April 5, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, April 4

by Zach Mortimer

Printer-friendly

Contact Author

Prospect of the Day: Tony Cingrani, LHP, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 14 K: The former Rice University closer uses a plus fastball and plus changeup as his primary strikeout pitches. He has good deception, and his pitchability will allow him to achieve success at the highest level. Cingrani will continue to develop at Triple-A Louisville until the Reds call on him to pitch meaningful innings at some point in 2013.

Other notable prospect performances from April 4:

• Orlando Arcia, SS, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 2-6, 2B, R, RBI, CS; Orlando, the younger brother of Oswaldo, has sneaky power with good plate discipline and instincts on the basepaths. He is making his stateside debut after an ankle injury cost him the entire 2012 season.
• Oswaldo Arcia, RF, Twins (Triple-A Rochester): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB, K; Oswaldo brings plus power with plus contact ability to all fields. Arcia can hit a fastball out of the park in any count with the ability to hang in against elite velocity.
• Bryce Brentz, RF, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, K: Brentz offers better-than-plus raw power and can pull anything.
• Byron Buxton, CF, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB: This 2012 first-rounder is an elite-level runner with bat speed and power potential that will continue to improve with experience.
• Edward Butler, RHP, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 5.1 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 7 K; Plus fastball combined with plus slider will give inexperienced hitters a multitude of problems.
• Carlos Correa, SS, Astros (Low-A Quad Cities): 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K: The first-overall selection in 2012, Correa has plenty of polish to use his tools and rack up big numbers in Low-A.
• Jarek Cunningham, 2B, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, K; Cunningham has impressive raw tools, including above-average power and speed, but he struggles with plate discipline.
• Travis d’Arnaud, C, Mets (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-3, 2 2B, 4 R, RBI, BB; Acquired in the R.A. Dickey trade, d’Arnaud is an advanced hitter with a plus hit tool and above-average power. Combined with above-average defense, that gives him the potential to be a perennial All-Star.
• Delino DeShields, 2B, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI; The son of a former big-leaguer, DeShields has plus-plus speed and the contact ability to become a force at the major-league level.
• Daniel Fields, CF, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI: Above-average power and speed give Fields a chance to develop into a reliable everyday outfielder on a contender.
• Cesar Hernandez, 2B, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley): 2-3, 2 2B, R, BB; A line-drive hitter with excellent contact ability, Hernanez has below-average power but pairs plus speed with a plus defensive profile.
• Joel Hutter, 3B, Orioles (Low-A Delmarva): 2-4, 2 3B, 2 R, RBI; Hutter is a grinder who plays as hard as he can, squeezing the most out of his skills on a daily basis.
• Rafael Montero, RHP, Mets (Double-A Binghamton) 5.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 0 BB, 8 K; Montero has a simple delivery with a fastball/slider/changeup mix. He is forced to lean heavily on his fastball because both secondary offerings are only average at this point.
• Hunter Morris, 1B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI; Limited to first base only, Morris often muscles balls out of the ballpark, which he may not be able to do against more advanced pitching. Still, most scouts believe that he will eventually have plus power.  
• Aaron Northcraft, RHP, Braves (Double-A Birmingham): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K; Northcraft features a sinker, and he also uses a curveball and changeup. He must smooth out his mechanics, but should eventually be able to pitch at the highest level.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 2-3 R, BB, SB; Profar is considered the number-one prospect in the game because of his well-rounded profile. He offers everything a potential team could ask for: a plus defensive profile at shortstop with a plus bat, which should make him an All-Star for many years to come.
• Jacob Realmuto, C, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI: Realmuto may only have average power, but he has a sound approach to hitting combined with plus arm strength behind the plate.
• George Springer, CF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 K; Showed his easy plus power by hitting a home run to center field against a stiff wind.
• Nicholas Tepesch, RHP, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K; Tepesch used his four-pitch mix (fastball/curveball/cutter/changeup) with excellent command to control the Triple-A lineup in his tune-up to become the Rangers’ fifth starter.
• Tyler Tewell, C, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI: A 2012 draftee, Tewell shows excellent contact skills with the ability to stay behind the plate defensively.
• Mac Williamson, RF, Giants (High-A San Jose): 3-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI; Williamson has the potential for plus-plus power to all fields, but that comes with contact questions; his plus arm profiles best in right field.
• Mike Zunino, C, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3-4, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, K; Zunino offers solid-average contact skills with plus power and the ability to be an acceptable defensive catcher at the major-league level.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see Zach's other articles. You can contact Zach by clicking here