June 30, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 29

by Kevin Goldstein

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Matt West, 3B, Rangers (Short-season Spokane): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

A second-round pick in 2007 as a third baseman, West simply never developed as a hitter, and after hitting .241/.344/.364 in 346 games without getting past Low-A, the Rangers moved him to the mound, as his best tool turned out to be his top-of-the-scale arm. After an off-season of training, he began his new career back in Spokane, and in his first four games he has fired 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking eight. Last night, he sat at 95-97 mph with a good slider, so there's stuff to back up the performance and he's suddenly someone to keep an eye on again.

Others Of Note:

• Raul Alcantara, RHP, Red Sox (Rookie-level GCL): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K. 18-year-old Dominican has big heat and has two starts of five innings, one hit.
• Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-for-4, HR (5), R, RBI, SB. Five home runs in 52 High-A at-bats but other numbers not living up to first half; .250/.264/.577 in 13 games.
• Ryan Brett, 2B, Rays (Rookie-level Princeton): 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB 2 SB. 2010 third-round pick is little guy with plus hit tool; 10-for-26 (.385) in seven games.
• Michael Choice, OF, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 3-for-4, HR (17), R, RBI, SB. Power, patience, some speed and plenty of whiffs; .258/.361/.505 in 72 games.
• Sean Coyle, 2B, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI. Difficult player to evaluate, as he's not hitting for average but there are walks and 64% of his hits are for extra bases; .231/.341/.473 in 50 games.
• Luis Domoromo, OF, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 2-for-5, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 K. 19-year-old Venezuelan has impressed with bat; .320/.383/.464 in 48 games.
• Brett Eibner, OF, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR (5), 3 RBI, K. Finally healthy and finding his swing with four home runs in his last six games.
• Nick Evans, OF/1B/3B, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 5-for-5, 2B, R. Arguably the hottest hitter in the minors with a 38-for-74 (.514) run during 19-game hitting streak; still doesn't profile well for the positions he is limited to.
• Reggie Golden, OF, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 3-for-3, 2B, R, BB, SB. Crazy tools picks from last year is not looking nearly as raw as expected; .326/.420/.535 in 12 games.
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 2-for-4, HR (24), R, 2 RBI, K. Pads minor league home runs lead by three; .318/.439/.643 in 77 games.
• Robbie Grossman, OF, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 1-for-2, HR (5), 4 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, K. Don't write him off yet; 29 walks and a .500 OBP in June to lift season line to .286/.420/.410.
• Angelo Gumbs, 2B, Yankees (Short-season Staten Island): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 HR (2), 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 K. 2010 second-round pick is 8-for-14 in last three games after starting the season 4-for-29. Smallish, but has tools.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-3, HR (17), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Is this guy leading baseball in Minor League Update mentions? .373/.438/.645 batting lines can do that.
• Slade Heathcott, OF, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 3-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, K. Florida State League debut.
• Gorkys Hernandez, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 4-for-4, 2B, RBI. Up to .298/.354/.396 and looking like he'll have a big league future again thanks to a bit of offense and plus-plus defensive ability.
• Jared Hoying, OF, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 4-for-5, 2B, RBI, K, SB. Overall a rough year at .252/.338/.395, but 15-for-33 in last seven games.
• Phil Hughes, RHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Fantastically encouraging start with velocity back to 2010 levels.
• Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB. 9-for-16 in last four games and .302/.383/.526 overall; in other words, get him up already.
• Ian Krol, LHP, Athletics (Rookie-level AZL): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Season debut for Top 100 prospect who missed first-half of year with forearm strain.
• Brett Marshall, RHP, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Recovering from bad start; 9.00 ERA in April but 2.09 mark in 11 starts since.
• Jason McEachern, RHP, Rays (Short-season Hudson Valley): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K. Excellent sleeper is 20-year-old 2008 draftee with decent fastball, good breaking ball and fantastic command; 16.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 19 K in three starts.
• Bryson Myles, OF, Indians (Short-season Mahoning Valley): 3-for-5, 2 2B. Sixth-rounder has gap power and plus speed; 9-for-18 in last four games and .333/.412/.556 overall in 11.
• Jarrett Parker, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 1-for-2, 2B, R, RBI, 2 BB; 2-for-4, HR (7), R, RBI, K. 2010 second-round pick has tools and has shown continuous improvement this year; hitting .315/.417/.500 in June.
• Joe Panik, SS, Giants (Short-season Salem-Keizer): 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB. .364/.451/.591 in 11 games while showing excellent approach and surprising power.
• Guillermo Pimentel, OF, Mariners (Rookie-level Mariners ) 3-for-4, R, K. 18-year-old is showing both power and hitting ability; .364/.378/.697 in nine games.
• Eddie Rosario, OF, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-3, 2 HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. I guess I featured him a day too early; five home runs in last four games and .395/.477/.895 overall.
• Tyler Saladino, SS, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, K. Now hitting .309/.374/.568 in June and .253/.331/.481 overall; scouts have extremely wide-ranging opinions on him.
• Tony Sanchez, C, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 1-for-4, HR (3), R, RBI. Having a disturbingly bad season; first home run in over a month, hitting just .203 in June and .248/.350/.324 overall.
• Corey Spangenberg, 2B, Padres (Short-season Eugene): 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI, K. Bad day lowers season line to .432/.587/.614 in first 13 pro games.
• James Taillon, RHP, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. First start in two weeks due to sore pectoral muscle; 42 strikeouts and just four walks in 45.2 innings.
• Ronald Torreyes, 2B, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 K. Fourth straight multi-hit game and 14-for-34 (.412) overall.
• Kyle Weiland, RHP, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 8 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 12 K. Angular righty has plus fastball and two solid secondary offerings; 93 Ks in 86.1 IP and could be worthy of a spot start should need arise.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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