March 22, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, March 21

by Zach Mortimer

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Prospect of the Day: Brad Peacock, RHP, Astros (expected to start the season in the Astros rotation): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. Acquired from the Athletics earlier this offseason for Jed Lowrie, Peacock is looking to right the ship after a rough 2012. Peacock throws three major-league-caliber pitcher—a fastball, curveball, and changeup—and as long as he keeps them down in the zone, he should be one of the bright spots on Houston’s roster; 14 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings this spring.

Other notable prospect performances:

• Javier Baez, SS, Cubs (expected to start the season in Double-A Tennessee): 1-4, R, K. A 2011 first-round pick, Baez could have a plus-plus hit tool with plus-plus power; .302/.318/.628 with four home runs in 45 spring at-bats.
   
• Joe Benson, OF, Twins (competing for the starting center field job for the Twins): 0-1 R, 2 BB, K. Benson once showed the necessary hitting ability to project as a future starting outfielder, but now he may have to rely on instincts and #want to have a role as a fourth outfielder; .151/.286/.283 in 53 spring at-bats.
   
• Alex Castellanos, OF, Dodgers (expected to start the season in Triple-A Albuquerque): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 K. Acquired in 2011 as a part of the package for Rafael Furcal, Castellanos has solid-average raw power and could be more than just an organizational depth piece; .205/.279/.513 with four homeruns in 39 spring at-bats.  
   
• Michael Choice, CF, Athletics (expected to start the season in Double-A Midland): 0-1, R, BB. Built like a bowling ball, Choice displays plus-plus raw power and a tendency to swing and miss; .302/.340/.465 with nine RBI in 43 spring at-bats.
   
• Jordan Danks, OF, White Sox (expected to start the season as the White Sox’ fourth outfielder): 0-2. The younger brother of starting pitcher John Danks, Jordan is a prototypical fourth outfielder. He plays outstanding defense, but struggles to make enough contact to be an everyday player; .351/.429/.595 with seven strikeouts in 37 spring at-bats.
   
• Adam Eaton, CF, Diamondbacks (will be the Diamondbacks’ starting center fielder if healthy): 2-3, R, SB. One of the favorites for National League Rookie of the Year honors, Eaton just keeps hitting in Cactus League play; .390/.403/.542 with 23 hits in 59 at-bats.

Update: Eaton suffered a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow on Friday and will miss the first two months of the season.

• Donovan Hand, RHP, Brewers (expected to start the season in Triple-A Nashvile): 2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, BB, 0 K, 5 ground outs. A big-framed sinkerballer, Hand continues to rely on hitters beating the ball into the ground; zero earned runs, and a 2.38 GB:FB in 11 innings this spring.
   
• Destin Hood, OF, Nationals (expected to start the season in Triple-A Syracuse): 1-1. Hood, a second-round pick in 2008, shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields, but has difficulty making contact with offspeed pitches; 2-for-5 with a double this spring.
   
• Christopher Manno, LHP, Reds (expected to start the season in Triple-A Louisville): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Manno is a lefty who lives off deception and uses a fastball-changeup combination to rack up strikeouts at the minor-league level; two strikeouts in two innings this spring.
   
• Leonys Martin, CF, Rangers (expected to be the Rangers’ primary center fielder): 3-5, RBI, 2B. I believe my colleague Jason Cole said it best: “nice, solid-average, across-the-board regular”; .378/.431/.533 with 11 RBI in 45 at-bats.
   
• Austin Romine, C, Yankees (expected to start the season in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 0-1. Once considered the surefire future backstop for the Yankees, Romine now leaves scouts wondering if he is even good enough defensively to be a backup; 2-for-9 with zero extra-base hits.
   
• Ben Rowen, RHP, Rangers (expected to start the season in Double-A Frisco): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K. This submarine-slot righty creates a ton of deception with his delivery; only one hit allowed in 5 1/3 spring innings.
   
• Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins (expected to start the season in High-A Ft. Myers):  2-5, R, K. One of the top power-hitting prospects in the minors, Sano will be taking his talents just northwest of Miami to start 2013.  
   
• Joe Terdoslavich, 1B, Braves (expected to start the season in Triple-A Gwinnett): 1-1, 2B. This switch-hitting first-baseman has enough thunder and bat-to-ball skills to have a major-league role, even if it’s merely as a backup; .447/.450/.632 in 38 spring at-bats.

 

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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