April 25, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Wednesday, April 24

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Chad Bettis, RHP, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K; potential plus-plus fastball; can vary the hard stuff (two-seam, four-seam, cut); easy plus slider; could be a monster setup guy with closer potential; 21.2 IP, 21 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 26 K.

Position Prospect of the Day: Nick Castellanos, OF, Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 3-3, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB; hit tool could reach plus-plus level; plus power potential; fringy reads on balls in the outfield; developing pitch recognition; arm is easy plus; great makeup.

Other notable prospect performances from April 24:

“The Good”

• Aaron Altherr, OF, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 4-5, 2B, 3B, R, RBI, K, SB; glider; plus raw power; swing has length; will need to make significant adjustments to his swing to creep onto the prospect radar.
• Matt Andriese, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; three-pitch arsenal (fastball/curveball/split), all with average-to-slightly-above-average potential; mild crossfire delivery; potential back-end starter or seventh-inning guy; 21.0 IP, 13 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 21 K so far.
• Chun-Hsiu Chen, C/1B, Indians (Double-A Akron): 2-4, 2 2B, R, 4 RBI, K; mistake hitter; will be overmatched against quality pitching; tough profile at first base.
• Brandon Drury, 3B, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 3-4, 2 R, 3 2B, RBI; acquired in Justin Upton trade; aggressive hitter; below-average defensive profile at third; solid-average power potential.
• Edwin Escobar, LHP, Giants (High-A San Jose): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; great strikeout numbers thus far; uses fastball-changeup combination; 29 K in 19.0 IP to date.
• Nolan Fontana, SS, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 3 BB; grinder type; solid-average hit tool; highly polished; physically mature; high baseball IQ; at worst, will be a strong utility option.
• Marcell Ozuna, OF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K; plus-plus raw power; plus-plus arm; swing can show length; good baseball instincts; hit tool will determine ultimate major-league role.
• Danry Vasquez, OF, Tigers (Low-A West Michigan): 4-5, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB; plus hit tool; plus raw power; average arm; good bat speed; still has room to develop body; ability to hit breaking balls is still a work in progress; fringy runner.
• Andy Wilkins, 1B, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K; tough profile; tends to sell out for power; bat wrap; good makeup; solid-average power to his pull side.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 2-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K; sweetest swing in the minors; easy plus-plus hit tool; solid-average power potential; will have to move to left field or first base defensively; very nice fantasy option who will have a very high batting average.
• Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 11 K; ultra-smooth delivery; plus-plus fastball; potential plus-plus curveball; usable changeup; could reach the majors in 2013.

“The Bad”

Zoilo Almonte, OF, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre): 0-4, R, BB, 3 K; profiles best as an extra outfielder; hit tool will ultimately decide the length of his big-league career.

“The Uneasy”

Jose Campos, RHP, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K; had an injury-laden 2012 season, and his stuff hasn’t bounced back all the way yet; 12.0 IP, 13 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 9 K in four starts.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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