September 15, 2014

Minor League Update

Games of September 12-14

by Jeff Moore

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Friday, September 12

Mike Montgomery, LHP, Rays (Durham, AAA): 6 IP, 3 H, R, 6 BB, 6 K. The once highly touted southpaw has never quite put it all together, struggling with command and at times control thanks to poor mechanics that he's never been able to iron out. Now 25 and having repeated Triple-A for a second straight season, he hasn't made the progress the Rays were hoping for for when they received him from the Royals last offseason. At this point, he's not much more than organizational depth.

Justin Nicolino, LHP, Marlins (Marlins, AA): 6 2/3 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Nicolino has been stellar all season thanks to fantastic control and a plus changeup. He excels at generating bad contact, but his 4.3 K/9 rate is frighteningly low, even for a guy with fewer walks than games started. His ability to throw strikes and change speeds will get him into a big-league rotation, but if he wants to be anywhere other tham the back of it, he'll need to miss a few more bats.

Steven Matz, LHP, Mets (Binghamton, AA): 7 1/3 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 11 K. Matz has not only established himself as the top left-hander in the Mets farm system, but one of the best in the game. With good velocity, plus command, and the makings of two more quality offspeed pitches, there are no longer questions about Matz's ability to remain a starter. He's not an ace, but he could top out as a quality no. 2 starter and at the very least should settle into the middle of the Mets rotation.

Saturday, September 13

Raimel Tapia, OF, Rockies (Asheville, A-): 2-5, R, HR, 2 K. After a red-hot June and July, Sally League pitchers began pitching around Tapia with more frequency, and to his credit, he let them. As he grows into his power, that trend will continue and will test Tapia's patience. As a hitter who can get the barrel of the bat on just about any pitch, he'll have to learn to pick and choose when to do his damage, but he's already made strides in that department and should only get better.

Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Cubs (Kane County, A-): 2-4, R. It remains to be seen just how much, if any, power Candelario is going to grow into as he ages, but we can be fairly certain it will be significantly less than the Cubs’ current options at the hot corner.

Vincent Velasquez, RHP, Astros (Lancaster, A+): 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K. Velasquez has two plus pitches in his back pocket (fastball and changeup), which is why he was able to miss bats with regularity this season in a tough league for pitchers, but if he wants to remain a starter in the majors, he'll need to make strides with his curveball. That'll be easier to do now that he's taking the mound more regularly.

Sunday, September 14

Eddie Butler, RHP, Rockies (Tulsa, AA): 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 0 R, 5 K. This game serves as a microcosm for Butler's season, with electric stuff that doesn't match the disappointing performance. Butler wasn't bad this season, but he didn't take the step forward that many were looking for, and his drop in strikeout rate is concerning, though at least part of that is due to the Rockies’ organizational philosophy of generating ground balls. Weak contact is nice, especially in Coors, but Butler is at his best when he's missing more bats. Hopefully he can find a good balance between what the Rockies want him to do and what he does best.

Programming Note
With the minor-league playoffs all but wrapped up, this will be the last Minor League Update for about a month. The plan as of now is to resume the MLU once the Arizona Fall League and winter leagues begin play in October. As of now, I'll still be putting it together each night, but there may be some changes to the Update in the future. It has been my pleasure to write this article each and every night, and I have truly been honored by those of you who have said that it is the first thing you read each morning. It is a labor of love, and I have loved every minute of doing it. I'll see you back here in October.