July 13, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 12

by Kevin Goldstein

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A short report, as plenty of leagues take the night off, not wanting to compete with the All-Star game.

Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-4, 2 HR (24), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. It was a bit baffling to see Wheeler not selected to the Futures Game, and even more so when Mike Trout was promoted to the big leagues, creating an obvious opening. As somebody who was once involved in the selection process, it should be noted that teams sometimes don't make players available for a variety of reasons, so let's simply celebrate the season Wheeler is having. At .313/.394/.602 in 87 games with 24 home runs and 15 stolen bases, Wheeler would deservedly make any overall All-Star team, and he's looking more and more like a player who has gone from blocked behind Dexter Fowler and Charlie Blackmon to an important part of Colorado's future.

Others Of Note:

• Matt Adams, 1B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 3-for-4, HR (19), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB. Showing no signs of slowing down; 13 total bases in last three games and up to .351/.399/.649 overall.
• Michael Choice, OF, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 4-for-6, HR (24), R, 2 RBI, K. Arguably the hottest hitter in the minors by going 20-for-46 (.435) with seven home runs in 11 July games; .280/.373/.563 overall.
• Zack Cox, 3B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI, K. On hottest streak of 42 game Double-A stint; 12-for-23 with five doubles in last five games to lift OPS 98 points to .256/.320/.353.
• Issac Galloway, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (12), 2 R, 4 RBI, K. Oft-injured, rarely good 2008 draftee hit just four home runs in 161 games coming into the year; still whiffs a ton, leading to .243/.279/.430 overall line in 77 games.
• Max Kepler, OF, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-6, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Was 2-for-23 in first five games but is 13-for-37 (.351) since.
• Matt Lipka, SS, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, RBI. First home run in 81 games and first multi-hit contest in 15 contests; still has an ugly season line of .235/.292/.282.
• Jimmy Parades, 2B/3B, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R RBI, K. Hitting .383 in 11 July games and .283/.317/.432 overall; gap power, plus speed, positional versatility.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-for-5, HR (9), R, RBI, SB, CS. Up to .272/.381/.498 overall in 70 games; does not have a single below-average tool.
• Eddie Rosario, OF, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 3-for-5, 3B, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB. Hasn't gone deep for 11 games after hitting five in his first ten; still at .317/.385/.598 in 20 games.
• Edward Salcedo, 3B, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI. Slugging .589 since the break and plenty of scouts believe many of his 24 doubles in 323 at-bats will turn into home runs down the road.
• Tanner Scheppers, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. First scoreless outing in last six games during which he has allowed 13 hits in 8.1 innings.
• Jake Skole, OF, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-for-4, R, BB, K, SB, CS. 2010 first-round pick showing some life at the plate; .387 in ten July games and up to .275/.378/.359 overall.
• Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Blue Jays (Rookie-level Bluefield): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K. 2010 supplemental first-rounder has been good in all four starts; 18.1 IP, 15 H, 5 BB, 24 K.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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