April 13, 2017

Minor League Update

Games of April 12th

by Steve Givarz

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Pitcher(s) of the Day:

Visalia Rawhide, Arizona Diamondbacks (High-A) 10 IP, 1 H, 16 K

Joel Payamps, RHP, 5 IP, 8 K
Released by Colorado in 2015, he has been Diamondbacks property ever since. His fastball is up to 95 and mixes in a range of secondary offerings he can throw for strikes.

Kirby Bellow, LHP, 2.1 IP, 3 K
A 26th rounder in 2015 from the University of Texas, he throws a lot of curveballs, which helps to cover his 89 mph fastball. But he gets great extension on his pitches, plus it’s always good to be left-handed.

Cameron Gann, RHP, 1.2 IP, 4 K
A 27th rounder in 2015 from Stephen F. Austin State (which is also in Texas), Gann has an above-average fastball, but lacks consistent secondary offerings to profile as more than minor league depth.

Bud Jeter, RHP, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K
This was a perfect game through 9 1/3 innings, then Bud gave up a triple ... sigh ... damn it, Bud. A 25th rounder in 2013 from Presbyterian College (not in Texas, South Carolina), Jeter has your typical fastball/slider combination. But neither pitch is more than fringe-average, and this is his third time repeating Visalia.

Hitter of the Day:

Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A, Iowa): 4-4, 3 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 2 R, BB
Quite a good day for Jeimer, who doesn’t have a clear path to playing time for the Cubs. But we call this a good problem to have, as you never know what can happen,or who is watching.

Other Notables:

Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals, (Low-A, Hagerstown): 3-5, HR, 3 RBI, R
Soto, who excelled last year in the GCL to being named the no. 57 prospect in our top 101, is making A-ball look too easy. Soto has great athleticism with plus-to-better raw power and outstanding feel to hit.

Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs, (Triple-A, Iowa): 2-5, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Like with Jeimer, Happ as of now doesn’t have a clear path to playing time for the Cubs. But this is a good problem to have, and Happ needs time to work on his infield defense as it currently rates as fringe-average.

Luis Guillorme, SS, New York Mets, (Double-A, Binghamton): 5-5, 2B, R
The owner of what Jeffrey Paternostro dubs “a 70 glove at SS," Guillorme has been a very light hitter in his minor-league career. Although he doesn’t have to hit that much to be a major leaguer, he needs to hit more to not be the next Dixon Machado.

Joe Palumbo, LHP, Texas Rangers, (High-A, Down East): 7 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 11 K
The story behind Palumbo is fantastic. Throwing 85-86 in high school, the Rangers area scout liked his arm action and looseness so much that he signed him for $32,000 in the 30th round in 2013. Now he has an above-average fastball, with a plus curveball, a future average changeup, and enough strikes to look like a back-end starter.

Albert Abreu, RHP, New York Yankees, (Low-A, Charleston): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 11 K
Acquired in the offseason for Brian McCann, both Mauricio Rubio (RIP) and Grant Jones (RIP) loved him in the Astros' system last season (Grant's report here, Mau's here) with each giving him a 60 OFP.

Brent Honeywell, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, (Double-A, Montgomery): 7 IP, H, ER, 3 BB, 8 K
The walks need to go down a little bit, but this is still one of the best arms in the minor leagues who might be in the big leagues before you know it.

Zach Muckenhirn, LHP, Baltimore Orioles, (Low-A, Delmarva): 6 IP, 4 H, ER, 8 K
The last player who will be drafted out of the University Of North Dakota, Muckenhirn is a strike-thrower who’s otherwise average arsenal plays up because of his command.

Fight Another Day:

Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays, (Double-A, New Hampshire): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Our top-ranked Blue Jays prospect heading into 2017, Reid-Foley (who, with Trae Santos; release will most likely become the second major leaguer from Guam) has not gotten out of the second inning in either of his starts this season. There are serious concerns about his ability to be in a starting rotation given his injury history and a lack of overall command of his arsenal.

Nick Senzel, 3B, Cincinnati Reds, (High-A, Daytona): 0-4, 2 K
As the title says, just fight another day. Our top ranked Reds prospect, Senzel has an advanced profile and even with today’s performance; he might not be long for High-A.

Steve Givarz is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @SteveGivarz
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