April 14, 2016

Minor League Update

Games of Wednesday, April 13th

by Christopher Crawford

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Prospect of the Day:

Isan Diaz, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (Single-A Wisconsin): 4-for-5, 3 R, 3 2B, 1 BB.
Well, this qualifies as a pretty good day. Diaz was the Pioneer League MVP last season, and he’s shown in the first seven games that it wasn’t a fluke, hitting .381/.519/.714 to begin the season. Both the hit and power tools have a chance to be above-average, and while he’s not a lock to stick at shortstop, there’s a realistic chance he stays in the middle infield. Even a move to third base would not a deathblow to his chances of becoming a regular.

Others of Note:

Jose Peraza, SS, Cincinnati Reds (Triple-A Louisville) 4-for-7, 2 R, BB, K. Be it at shortstop, second base, or in the outfield, Peraza is going to be a regular who hits at or near the top of the Cincinnati lineup.

Adam Frazier, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 3-for-4, 2B, K, CS. The AFL standout has four average tools and should be able to stay at shortstop.

Jameson Taillon, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if Taillon’s a member of the Pirates rotation this summer—if he can stay healthy.

Austin Voth, RHP, Washington Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Voth gets overshadowed by other righties in the system, but plus command and solid stuff give him mid-rotation potential.

Dixon Machado, SS, Detroit Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 3-for-4, R, 3B, K. He’s a defense-first shortstop, but also not completely bereft of offensive ability.

Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 2-for-4, 2 HR, K. Again with the dingers.

Dominic Smith, 1B, New York Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 2-for-3, 2B, BB. This guy could have 20-grade power and I’d still be a believer.

David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies (Double-A Hartford): 1-for-4, HR (4). He hit six homers all year in 2015. I think it’s fair to say he will eclipse that total.

Amir Garrett, LHP, Reds (Double-A Pensacola): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB 7 K. Many believe that Garrett—and not Cody Reed—is the best southpaw in the Reds system. Electric stuff.

J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies (Double-A Reading): 1-for-3, HR, BB. If the power can get to fringe average (and it can), Crawford is going to be a superstar.

Jarlin Garcia, LHP, Miami Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 5.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K. The Marlins southpaw has given up just one run on the year while striking out more than a batter per inning. That’s good.

Bobby Bradley, 1B, Cleveland (High-A Lynchburg): 2-for-4, HR, 2 K. There are contact issues aplenty here, but also a chance for plus-plus power from the left side.

Yohander Mendez, LHP, Rangers (High-A High Desert): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. Mendez struggled in his first start, but with a plus change and improving velocity, he’s a legit mid-rotation prospect.

Josh Staumont, RHP, Kansas City Royals (High-A Wilmington)::4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. It’s very unlikely that he starts long term, but he could be a dominant reliever with an 80 fastball and plus slider.

Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins (High-A Fort Myers): 3-for-4, R, 2B SB (2). Last year, Gordon struggled immensely to start the season. This year, he’s at .367/.387/.500 over the first seven games.

Derek Hill, OF, Detroit Tigers (Low-A West Michigan): 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, SB (5). The only thing missing from Hill’s game is power. When you can run like he can, that doesn’t matter so much.

Donnie Dewees, OF, Chicago Cubs (Low-A South Bend): 3-for-4, 2B, CS. He can do a little bit of everything except throw, and he could be a fast riser through the Chicago system.

Michael Santos (Low-A Augusta): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. This projectable right-hander will show four usable pitches and his control should be good enough to start.

Taylor Clarke, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Low-A Kane County): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. The Diamondbacks third-round pick has now given up just one earned run in 30 career innings.

Corey Zangari, 1B, Chicago White Sox (Low-A Kannapolis): 2-for-4,HR, 2 K. Zangari’s a massive first baseman with double-plus raw power and a 70 arm, but that comes with 20 speed and loads of swing-and-miss.

Christopher Crawford is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @CVCrawfordBP
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