April 20, 2017

Minor League Update

Games of April 19th

by Steve Givarz

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Hitter of the Day:

Michael Chavis, 3B, Boston Red Sox (High-A, Salem): 3-4, 3 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, BB
There were a lot of home runs hit today by notable prospects, but most of them lack the raw power that Chavis provides. It’s easy plus to better raw, with a plus arm at the hot corner. He has just struggled making contact and getting too pull happy. The tools are still there for an impact player at 3B, more days like this can only help.

Pitcher of the Day:

Dylan Cease, RHP, Chicago Cubs (Low-A, South Bend): 6 IP 0 H 0 ER 3 BB 7K
Cease was a potential first rounder coming out of Georgia in 2014. Tommy John surgery, lowered his draft value, but the Cubs still signed him for $1.5M. While his pro resume has been limited, the stuff for Cease is electric, with the main offerings being a 70 FB and a plus to better CB. There is still a long way to being a starter as his delivery, lack of changeup, and injury history could eventually point towards a bullpen destination.

Other Notable Performances:

Brett Phillips, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (Triple-A, Colorado Springs): 2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB
While the potential OF situation for Milwaukee has gotten more crowded, this doesn’t mean that Phillips should be forgotten. He still is a plus runner who can cover ground in the OF with a weapon of an arm. But last year’s issues with making contact and strikeouts leave his picture murkier than before.

LaMonte Wade, OF, Minnesota Twins (Double-A, Chattanooga): 2-4, 3 R, 2 H, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
A pleasant surprise in the ninth round in 2015, Wade has added strength to his body to give him more power to pair with his surprising feel to hit, and above-average run times.

Stephen Alemais, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates (Low-A, West Virginia): 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, K
While power isn’t normally part of his game, plus arm, run times, and defense at SS certainly are. Alemais has great hands, instincts, range, and a plus arm that gives him a floor as a defensive utility player.

Mario Feliciano, C, Milwaukee Brewers (Low-A, Wisconsin): 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Taken in the Competitive Balance “B” Round in 2016, Feliciano has been one of the hottest hitters in the Midwest League thus far. He offers power, bat speed, and feel to hit at the plate with an advanced approach. He’s athletic behind the plate—enough so that he could handle being moved off catcher—but is a project defensively. His receiving is raw and his transfers can be sloppy, but the bat looks pretty special.

Nick Ciuffo, C, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A, Montgomery): 2-3, 2 R, 2 H, 2B, 2 BB
Ciuffo is off to a much better start this season after a poor performance last season in the Florida State League. His defensive skills still give him value to an organization, but he needs to show something with the bat to be a contributor.

Peter Lambert, RHP, Colorado Rockies (High-A, Lancaster): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
A polished pitcher, while nothing in Lambert’s arsenal really stands out, his overall pitchability and polish made him a second rounder in 2015. He throws his fastball, curve, and changeup for strikes, with the curve standing out as a potential plus offering.

Riley Pint, RHP, Colorado Rockies (Low-A, Asheville): 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K
While Greg Goldstein didn’t seem to be as high on Pint as we were in the offseason, the ceiling is still that of a potential ace.

Joey Lucchesi, LHP, San Diego Padres (High-A, Lake Elsinore): 6 IP, H, 3 BB, 8 K
A fouth rounder from Southeast Missouri State, Lucchesi has a really funky delivery that adds deception to his overall arsenal which features a 90-93 FB, and an average changeup and curve. While he tore through short-season last year, he has had control problems in the past which could contribute to issues down the road.

A.J. Puk, LHP, Oakland Athletics (High-A, Stockton): 3 2/3 IP, H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
While his stamina and pitch counts,were a struggle for him at University of Florida; don’t be shocked by this low count as Oakland has tandem starters through the minor leagues. Like with Cease, the stuff for Puk has never been in question, it is just a matter of consistency and the ability to work deep into games.

Jon Duplantier, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Low-A, Kane County): 5 1/3 IP, 0 H, BB, 6 K
While the velocity is still average as of now, Duplantier had first-round stuff out of Rice, but injuries and a lot of innings in three years in college had him taken in the second round. Even with average velocity he has done a better job of commanding his arsenal and working deep into games.

Tommy Edman, MI, St. Louis Cardinals (Low-A Peoria): 4-6, 4 R, 2 3B, 2B, 2 RBI
A sixth-rounder last year, the switch-hitter has gotten off to a quick start—no surprise given his age (22 years old). Edman’s power tops out at gap-level, but that isn’t his game. He’s a polished hitter with a knack for making contact, which helps him put his speed to use. Likely a utility future, but if can stick at short, the bat becomes more interesting.

Kane County Cougars, P’s, Arizona Diamondbacks (Low-A): 17 IP, 4 H, 6 BB, 16 K
Kyle Smith, the starting 1B contributed to 4 of those walks, but props to everyone else for doing a fine job.

Fight Another Day:

Clint Frazier, OF, New York Yankees (Triple-A, Scranton-Wilkes Barre): 0-5, 4 K
Just keep on grinding man, love all the tools and athleticism you bring to the field.

Jackson Stephens, RHP, Cincinnati Reds (Triple-A, Lousiville): 3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Added to the 40-man roster this past offseason, Stephens is a sinker/slider pitcher who misses a fair amount of bats, but wasn’t able to escape out of danger today.

Beloit Snapper Hitters, Oakland Athletics (Low-A, Oakland): 4-54, 1 2B, 16 K
In this 17 inning marathon, you would think you could scratch out more than 4 hits right?

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