June 13, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 12

by Kevin Goldstein

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Miles Head, 3B, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 3-for-3, 2B, HR (14), 2 R, RBI, BB; 0-for-3, 2 K.

Before game two of the double-header, Head went 7-for-7 in a pair of games, and over with the 0-for, he's hitting .382/.436/.683 in 63 games. He's a short, wide-bodied right-handed hitter who needs to
hit as he likely profiles at first base; but you can't argue with the results so far. The California League sure helps, and we'll likely get a better feel for him in the season's second half, as he's expected to move up to Double-A.

Others Of Note:

• Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (6), BB, K. Power starting to show up a bit but bat has yet to really take off; .291/.346/.439 in 63 games.
• Clayton Blackburn, RHP, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Two runs allowed over 28.1 innings in last four starts to drop ERA more than two runs; 2.88 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 59.1 innings.
• Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 2-for-5, HR (6), R, 3 RBI. Home runs in back-to-back games; up to .308/.369/.460 overall.
• Bobby Borchering, OF, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, K. Approach is big issue but hit tool is still there; .276/.327/.516 in 65 games.
• Cody Buckel, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Still five days short of his 20^th birthday and way too good for A-ball; 1.31 ERA with 91 Ks and .186 opponent's average in 75.2 innings.
• A.J. Cole, RHP, Athletics (Low-A Burlington): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Has been excellent since moving down with velo, impressive secondaries and a return of command.
• Travis D'Arnaud, C, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 4-for-5, 2B, HR (15), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. 18 total bases in last three games to move OPS over 1000 for the first time this year; .343/.391/.614 overall.
• Anthony Gose, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB. Hitting .345 in last 40 games after brutal start; .296/.372/.422 in 64 games.
• J.R. Graham, RHP, Braves (High-A Lynchburg): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Undersized righty is groundball machine with excellent command; 2.53 ERA with 55/15 K/BB in 81.2 innings.
• Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds (High-A Bakersfield): 1-for-3, R, BB, K; 3-for-4, SB (73), 2 CS. Hitting .322/.407/.442 overall in 53 games and has made just two errors in his last 20 games.
• Alex Meyer, RHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. 27 IP, 14 H, 9 BB, 24 K in last five starts; 3.31 ERA overall with 68 Ks in 65.1 innings.
• J.R. Murphy, C, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (3), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB. Rare good line in otherwise ugly season; .234/.305/.327 in 53 games.
• Joe Panik, SS, Giants (High-A San Jose): 2-for-4, 4 R, 2 BB. 10-for-21 during five-game hitting streak to raise batting average 20 points; .258/.343/.365 in 62 games.
• Mark Prior, RHP, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Now has 13 strikeouts over 5.2 scoreless innings; if there's a negative, it's that he's averaging over 20 pitches per inning.
• Manny Ramirez, DH, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-5, R, 2 RBI. Seems to be finding his timing by going 9-for-23 in last five games; .300/.328/.350 in 16 games with little power.
• Josh Rutledge, SS/2B, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, CS. Defense might be a little light to stay at shortstop, but still an interesting offense-first middle infielder; .297/.335/.468 in 63 games.
• Moises Sierra, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-2, HR (11), 3 R, RBI, 2 BB. Overshadowed by others players at Las Vegas, but looks like a future big league contributor; .303/.371/.491 in 61 games.
• Drew Vettleson, OF, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 2-for-4, HR (5), R, 2 RBI, 2 K. 9-for-17 in last four games to lift OPS 52 points; .289/.361/.447 overall.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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