November 12, 2012

Minor League Update

Games of November 9-11

by Jason Martinez

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• Jorge Alfaro, C, Rangers (Ponce-PRBL): 4-for-9, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K. A favorite of BP's prospect expert Jason Parks, Alfaro now has a pair of hits in each of his first three games. The 19 year-old Colombian could find himself in the Hi-A Carolina League to start the 2013 season. 
• Zach Collier, OF, Phillies (Peoria): 3-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 SB (3). The Phillies haven't gotten much production out of this former 1st Round pick (34th overall in 2008) during his minor league career but he's turning heads in the AFL with a .441 OBP and seven extra base hits (4 2B, 3 3B) in 17 games. The 22 year-old will likely be the starting CF for Double-A Reading in 2013.
• Randall Delgado, RHP, Braves (Licey-DWL): 5 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 6 K. Nearly traded to the Cubs last July before Ryan Dempster nixed the deal, the 22 year-old Delgado could very well be on the block again this winter as the Braves try to fill multiple holes on their roster. Pitching well in the DWL, as he did on Saturday, can only increase his trade value.  
• Robbie Erlin, LHP, Padres (Peoria): 4 IP, ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K. Striking out two batters per inning without walking a hitter is how you get mentioned on the Minor League Update in consecutive starts. Erlin is very likely to reach the big leagues in 2013 but after missing much of the 2012 regular season with an elbow injury, his inning count is only at 79.1 IP on the year. It's probably unrealistic to think he'll be pitching late into the 2013 season with the Padres.
• Chia-Jen Lo, RHP, Astros (Mesa): IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 2 K, Sv (3). After returning from Tommy John surgery in mid-2012, the once-promising prospect out of Taiwan allowed just 3 ER and 19 H with 6 BB and 31 K in 30 IP between the GCL and Hi-A Lancaster. The 26 year-old could be a dark horse candidate to earn a bullpen spot in Houston by mid-season. 
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Licey-DWL): 4-for-12, HR (1), 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K. The best middle infield prospect in baseball had three hits in his DWL debut on Friday, then went 0 for his next 7 before blasting a walk-off home run against Rays prospect Enny Romero on Sunday. 
• George Springer, OF, Astros (Mesa): 6-for-8, 2 HR (3), 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 2 BB, K, SB (5). Chosen as the #3 prospect on our recently-released Astros Top 10 Prospects list, the 23 year-old center fielder celebrated by reaching base in 8 of 10 plate appearances over the weekend, including a multi-homer game on Friday. 
• Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (Cibaenas-DWL): 3-for-6, HR (3), 3 RBI. He didn't walk off on Sunday like fellow 'top prospect in all of baseball' candidate Profar, but that's only because he was on the visiting team. A two-run homer in the top of the 11th, his 3rd hit of the game, put his team ahead for good. Former AL MVP Miguel Tejada, who is 18 years older than the 20 year-old Taveras, also had three hits for Aguilas Cibaenas. 
• Logan Watkins, 2B, Cubs (Mesa): 5-for-10, HR (1), 2B, 2 RBI, K. The left-handed hitter is making up for lost time since replacing Javier Baez (thumb injury) on the roster earlier this month. His versatility -- he's played every position but P, C, and 1B in the minors -- and his all-around solid production in Double-A this season (.383 OBP, 9 HR, 20 2B, 11 3B, 28 SB in 133 games) make him a good bet to reach Chicago in 2013.