July 29, 2011

Future Shock

Friday Fun: Minor League Update for July 29... 2006?

by Kevin Goldstein

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A subscriber named Gerry writes:

• Erick Aybar, SS, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 3-for-5, R. Gunning for a return to the big leagues come September by going 17-for-35 in last eight games; .324/.368/.487 overall.
• Ryan Braun, 3B, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 3-for-3, HR (5), R, 2 RBI, BB, SB. Has no weaknesses offensively with .304/.355/.549 line, but with nine errors in 27 games, questions about defense remain.
• Michael Brantley, OF, Brewers (Low-A West Virginia): 2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Outfielder with speed and on-base stills but very little power; .292/.389/.335 overall.
• Clay Buchholz, RHP, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. Has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his last nine starts; 2.89 ERA in 18 games with 97 strikeouts and just 25 walks in 97.1 innings.
• Billy Butler, OF, Royals (Double-A Wichita): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R. Outfield has been an adventure but he sure can hit; .320/.376/.477 overall.
• Jeremy Brown, C, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-5, HR (7), 2 R, RBI. Wouldn't it be hysterical if they made a Moneyball movie one day? Wouldn't it be even more hilarious if they got some fat guy to play DePo?
• Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 7 K. Nineteen-year-old Venezuela has been the best pitcher in the Sally League; 2.41 ERA while limiting the league to a .193 batting average.
• Johnny Cueto, RHP, Reds (High-A Sarasota): 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Not missing bats following promotion due to lack of secondary pitches; with small frame and just a fastball, he projects best as a reliever.
• Eddy Fernandez, LHP, Mariners (Rookie-level DSL): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K. 19-year-old with a 0.92 ERA in ten games, how can he not be a prospect? DSL numbers are always something to get really excited about! There's no way this guy is done by 2008 having never gotten past Low-A! 
• Gavin Floyd, RHP, Phillies (Triple-A Scranton): 8 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Still a 4.35 ERA after losing big league rotation job; stuff is still good, but Phillies are frustrated.
• Zack Greinke, RHP, Royals (Double-A Wichita): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Best start of the season lowers ERA to 5.37; where it goes from here is anyone's guess.
• Franklin Gutierrez, OF, Indians (Triple-A Buffalo): 2-for-4, HR (6), R, 2 RBI, BB. Failed during brief time in big leagues, but scouts still love the defense and think he could become a good fourth outfielder, maybe a bit more.
• Alex Gordon, 3B, Royals (Double-A Wichita): 2-for-4, 2B, R; 2-for-3, HR (), 2 R, RBI, SB. Home runs in five of last six games and up to .315/.416/.558; the best prospect in baseball and a potential MVP.
• Deolis Guerra, RHP, Mets (Low-A Hagerstown): 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. Big-budget international signing has been every bit as good as advertised; 2.45 ERA in 14 starts while getting up to 95 mph and features an already plus changeup.
• Tommy Hansen, RHP, Braves (Rookie-level Danville): 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Sleeper Alert! A 22nd-round draft-and-follow has pro body and impressive stuff; 2.61 ERA in first eight starts.
• J.A. Happ, LHP, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K. 2.17 ERA in six starts; scouting reports don't match the numbers as he projects as a back-end starter.
• Phil Humber, RHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. 2004 first-round pick was promoted to Double-A after game; projects as solid big league starter five years from now once he changes organizations three times.
• Eric Hurley, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Just second Double-A start; should be mainstay in Texas rotation by 2008.
• Hernan Iribarren, 2B, Brewers (High-A Brevard County): 2-for-3, R, SB. Underrated hitting machine with line-drive bat and good wheels; 14-for-29 during eight-game hitting streak and .335/.379/.415 overall.
• Dan Johnson, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-5, HR (6), 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, K. Killing it since demotion to minors; .450/.521/.833 in 15 games.
• Jair Jurrjens, RHP, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 4 K. Still struggling since moving up to Double-A; scouts wonder if command-over-stuff style will work at upper levels.
• Kila Kaiaihue, 1B, Royals (Double-A Wichita): 1-for-1, HR (3), R, 3 RBI, BB. Hitting just .194/.292/.289 but could develop enough power and patience to end up horribly overrated down the road; in other news, Royals scouts are hot on some Florida high school sophomore named Hosmer.
• Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers (Rookie-level GCL Dodgers): 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 10 K. Seventh overall pick is one of the best high-school lefties in recent memory; 1.29 ERA in first six games with 31 strikeouts in 21 innings.
• Evan Longoria, 3B, Devil Rays (High-A Visalia): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 K. Third overall pick last month continues to mash with .361/.439/.680 line; should move up to Double-A in a few days while the Rockies still think they made the right pick with Greg Reynolds at No. 2.
• Jed Lowrie, SS, Red Sox (High-A Wilmington): 2-for-4, R. This 2005 supplemental first-round pick is struggling with bat and doesn't have the range for shortstop; just .236/.342/.315 in 66 games.
• Fernando Martinez, OF, Mets (Low-A Hagerstown): 2-for-5, 2B. 17-year-old continues to blow away scouts with his combination of skills and tools; .326/.383/.474 in 41 games and will be a monster if he can stay healthy.
• Cameron Maybin, OF, Tigers (Low-A West Michigan): 2-for-5, RBI, BB, K, SB. Last year's first-round pick is among the hottest bats in the Midwest League; six straight multi-hit games (16-for-26) and up to .333/.417/.490 overall.
• Joey Metropoulos, 1B, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 4-for-5, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, K, SB. No idea how a 270-pound first baseman steals a base, but scouts like his power and patience; .281/.411/.446 in 84 games.
• Nyjer Morgan, OF, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 3-for-5, 2 R, SB. 9-for-17 in last four games and .310/.376/.398 since promotion to Eastern League, playing more left than center, where he doesn't profile well.
• Jeff Niemann, RHP, Devil Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 K. Twelve shutout innings over last two starts and 2.93 ERA in eight; just needs to stay healthy to reach the big leagues.
• Chris Parmelee, OF, Twins (Rookie-level GCL): 2-for-4, HR (6), R, 2 RBI. First-round pick exciting scouts by already showing plenty of in-game power; .303/.366/.607 in first 27 pro games.
• Oliver Perez, LHP, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 0.1 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 3 BB, 0 K. I get the feeling he just might never figure out these control issues.
• Martin Prado, 2B/3B, Braves (Triple-A Richmond): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI. Lack of secondary skills shows with .292/.321/.348 overall line, but versatility should lead to at least a future utility role.
• Sean Rodriguez, OF, Angels (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 1-for-4, HR (21), R, 2 RBI, 2 K. At some point, people will start paying attention; .358 in July and .310/.383/.547 overall.
• Ricky Romero, LHP, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, K. Clearly doesn't belong at Double-A in first full season with 7.76 ERA in six starts and more walks than strikeouts; already looking like one of the bigger busts from last year's draft.
• Sergio Romo, RHP, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K. Has dominated the level with a 2.89 ERA, but is old for the level and has more command than stuff; scouts would like him better if he grew a thick, lustrous beard.
• Billy Rowell, 3B, Orioles (Rookie-level Bluefield): 3-for-5, 2B, RBI. First-round pick has yet to show power while really struggling with the glove (errors in three straight games); .263/.358/.316 overall.
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB. Needs more games like this to regain title as best catching prospect around; just .217/.340/.372 in 81 games.
• Pablo Sandoval, 1B, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI. Bad-bodied corner infielder with hacktastic approach and limited power; .262/.310/.327 in 89 games and a fringy prospect at best.
• Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 0-for-0, HBP. Left game after being hit by pitch. I predict he'll return on August 6th, go 3-for-5 with two doubles and hit the big leagues by the end of the month.
• Justin Upton, OF, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 1-for-4, HR (8), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. Last year's first overall pick remains a big disappointment in full-season debut; .259/.343/.399 in 82 games.
• Danny Valencia, 3B, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 4-for-4, 2 2B, HR (4), 3 R, 4 RBI. 19th-round pick has 18 total bases in last three games and his hitting .354/.425/.646 in his debut; college players beat up the Appy League all the time, and scouts see little more than an org player.
• Neil Walker, C, Pirates (High-A Lynchburg): 2-for-5, R, RBI, K. Former first-round pick finally showing some life with the bat; 8-for-15 in last three games and .275/.333/.374 overall, but still struggling behind the plate.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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