September 11, 2014

Minor League Update

Games of Wednesday, September 10

by Jeff Moore

Printer-friendly

Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Cubs (Kane County, A-): 2-4. As if it weren’t tough enough to make a name for oneself in the Cubs system, Candelario laid an egg in the Florida State League to begin the year, then rebounded only slightly after being demoted back to Kane Country, performing on par with his previous stint in the league. The good news is that he’s only 20, so there’s plenty of time to take another hack at the FSL and move quickly, but the obstacles in between him and Wrigley seem a lot less surmountable than they did at this time last year, and Candelario didn’t make things any easier on himself with a disappointing season.

Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers (Chattanooga, AA): 2-4, HR, 2 K. Will he stick at shortstop or shift over to third base? That’s really the only question left for Seager, who has hit at every level and gives no indication that he will stop any time soon. It’s not just the home-run totals that are impressive, but the doubles power as well, which indicates a more balanced approach and the potential for even more power down the road.

Max Muncy, 1B, Athletics (Midland, AA): 1-3, R, HR, BB, K. Muncy’s power has dropped dangerously low for a player stuck on the corners (and primarily at first base), as he’s yet to show that he can hit the ball over the fence with any regularity outside of the California League. Still, with a left-handed stick, a solid approach and plate discipline, and even a little bit of pop, he could find a role as a bench player.

Adalberto Mejia, LHP, Giants (Richmond, AA): 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Mejia got off to a rough start to the season, one that lasted through June, but his final two months were stellar, allowing him to finish on a strong note and carry things over into the playoffs. He doesn’t miss bats the way his stuff would suggest he should, and his command is below average despite his throwing a lot of strikes. He profiles as a reliever at this point, but whether he can hold down a rotation spot will depend on how patient the Giants are prepared to be with his development.

Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP, Cubs (Kane County, A-): 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 8 K. Because he’s just 19, because he’s coming off of a strong year in full-season ball, and because of Cubs fans, Tseng should receive a lot of helium this winter when it’s horribly cold in Chicago and the Wrigley faithful need a reason to be excited about their pitching prospects. But just because he may be the best pitching prospect in the Cubs system doesn’t mean the hype warrants the same level of intensity as other clubs’ top pitching prospects. Tseng is impressive, but the most impressive aspect of his game is his polish for a 19-year-old, something that will be less impressive as he gets older and his competition catches up. He has big-league stuff, but it’s not the top-of-the-rotation, impact stuff you want from your top pitching prospect. He should be a starter, but he’ll fall in somewhere in the middle of the rotation when it’s all said and done.

Jose Urena, RHP, Marlins (Jacksonville, AA): 5 1/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, BB, 7 K. It was more of the status quo for Urena, who put together yet another solid season in which he threw a ton of strikes and missed just enough bats to get by. Urena has plus velocity and good command of his fastball, but his lack of a good secondary pitch with which to miss bats could limit him to a bullpen role down the road. The best-case scenario is as a back-end starter, but he will be a big-league arm in some capacity.