June 22, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 21

by Kevin Goldstein

Darin Gorski, LHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. A seventh-round pick in 2009, Gorski had a 4.58 ERA as a 22-year-old in the Sally League last year, so to say he entered the year as a marginal prospect might be putting it kindly. A strike-thrower who sat in the upper-80s in the past, some mechanical refinements have turned his fastball into a plus pitch for a lefty, as his heater has been sitting in the 90-93 mph range in the Florida State League, and the pitch, as well as a solid breaking ball/changeup combination play up due to his ability to locate. With a 1.57 ERA over 68.2 innings with 82 strikeouts in 15 walks, he's too good for this league, but we can also say he's too old for the league as well. Stock is certainly up, but he'll need to prove it at Double-A to generate more believers.

Others Of Note:

Brandon Allen, 1B, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 2-for-4, HR (12), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Home runs in back-to-back games and .294/.424/.529 overall; just seems eternally blocked in Arizona.

Henderson Alvarez, RHP, Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Power righty has thrived since promotion to Eastern League; 2.30 ERA in seven starts, but scouts still want to see more progress with the secondary pitches.

Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 2.1 IP, 4 H, 7 R (6 ER), 4 BB, 1 K. Worst start of the year with only 42 of 82 pitches going for strikes; ERA up nearly a run to 2.61.

Adonys Cardona, RHP, Blue Jays (Rookie-level GCL Blue Jays): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. Pro debut for 17-year-old Venezuelan who signed for $2.8 million last year; tons of projection.

Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI. Hitting .333/.425/.727 in nine games since returning from disabled list.

Adron Chambers, OF, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis) 2-for-4, 2 HR (7), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, K. Future fourth outfielder, but should be a good one; .257/.356/.403 in 59 games.

Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Angels (Rookie-level Orem): 3-for-5, R, 3 RBI, SB. 2010 first-rounder is 5-for-9 in two games.

Niko Goodrum, SS, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-4, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, K. First pro home run for second-round 2010 pick who hit .161 in the Gulf Coast League last year without a home run in 118 at-bats.

Grant Green, SS, Athletics (Double-A Midland): 2-for-5, R, RBI, K, CS. 9-for-19 in last four games and .287/.335/.391 overall and power aspect of game seems to have been left behind in the California League.

Jed Gyorko, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-4,R, 2 RBI. No surprise that he had the only multi-hit effort in the California/Carolina League All-Star game.

Luis Heredia, RHP, Pirates (Rookie-level GCL Pirates): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 0 K. Pro debut for 16-year-old high-profile sign last year out of Mexico; was born 8/10/94.

L.J. Hoes, OF, Orioles (Double-A Bowie): 5-for-5, R. Was pushed to Double-A in late May and was struggling; batting average goes from .238 to .281 in one day.

Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Angels (Rookie-level Orem): 4-for-5, 3 2B, HR (1), 6 R, 4 RBI, BB. Certainly your line of the day from 2010 supplemental first-round pick who profiles as offense-first second baseman.

Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 2-for-4, SB, CS. Hitting .373 in June and .338/.371/.475 overall. Overly aggressive approach is only real knock against him.

Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB. Batting line continues to creep up towards expectations; .296/.365/.423 in 38 games.

Trayvon Robinson, OF, Dodgers (Triple-A Albuquerque): 2-for-2, 2B, 2 R, 3 BB. On base 15 times in last three games to raise averages to .323/.393/.586 in 68 games; deserves a look.

Josh Sale, OF, Rays (Rookie-level Princeton): 1-for-3, HR (1), R, RBI, BB, K. Pro debut for 2010 first-round pick; bat will have to carry him, but he sure can hit.

James Simmons, RHP, Athletics (Rookie-level AZL Athletics): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. 2007 first-round pick had not pitched since 2009 due to shoulder surgery.

Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 3-for-4, 2B, HR , R, 6 RBI, K. Snaps out of 4-for-34 slump; .254/.373/.355 line is one of the minors' biggest disappointments.

Drew Smyly, LHP, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 8 K. Not a classic Tigers prospect, as he's more about command and changes speeds than power stuff; 2.92 ERA in eight starts.

Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 2-for-6, 3B, 2 R, 2 K. Five triples in June, nine on the season and overall line of .318/.418/.548.

Barry Zito, LHP, Giants (Triple-A Fresno): 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Threw 118 pitches, so he sure seems healthy to me.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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