April 18, 2014

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, April 17

by Jeff Moore

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Mac Williamson, OF, Giants (San Jose, A+): 2-4, 3 R, 2B, HR. We know Williamson has power. The question is whether he will hit. There’s some serious swing-and-miss to his game, but thus far in a repeat of the California League, he’s controlling the strike zone better than he did last year.

Zoilo Almonte, OF, Yankees (SWB, AAA): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, K. I’m almost afraid to mention Almonte because I talked about him a lot this winter, but a pair of home runs is a day worthy of any update. With the injuries the Yankees have already put up with, Almonte is just a pulled hamstring or tweaked quad away from being called on for big-league duty.

Garin Cecchini, 3B, Red Sox (Pawtucket, AAA): 3-5, R. Cecchini is known for his advanced eye at the plate, but he can hit his way on, too.

Brett Eibner, OF, Royals (Omaha, AAA): 3-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, K. Eibner is having a heck of an April. It’s not necessarily an indication of anything, given his free-swinging ways, but it’s nice to see what can happen when the contact comes together for a short period of time.

Clayton Blackburn, RHP, Giants (Richmond, AA): 6 1/3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Blackburn isn’t impactful with his stuff, but his ability to make it work in Double-A is a good sign for his future as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Micah Johnson, 2B, White Sox (Birmingham, AA): 3-5, 2 2B. There are questions with Johnson about his hit tool and defense. He doesn’t have to hit for a great average, thanks to his speed, but he’ll have to hold his own both with the bat and the glove, and those are both still very much in question.

Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Myrtle Beach A+): 1-3, 3 R, HR, 2 BB, 2 K. Did you just say Gallo? Gallo with a G? Jerry Gallo’s dead!

Carlos Tocci, OF, Phillies (Lakewood, A-): 3-5, 2 R. In a repeat of Low-A ball, Tocci is still one of the league’s youngest players. He still has virtually no power, and his 14-to-0 K:BB ratio isn’t a good sign, but he’s young, athletic, and has a feel for hitting. Those attributes are a good place to start.

Ryan McMahon, 3B, Rockies (Asheville, A-): 1-3, R, HR, BB 2 K. In a prospect-filled lineup, McMahon has found a way to stand out with six home runs in 14 games.

Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (Charleston, A-): 1-3, 2 R, HR, 2 BB, K. We know Judge is large. Did you know he can hit, too? He struggles with premium velocity, and like most bigger hitters he can get tied up inside, but he should have enough power to make it work, at least in some capacity.

Notable Pitching Performances*

• Nick Kingham, RHP, Pirates (Altoona, AA): 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 3 K.
• Justin Nicolino, LHP, Marlins (Jacksonville, AA): 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, R, BB, 2 K.
• J.R. Graham, RHP, Braves (Mississippi, AA): 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), K.
• Endrys Briceno, RHP, Tigers (Lakeland, A+): 6 IP, 5 H, R, 0 BB, 3 K.
• Braden Shipley, RHP, Diamondbacks (South Bend, A-): 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K.

*The point of the Minor League Update is to keep you, the reader, up to speed on how prospects are doing throughout the minor league season with scouting reports and explanations along with a daily stat line. Sometimes, however, you just want to know the result, especially with pitchers who were neither spectacular nor terrible on a particular night. This is that section.