May 14, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Monday, May 13

by Zach Mortimer

Printer-friendly

Contact Author

Pitching Prospect of the Day: Archie Bradley, RHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; top-notch pitching arsenal; plus-plus fastball; potential plus-plus curveball; solid-average changeup; big, athletic frame; stock on the rise; could be a top-10 overall prospect; 42.2 IP, 29 H, 5 ER, 16 BB, 63 K in eight starts at two levels this year.

Position Prospect of the Day: Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 3-5, HR, R, 3 RBI; potential plus hit tool; easy plus power; developing defensive ability; bat has middle-of-the-lineup potential; .280/.356/.500 with 8 2B and 7 HR in 132 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances on May 13:

“The Good”

• Eddie Butler, RHP, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 7.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K; I have not spoken to anyone in the game that has not been extremely impressed with Butler; fastball can reach plus-plus velocity with plus-plus life; plus slider; developing changeup; generates a ton of ground balls; rumor has it that he could finish the year in Double-A; 48.1 IP, 19 H, 8 ER, 22 BB, 45 K in eight starts.
• Alex Colome, RHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 11 K; plus fastball; solid-average curveball; fringy changeup; misses a lot of bats; may be best utilized in the bullpen; 44.1 IP, 34 H, 14 ER, 20 BB, 51 K in eight starts.
• Tim Cooney, LHP, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; solid-average fastball; solid-average changeup; curveball and cutter both could be usable at the highest level.  
• Jesse Darrah, RHP, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; average fastball; potential solid-average changeup; potential average curveball; still needs a lot to go right to make it; repeating Low-A; 35.0 IP, 29 H, 15 ER, 19 BB, 39 K in seven starts.
• Erik Johnson, RHP, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; plus fastball; plus slider; average curveball; developing changeup; back-end-starter profile; 45.1 IP, 29 H, 13 ER, 15 BB, 47 K in eight starts.
• Adrian Marin, SS, Orioles (Low-A Delmarva): 2-3, 2B, 3B, R, K; shows ability to barrel balls in batting practice; has not carried that over to games with any sort of consistency; inconsistent arm; did not leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
• Mike Montgomery, LHP, Rays (High-A Charlotte): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K; former blue-chip prospect; fastball was an easy plus pitch; changeup easy plus; never found any consistent breaking ball; lost his mechanics for the past two seasons. We will see if he is able to get it back together in his second organization.
• Peter O’Brien, C, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 3-3, 2B, HR, 3 R, RBI, BB; plus raw power; hit tool will be fringy; stiff; defensive profile is below average at best; backup profile; .324/.360/.569 with 13 2B and 4 HR in 102 at-bats.
• James Paxton, LHP, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K; long arm action; plus fastball; plus curveball; fringy changeup; mid-rotation starter if things go right; could also be a late-inning reliever; 31.0 IP, 31 H, 15 ER, 16 BB, 34 K in seven starts.
• Brad Peacock, RHP, Astros (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K; solid-average fastball; solid-average curveball; developing changeup; still developing command of all pitches.
• Robert Stephenson, RHP, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K; with Billy Hamilton struggling in Triple-A, Stephenson is in line to lead the Reds next prospect list; fastball could be elite; plus curveball; developing changeup; big, strong frame; frontline potential; 34.0 IP, 36 H, 18 ER, 12 BB, 44 K in seven starts.
• Mike Zunino, C, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI, K; hit tool will play around average; average power; solid-average defensive profile; good baseball instincts. Zunino has struggled thus far in Triple-A, where he is trying to do a too much; his swing has gotten long, and he is expanding the zone. I would not worry about Zunino, because he has excellent baseball instincts and the mental toughness to right the ship.

“The Bad”

• Jake Marisnick, CF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 0-4, 3 K; shows five-tool potential, but the hit tool is well behind the others.
• Adam Walker, RF, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 0-4, 3 K; as with most big power guys, Walker has some swing and miss in his game.

“The Ugly”

Javier Baez, SS, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 0-4, K; struggling to slow the game down; still showing tools at the plate; defensive ability has been called into question; .237/.272/.473 with 8 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, and 43 K in 135 at-bats.

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