August 5, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Sunday, August 4

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Jake Arrieta, RHP, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 11 K. This has to be a very positive sign for the Cubs. Arrieta was acquired from the Orioles for Scott Feldman with the thought that he may benefit from a change of scenery, and performances like this one keep that hope alive.

Position Prospect of the Day: Victor Roache, RF, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI. Roache has the raw power and arm strength to handle right field. The problem that scouts keep noting in conversations is that his hit tool may not be major-league quality.

Other notable prospect performances on August 4:

“The Good”

• Alec Asher, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 10 K. Asher has a usable four-pitch mix with a plus fastball. His secondary offerings, curveball/slider/changeup, have taken steps forward in 2013 and grade out as future major-league offerings. Asher profiles as a back-end starter.
• Eddie Butler, RHP, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. Butler’s prospect stock has taken leaps forward in 2013. He started the year in Low-A and is now throwing in Double-A. The fastball can touch the upper 90s when needed, and he adds a potential plus-plus changeup with great life, and a potential plus slider. Some scouts wonder if Butler’s mechanics will allow him to remain a starter, but if he is able to, he has a front-of-the-rotation ceiling.
• David Holmberg, LHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. Holmberg has a four-pitch mix featuring a solid-average changeup. The fastball/curveball/slider all grade around average and he profiles as a solid backe-nd starter; 17.0 IP, 15 H, 3 ER, 9 BB, 13 K in last three starts.
• Drew Hutchison, RHP, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Hutchison is building up his arm strength after having Tommy John surgery last year. The stuff is there for him to be a quality starting pitcher, and this is all part of the recovery process. It has been a disappointing season for the Blue Jays at the major-league level, so I would not expect a promotion this month.
• Steven Moya, RF, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 2-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Moya has plenty of tools, but the hit tool has always been a question mark. Moya’s power is top-of-the-scale, but if the quality of the hit tool does not develop he won’t have enough in-game pop to profile as a regular.
• Daniel Norris, LHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K. I’ve always been a big fan of Norris, who has the potential for three plus pitches (fastball/curveball/changeup). I understand the numbers aren’t exactly glowing, but the strikeout percentage has always been good. Norris has the mid-rotation potential.

“The Bad”

• Brandon Nimmo, CF, Mets (Low-A Savannah): 0-5, 4 K. Nimmo stuck out, in a negative way, during the Futures Game batting practice. I understand Nimmo is still a very raw prospect, but he was selected before some high-level prospects in the 2011 draft. The pressure is on going forward and Nimmo will need to generate more hard contact.
• Mitch Walding, 3B, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 0-4, 3 K. Walding received a large bonus and has not had much success in his first season in Low-A. He has been getting caught on his front foot and will need to make adjustments going forward.
• Sebastian Valle, C, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 1-4, 3 K. Entering the 2013 season, it looked like the Phillies had a plethora of good catching prospects. However, the trio (Tommy Joseph, Sebastian Valle, Cameron Rupp) has not broken through this year.

“The Thank You”

I really appreciate Chris Rodriguez picking me up last week. This was my first experience at a National Showcase, and it was a great one. Nick Faleris took tons of video and at some point in the near future I imagine our thoughts about the players will appear in a piece here at BP.

“The Anticipation”

Tuesday and Wednesday’s MLU will be a little different than the usual format. I believe it will draw a good amount of interest, so look forward to that in the next couple of days.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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