July 14, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 13

by Kevin Goldstein

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• Tyler Austin, 1B/3B, Yankees (Rookie-level GCL): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2RBI, SB. Yankees would love to find a defensive home for 2010 draftee as he has excellent hitting skills; .397/.447/.628 in 19 games.
• Manny Banuelos, LHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Was most impressive performer at Eastern League All-Star game; season has been a mild disappointment.
• Nick Barnese, RHP, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 6 BB, 8 K. Strange year for pitcher best known for his command and control as he's still keeping run off the board but suddenly walking far more batters than he once did.
• Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI, K. 18-year-old Aruban has created plenty of buzz with his bat (not so much with the glove) since arriving in early June; .253/.339/.515 in 27 games.
• Gary Brown, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, K, SB. Back on track after ugly .202 batting average in June; Has hit .310+ in all other months for .316/.382/.472 season line with 37 stolen bases.
• Caleb Cowart, 3B, Angels (Rookie-level Orem): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, CS. Hitting a whopping .404/.440/.551 in 22 games, including 13 multi-hit efforts.
• C.J. Cron, 1B, Angels (Rookie-level Orem): 2-for-5, HR (4), R, 3 RBI, 3 K. A 1095 OPS is great and all, but 2011 first-round pick doesn't belong at this level.
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 1-for-4, HR (26), R, RBI, BB, 2 K. First home run in ten July games to re-take minor league lead; .238 batting average in last 20 games has him down to .311/.432/.629 on season.
• Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 2-for-5, R, 2 K. Signs of life continue with .385 mark (17-for-44) in last 10 games; .244/.297/.318 on the season and OBP hasn't been over .300 since May 10.
• Rymer Liriano, OF, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 2-for-4, 3B, HR (9), 2 R, RBI, K, SB. Crashed out of Cal League, but just 20 years old and showing power (nine home runs) and speed (44 SB) to go with .316/.388/.500 line in 68 games since demotion.
• Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, SB. Hitting .381 (16-for-42) in his last ten games and .313/.380/.476 overall to go with some of the best tools in the league; if power develops he could be easy 20/20 type.
• Jarrod Parker, RHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Might be finding a groove with two runs allowed over last 15 innings, but also just nine strikeouts over that stretch.
• Carlos Perez, C, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, K. Has not lived up to expectations (at least offensively), but .400 mark in July has him up to .268/.324/.368.
• Mark Prior, RHP, Yankees (Rookie-level GCL): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K. Just letting you know he's still around.
• Eddie Rosario, OF, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-4, HR (6), R, RBI. First home run in two weeks; still at .326/.389/.628 in 21 games.
• Edward Salcedo, 3B, Braves (Low-A Rome): 2-for-5, HR (10), 2 R, RBI, K. Hitting .308/.358/.542 in 19 games since the All-Star break; few, if any position players in the system have a higher ceiling.
• Andrelton Simmons, SS, Braves (High-A Lynchburg): 2-for-5, 3B, K, CS. 18-for-46 (.391) in last 12 games and .303/.334/.375 on the season; an empty high average is much better than no average at all, which was expected.
• Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 2-for-4, HR (7), R, RBI. First home run in three weeks as June surge turned into July slump (.231); .279/.384/.401 overall in 78 games.
• Cory Spangenberg, 2B, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 0-for-2, BB, K. SB. Full-season debut for highest-signed 2011 draftee after huge showing in Northwest League.
• Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 1-for-3, 2 R, BB. High-A debut.
• Oscar Tavares, OF, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 3-for-4, 3B, 2 R, RBI. A healthy second half will do wonders for his prospect status; .371/.411/.523 in 35 games.
• D'Andre Toney, OF, Royals (Rookie-level AZL): 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, HR (3), 3 R, 3 RBI, BB. 14^th round pick has exceptional tools and is looking less raw than expected; .341/.481/.707 in 15 pro games.
• Cory Vaughn, OF, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 R, 3 RBI, SB. 2010 draftee continues to hit well at every level; .333/.433/.561 in 17 Florida State League games.
• Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-for-4, R, K. Definite progress with .318 batting average and .491 slugging in 33 games since June 1; almost the anti TTO player with 11 walks and 31 strikeouts over 280 at-bats.
• Mason Williams, OF, Yankees (Short-season Staten Island): 4-for-5, 3B, 3 R. 2010 recipient of $1.45 million bonus is 10-for-16 in his last three games and up to .353/.382/.529 in 24 games; scouts love the combination of speed and pure hitting ability.
• Kolten Wong, 2B, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 3-for-4, 3B, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. Riding a nine-game hitting streak that includes a 9-for-19 run in his last four; .333/.420/.561 in 15 pro games and scouts have been very impressed with the bat.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI, CS. Hitting .339/.359/.565 in 14 games since the All-Star break and needs to, as bat might be only plus tool.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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