August 24, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of August 23

by Kevin Goldstein

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• Tim Beckham, SS, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 3-for-6, HR (3), R, RBI, 2 K, SB. The good news is that he's hitting .291 and slugging a surprising .545 in his first 12 Triple-A games; the bad news is that he's yet to draw a walk.
• Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/WB): 3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 9 BB, 4 K. Only 41 of 84 pitches went for strikes, but at least the strikes were tough to hit.
• Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 2-for-3, 2B, 2 R; 1-for-2, K. Half of his hits have gone for extra bases with .244/.313/.493 line; that's rare power for an 18-year-old.
• Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley): 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, SB, CS. Has not exactly blown up the International League, especially in terms of power; .268/.414/.384 in 33 games.
• Keon Broxton, OF, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 2-for-2, 2B, HR (7), 3 R, 6 RBI, 2 BB. Tools are starting to turn into skills thanks to improved approach; .280/.391/.435 since the break.
• Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-5, HR (15), 3 R, 4 RBI, BB, K. 8-for-21 with four home runs and six walks in his last five games to raise OPS 70 points to .261/.356/.513.
• Zack Cox, 3B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 2-for-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB. 7-for-12 with four home runs in his last three games and up to .316/.382/.461 overall; OPS is over 1000 in both July and August.
• Zeke DeVoss, OF, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 4-for-4, R, BB. If you want speedy on-base guys, it's hard not to be impressed by a .323/.488/.385 line. Too bad he has zero power.
• Niko Goodrum, SS, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-4, 3B, HR (2), R, 4 RBI. Quickly saving prospect status with .348/.463/.530 line in 20 August games.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 3-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB. Finding his swing after intial Texas League slump; .273/.363/.403 in 46 games since promotion.
• Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 4-for-5, RBI, 2 SB (91), CS. With nine stolen bases in his last four games, nine more in his final 13 suddenly seems realistic.
• Brandon Jacobs, OF, Red Sox (Low-A Greensboro): 2-for-4, HR (16), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Has looked like he's running out of gas lately;. 313/.389/.516 season still unquestionably a breakout.
• Rymer Liriano, OF, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB, 2 SB. Hitting .385 in last 25 games and .328/.390/.508 overall; if not for Billy Hamilton, his 59 stolen bases would be a bigger story.
• Osvaldo Martinez, SS, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 4-for-4, 2B, 2 R. Has been massive disappointment with the bat this year; .239/.291/.312 in 78 games.
• Devin Mesoraco, C, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 4-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (15), 2 R, 5 RBI. Had fallen off of late and was hitting just .193 in August before last night's barrage; .293/.375/.498 overall.
• Nestor Molina, RHP, Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Now has 24 strikeouts and one walk in 16 Eastern League innings while giving up just eight hits. Outstanding command and control of average stuff.
• Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. I guess he has an off day every once in a while.
• Telvin Nash, 1B, Astros (Low-A Lexington): 3-for-4, 2 2B, HR (13), 3 R, 5 RBI, BB, K. Sleeper in the Houston system with hitting skills and big time raw; .276/.383/.507 in 61 games.
• Brett Oberholtzer, LHP, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Best start as an Astro; 3.92 ERA in four starts for Hooks with 20 Ks in 20.2 IP.
• Brenny Paulino, RHP, Tigers (Rookie-level GCL): 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 10 K. 18-year-old Dominican has ideal frame and fastball that already gets into the mid-90s.
• Guillermo Pimentel, OF, Mariners (Rookie-level Pulaski): 2-for-5, HR (10), 2 R, 2 RBI. Crazy raw power still hampered by approach; .274/.322/.452 in 58 games.
• Jacob Realmuto, C, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 4-for-5, 2 HR (10), 2 R, 6 RBI, SB. Including his home run off Stephen Strasburg, he's gone deep seven times in last 14 games;. 286/.348/.447 overall.
• Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 3-for-4, BB. First three-hit game since trade; .333/.370/.575 in 22 Cal League games.
• Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 9 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Needed just 86 pitches while facing two over the minimum; in one scout's eyes he has, “elevated himself to having frontline potential.”
• Neftali Soto, 1B, Reds (Double-A Carolina): 2-for-3, HR (27), R, 2 RBI, BB. Has more home runs than anyone in the minors during the second half of the season; .264/.319/.562 overall.
• Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 3-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB. Seven hits in last two games and back up to .371/.435/.561 overall; the hit tool is without question, but scouts vary wildly on his power ceiling.
• Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-6, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB. Clearly some progress with new swing mechanics, but is it enough? .281/.372/.454 in 85 games.
• Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB, SB. Has not hit a home run since July 25 and has a 533 OPS in 20 August games; .288/.367/.536 in 125 games.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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