July 28, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 27

by Kevin Goldstein

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Things I've learned this week: Trade deadline week plus Minor League Updates do not work well together. High threshold today.

• Joe Benson, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (8), R, 3 RBI, BB; 2-for-3. Returning to form after missing a month with knee injury; 8-for-12 in last three games and .288/.384/.477 overall.
• Ryan Carpenter, LHP, Rays (Short-season Hudson Valley): 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Nice pro debut for seventh-round pick; huge lefty with so-so stuff.
• Cito Culver, SS, Yankees (Short-season Staten Island): 2-for-4, 2 HR (2), 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB. Best game as a pro; .296/.377/.408 line in 38 games is one of the league's most pleasant surprises.
• Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, K, SB. First Double-A home run in 19 games; scout note adjustments being made already and could be in line for big August.
• Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 4-for-6, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB; 3-for-5, 2 R, RBI. Seven hits on the day lift batting average eleven points, but still at just .227/.265/.334.
• Matt Hobgood, RHP, Orioles (Short-season Aberdeen): 1.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, K. 2009 first-round pick has yet to come close to the stuff he showed in high school.
• Brett Lawrie, 3B, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (18), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. If he was on the verge of the big leagues before the injury, than why does he suddenly have some things to work on? .358/.413/.683 in 62 games and to be fair, concerns about approach and defense are valid.
• Matt Moore, RHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 13 K. The best pitching prospect in baseball; if Tampa was closer in the standings, he would potentially be a difference maker.
• Tyler Pastornicky, SS, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 2-for-3, BB, SB. Six multi-hit games in eight starts for Gwinnett; 15-for-34 (.441), but all of them singles.
• Brad Peacock, RHP, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K. First dominant start at Triple-A; should at least be in line for September look and possible Opening Day 2012 rotation slot.
• Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 2-for-3, HR (19), R, 4 RBI, BB. Home runs in three straight games after hitting one in 35 big league contests.
• Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, K. The creep towards .400 continues; 30-for-61 in last 15 games and .396/.438/.599 overall.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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