April 12, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, April 11

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Kevin Gausman, RHP, Orioles (Double-A Bowie): 6.0, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K; 96-99 (T100); Gausman’s fastball has crazy life, and he’s willing to pound the pitch in on hitters’ hands. His 83-87 mph slider has sharp break and depth, giving it plus potential. Gausman’s changeup, which comes in at 82-85 mph, has fade, and he is able to throw it to both sides of the plate. This is a very impressive arm.

Position Prospect of the Day: Maikel Franco, 3B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; Franco uses his extremely fast hands to make loud contact and has easy plus power potential; 8-for-30 with two home runs and 10 RBI.

Other notable prospect performances from April 11:

 “The Good”

• Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Twins (Triple-A Twins): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, K; Arcia brings a plus hit tool with plus power potential in a package that is close to major-league ready; 11-for-24 with two doubles and three home runs.
• Ji-Man Choi, 1B, Mariners (High-A High Desert): 4-5, 3 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, K; Choi brings a solid-average hit tool, but he has little over-the-fence power, making him more of a gap-power hitter with below-average speed.
• Alex Colome, RHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K; Colome features a plus-plus fastball and plus curveball, which he combines with a short breaking slider that creates a lot of weak contact. Colome is currently still working as a starter, but his long-term role with the Rays is likely to be in the bullpen.
• Jarek Cunningham, 2B, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; Cunningham is one of the few middle infield prospects that offers plus power; 8-for-27 with two doubles and two home runs.
• Slade Heathcott, CF, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 3-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB; Heathcott employs an unorthodox hitting stroke, but is a legitimate 70-grade runner with elite #want and will stretch any hit he can.
• Luke Jackson, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K; Jackson offers a fastball that can touch the upper 90s and a curveball that has easy plus potential. He will need to smooth out his mechanics and work on the consistency of his changeup.
• Dane Phillips, C, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 2-3, 2B, 2 R, K; Phillips offers a solid stroke with plus power potential, but struggles defensively and must smooth things out in order to move up the chain.
• Anthony Rendon, 3B, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB; Rendon has always had a short stroke with power, but he has not stayed healthy enough to use all of his tools. Rendon has the ability to get to the big leagues in 2013 if he can stay on the field and continue to gain upper-minors experience.
• Joseph Ross, RHP, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; Ross offers an easy plus fastball, a slider that can miss bats, and a changeup that is improving with polish.
• Trayce Thompson, RF, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, K; Thompson is a premium athlete and continues to make adjustments as he grows accustomed to the Double-A circuit.
• Austin Wates, LF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-4, 3B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB; Wates is an easy plus hitter, but some scouts question the other tools that he is able to bring to the table.
• Matt Wisler, RHP, Padres (Hi-A Lake Elsinore): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K; Wisler has a three-pitch mix (fastball/curveball/changeup). The fastball is plus and has plenty of velocity and sink, the curveball could be a 6, and the changeup is improving.
• Brandon Workman, RHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; Workman grinds out innings on the mound with his plus fastball, potential plus slider, and workable curveball and changeup.

“The Bad”

• Gary Brown, CF, Giants (Triple-A Fresno): 0-4, 3 K; I have never been high on this former first-round pick, because of his inconsistent hitting as a professional.
• Cody Buckel, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 1.2, 0 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 3 K; Buckel had some #sparkle coming into the 2013 season, but it has not been at all fun thus far; 4.1 IP, 9 ER, and 11 BB.
• Kaleb Cowart, 3B, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 0-4, BB, 3 K; The big-power Angels prospect still has plenty of swing-and-miss in his game.
• Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 0-4, 3 K; Will he be Adam Dunn or something more?
• Garrett Gould, RHP, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 2.0 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K; Gould is stuck in the California League where any given pitcher can have a night like this.
• Angelo Gumbs, 2B, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 0-5, 2 K; The bat speed and pregame ability have always been there, but it is time for Gumbs to transfer the ability to game action.
• Courtney Hawkins, CF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 0-4, 4 K; It has been feast or famine for Hawkins thus far in the Carolina League.
• George Springer, CF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 0-5, 4 K; The toolsy outfielder will need to figure out how to make more contact in order to have a successful major-league career.
• Domingo Tapia, RHP, Mets (Hi-A St. Lucie): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, K; Tapia has plenty of stuff, but he will need to harness and command it to have success at the highest level.

 “The Angry”

Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): Soler was ejected from the game on Wednesday evening for taking a bat near the other team’s dugout during an altercation. Soler did not swing or hit anyone with the bat. Daytona’s manager said that it was just an accident caused by a lapse in judgment.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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