Minor League Update: G... (11/11)
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November 12, 2015 Minor League UpdateGames of Wednesday, November 11th
Hitter of the Day: Roemon Fields, CF, Blue Jays (AFL Salt River Rafters): 1-3, 2 BB, 3B, RBI, SB, K Fields is one of those guys you root for, with an awesome back story and zero pedigree underwriting his ascent to Double-A this season. A track star in his younger days, he clocks 70-plus run times on the regular and shows notable instincts in center for a player who remains relatively raw for his age. The big question, as it often does with players of his profile, relates to how much he’ll hit and whether that’ll be enough to get him to the Show. His stroke is quick into the zone, but it gets there at a steep angle and with very little help from his lower half. He worked walks at a decent clip this season, but that gets awfully tough to do with 20-grade power the higher you get. Still, he’s a fun player who deserves some attention given the utility of his skillset and proximity to the majors.
Pitcher of the Day: Steven Brault, LHP, Pirates (AFL Glendale Desert Dogs): 3 IP, 2 ER, H, BB, 5 K, HR A former Orioles’ 11th-rounder, Brault was the piece that went to Pittsburgh when Travis Snider went to Baltimore, and despite a modest arsenal all he’s done is produce at every stop to date up through a half-season of Double-A starts. He’s a prototypical crafty lefty, with a fastball that’ll touch the low-90s and play up thanks to an above-average changeup that he hides well and delivers consistently out of the same slot. Both of his benders are on the fringy side at best, but if he can get at least one of them to “show-me” utility, the command profile may just be enough to get him into the back of a big-league rotation at some point.
Others of Note:
Luis Ortiz, RHP, Rangers (AFL Surprise Saguaros): IP, ER, 2 H, BB, K The stat line isn’t of much importance here, but it’s important that there is a stat line. The former first-rounder dodged a bullet this summer when he hit the shelf with a strained flexor muscle but avoided any damage to his pitching elbow. He came back for a handful of relief outings in the Sally League playoffs, and yesterday made his second one-inning appearance of the fall. He’s a big boy with a body that’ll require some maintenance efforts, but he boasts a strong top-two in his fastball and slider and shows an easy arm action. This wasn’t his first run-in with an injury to his pitching arm, but if his health permits, he’ll be poised to shoot to the top of the Texas system with a solid showing at High-A in 2016.
Austin Dean, OF, Marlins (AFL Mesa Solar Sox): 2-3, BB, 3 R, 3B, RBI Another multi-hit game for Dean pushed him up to .327 for the fall campaign, as he continues to hang his hat on an above-average hit tool despite an otherwise-crippling array of shortcomings in other areas of his game. Leftfield-only guys with below-average power and speed face exceedingly long odds to cut out big league careers for themselves, but Dean maintains at least a slim chance off the strength of his barrel skills. He should head to Double-A in 2016, where the profile will face a difficult test.
Nick Torres, OF, Padres (AFL Peoria Javelinas): 4-5, 3 R, 2B Welcome to Limited Profile Outfielder Night in fall ball, I guess. Torres can hit a little and there’s some leverage in his swing when he looks to pull, but he’s a 40-grade runner already and his arm’s a tick below-average as well, limiting him to left and putting pressure on the bat to play up.
Dixon Machado, SS, Tigers (VWL Leones del Caracas): 1-3, BB, R, SB Machado garnered some helium after a stellar Double-A campaign in 2014, but exploitation by crafty Triple-A veterans followed this season. He’s been stellar through his first hundred plate appearances in Venezuela, however, getting back to the selective approach that allowed his suspect hit tool to play up during his breakout campaign. He boasts a borderline-elite left side arm and plus defensive chops at short, so modest life with the stick is he really all needs in order to carve out a long big-league career. He’ll likely get another crack at the International League in 2016.
Tzu-Wei Lin, SS, Red Sox (AFL Scottsdale Scorpions): 3-4, 2 R No wait, it’s Light-Hitting Middle Infielder Night! Lin had fallen off the map prior to this season, but a strong first half at High-A at least reminded people he exists. He struggled at the plate after a promotion to Portland as soft contact gave rise to an ugly BABIP, but the handy glovework and double-plus speed remained intact. He’ll need to hit at least a little bit if he’s going to force his way into anybody’s utility infield plans, but the defensive baseline is there.
Raimel Tapia, LF, Rockies (AFL Salt River Rafters): 3-5, R, CS Just trollin’ me at this point with his third straight multi-hit game on a night I write the Update.
Fight Another Day:
Eric Aguilera, 1B/OF, Angels (AFL Mesa Solar Sox): 0-4, RBI, 2 K Aguilera had himself a time in the California League this year, and he’s exactly the kind of player that tends to do so: big, strong, and old for the level. The former 34th-rounder’s season also screeched to a halt after a promotion to Double-A, and he’s exactly the kind of player that tends to do that, as well. Aguilera’s swing is on the stiff side despite a nice loose setup, and he’ll struggle to get off his back foot, leading to some uphill hacks and inconsistent barrel delivery. The power is above average, however, and he’s athletic enough to fake it into a first base/corner outfield utility profile if he hits enough. He’ll get another go of it at Double-A in 2016, and the 25-year-old could force his way into an up-and-down bench role for the Halos at some point.
Wilson Karaman is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @vocaljavelins
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