June 12, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Tuesday, June 11

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Edwin Escobar, LHP, Giants (High-A San Jose): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. Escobar is a lefty who relies on his FB/CH combination. The curveball is developing, but Escobar will depend on the changeup as his primary secondary offering; 55.2 IP, 51 H, 20 ER, 14 BB, 73 K in 12 outings this season.

Position Prospect of the Day: Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 4-4, 2B, 3 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI. Gallo’s raw power is off the charts, but he has shown plenty of swing and miss in his full-season debut. The thing that struck me while I was watching Gallo for a series earlier this season was the fact that he really played the game hard. He has plenty of arm for third base and looked to me like he could stay there for the long haul.

Other notable prospect performances on June 11:

“The Good”

• Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Indians (Double-A Akron): 2-5, 2B, HR, R, RBI. Aguilar participated in the 2012 Futures Game. His carrying tool will be his easy plus raw power, but I question how much he will be able to hit against quality pitching; .286/.348/.548 with 5 2B and 2 HR in 42 at-bats.
• Stetson Allie, 1B, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 3-3, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 5RBI, 2 BB. Allie has moved from the mound over to first base, after failing to field enough to play third, and has shown he can crush inferior pitching. Allie has easy plus raw power, but I fear that he will not be able to square up velocity and will also be challenged by breaking balls. Allie is taking strides to get back on the prospect radar, but he is still in the “proceed with caution” category for me; .332/.414/.626 with 16 2B and 17 HR in 232 Low-A at-bats.
• Chris Bassitt, RHP, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. Bassitt is a future reliever logging innings as a starter. The fastball can touch plus velocities and the slider has solid-average potential. This puts him on the radar in a White Sox system that is not exactly loaded with prospects.
• Gary Brown, CF, Giants (Triple-A Fresno): 3-5, 2B, HR, R, RBI. This is an interesting line for Brown, who normally will not provide much in the way of power. Brown is now looking to carve out a career as an extra outfielder who will play very good defense, but will not hit enough to warrant being in the lineup on a daily basis.
• Andrew Faulkner, LHP, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. I saw Faulkner in his first outing after he came off the disabled list. Faulkner fastball was 92-94 (T95); he also showed a slider at 86-87 with solid-average potential and a fringy curveball at 74-76. Faulkner had a crossfire delivery, throwing from a deceptive arm slot. I do not see a future as a starter, but they may have something as a potential power-lefty reliever.
• Rosell Herrera, SS, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 4-4, 2B, R, SB. Plus power potential; potential solid-average hit tool; will have to move off of third base eventually; should be near a promotion to the hitter-friendly confines of the California League; .375/.419/.575 with 2 2B and 2 HR in 40 at-bats.
• Kyle Kubitza, 3B, Braves (High-A Lynchburg): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 K. Kubitza has the potential to have three solid-average tools (hit/power/arm), which would allow him to fit the profile for the hot corner.
• Ronny Rodriguez, SS, Indians (Double-A Akron): 3-4, 2 2B, 3B, 2 R, BB. Rodriguez has some #sparkle to him. He creates plus bat speed and has plus power potential. As long as Rodriguez is able to stay at shortstop, he has an everyday big-league future; .375/.409/.650 with 4 2B, 2 3B, and 1 HR in last 40 at-bats.
• Kyle Roller, 1B, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 3-5, 2 HR, R, 3 RBI. Roller is a typical big-power organizational player. Roller has top-of-the-scale raw power, but the swing has plenty of length and he is stuck to first base defensively.
• Luis Sardinas, SS, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 4-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB. Sardinas has natural barrel-to-ball ability. He may never hit for any power, but he can play a quality shortstop and is another high-level Rangers middle-infield prospect; .282/.330/.340 with 8 2B, 3 3B, and 19 stolen-bases in 241 at-bats.
• Maxx Tissenbaum, 2B, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 4-5, 2 2B, R, RBI. Tissenbaum is the prototypical grinder. I thought it was important to bring up a guy who is having a quality season, and only one year ago Tissenbaum was leading Stony Brook on their Cinderella run to Omaha.

“The Bad”

• Jordan Akins, OF, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 0-4, 3 K. A lot of people had high hopes for Akins, but the swing does not lead me to believe he will ever make enough contact to be relevant.
• Byron Buxton, CF Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 0-5, 2 K. Hold on, people think this guy is good?
• Brian Goodwin, CF, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 0-4, 2 K. Goodwin has struggled versus advanced pitching in Double-A; .171/.310/.257 with 14 K in last 35 at-bats.
• Jarrett Parker, RF, Giants (Double-A Richmond): 0-4, 3 K. Parker really looks the part, physically, but the swing has plenty of miss in it.
• George Springer, CF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 1-5, 2B, R, 4 K. Springer has taken steps forward this year, but most believe swing and miss will always be a major part of his game.
• Yordano Ventura, RHP, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. The young Ventura has been very good in 2013; I would not worry about one start.

“The Healthy”

Matt Purke, LHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. For me, the main thing is that Purke is out logging innings. He may give up hits and runs, but the strikeouts are still there, and most importantly, he is there. I look forward to seeing Purke at some point this summer.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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