April 10, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of April 9

by Kevin Goldstein

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Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

Dylan Bundy fired three perfect innings in his pro debut. Archie Bradley was the buzz of the spring and Trevor Bauer nearly began the year in the big leagues. With all of that, suddenly the top pick in the 2011 draft seems like a forgotten man in some ways. Someone asked me recently on Twitter if the Pirates made a mistake in taking Cole, and that was before he even made his official pro debut. Gerrit Cole has monster stuff, with Baseball America reporting that he touched 100 mph last night, and should not be forgotten, or written off, or anything close to that. He has better stuff than any pitcher taken after him, and not enough people seem to realize that.

Others Of Note:

• Joaquin Arias, SS, Giants (Triple-A Fresno): 3-for-4, 2 HR (2), 2 R, 6 RBI. Should be in the Where Are They Now files, but then one considers the Giants shortstop situation.
• Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 2-for-2, 2B, 3 BB. Thoughts on in-person look coming tomorrow.
• Chris Carter, 1B/DH, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI, K. Call me a fool, but I still believe; 8-for-19 w/ four doubles.
• Nick Castellanos, 3B, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 2-for-5, HR (1), R, RBI, K. Breakout candidate is starting to drive balls more; 7-for-17 with 12 total bases.
• Vinnie Catricala, 3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3-for-4, R, 3 RBI, K. Snaps 2-for-15 slump; needs to prove bat is for real and that he can handle third base.
• Brett Cecil, LHP, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 6.2 IP, 11 H, 5 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 7 K. Not sure I'd call this progress.
• Darrell Ceciliani, OF, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 4-for-5, 3B, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RB. Mets would love to get a bounce back campaign after ugly 2011; the tools are certainly there.
• Delino DeShields, 2B, Astros (Low-A Lexington): 2-for-5, 2B, 3 R, BB, K, SB. 2010 first-round pick has reached base 11 times in five games after ugly year here in 2011.
• Brian Dozier, SS, Twins (Triple-A Rochester): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (1), R, 3 RBI. 9-for-19 on the season with 15 total bases; not the solution to all that ails the Twins, but deserves a shot to be part of it.
• Tyson Gillies, OF, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 3-for-5, HR (1), 3 R, 2 RBI. Hard to call him a prospect after missing most of the last two years, but is just 23 and can still fly.
• Christopher Hawkins, OF, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 3-for-4, HR (1), R, RBI, BB. Broke out with the bat last year; has plenty of athleticism.
• Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 R, 4 RBI, K. The bad news is that he was 1-for-14 going into yesterday's game.
• Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 2-for-5, 3B, R, RBI. 6-for-18 with three stolen bases in four games.
• Manny Machado, SS, Orioles (Double-A Bowie): 2-for-5, HR (2), R, 3 RBI, 2 K. Handling Double-A at 19 just fine; 14 total bases in five games.
• Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, BB, K, SB. Third straight multi-hit game and third straight game with a double as tools continue to transform into skills.
• Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 2-for-4, HR (1), R, RBI, SB. Clearly on way to September look, if not earlier, but where does he fit in a Pittsburgh outfield? You can't have two center fielders, and his value diminishes in a corner.
• Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, K, SB. 9-for-18 in last four games; proving he's big league ready would be huge for Rangers, not only in terms of performance, but in moving Hamilton back to a corner.
• Mike Montgomery, LHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K. Yes it's only one start, but at some point the fact that he's struggled for more than a year has to become a concern.
• Charlie Morton, RHP, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 7.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Should be back in big leagues soon.
• Justin Nicolino, LHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Good-not-great stuff, but insane polish for age; of all the pitching studs at Lansing, he could be on the fastest track.
• Andy Pettitte, LHP, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Coming soon . . .
• Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 3-for-3, 2 HR (3), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB. 18 total bases in five games, but getting him to the big leagues will require some heavy roster machinations.
• Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Piggybacking for now with Nicolino.
• Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins (Low-A Beloit): 2-for-3, HR (3), 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 BB. See Bonifacio.
• Luis Sardinas, SS, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 K, SB. Overshadowed in system by Profar, but doesn't turn 19 until May, has big-time tools and burner level speed as evidenced by five stolen bases in four games.
• Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K. Almost seems to be forgotten in Bauer-mania; one scout sees a chance for him to turn into a No. 1 starter.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 2-for-4, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, 2 K. It's pretty clear he's feeling just fine; 10-for-20 in five games.
• Taijuan Walker, RHP, Mariners (Double-A Jackson): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Double-A debut for 19-year-old; touched 96 mph.
• LeVon Washington, OF, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 3-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, CS. 2009 first-rounder hit just .218/.331/.315 last year at same level.
• Austin Wates, OF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-for-5, R, K. 12-for-21 in five games; can certainly hit, but lacks the secondary skills to profile well in a corner.
• Everett Williams, OF, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, R, 4 RBI, BB. Encouraging start for toolsy 2009 sandwich pick that struggled in full-season debut last year.
• Kolten Wong, 2B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 2-for-5, HR (1), R, RBI. 9-for-19 with 16 total bases in five games; September look is not out of the realm of possibility.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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