August 2, 2016

Minor League Update

Games of Monday, August 1st

by Christopher Crawford

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Prospect of the Day:

Rob Zastryzny, LHP, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K.
Zastryzny was on a strict pitch count for the night, so no, no chance for the no-no (or in this case perfecto). The Cubs second-round pick in 2013 has struggled with command issues, but he’s also shown three above-average pitches (fastball, cutter, change) and will show a 45-grade curveball as well. If he’s going to start, the command is going to have to get better, but if it can, he could become a fourth starter.

Others of Note

Chad Kuhl, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. He’s no Tyler Glasnow or Jameson Taillon, but it’s safe to say Chad has been Kuhl for the summer. I’m not even sorry.

Daniel Mengden, RHP, Oakland Athletics (Triple-A Nashville): 5 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Before today’s trades, you could argue that Mengden was the best right-handed pitching prospect in the system. You cannot argue that anymore, but he’s still an interesting arm, to be sure.

Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-5. Jay Bruce is no longer in his way. Jesse Winker (should be) freed.

A.J. Reed, 1B, Houston Astros (Triple-A Fresno): 1-for-1, HR, BB. If you think Reed is “finished” from a small-sample-size struggle, you’re crazy, man. I like you. But you’re crazy.

Ricardo Pinto, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies (Double-A Reading): 6 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. There’ve been lots of ups and downs for Pinto, but when you see him on his best days the fastball, change and control are all plus. It’s just a matter of doing that more consistently and improving the slider.

Taylor Clarke, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K. It’s early, but Clarke looks like one of the steals of the 2015 draft at this point. He’s pounding the strike zone, and he’s showing starter stuff doing it. That’s a good combination.

Jake Bauers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 2-for-2, 2 R, 3B, 2 BB. Bauers apparently has adjusted to the outfield quite well, and his value there is exponentially higher than it was at first.

Kyle Farmer, C, Los Angeles Dodgers (Double-A Tulsa): 4-for-4, R, 2 2B, BB. Austin Barnes is the “big-name” catching prospect in the system, but Farmer is pretty interesting, too, and has a chance to be somebody’s backup in a couple of years.

Yeudy Garcia, RHP, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. Garcia is striking out over a batter an inning, and it’s mostly thanks to his plus-plus fastball and solid-average slider.

Jack Flaherty, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (High-A Palm Beach): 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K. Flaherty had a terrible July (.343/.407/.514 line against him that month), and while he didn’t have great control today, it’s good to see some results in his first start in August.

Richard Urena, SS, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin): 3-for-5, R. Many internal and external folks who have seen Urena believe he’s the best prospect in the system now. I think that’s a little crazy.

Anthony Alford, OF, Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin): 3-for-5, 2 R, SB. And I say that because this guy exists. It’s close, though.

Justin Steele, LHP, Cubs (Low-A South Bend): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Steele has shown swing-and-miss stuff over the 2016 season, and he's held lefties to a .596 OPS. The .939 OPS that right-handers have put up against him is problematic, but we'll jump off that bridge when we get there.

Joe Wentz, LHP, Braves (Short-Season Danville): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. Wentz’s first two starts in Danville weren’t so hot. This was much better, statistically anyway.

MIckey Moniak, OF, Phillies (Short-Season GCL): 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, 3 SB. Moniak is “only” a plus runner, but the speed plays up because the instincts on the bases are so good.

Josh Lowe, 3B, Rays (Short-Season GCL): 2-for-3, 2 R, HR, BB, K. Lowe is an excellent athlete, and though the numbers aren’t great, reports from scouts say he’s looked impressive in his time in the Gulf Coast League.

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