August 15, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of August 14

by Kevin Goldstein

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Kyle Parker, OF, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 2-for-4, 2 HR (17), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K.

The 2010 first-round pick had a strange first half of the season, as he was hitting for average and getting on base, but not hitting for much power. His power was the reason he was a first-round pick, and it's finally caught up with the rest of his game, as Tuesday represented his second straight two home run game and after hitting just four home runs before the All-Star break, he's hit 13 in 50 games since to help raise his season line to .317/.419/.550 overall. As a nearly 23-year-old college-based product in the Cal League, he should be putting up big numbers here, but he's doing it by showing a wide range of offensive skills.

Others Of Note:

• Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 2-for-5, HR (2), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. Four multi-hit games in four Eastern League games; 8-for-19 with 16 total bases since promotion.
• B.J. Boyd, OF, Athletics (Rookie-level AZL Athletics): 3-for-6, 3B, R, 4 RBI, SB. Fourth-round pick has speed, good approach and compact swing from the left side; .305/.397/.441 in 32 games.
• Lewis Brinson, OF, Rangers (Rookie-level AZL Rangers): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (4), 2 R, 3 RBI, SB. First-round pick is elite-level athlete who has looked less raw than expected; .300/.360/.537 in 43 games.
• Dylan Bundy, RHP, Orioles (Double-A Bowie) 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 3 K. 96-pitch Double-A debut for top pitching prospect as control got a little loose.
• Matt Davidson, 3B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 2-for-3, HR (22), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, CS. Home runs in back-to-back games as mid-season slump has ended with hot August; .269/.377/.492 in 117 games.
• Jeurys Familia, RHP, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Starts like this have been few and far between, as evidenced by his 4.69 ERA, but the stuff is still nasty when he's throwing strikes with it.
• Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Astros (Low-A Lexington): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Like Delino DeShields, this is another former first-round pick who's had a nice bounce back while showing low 90s heat and an improving breaking ball; 2.78 ERA with 109 Ks in 139 innings.
• Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Rookie-level AZL Rangers): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (18), R, RBI, K. Extending his AZL record with the 18 home runs coming in 150 at-bats; .293/.435/.733 in 43 games.
• Lucas Giolito, RHP, Nationals (Rookie-level GCL Nationals): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB 1 K. Pro debut.
• Brad Hand, LHP, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 8 K. Your strange line of the night and it took 112 pitches.
• Danny Hultzen, LHP, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. First outing since 7/28 to manage workload; 4.71 ERA in 36.1 innings with 44 Ks but 26 walks.
• Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Angels (High-A Inland Empire): 4-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI. Continues to impress with the bat and the glove; .283/.408/.473 in 49 games.
• John Lamb, LHP, Royals (Rookie-level AZL Royals): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. First appearance since Tommy John surgery in rehab that has taken a bit longer than normal.
• Matt Magill, RHP, White Sox (Double-A Chattanooga): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K. Overlooked arm in the Dodgers system has 90-94 mph fastball, plus slider and decent changeup; 3.75 ERA but 147 Ks in 127.1 innings.
• Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 2-for-5, HR (10), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. Doesn't seem to inspire a lot of confidence in the big league staff, but home runs in four straight games and .352/.422/.615 overall.
• Sean Nolin, LHP, Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 10 K. Not huge on stuff but throws strikes and has a lot of deception; 2.19 ERA with 90 Ks in 86.1 innings and worth keeping an eye on.
• Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Not only his best Triple-A starts, but it took place in hitter-friendly Las Vegas; 2.92 ERA with 75 Ks, in 89.1 innings.
• Dorssys Paulino, SS, Indians (Rookie-level AZL Indians): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 HR (5), 3 R, 5 RBI, K. 17-year-old Dominican has been a revelation, at least offensively; .344/.392/.586 in 37 games.
• Joc Pederson, OF, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 3-for-3, 2 HR (15), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. Like Parker, he's added power to his game and is generally seen as the Dodgers top established offensive prospect; .309/.399/.503 in 92 games.
• Tyler Pike, LHP, Mariners (Rookie-level AZL Mariners): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Third-round pick is undersized but athletic lefty with advanced command and secondaries; 1.32 ERA with 42 Ks in 41 IP and .171 opponent's average.
• Domingo Santana, OF, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 3-for-3, 2B, R, RBI. 20-year-old has looked good away from Lancaster as well; .291/.371/.518 in 99 games.
• Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers (Rookie-level Ogden): 2-for-4, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB. First-round pick has recovered from slow start by going 19-for-43 (.442) in last nine games; .303/.361/.462 overall.
• Sam Selman, LHP, Royals (Rookie-level Idaho Falls): 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 11 K. Second-round pick is skinny lefty with command and plus velo; 1.33 ERA with 73 Ks in 47.1 innings.
• Cory Spangenberg, 2B, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 3-for-3, 3B, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB. 2011 first-round pick has been streaky, but ultimately disappointing; .289/.339/.378 in 79 games.
• Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K. Best start of the year with a season-high in strikeouts. ERA still 5.05 in season that has to be labeled a disappointment.
• Brandon Workman, RHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Impressive Double-A debut for 2011 draftee; strike throwing machine with solid stuff has very high floor.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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