June 15, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 14

by Kevin Goldstein

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Andrew Miller, LHP, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K. He was a cheap risk to take, and now the Red Sox are on the verge of fixing a second North Carolina first-round pick whose career went south due to control problems, with Daniel Bard being the first. After walking 32 batters over 40.1 innings in his first nine games, he's given up just three walks over 25.1 in his last four, while giving up just 17 hits and striking out 26. His fastball has been in the 91-95 mph range, his slider has always been a quality pitch, and with the ability to opt out of his deal today if he's not in the big leagues, the Red Sox are now forced to decide if he's ready. [Late note: Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports that Miller and his agent will meet with Red Sox brass with a plan of promoting him next week.]

Others Of Note:

• Christian Bethancourt, C, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-for-4, K. Hitting .413 in 11 games and up to .300/.318/.435 in 51 games with outstanding defense.
• Jesse Biddle, LHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 9 K. Career-high strikeouts; 7.16 ERA in April but 3.02 since.
• Kyle Blanks, 1B/OF, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 R, BB, K. 8-for-12 in last three games and mixing in more outfield play now that Rizzo is at first base in the big leagues.
• Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (6), 2 R, RBI, 2 K. Up to .299/.368/.498 in 55 games after home runs on back-to-back nights; just waiting for the July clearinghouse to begin.
• Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-3, 2 HR (4), 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. Second game back since missing six weeks with a thumb injury; .211/.378/.474 in 16 games.
• Nick Castellanos, 3B, Tigers (Low-A West Michigan): 2-for-4, HR (4), R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K. Fourth straight multi-hit game, .362 in June and .278/.322/.417 overall.
• Michael Choice, OF, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 2-for-3, HR (13), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Contact issues remain but power and patience are outstanding; .245/.350/.481 in 60 games.
• Christian Colon, SS, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-3, 4 R, 2 BB. Picking things up with .327 June; still just .256/.333/.332 in 57 games.
• Taylor Green, 3B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB. 23-for-43 (.535) during 12-game hitting streak and .318/.394/.575 overall; finally healthy and hitting at a time when Casey McGehee isn't.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB. As if he couldn't get hotter, he's now 20-for-35 in last seven games and .384/.445/.663 overall; not sure what we're learning from having him still in High-A.
• Reese Havens, 2B, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 2-for-5, HR (2), R, RBI, 2 K, SB. Oft-injured former first-rounder has been just so-so since return to Double-A; .259/.323/.448 in 15 games.
• Drew Hutchinson, RHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. 18 shutout innings over last three starts with 25 strikeouts; not monster stuff, but low-90s fastball, average changeup and very good slider.
• Scott Kazmir, LHP, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 BB, K. 17.02 ERA in five starts while allowing 48 base runners in 15.1 innings.
• Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 2-for-4, 2 3B, 2 R, RBI, K. 11-for-22 with 20 total bases in last five games and up to .296/.368/.505; in other words, get him up already.
• Kyle Lotzkar, RHP, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Season-debut for oft-injured power righty.
• Barret Loux, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K. 3.48 ERA in 13 games with 74-to-19 K/BB ratio in 67.1 innings.
• Carlos Martinez, RHP, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. It's taken seven starts (or less) for him to be seen as having the best stuff in the league; 2.48 ERA in seven games with 43 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.
• Francisco Martinez, 3B, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 3-for-5, RBI, K, CS. 20-year-old Venezuelan hit .179 in April but .344 in 32 games since; .286/.334/.448 overall and one of the better hitting prospects that nobody seems to know about.
• Tommy Mendonca, 3B, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB, K. 14-for-23 in last five games and .322/.367/.572 on year; with 71 Ks in 236 at-bats, how can it be sustainable?
• Mike Montgomery, LHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 8 K. Season-high in strikeouts but control problems persist.
• Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 R, BB, K. OPS is up 68 points in two days; up to .282/.346/.410 in 31 games.
• Keyvius Sampson, RHP, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 9 K. Fastball has been outstanding while secondary pitches come and go; 2.60 ERA in 12 starts with 72 strikeouts in 62.1 innings.
• Dave Sappelt, OF, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 5-for-5, 2B, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI. 11-for-25 in five games after missing a month with an oblique injury and .365/.426/.600 overall in 28 games; some scouts believe that fourth outfielder projections are too conservative.
• Blake Smith, OF, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 3-for-3, HR (14), 2 R, 5 RBI, 3 BB, CS. Athletic outfielder combines power with a big arm and a propensity for strikeouts; .276/.345/.522 in 59 games.
• Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R. Hitting .362 in June and .315/.385/.449 overall; lack of power (2 HR in 178 ABs) has been shocking.
• Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Career-high in strikeouts; opposing batters 4-for-31 against him in last two starts.
• Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K. Stuff has been at its best in the last two starts; 92-98 mph fastball while sitting comfortably at 95, with both his curveball and changeup looking plus.
• Eric Thames, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-3, 3B, HR (7), 2 R, 4 RBI. Hitting .323 since return to minors; .339/.409/.605 in 45 games.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 2-for-4, HR (8), 2 R, RBI, BB, K, SB (23). From hot to crazy hot; 10-for-17 with 18 total bases in last four games and .330/.434/.565 overall.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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