June 21, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 20

by Kevin Goldstein

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Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-5, HR (7), 2 R, RBI, K.

Arrenado has fashioned a modest (11-for-33) eight-game hitting streak to raise he season averages to .293/.344/.436 in 70 games, but he's no longer on the fast path to the majors for a variety of reasons, and it has more to do with the Rockies' miserable big league showing then Arenado's play. Clearly already out of contention, there's just no need to start the 21-year-old's service time clock, especially when while he's hitting well, he's not exactly breaking down the door to the big leagues. All in good time, and stock mostly unchanged.

Others Of Note:

• Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees (Triple-A Empire State): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 7 BB, 6 K. ERA falls to 5.78 but now at 65 walks and 67 strikeouts in 71.2 innings; averaging 128 pitches per six innings in four June starts.
• Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RBI. Challenged with assignment to Northwest League as an 18-year-old and responding; .292/.320/.458 in six games.
• Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 3-for-3, 2B, 4 R. Always streaky and currently on the hot side of the ledger; 10-for-15 in last four games and .283/.369/.498 overall.
• Nick Castellanos, 3B, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, HR (1), 2 R, 3 RBI. And just like that he's suddenly hitting .273/.267/.432 in 11 Eastern League games.
• Gerrit Cole, RHP, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Double-A debut with 74 pitches and 52 strikes.
• Niko Goodrum, SS, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-5, 2 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI. Still in short-season ball in his third season, but 20-year-old remains high-ceiling athlete.
• Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Rays (Rookie-level Hudson Valley): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Pro debut for 2011 first-round pick; has the raw stuff to be a steal at No. 24 overall.
• Jeremy Hazelbaker, OF, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 2-for-3, 2 HR (9), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. All sorts of tools here but questions about how much he'll hit; three home runs in last two games has OPS up 63 points to .244/.329/.418.
• Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-5, 2 R. Not just proving the bat is for real as he's also getting better; 22-for-55 (.400) during 12-game hitting streak and .336/.377/.464 overall.
• Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI, K. There's certainly been improvement this year, but is it enough? .252/.346/.406 in 59 games.
• Ryan Lavarnway, C, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 4-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB. 10-for-16 with five doubles and a home run in last four games; .306/.397/.481 overall but nowhere to put him in Boston.
• Brandon Martin, SS, Rays (Rookie-level Princeton): 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, 3 RBI. 2011 supplemental first-round pick has potential both offensively and with the glove.
• Nomar Mazara, OF, Rangers (Rookie-level AZL Rangers): 2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, K. Pro debut for one of last year's biggest international signs.
• Cory Mazzoni, RHP, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K. Double-A debut after 3.25 ERA at High-A St. Lucie; Back-end rotation upside.
• Tyler Naquin, OF, Indians (Short-Season Mahoning Valley): 3-for-4, 2B, K, SB. Pro debut for No. 15 overall pick in June. Hit tool topped college boards, but comes with questions about what he does around it.
• Tanner Rahier, 3B, Reds (Rookie-level AZL Reds): 2-for-5, HR (1), R, 3 RBI, K, SB. Pro debut for 2nd-round pick that was expected to go higher.
• Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 6.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Last year's breakout pitcher in the system has had ugly first-half; 7.66 ERA in 74 innings.
• Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-4, HR (7), R, 3 RBI, BB. 12 total bases in four games since returning to lineup; .342/.432/.631 overall.
• Travis Witherspoon, OF, Angels (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, SB. Double-A debut after hitting .319/.399/.470 in Cal League; extreme tools that might be clicking.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marins (High-A Jupiter): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI. Has hit well while deal with steady stream of minor injuries; .285/.359/.521 in 44 games.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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