July 26, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 25

by Kevin Goldstein

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Sorry about the lateness, I had some commitments this morning...

• Jordan Akins, OF, Rangers (Rookie-level AZL): 3-for-4, 3B, R, 4 RBI, BB, K, 3 SB. Outfielder loaded with tools yet very raw; .294/.318/.431 in 26 games.
• Gary Brown, OF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 2-for-5, R, RBI. Hit just .202 in June but .318 or higher in every other month; .317/.386/.466 overall.
• Sean Buckley, 3B, Reds (Rookie-level Billings): 3-for-6, 2 HR (8), 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 K. Sixth-round pick is hitting .327/.395/.615 in first 27 pro games; plus power is best tool.
• Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, R, BB. Hitting .384/.458/.548 in July and .321/.391/.521 overall; a Melky Cabrera trade gives him the shot he deserves.
• Simon Castro, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 8 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K. Seems to be some progress of late; 99 pitches, 69 strikes.
• Chih-Hsien Chiang, OF, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 2-for-4, HR (18), R, RBI, K. Now hitting a crazy .463 (37-for-80) in his last 20 games and up to .338/.396/.656 overall; deserves to finish year in Pawtucket.
• Hank Conger, C, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI. Two home runs in last three days and hitting .360/385/.680 overall.
• C.J. Cron, 1B, Angels (Rookie-level Orem): 2-for-5, HR (6), R, 3 RBI, K. Hitting .284/.349/.505 in first 23 games; 27 Ks in 95 at-bats is a concern.
• Freddy Galvis, SS, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 2-for-4, 2B, R, BB, SB. Continues to move forward with the bat while maintaining plus-plus glove work; 16-for-43 (.372) in last ten games and .267/.323/.393 overall.
• Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, BB, 2 K. Hitting .402 (84-for-209) in his last 50 games; Royals quickly running out of excuses.
• Anthony Gose, OF, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 2-for-6, HR (10), R, 2RBI, BB, 4 K, SB. Reaches double-digits in home runs, sets a new team record for stolen bases, but also crosses the triple-digit mark in strikeouts with 102 in 97 games; .255/.345/.401 overall.
• Taylor Green, 3B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): If Brewers can't make a move, does Green get a look at third base? Hitting .375 in his last 50 games and .321/.402/.552 overall.
• Robbie Grossman, OF, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, K. Very confused as to why he hasn't become a stat-head favorite; .493 OBP in 32 games since the All-Star break and .292/.430/.423 overall.
• Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI. Three doubles in last two games as he's finding his way as an 18-year-old in Double-A: .228/.274/.281 in 17 games.
• Manny Machado, SS, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, K, 2 SB. Best game since moving up to Carolina League; hitting .322/.397/.492 in July after a 4-for-27 start.
• Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 2-for-2, R, 2 RBI, BB. Hitting .342 in July and .312/.382/.489 overall as support from scouts continues to grow.
• Lastings Milledge, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 3-for-4, R. There has been lots of Viciedo talke, but Milledge is stating his case as well by hitting .341 in his last 50 games and .301/.361/.472 overall.
• Jared Mitchell, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 3-for-5, 3B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB. Finally showing signs of life with a .295/.394/.534 mark in 23 July games; still just .235/.309/.416 overall with 136 strikeouts in 361 at-bats.
• Devin Mosoraco, C, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, BB. Back up to .307/.380/.503 after brief slump; what the Reds do over the next five days will determine his short-term future, as he's ready.
• Jesus Montero, C, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 2-for-4, HR (9), 2 R, RBI, BB, 2 K. Needs to help his own cause at this point by performing; .913 OPS in July and .285/.346/.427 overall.
• Tyler Moore, 1B, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 2-for-5, HR (24), R, RBI, 2 K. Hitting .345 in 24 July games with 10 home runs; swing-at-everything approach shows in .274/.310/.549 line.
• Derek Norris, C, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 2-for-5, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, K, CS. Batting average up 26 points in the last ten games to get him safely over the Mendoza line; .216/.373/.432 line remains among the strangest around.
• Salvador Perez, C, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 4-for-4, R, 2 RBI. Massive catcher with plus defensive skills has been much better at the plate of late; 9-for-12 in last three games and up to .284/.330/.418 on the year.
• Kendrick Perkins, OF, Red Sox (Rookie-level GCL): 2-for-3, 2 HR (2), 3 R, 4 RBI, BB. First two pro home runs for 2010 draftee; project with big upside.
• Garrett Richards, RHP, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K. Third complete game of the year but first of the nine-inning variety; 3.23 ERA in 19 games.
• Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 4-for-5, HR (17), R, 2 RBI, K. First home run since being sent down; no bigger AAA/MLB gap in offensive environments than Tucson and San Diego.
• Eddie Rosario, OF, Twins (Short-season Elizabethton): 2-for-5, HR (10), R, RBI. Four home runs in last seven games and .308/.374/.632 overall; friendly home park helps, but six of ten home runs have been in road games.
• Jake Skole, OF, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-for-2, BB. First-round pick is actualizing before our eyes; .362 in July and .286/.392/.389 overall in 90 games.
• Drew Smyly, RHP, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K. 22 IP, 14 H, 9 BB, 27 K in last four starts; is ready for the Double-A test.
• Dan Straily, RHP, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 11 K. Solid stuff combines with excellent command and control; 3.58 ERA in 21 games with 119/26 K/BB in 120.2 innings.
• Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (2), 2 R, RBI, BB. Florida State League showing is best described as streaky; .250/.286/.417 in 13 games.
• Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-3, 2B, HR (11), R, 5 RBI, BB. Averages continue to creep towards pre-2010 collapse territory; .287/.366/.484 in 59 games.
• Jacob Turner, RHP, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 8 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Matches season-high in both innings and strikeouts; 3.48 ERA in 17 starts with better peripherals.
• Jordany Valdespin, SS/2B, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 3-for-4, 2 2B, HR (15), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB. Has been outstanding offensively with .308/.354/.513 line that includes 30 stolen bases, but he's been just as troubling with the glove thanks to 28 errors and equally ugly scouting reports.
• Sebastian Valle, C, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 3-for-4, HR (4), 2 R, RBI. Having a strange year with little power and precious few walks; still at .326/.349/.450 overall.
• Jonathan Villar, SS, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-for-5, 3B, HR (7), 3 R, 3 RBI, K. With seven home runs and seven stolen bases in 43 games, he's showing power, speed and good defense at short; still hitting just .234/.303/.433 in 43 games.
• Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP, Pirates (Low-A Charleston): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. Is he figuring something out here? ERA on the season is still 6.65, but 11 shutout innings in last two starts.
• Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (29), R, RBI. First home run in six days, which seems like a big stretch for him; back to being tied for the minor league lead and overall line of .307/.392/.611.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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