February 28, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of February 27

by Jason Martinez

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Games of February 27, 2013

NL EAST

Atlanta Braves

• Joe Terdoslavich, 1B/OF: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI. Started in left field, where the Braves are taking a look at him. He's played all but one of his 332 career games at first base or third base.  
• J.R. Graham, SP: 2 IP, 0 R, H, BB, K. The 63^rd ranked prospect in BP’s top 101 reportedly hit 99 MPH on the radar gun in his second outing of the spring.

Miami Marlins

• Christian Yelich, OF: 1-for-3, 3B. First extra base hit after singling in each of his first three spring games.  The 21 year-old has reached base in five of nine plate appearances.
• A.J. Ramos, RP: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Making a strong push for a bullpen spot in Miami after a dominant stint in Double-A last season (1.44 ERA, 68.2 IP, 36 H, 21 BB, 89 K). 
   

NL CENTRAL

Cincinnati Reds

• Donald Lutz, 1B/OF: 2-for-5, HR (1), 2B, 5 RBI. Left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder has four hits in eight at-bats. He’ll likely start the season with Double-A Pensacola.
• Yorman Rodriguez, OF: 2-for-2, HR (1), 2B, 3 RBI, BB. The 20 year-old, who played with Lo-A Dayton in 2012, has three hits in six at-bats this spring, including two doubles and a 400-foot homer to center field on Tuesday.

Milwaukee Brewers

• Logan Schafer, OF: 3-for-3, 2B, RBI. Front runner for fourth outfield job is 5-for-11 in his four games.

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Gerrit Cole, SP: 2 IP, ER, H, BB, K. The top pitching prospect in baseball, according to BP’s Top 101, allowed a run after Desmond Jennings walked, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly.

St. Louis Cardinals

• Matt Adams, 1B: 2-for-4, RBI. Five hits in his first nine spring at-bats for the 24 year-old, who has 50 homers in 721 at-bats between Triple-A and Double-A the past two seasons.
• Michael Wacha, SP: 3 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 5 K. The 21 year-old hasn’t had much trouble since signing his first pro contract last summer, as evidenced by his 4 walks and 48 strikeouts between Spring Training and three different levels in 2012.

NL WEST

Los Angeles Dodgers

• Yasiel Puig, OF: 2-for-3. The $42 million man is trying to prove he’s worth all the hype. If the Dodgers want to push him, he could start the year with Double-A Chattanooga.
• Matt Magill, SP: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 5 K. After striking out three in 1.1 innings in his spring debut on Friday, Magill struck out five of six batters in two perfect innings on Tuesday. The 23 year-old had a 10.3 K/9 in Double-A last season.

AL EAST

Baltimore Orioles

• Dylan Bundy, SP: 2 IP, 0 R, H, BB, K. Two more scoreless innings for the 20 year-old, who I’m almost certain hasn’t had a bad outing as a pro.

Tampa Bay Rays

• Tim Beckham, 2B: 2-for-2, 2B, 3B. First overall pick in the 2008 draft is inching closer to the big leagues, although he’s nowhere near the prospect he was early in his pro career.

AL CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox

• Keenyn Walker, OF: 2-for-3, 3B. Stole 56 bases between Hi-A and Lo-A in 2012 but was caught stealing by Geovany Soto in his first attempt of the spring.
• Simon Castro, SP: 3 IP, 0 R, H, BB, 3 K. One-time top pitching prospect for the Padres has fallen off the radar since but was impressive on Tuesday.

Minnesota Twins

• Aaron Hicks, OF: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI. Back-to-back two-hit games for the 46^th ranked prospect on BP’s Top 101 and starting center field candidate for the Twins.

AL WEST

Houston Astros

• George Springer, OF: 2-for-3, 2 HR (2), 5 RBI. Talented center fielder can hit the ball a long way, although he’ll need to continue refining his overall game in the upper minors before he’s ready for the big leagues. 
• Jarred Cosart, SP: 2 IP, 0 R, H, BB, K. Four scoreless innings in two spring outings for Cosart, who is bouncing back from a rough Arizona Fall League performance (6.50 ERA in 18 IP).
• Chia-Jen Lo, RP: IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 2 K. A dark horse candidate for a bullpen spot, Lo returned from Tommy John surgery in 2012 and has pitched well since.

Los Angeles Angels

• Kaleb Cowart, 3B: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI. Two more hits for the switch-hitting third baseman, who was also robbed of extra bases on a terrific catch by Giants’ center fielder Juan Perez.

Seattle Mariners

• Danny Hultzen, SP: 2 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, 4 K. Three scoreless innings with two walks and six strikeouts in his first two spring games.
• Taijuan Walker, SP: 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 2 K. Tweet from our own Professor Parks, who was in attendance, “Taijuan Walker is a bad m-----f-----. Arm is loose and easy; throws FB downhill on steep plane; working 94-96, touched 97. It's easy cheese.” Enough said.

Texas Rangers

• Joe Ortiz, RP: IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. Ortiz could become an important bullpen piece if lefty Robbie Ross happens to win a rotation spot.