May 7, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Monday, May 6

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Yordano Ventura, RHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K; elite fastball; easy plus curveball; changeup has made huge steps forward and now has solid-average potential; most scouts now believe he will stay as a starter; number-two ceiling; will be able to provide value to the Royals in 2013, either with his own skills or as the centerpiece of a trade to address a major-league need; 23.1 IP, 17 H,  6 ER, 9 BB, 33 K in five starts.

Position Prospect of the Day: Adam Walker, RF, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 K; plus-plus raw power; developing hit tool; solid-average runner; crude in the outfield; power makes him an interesting prospect to follow as he progresses; .288/.351/.558 with 6 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR in 104 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances from May 6:

“The Good”

• Martin Agosta, RHP, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K; 22-year-old college arm carving up Low-A; solid-average fastball; slider has average potential; changeup is plus; 31.1 IP, 22 H, 7 ER, 13 BB, 45 K in six starts.
• Tyler Anderson, LHP, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K; solid-average fastball; plus changeup; fringy breaking ball; plus pitchability; 39.2 IP, 33 H, 14 ER, 10 BB, 36 K in seven starts this season.
• D.J. Baxendale, RHP, Twins (High-A Fort Myers): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K; fringy fastball; plus potential curveball; changeup is a work in progress; college arm; will need to prove himself at higher levels; 36.1 IP, 24 H, 6 ER, 6 BB, 35 K in six starts.
• Clayton Blackburn, RHP, Giants (High-A San Jose): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K; plus fastball; potential plus changeup; potential solid-average curveball; good pitchability; big, filled-out frame.
• Bryan Brickhouse, RHP, Royals (Low-A Lexington): 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K; fastball works in the low 90s and can touch higher; shows feel for spinning the curveball effectively, but lacks consistency; changeup can get firm; some see him as a high-leverage reliever; 33.2 IP, 27 H, 9 ER, 7 BB, 30 K in 6 starts this season.
• Glynn Davis, CF, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 2-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, K; plus-plus runner; potential plus center fielder; good bat speed; swing can get long versus breaking stuff; bat will need to take at least a few steps forward.
• Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K; plus fastball; potential solid-average changeup; potential solid-average curveball; big frame; profiles best as a middle-of-the-rotation starter; this was his Double-A debut.
• Michael Reed, OF, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB; plus runner; solid-average range; solid-average arm; hit tool may be average; power may be below average, at best; .282/.347/.388 with 5 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, and 6 SB in 85 at-bats this season.
• Angel Sanchez, RHP, Dodgers (Low-A Great Lakes): 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; fastball can touch plus velocity; slider with plus potential; developing changeup; command wavers; already 23 years old; 33.0 IP, 29 H, 17 ER, 13 BB, 33 K in six starts.
• Reid Scoggins, RHP, Angels (Low-A Burlington): 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K; fastball can touch plus-plus velocity; slider has solid-average potential; future reliever; delivery has considerable effort in it; 18.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 22 K in six outings this season.
• Jorge Soler, RF, Cubs, (High-A Daytona): 2-4, 3B, HR, 2 R, RBI; plus-plus raw power; plus arm; developing hit tool; solid average runner; good right-field profile.
• Tyler Smith, RHP, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K; upper 80s-low 90s fastball; slider and changeup are both fringy; will have to prove himself at each level; 29.1 IP, 25 H, 10 ER, 8 BB, 26 K in eight appearances.
• Andrew Toles, CF, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 2-3, 2B, 3B, R, RBI; solid-average hit tool; gap power; solid-average runner; will need to take steps forward with plate discipline; athletic player whose stock is on the rise; .328/.365/.538 with 10 2B, 6 3B, HR in 119 at-bats.
• Jesse Winker, LF, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; potential for a plus hit tool; plus power upside; advanced baseball instincts; arm is average; may be limited to left field; bat will have to reach ceiling for him to profile in left; .284/.393/.474 with 7 2B, 3B, 3 HR in 95 at-bats this season.

 “The Bad”

Donnie Joseph, LHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; acquired for Jonathan Broxton in 2012, Joseph has a setup ceiling but may fit better in middle relief.

“The Ugly”

Roman Quinn, SS, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 0-4, 3 K; plenty of tools, but hit tool still needs maturation; .204/.271/.287 with 31 K in 108 at-bats.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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