June 5, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Tuesday, June 4

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Eddie Butler, RHP, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K. Jason Cole has a lot of good to say about Butler. Check out his notes here.

Position Prospect of the Day: Henry Urrutia, OF, Orioles (Double-A Bowie): 4-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI. I had a great conversation with a front-office member about Urrutia, in which the FOM said, “He can hit, but everything else is still a work in progress.” He spoke to the fact that Urrutia was very raw in all aspects of the actual game. His ability in the outfield and running the bases were two weaknesses that he singled out. Overall, we both agreed that the hit tool may be enough to get him to the big leagues, but he will need to add polish to his game; .375/.405/.550 with 1 2B and 2 HR in last 40 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances from June 4:

“The Good”

• Nick Delmonico, 3B, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 4-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI; potential solid-average hit tool; developing power with solid-average ceiling; below- to well-below-average glove; solid-average arm; will need to stay at third to fit profile; .287/.391/.585 with 7 2B and 7 HR in 94 at-bats.
• Maikel Franco, 3B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI; potential solid-average hit tool; potential plus hit tool; plus arm; stock on the rise; .295/.342/.554 with 23 2B, 1 3B, and 11 HR in 224 at-bats.
• Joan Gregorio, RHP, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; easy plus fastball; developing secondary pitches; extreme length; stock on the rise; 25.0 IP, 18 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 33 K in five starts.
• Courtney Hawkins, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem Dash): 2-5, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, K; elite raw power; extreme amount of swing and miss; plus arm; corner-outfield profile. Hawkins has days like this, which make me think “monster,” and boy does he have days on the other end that make me think other things.
• Kyle Kubitza, 3B, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, SB; potential solid-average hit tool; developing power with solid-average ceiling; solid-average arm; solid prospect that does not get much recognition; .375/.474/.719 with 2 2B, 3 HR, and 3 SB in last 32 at-bats.
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF, Mets (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB. I do not really have anything to add about Nieuwenhuis as a player, but make sure you take a look at a guy’s home and road splits, especially when he plays in the super-friendly confines of Vegas; .612 SLG at home and .394 SLG on the road.
• Cesar Puello, OF, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 3-4, 2 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI; plus raw power; solid-average arm; solid-average run; average hit tool; streaky player; .342/.457/.684 with 4 2B, 3 HR, and 5 SB in last 38 at-bats.
• Matt Purke, LHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; plus fastball; potential plus slider; average changeup; extreme injury concerns (shoulder).
• Tony Renda, 2B, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 4-5, 2 2B, 3 R, SB; potential solid-average hit tool; gap power; average runner; average defensive ability; should be in line for a promotion in the near future; .444/.468/.689 with 9 2B, 1 3B, and 2 SB in last 45 at-bats.
• Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, K, SB: easy plus runner; potential solid-average hit tool; raw baseball player for his age.

“The Bad”

• Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Twins (Triple-A Rochester): 0-5, 3 K; Oh, Oswaldo, you don’t like riding the bus again?
• Christian Bethancourt, C, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 0-4, 3 K; Bethancourt has the ability to make it to the majors based solely on his defense, but he has made improvements offensively.
• Deven Marrero, SS, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 0-5, 2 K; Our own Chris Mellon took in the game tonight, and he tells me Marrero was too focused on pulling the ball and will have to make adjustments to use the whole field.
• Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. I have talked to multiple scouts who said Taillon was the best pitcher they have seen all season.
• Andy Wilkins, 1B, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 0-4, 3 K; Interesting prospect who will need to really hit if he wants to make it.

“The Ugly”

Eugenio Suarez, SS, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 0-7, RBI, 3 K; the 0-for-7 will put a little bit of a downer on the batting average.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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