August 2, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of August1

by Kevin Goldstein

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• Dante Bichette, 3B, Yankees (Rookie-Level GCL): 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, K, SB. Remains among the hottest bats around; 13-for-23 in last five games and .355/.474/.562 overall.
• Adonys Cardona, RHP, Blue Jays (Rookie-Level GCL): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 6 K. 27 strikeouts over 24.2 innings and he was born in 1994.
• Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Angels (Rookie-Level Orem): 3-for-5, 2 HR (4), 3 R, 4 RBI. Hit .265 in July but could be heating up again; .340/.404/.479 overall.
• Mat Gamel, 3B/1B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (21), 2 R, RBI, K. .319/.384/.562 overall; Milwaukee's every day first baseman next year?
• Matt Hobgood, RHP, Orioles (Short-season Aberdeen): 2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 2 BB, 2 K. ERA balloons up to 13.86; former first-round pick has stuff well below what he showed in high school.
• Rymer Liriano, OF, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 3-for-3, 3B, RBI. I don't normally give fantasy advice, but if you are in a deep keep league, grab this guy for his hitting ability with power and speed; five straight multi-hit games and .331/.393/.528 overall.
• Tyler Pastornicky, SS, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 2-for-5, R, RBI, K. 24-for-57 at Triple-A but 23 of the hits are singles.
• Erasmo Ramirez, RHP, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 6 IP, 8 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 3 K. Triple-A debut for 21-year-old with solid stuff and better command.
• Neftali Soto, 1B, Reds (Double-A Carolina): 4-for-6, 2 HR (22), 2 R, 6 RBI. Twelve home runs in last 29 games and 22 overall in 277 at-bats on the season; .282/.336/.596 overall.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 2-for-4, RBI, CS. First game back down on the farm.
• Christian Villanueva, 3B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 3-for-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 SB. Eight hits in last three games and up to .284/.346/.476; shocking to see a third base with 27 stolen bases in 31 attempts as he's an average runner with great instincts.
• Edinson Volquez, RHP, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Seems to be wasting some good starts at Triple-A; 2.23 ERA overall.
• Zach Wheeler, RHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 K. Mets system debut.
• Kolten Wong, 2B, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 2-for-3, 2 R, BB, K, SB. Has slowed down a bit, but .299/.372/.457 debut remains impressive.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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