June 6, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 5

by Kevin Goldstein

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Clayton Blackburn, RHP, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 8.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Blackburn was a great find in the 2011 draft for the Giants as a 16th-round pick who feel due to what proved to be unfounded signability concerns. Blackburn has just average velocity, maybe a tick above, but what he can do is
manipulate that ball by locating the pitch flawlessly and adding heavy sink that has produced one of the better ground ball ratios in the league. Just 19 years old, Blackburn has allowed 11 hits and just one run over 22 1/3 innings in his last three starts while walking two and striking out 21. He's not a high ceiling guy, but he's looking like a fast mover.

Others Of Note:

• Tyler Austin, OF, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 2-for-5, 2B, 3 R, RBI, K. Early May slump is clearly a thing of the past; 19-for-35 in last nine games and .335/.409/.670 overall.
• Jed Bradley, LHP, Brewers (High-A Brevard County): 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R (6 ER), 3 BB, 2 K. 2011 first-round seems to be battling mechanics according to one scout; 4.42 ERA in 11 starts.
• Drake Britton, LHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 2 K. Strangely effective Double-A debut for big lefty with big velocity.
• Corey Brown, OF, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 3-for-4, HR (14), 4 R, RBI, BB. Time in the big leagues was too brief; .302/.399/.603 overall.
• Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies (Triple-A Syracuse): 4-for-5, 2B, 2 HR (4), 4 R, 3 RBI. Starting to get it back? 17-for-41 (.415) in last ten games and .282/.323/.450 overall.
• Matt Davidson, 3B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (12), R, RBI, K. Hitting just .234 in last 30 games after huge start; .270/.374/.517 overall.
• Nick Castellanos, 3B, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 2-for-3, 2B, RBI. Double-A debut after hitting .405/461/.553 in the Florida State League.
• Patrick Corbin, LHP, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Made all the more impressive by it being against a loaded Las Vegas lineup at Las Vegas.
• Sean Gilmartin, LHP, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Doesn't have overwhelming stuff or dominating numbers, but consistently good; 3.16 ERA in 12 games.
• Jared Goedert, 1B/OF, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 4-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (6), 9 RBIs, BB. 27 year-old minor league slugger, but a helluva day.
• Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 2-for-4, HR (6), 2 R 4 RBI, BB. 9-for-16 in last four games and up to .364/.406/.636 in 20 Triple-A games; coming soon?
• David Holmberg, LHP, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 10 K. Making a case for Double-A before his 21^st birthday; 30 IP, 17 H, 2 BB, 35 K in last four starts.
• Ryan Kalish, OF, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-2, HR (1), 3 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB. Has looked good in return, and Boston could use him.
• Ryan Lavarnway, C. Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (4), 4 R, 3 RBI, K. Nine hits and 15 total bases have raised OPS 80 points in three days; .301/.389/.436 overall.
• Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 2-for-5, HR (2), R, RBI. No home runs in first 56 games and then two in last two; still a disappointment on the season at .242/.311/.321.
• Tyler Moore, 1B, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (9), R, 2 RBI. 9-for-21 with 20 total bases since return to the minors; .316/.378/.673 overall.
• Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 1-for-3, HR (7), R, 2 RBI, K. Four home runs in last six games and up to .324/.375/.703 in 20 Triple-A games.
• Mark Prior, RHP, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. If you're not rooting for him, there is something wrong with you.
• Matt Purke, LHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 8 K. Missing bats is certainly some progress.
• Julio Rodriguez, RHP, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Longest start of season as he continues to confound scouts with his level of success; 2.67 ERA in 11 starts.
• J.C. Sulbaran, RHP, Reds (Double-A Pensacola): 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 10 K. Weird combination of being hittable but also missing bats; 4.40 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 61.1 innings.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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