June 28, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 27

by Kevin Goldstein

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Guillermo Pimentel, OF, Mariners (Rookie-level Pulaski): 1-for-3, HR (3), R, RBI, BB.

One of the top international power prospect in the last few years, Pimentel signed for $2 million two years ago as a 16-year-old, and impressed scouts last year with the amount of in-game power he showed in the Arizona League. Still just 18, he's now slugged three home runs in his last five Appy League game to up his numbers after seven games to .280/.310/.720. While his power is top of the scale, he's still an aggressive hitter who swings for the fences in every count, so he's special, but not perfect.

Edward Salcedo, 3B/SS, Braves (Low-A Rome): 5-for-5, 2 2B, 2 HR (9), 5 R, 2 RBI. Salcedo's $1.6 million dollar bonus last year was a rarity for the Braves, who are not normally aggressive in the international talent market. He failed to keep his batting average over the Mendoza line last year, but the Braves kept their faith, hoping that a year without all of the distractions of adjusting to life as a pro baseball player in the United States would lead to better things. With one of the better batting lines of the year last night, he's now hitting .275/.348/.454 in 71 games, and while he's repeating the level, he's still a month shy of his 20^th birthday. Defensive consistency (26 errors) has been a real issue, but scouts are singing high praises for the bat.

Others Of Note:

• Nick Ahmed, SS, Braves (Rookie-level Danville): 2-for-4, HR (1), R, RBI. First pro home run for 2011 second-round pick.
• Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB. Hitting .381/.400/.590 in 26 games since promotion.
• Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 2-for-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI, K. 13-for-25 in last six games to lift OPS 65 points to .301/.348/.460 in 70 games; power and patience need to improve for him to profile well.
• Kyle Blanks, 1B/OF, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 1-for-2, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB. Hitting .382/.462/.779 in 18 games and could be on the verge of another big league opportunity.
• Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI. 18-year-old Aruban is more than holding his own in a full-season environment; .314/.375/.549 in 14 games.
• Xavier Cedeno, LHP, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 6.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 14 K. Not a big prospect, but that's one great night.
• Zach Cone, OF, Rangers (Short-season Spokane): 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K. 2011 second-round pick has five multi-hit games in seven efforts; .364/.400/.545 overall.
• Daniel Corcino, RHP, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K. 20-year-old Dominican gave up 11 runs over 13.2 innings in his first three starts but has 1.48 ERA since; plus fastball, plus breaking ball and plus command is a wonderful combination.
• Caleb Cowart, 3B, Angels (Rookie-level Orem): 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI. 2010 first-rounder has an off night to drop eight-game season batting average to .533 (16-for-30).
• Zack Cozart, SS, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-4, RBI, SB, CS. Yup, still hitting; .320/.363/.488 in 69 games.
• Casey Crosby, LHP, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K. Tough to hit, but real troubles with command and control of late.
• Chris Dominguez, 3B, Giants (Double-A Richmond): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (2), 2 R, 6 RBI, K. Big third baseman who huge raw power, a fantastic arm and not much else; .333/.356/.738 in 11 Double-A games.
• Brian Dozier, SS/2B, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 4-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB. Low-profile prospect is moving up in the minds of many scouts with quick bat and good approach; .344/.447/.531 in nine games since promotion.
• Scooter Gennett, 2B, Brewers (High-A Brevard County): 2-for-5, 2B. 8-for-13 in last three games and .337 in June to raise season line to .283/.325/.362.
• Darin Gorski, LHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Sixth straight quality start; 0.86 ERA over that run to lower season mark to 1.55.
• Yasmini Grandal, C, Reds (Double-A Carolina): 3-for-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, K. Best game since last week's promotion to Double-A; 6-for-17 (.353) in five games.
• Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins (High-A Fort Myers): 2-for-4, 2B, K, SB. Scouting reviews have been excellent of late; up to .342/.478/.521 in 20 June games.
• Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 2-for-4, HR (9), R, RBI, 2 K. Hey, can I come to Cleveland, too? .292/.375/.502 overall in 74 games.
• Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3-for-5, HR (14), 3 R, 6 RBI, BB, K. Hot May has turned into cold June until last night; .260/.327/.473 overall.
• Tom Milone, LHP, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Rarely gets out of the 80s, but has top-of-the-charts location as evidenced by 95 strikeouts and just five walks in 89.2 innings; doesn't have big league stuff, but should find a role in the majors.
• Adrian Nieto, C, Nationals (Short-season Auburn): 4-for-5, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI. Fifth-round pick from 2008 is showing signs of life for the first time in his career; .394/.462/.667 in nine games.
• Rafael Ortega, OF, Rockies (Low-A Ashville): 2-for-3, 2 2B, R, RBI. Admitted KG fave is 8-for-13 in last three games to left season line to .287/.325/.394; 20-year-old Venezuelan has leadoff man tools.
• Joe Panik, SS, Giants (Short-season Salem-Keizer): 1-for-4, HR (3), R, 4 RBI, K. 2011 first-round pick was not seen as a power prospect, yet has three home runs in 37 at-bats and a .649 slugging percentage.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 3-for-5, HR (7), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, CS. Snaps out of 3-for-25 slump; .269/.377/.498 on the season and he's a true shortstop who is younger than Bryce Harper.
• Andro Rienzo, RHP, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Brazillian righty has struggled with command this year, but also has plus velocity and 81 strikeouts in 78 innings.
• Drew Robinson, 3B, Rangers (Rookie-level AZL): 3-for-6, 2B, 3 R, RBI, 2 K. 2010 fourth-round pick is 9-for-18 in first six games.
• Raydel Sanchez, RHP, Dodgers (Rookie-level Ogden): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K. 20-year-old, thickly built Cuban defector has struck out 15 of the 34 right-handed batters he's faced.
• Miguel Sano, SS/3B, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-3, HR (1), R, RBI, BB. Was 5-for-26 (.192) in first six games.
• Kyle Seager, 2B/3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB. 11-for-22 in five Triple-A games and seeing some time at third base.
• Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 3-for-6, 2B, R, RBI, K. .322/.374/.451 line in 55 games is impressive, but needs to move up a level (or two) and prove it's for real.
• Jun Tazawa, RHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 0.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 2 BB, K. That's not exactly encouraging.
• Ronald Torreyes, 2B, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, CS. Small second baseman with big-time bat speed is 10-for-24 in first six games of the season.
• Dayan Viciedo, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 3-for-3, 2B, R, RBI. Hitting .377 in last 25 games and .330/.369/.528 overall and Juan Pierre keeps getting at-bats in the big leagues.
• Chien-Ming Wang, RHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K. First game since 2009; 6-to-1 groundball ratio.
• Nick Weglarz, OF, Indians (Double-A Akron): 1-for-1, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB. You want a weird line? How about .163/.414/.388 in 16 games? 8-for-49 with one single and 21 walks.
• Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-4, HR (19), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, K. SB.
• Kolten Wong, 2B, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 2-for-2, R, 2 RBI, BB, CS. Nearly a perfect pro debut for this year's first-round pick.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI, 2 SB. 7-for-12 with 15 total bases in last three games; up to .282/.360/.434 on the season.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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