May 29, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Tuesday, May 28

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Drew Granier, RHP, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 12 K; four-pitch mix (fastball/slider/curveball/changeup); slider has solid-average potential; every other pitch is fringy; will have to prove himself going forward; works very hard, in a good way, on the mound.

Position Prospect of the Day: Wil Myers, RF, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, K. Well, look at that, I call out Myers for having a case of the Triple-As and he starts going off. It’s getting near that time when the Rays enjoy calling up their prized prospects, and it should not be long before Myers is living the good life in the big leagues.

Other notable prospect performances on May 28:

“The Good”

• Javier Baez, SS, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 2-6, HR, R, 2 RBI, K; major-league bat speed; plus-plus potential hit tool; plus-plus raw power; plus-plus arm; starting to get into a groove; .372/.426/.581 with 4 2B, 1 3B, and 1 HR in 43 at-bats.
• Joey DeMichele, 2B, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 4-5, 3 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI. DeMichele, a third-round pick in 2012, has struggled thus far in the 2013 season. When going right, DeMichele shows the ability to make consistent contact and provides gap power, but is a fringy runner and is fringy defensively at second. 
• Brian Flynn, LHP, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Flynn is the little-known throw-in prospect of the Anibal Sanchez/Omar Infante trade, but he has already received a promotion from Double-A to Triple-A. On the mound, he has a fastball that can touch plus velocity, a solid-average slider, an average curveball, and a developing changeup. He profiles best as a back-end starter.
• Chris Jensen, RHP, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; fastball can touch plus velocities; slurvy breaking ball; mechanics may lead to a move to the bullpen.
• Micah Johnson, 2B, White Sox (Low-A Kannapolis): 2-6, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI. Johnson, who is normally known for his speed and aggressiveness on the base paths, has hit a homerun in three consecutive games; .395/.480/.605 with 3 HR and 7 SB in 43 at-bats.
• Kyle Kubitza, 3B, Braves (High-A Lynchburg): 2-3, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB; solid-average potential hit tool; developing power; solid-average arm; good actions at third; solid, under-the-radar prospect.
• Zach Lee, RHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; good command of all four pitches (fastball/curveball/slider/changeup); slider has plus potential; potential solid-average changeup; profiles as a future mid-rotation starter ; 57.1 IP, 53 H, 17 ER, 18 BB, 51 K in 11 starts.
• Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 3-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI; plus potential hit tool; every other aspect of his game is fringy; will have to really hit to be a future everyday contributor.
• Steven Moya, OF, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 4-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; elite raw power; plus arm; hit tool will have to take steps forward to even grade out as below average; average runner; risky prospect; .333/.349/.452 with 3 2Ba and 1 3B in 42 at-bats.
• Jimmy Nelson, RHP, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 8.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K; plus-plus fastball; plus slider; delivery has effort; will contribute in the back end of a bullpen.
• Kevin Pillar, OF, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 3-5, 3B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; gamer type; solid-average hit tool; gap power; solid-average runner; ability to play all three outfield positions; high baseball IQ; profiles best as a fourth outfielder; .330/.383/.478 with 14 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, and 13 SB in 224 at-bats.
• Christopher Taylor, SS, Mariners (High-A High Desert): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI; plus potential hit tool; fringy power; average runner; power numbers may be aided by the friendly confines of the California League.
• Matt Wessinger, SS, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 3-4, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB, K. Wessinger is one of the guys that I enjoy watching. He has, at best, tools across the board, but he really grinds and plays hard. He will do anything he can for his team at all times.

 “The Bad”

• Josh Bell, OF, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 0-5, 2 K; Some believe that he is poised for a breakout in the second half of 2013. I will wait and see.
• Timothy Berry, LHP, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 1.0 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 0 BB, 0 K. Not a good outing for Berry, whom I saw pitch very well earlier in the season.

“The Ugly?”

Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 3.2 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 7 BB, 2 K. Well, Mr. Glasnow is human.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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