March 19, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Monday, March 18

by Zach Mortimer

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Prospect of the Day: Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins: 2-3 HR, R, RBI, CS. Elite hitting prospect may be pinned to a left-field defensive profile, but the bat has a chance to be special. Yelich has a potential 7 hit tool and is making leaps in the power department as he develops; .359/.457/.795 with four home runs, 12 runs scored, and 12 RBI in 39 spring at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances from March 18:

• Bruce Rondon, RHP, Tigers: 1 IP, W, BB, 2K. Near-elite fastball-slider arsenal misses plenty of bats, but Rondon lacks the command necessary to be trusted in the ninth inning; 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 8 2/3 innings.
   
• Travis d'Arnaud, C, Mets: 2-3, 2 R, 2B. Top-rated catching prospect has an excellent contact swing and shows power to all fields; .345/.412/.483 with four doubles in 29 at-bats.
   
• Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals: 2-4, RBI. Taveras displays jaw-dropping hitting ability by combining elite bat speed with excellent plate discipline, all at the age of 20; .300/.340/.500 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 50 at-bats.
   
• Jackie Bradley, Jr., OF, Red Sox: 1-3, R, BB. A defensive wizard, Bradley has also impressed scouts with his on-base ability and sneaky power from the left side; .436/.551/.564 in 39 at-bats.
   
• Jeremy Hazelbaker, OF, Red Sox: 1-1, R, SB. Former fourth-round pick has always had tools but has never had a strikeout rate below 23 percent; .375/.474/.500 in 16 at-bats.
   
• Travis Shaw, 1B, Red Sox: 0-4, 4 K. Since being promoted to Double-A, Shaw has struggled due to his limited bat speed; 0-for-5 with five strikeouts this spring.
   
• Aaron Hicks, CF, Twins: 0-2, R, BB. A first-round pick in 2008, Hicks is a plus defender with plate discipline, raw power, and good speed, and is expected to begin the year as Minnesota’s everyday center fielder; .306/.352/.632 with four homers and 13 RBI in 49 at-bats.
   
• Matt Den Dekker, CF, Mets: 0-3, K. Outstanding defensive center fielder struggles offensively with a below-average hit tool and below-average power; .194/.216/.278 with 14 strikeouts in 36 at-bats.
   
• Adam Eaton, CF, Diamondbacks: 2-2, 3B, R, RBI. Former 19th-round pick has developed into a top-of-the-order bat with solid bat-to-ball ability and plus-plus speed; .382/.397/.545 with 21 hits and 11 runs scored in 55 at-bats.
   
• Darin Ruf, LF, Phillies: 2-5, 2 R, RBI, K, 2 2B. Ruf has struggled to catch up to major-league velocity this spring (as well as a few fly balls); .224/.309/.388 with 11 strikeouts in 49 at-bats.
   
• Donnie Joseph, LHP, Royals: 1 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K. The headliner in the return for Jonathan Broxton has used his fastball-slider tandem to miss plenty of bats in Arizona; 12 strikeouts in seven innings.
   
• J.J. Hoover, RHP, Reds: 1.1 IP, 4 K. Acquired from the Braves for Juan Francisco, Hoover has thrived since being moved to the bullpen and focusing on his sinker-curveball combination; 14 strikeouts in eight innings.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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