June 28, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, June 27

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Brooks Pounders, RHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 9.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. Pounders is not a major prospect, but the no-hitter is impressive. He’s a guy that could get a cup of coffee in the big leagues and end up as a swingman, or be a guy who frequently goes up and down.

Position Prospect of the Day: Grant Green, 2B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI. I spoke with a scout the other day about Green, and he said, “I know he is putting up better numbers this year playing in the PCL, and I’m not sure I believe in him as a successful everyday candidate”; .432/.468/.886 with 6 2B, 1 3B, and 4 HR in last 44 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances on June 27:

“The Good”

• Jorge Alfaro, C, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, 5 RBI. The prospect we love to refer to as “The Legend,” Alfaro shows all the tools. He has the potential to hit in the middle of the lineup while playing a premium defensive position. He has an 8 arm, but is still working on the footwork necessary to successfully throw out runners; .342/.366/.500 with 3 2B, 1 HR, and 3 SB in 38 at-bats.
• Archie Bradley, RHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 7.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. Bradley’s stuff has as high of a ceiling as anyone’s in the minor leagues. We rated him as the number-one pitcher in the minors in our recent Midseason Top 50, and there was no debate on that ranking; 32.2 IP, 25 H, 12 ER, 13 BB, 30 K in five June starts.
• Kyle Crick, RHP, Giants (High-A San Jose): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. Crick has been lights out since returning from the disabled list. He has an explosive fastball that receives plus-plus grades from many scouts, a potential plus curveball, and a solid-average cutter to complete his arsenal; 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 18 K in two starts since returning from disabled list.
• Brandon Drury, 3B, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 3-4, 2 2B, R, RBI. Drury has done a good job of hitting consistently at the Low-A level thus far in 2013. Scouts always believed he had power potential, but some did not believe he would make enough solid contact to successfully tap into it; .314/.381/.651 with 9 2B, 1 3B, and 6 HR in last 86 June at-bats.
• Danny Hultzen, LHP, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. I’ve always been very light on Hultzen. It is most likely because he’s an excellent pitcher with solid-average stuff. When you look at Hultzen’s scouting report, you will likely only see one 6, on his changeup, and a lot of 5s. In no way am I saying Hultzen will not be valuable, because I think he will be fantastic in a big-league role. I just believe that his role will be toward the back of a rotation; 28.2 IP, 19 H, 7 ER, 7 BB, 31 K in five starts.
• Joc Pederson, OF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB. Pederson is another person whose scouting report doesn’t jump off the page at you, but he can play the game of baseball. A reliable source had interesting things to say about Pederson: “Don’t be shocked if this guy finds himself in a position to play every day. I’m not going to write him up as an everyday player, but I know plenty will”; .306/.444/.667 with 1 2B, 4 HR, and 3 stolen-bases in 36 at-bats.
• Trayce Thompson, OF, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 2-5, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI, K. Thompson has tools, looks the part, and has kept me up thinking on countless nights. He has easy plus power, and if he can find a way to tap all the way into it, he could find himself in an everyday role; .378/.417/.689 with 5 2B, 3 HR, and 2 SB in last 45 at-bats.
• Matt Wisler, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K; I know Jason Cole liked what he saw from Wisler. Check out his report. 28.0 IP, 26 H, 9 ER, 7 BB, 28 K in five starts.

“The Bad”

• Mookie Betts, 2B, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 0-5, R, BB, 3 K. I’ve talked to a few people that have seen Betts play, and they encouraged me to keep an eye on him.
• Renato Nunez, 3B, Athletics (Low-A Beloit): 1-5, R, 3 K. “Vote for Renato” to be the last man on the World team’s Futures Game roster.

”The Ugly”

Victor Roache, OF, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 0-5, 3 K; Roache has the power, but he will have to make more contact for it to play.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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