September 11, 2012

Minor League Update

Games of September 10

by Bradley Ankrom

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Only seven minor league games took place last night, so this morning's update will be quick:

Around The Majors

• Rob Brantly, C, Marlins (23): 1-for-2, BB. Hitting .316/.409/.553 with a 6-6 K-BB when batting in front of the pitcher; .222/.300/.333 with a 4-2 K-BB when hitting elsewhere in the lineup.
• Jaye Chapman, RHP, Cubs (25): ND, 1.0 IP, H, 2 K. Gave up his first hit but has yet to allow a run to score; 6-2 K-BB in four big league innings.
• Justin De Fratus, RHP, Phillies (24): ND, 0.2 IP, H, 2 K. Lost much of the season to a right elbow strain that didn’t require surgery; throws in the upper 90s with a plus slider and commands both pitches reasonably well.
• Pete Kozma, SS, Cardinals (24): 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B (2), 3B (1). A first-round pick out of high school in 2007, Kozma had never collected more than a single hit in any game before going 3-for-4 in the Cardinals’ 11-3 loss to San Diego. Walks a bit but can’t hit and profiles as a glove off of the bench.
• Collin McHugh, RHP, Mets (25): L (0-2), 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 HR. Still searching for his first major-league win; doesn’t have an above-average pitch but has a deep arsenal and can locate well.
• Wily Peralta, RHP, Brewers (23): ND, 6.0 IP, 7 H, R, BB, 4 K. Pitched much better in his second start of the year, but left trailing 1-0. Control took a step backward this year, but when he’s on, Peralta has three major-league pitches, including a mid-90s fastball.
• Andrelton Simmons, SS, Braves (23) 0-for-3, BB. Returned to the lineup after missing two months with fractured right hand; was hitting .296/.336/.452 prior to the injury.
• Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (23): 1-for-4, K. Has hits in back-to-back games for the first time since August 20-21; has also struck out in four-consecutive games.

Around The Minors

• Delta Cleary, LF, Rockies (23) (Advanced Class-A Modesto): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3B (1), K. Toolsy outfielder taken in the 37th round out of college in Louisiana missed most of the first half with a wrist injury; hit .290/.355/.396 in 117 games between Low-A Asheville and Modesto.
• Delino DeShields Jr., 2B, Astros (20) (Advanced Class-A Lancaster): 2-for-5, RBI, 2 2B (2). Matched his Lancaster season total with a pair of doubles; picked off of second base by High Desert pitcher Taylor Stanton.
• Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Rays (19) (Short-season Hudson Valley): ND, 4.0 IP, 1 H, 5 BB, 3 K. Walked five batters in 52 innings during the regular season; uncharacteristic wildness can be attributed to Guerrieri reaching back for a little bit extra in an elimination game of the New York-Penn League playoffs as well as an inconsistent strike zone.
• Andrew Heaney, LHP, Marlins (21) (Low-A Greensboro): ND, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, BB, 9 K. Miami’s top pick (ninth overall) in this year’s draft, Heaney relies on plus command of an above-average fastball and average offspeed offerings; matched his season-best with nine strikeouts.
• Tony Renda, 2B, Nationals (21) (Short-season Auburn): 4-for-4, R, RBI, 2B (1). Hitting .429 in the postseason after going .264/.341/.295 during the regular season; Washington’s second-round pick out of California last June, Renda is a prototypical “grinder,” an undersized second baseman who has a knack for getting the barrel of the bat on the ball.
• Richie Shaffer, 3B, Rays (21) (Short-season Hudson Valley): 1-for-3, R, RBI, 3B (1), BB. Drove in and scored a run in the first inning, accounting for all of Hudson Valley’s scoring in its 2-0 win over Brooklyn; Rays’ first-round pick (25th overall) in last June’s draft, Shaffer was widely-regarded as possessing the college ranks’ best bat, but few believe he’ll be able to stick at third base.