March 26, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Monday, March 25

by Zach Mortimer

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Prospect of the Day: Brandon Maurer, RHP, Mariners (expected to start the season as the Mariners’ number-five starter): 5 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Maurer features a plus low-to-mid 90s fastball with sink and a strong downward angle. He throws a curveball and a slider, with the latter being the better of the two offerings and flashing plus, while the former can be at least major-league average. Maurer is a workhorse on the mound so it should be no shock to fans that the Seattle front office trusts him enough to place him in the starting rotation; 20 IP, 19 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 22 K this spring.  

Other notable prospect performances from March 25:

• Matt Adams, 1B, Cardinals (could break camp with the Cardinals): 2-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI, 2 K. If Adams can develop at least an average hit tool, he’ll be able to tap into his plus-plus power, but he is blocked in St. Louis; .316/.366/.544 with 17 RBI in 57 spring at-bats.
• Jackie Bradley, OF, Red Sox (currently leading the left-field race for the Red Sox): 2-2, 3B, 2 RBI. Bradley’s 80-grade makeup will make him an instant fan favorite in Fenway; .444/.523/.667 with a one-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio in 54 spring at-bats.
• Collin Cowgill, OF, Mets (battling for an outfield job with the Mets): 2-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. The oft-mentioned Cowgill has continued to produce this spring; .333/.397/.614 with ten runs scored and eight RBI in 57 spring at-bats.
•  Leury Garcia, SS, Rangers (will start the season on the bench for the Rangers): 1-2, R, BB, K. Garcia, the Rangers’ best upper-minors shortstop prospect not named Jurickson Profar, is a plus runner with easy plus overall defensive abilities; .231/.333/.423 in 26 spring at-bats.
• Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Marlins (will start the season as the starting shortstop in Miami): 1-3, 3B. The Cuban fielding sensation has struggled mightily at the plate this spring; .180/.250/.280 with only nine hits and six strikeouts in 50 spring at-bats.
• Shelby Miller, RHP, Cardinals (will start the season as the number-five starter in St. Louis): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. Miller will feature his heavy, mid-90s fastball early and often against major-league batters; 3.94 ERA in 16 spring innings.
• Nick Noonan, IF, Giants (expected to start the season with the Giants, with an indetermined role): 2-5, 2 2B, 2 R, K. Pablo Sandoval could go on the disabled list at any point, and that would leave Noonan with a spot on the major-league roster. Noonan features solid-average bat-to-ball abilities and the ability to play three infield positions, though he is not a standout defender at any of them; .220/.246/.407 in 59 spring at-bats.
• Tyler Saladino, 2B/SS, White Sox (anticipated to start the season in Double-A Birmingham): 1-1, HR, R, 2 RBI. Saladino displayed power potential with the ability to stay on the left side of the infield in the low minors, but he has struggled to make enough solid contact in the upper minors; 4-for-10 this spring.
• Kyle Simon, RHP, Phillies (anticipated to start the season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K. Simon, acquired by the Phillies in the Jim Thome trade, is a lanky right-handed sidewinder that pounds the bottom of the strike zone with his sinking fastball; two earned runs allowed in four spring innings.
• Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Astros (anticipated to start the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City): 1-1, 3B, R, 3 RBI. Singleton, acquired by Houston in the Hunter Pence trade, is the top first-base prospect in the minors and features a plus hit tool with plus power.
• Oscar Taveras, OF, Cardinals (anticipated to start the season in Triple-A Memphis): 4-5, SB. Taveras has the highest overall ceiling of any prospect in the minors thanks to his near-elite hit tool and easy plus power; .309/.347/.456 in 68 spring at-bats.
• Christian Vazquez, C, Red Sox (anticipated to start the season in Double-A Portland): 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI. Vazquez, a very good defensive catcher with limited offensive ability, profiles as future big-league backup; .238/.304/.476 in 21 spring at-bats.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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