July 30, 2015

Minor League Update

Games of Wednesday, July 29th

by Jeff Moore

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Hitter of the Day: Hunter Dozier, 3B, Royals (NW Arkansas, AA): 4-5, 3 R, 2 2B, HR.
Dozier has really struggled this season, his second time stumbling in Double-A after having issues there last year following a mid-season promotion. He impressed last season in A-ball, flashing a number of plus tools including power, but while getting out of Wilmington has helped that power some, his free-swinging approach at the plate has limited it greatly.

Pitcher of the Day: Luis Severino, RHP, Yankees (Scranton/W-B, AAA): 6 IP, H, 3 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 10 K.
The more success Severino has as a starter, the quieter the reliever crowd gets. With two potential plus pitches, he’ll flourish in either role, and given that one is a changeup, he can handle lefties as well as righties. The issue for those who don’t think he can handle starting is the durability of his slender frame, though the Yankees continue to use him in that role and have been given little reason to act otherwise. At this point, he’s going to continue to start until he proves he can’t.

Best of the Rest

Brett Phillips, OF, Astros (Corpus Christi, AA): 4-5, 2 R, 2B, SB. The power will catch up eventually, but in the meantime Phillips is still showing the all-around skill set that enamored scouts in the California League to begin this season and in the Midwest League last year. He’s aggressive at the plate and will swing and miss, but in the meantime, he’s going to do plenty of damage for an up-the-middle player.

Dylan Cozens, OF, Phillies (Clearwater, A+): 4-4, 2 R, 2 2B, HR. Speaking of swing-and-miss. Cozens’ game is all about power, and he strikes out a lot in an attempt to produce it. He’s a horse, however, with the big body and the long limbs needed to generate leverage and exit velocity at elite levels and hit the ball a long way. It’s his only real tool, however, and his one-dimensional skill set will have to come through against better pitching more consistently in order to justify playing time at the higher levels.

Gavin Cecchini, SS, Mets (Binghamton, AA): 4-5, R, 2B, 3B. Cecchini continues to hit in what has become an impressive breakout season with the bat, and he’s making contact at elite levels without sacrificing power. That’s impressive for a shortstop, and it may be enough to justify playing him at the position even though he’ll be below average there. Not that that’s ever stopped the Mets before.

Jonathan Gray, RHP, Rockies (Albuquerque, AAA): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K. It’s been a tumultuous couple of seasons in the Rockies system for Gray, who has fallen short of expectations to this point. Consistency has been the biggest issue for the righty, who continues to alternate strong outings with substandard ones. Gray is still missing bats, but he hasn’t done so in the upper minors with nearly the same consistency that he showed early on in his professional career.

Brandon Drury, 3B, Diamondbacks (Reno, AAA): 3-3, 2 R, 2 2B, HR. Despite a lackluster start to the season in Double-A, the Diamondbacks promoted Drury anyway and he’s rewarded their vote of confidence. The power production he displayed last year in the California League hasn’t followed him up the organizational ladder, but he also hasn’t been left in any one place long enough to get settled. Where Drury will end up still remains to be seen, but with some pop in his bat and the ability to play both second and third base, there will be a spot for him somewhere.

Fight Another Day

Adam Walker, OF, Twins (Chattanooga, AA): 0-6, 3 K, 3 GIDP. This is about as bad of a night as you can have, which is also how you could describe Walker’s contact skills. With a big, aggressive swing and no approach whatsoever, Walker is at the plate to do one thing: hit home runs. Luckily, he does that a lot, giving him a chance to get away with his massive flaws. He struggles to identify spin and will expand the zone routinely, but he has plus-plus raw power and wants to use it. He’s fun to watch, even when he misses.

Notable Prospect Starters

• Keury Mella, RHP, Giants (San Jose, A+): 5 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 9 K.
• Amir Garrett, LHP, Reds (Daytona, A+): 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 3 K.
• Anthony Banda, LHP, Diamondbacks (Visalia, A+): 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 13 K.
• Blake Snell, LHP, Rays (Durham, AAA): 5 IP, H, R, BB, 7 K.
• Michael Feliz, RHP, Astros (Corpus Christi, AA): 4 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
• Franklyn Kilome, RHP, Phillies (Williamsport, SS): 3 1/3 IP, H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K.