August 11, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of August 10

by Kevin Goldstein

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• Greg Billo, RHP, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Minor League ERA leader (1.40) has excellent command of solid fastball/breaking ball combo; scouts see him as more of a reliever.
• Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (15), R, 2 RBI, BB. The walk was intentional, and understandable considering the 15 home runs in 193 at-bats.
• Alex Castellanos, OF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 2-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI. Outfielder from Rafael Furcal deal is hitting .333/.444/.467 in first nine games as a Dodger.
• Paul Clemens, RHP, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K. 12.2 innings and a 0.00 ERA as an Astro.
• Scooter Gennett, 2B, Brewers (High-A Brevard County): 4-for-5, R, RBI. Over .300 for first time since early May; .358/.372/.506 in second half of season.
• Grant Green, CF, Athletics (Double-A Midland): 3-for-5, HR (7), 2 R, 2 RBI. Is hitting .311/.351/.456 since move to center field, so pull out your jump to conclusions mat.
• Taylor Green, 3B/2B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, K. 16-for-35 during eight-game hitting streak and up to .334/.417/.583 overall.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 4-for-5, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. Suffering from usual Cal League drop off; just .267/.355/.397 since promotion.
• Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 0-for-3, 2 K. Got tossed for going bananas after second strikeout. Remember when I was a horrible person for pointing out that he might not be the most likeable kid on the planet?
• Reese Havens, 2B, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, 2 K. Hitting .290/.370/.434 in 39 games; who knows where he'd be at this point if consistently healthy.
• Marco Hernandez, SS, Cubs (Rookie-level AZL) 2-for-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI, BB. 18-year-old Dominican has ultra-quick bat; 16-game hitting streak have averages up to .358/.397/.509.
• Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI. 9-for-17 in last four games and .320/.410/.620 since promotion; should see Wrigley in September.
• Steve Lombardozzi, 2B, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 3-for-5, R, 3 RBI. Subject of much trade chatter is a grinder with outstanding defensive fundamentals; .320/.359/.432 in 47 Triple-A games.
• Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 3-for-4, 2 R, K; 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI. Up to .320/.353/.474 overall; 14 walks and 82 strikeouts over 428 at-bats is the red flag in the stat line.
• Trevor May, RHP, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K. Second in the minors with 178 strikeouts in 131.1 innings; fastball and curve are both easy plus pitches and has a pro body.
• Shelby Miller, RHP, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K. Worst start as pro and seemed to be having a problem with his hand before leaving.
• Tyler Pastornicky, SS, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 2-for-4, CS. Contractually obligated to get two hits a night? 14 multi-hit efforts in 22 games and .416/.448/.472 overall.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-for-2, HR (11), 3 R, RBI, BB, 2 SB. Hitting .329/.436/.544 since the All-Star break; plus shortstops with 20/20 potential don't exactly grow on trees.
• Enny Romero, LHP, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K. He's capable of these outings every time out; but command troubles leave his ERA at 4.67.
• Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (Low-A Charleston) 2-for-3, 2 HR (17), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB. 13-for-29 with seven home runs in his last eight games and .257/.336/.487 overall; early-season rumors of his demise were quite exaggerated.
• Jonathan Schoop, 2B, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 3-for-5, RBI, 2 K. 12-for-32 during seven game hitting streak to lift batting average 22 points to .251/.314/.338.
• Eric Surkamp, LHP, Giants (Double-A Richmond): 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K. Maybe the ultimate finesse/deception prospect; fastball rarely gets over 90 but has 156 strikeouts in 128.1 innings.
• Taijuan Walker, RHP, Mariners (Low-A Clinton): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Midwest League is hitting .202 against him as ERA has dropped to 2.89 by allowing one run over last 15 innings.
• Mason Williams, OF, Yankees (Short-season Staten Island): 3-for-5, 3B, R, 2 RBI, SB. 19-for-39 (.487) in last ten games and .365/.408/.505 overall.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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