September 8, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of September 7

by Kevin Goldstein

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Post-Season

• Greg Billo, RHP, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Midwest League ERA leader (1.93) got more support from scouts as season wore on; Has at least average stuff and knows what to do with it.
• Cody Buckel, RHP, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. 2010 second-rounder has deep arsenal for a teenager and whiffed 120 in 96.2 innings during the regular season.
• Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, K. Of all the players who got to Kansas City this year, I'm still confused as to why Cain's .312/.380/.497 line wasn't enough.
• Chris Dwyer, LHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 7 K. Power southpaw was one of the bigger disappointments during regular season with 5.60 ERA as command and control fell apart.
• Justin Grimm, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 6 K. Solid right-hander is buried in a system full of them. Not a future star, but looks like a big leaguer.
• John Hellweg, RHP, Angels (High-A Inland Empire): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 8 K. Six-foot-nine righty with monster fastball who made rare A-ball conversion from closing to starting with 113 strikeouts in 89.1 innings.
• Zach McAllister, RHP, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Ex-Yankee still has back-of-the-rotation possibilities as big strike-thrower who eats up innings.
• Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 6.2 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Saves his worst Triple-A start (by a mile) for the playoffs.
• Marcel Ozuna, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 4-for-6, 2B, HR (1), 3 R, 2 RBI. Massive power plus horrible approach equalled a .266/.330/.482 regular season line.
• Jacob Realmuto, C, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 3-for-6. Catcher with athleticism and projection; hit .287/.347/.454 and might be one of the better true sleepers around.
• Robbie Ross, LHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 12 K. Your tough-luck loser of the night; season-high in strikeouts during regular season was seven.
• Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 1-for-3, HR (1), R, RBI, K. .260/.283/.410 line in 43 High-A games left more questions than answers.
• Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (Low-A Quad Cities): 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI. Of course he had three hits in his first playoff game.
• Zach Wheeler, RHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Touched 99 mph with a fastball that sat in the mid-90s, but command wasn't ideal.
• Joe Wieland, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Former ranger out-dueled Ross; finished regular season with 150 strikeouts and 21 walks in 155.2 innings.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Low-A Marlins): 2-for-7, 2B, HR (1), R, 3 RBI, K. 2010 first-round pick was among the best hitters in the minor leagues during the second half, hitting .354/.423/.568 in his last 60 games.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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