30 total bases in his last ten games to lift line to .330/.415/.553 in 52 games.
• Trent Mummey, OF, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, RBI. Three straight multi-hit games and .298/.355/.456 in 14 High-A games; nice sleeper with plus speed and gap power.
• Derek Norris, C, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, K; 1-for-1, HR (9), R, 2 RBI. The picture boy for the importance of secondary skills with an extreme batting line of .246/.393/.526.
• Francisco Peguero, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Missed first two months of season recovering from knee surgery; 9-for-24 (.375) in first five games of season.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI, K. 24-for-61 (.393) in last 16 games and .288/.402/.529 overall; if Bryce Harper wasn't around, this guy would be the talk of the Sally League.
• Edinson Rincon, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 5-for-6, 2B, HR (6), 3 R, 7 RBI. Yes it's Lake Elsinore, but 20-year-old Dominican was always expected to hit; .351/.389/.524 in 56 games but just isn't in infielder long-term.
• Enny Romero, LHP, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 11 K. Is too hittable at times, has control problems at times, but also has filthy raw stuff; 63 strikeouts in 50 innings.
• Kyle Russell, OF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 2-for-4, 2 HR (12), 2 RBI, BB, K. Four home runs in last four games and .282/.346/.573 overall; 74 strikeouts in 206 at-bats continues to be a problem.
• Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Giants (Triple-A Fresno): 1-for-3, HR (1), R, 4 RBI. Rehab home run off Blue Jays LHP Brett Cecil.
• Andrelton Simmons, SS, Braves (High-A Lynchburg): 2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI. One scout who recently saw him wondered how he lasted to the second round of last year's draft; .316/.355/.378 in 53 games and plus-plus defense.
• Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-5, HR (3), R, 2 RBI, K. Healthy and rebounding well from rough 2010 campaign; .321/.380/.476 in 20 games.
• Sebastian Valle, C, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 2-for-4, K. 21-for-41 during 10-game hitting streak and up to .357/.369/.503 overall; hard to keep hitting .357 when you draw two walks in 157 at-bats.
• Yordano Ventura, RHP, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. 20-year-old Dominican has been outstanding in full-season debut; 27 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
• Dayan Viciedo, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 3-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI. Eight hits in last four games and .312/.361/.525 overall; most important number is 15 walks over 221 at-bats, which represents a massive step forward in plate discipline.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 3-for-6, 2B, R, 3 RBI, K. Last year's first-rounder has impressed scouts with his hitting ability; 10-for-19 in last four games and .285/.370/.415 overall.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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