June 15, 2017

Minor League Update

Games of June 14

by Steve Givarz

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Hitter of the Day:

Grayson Greiner, C, Detroit Tigers (Double-A, Erie): 2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Drafted in the 3^rd round in 2014 from the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Grayson is a unicorn as he is a 6’6” catcher who can stick behind the plate. A broken hamate bone in 2015 set his development back as he is still looking to regain some power that he has in his body.

Pitcher of the Day:

A.J. Puk, LHP, Oakland Athletics (High-A, Stockton): 6.2 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 1 BB, 11 K
Drafted in the 1^st round in 2016 from the University of Florida. Are there things he needs to work on? Sure. He still walks a lot of guys, doesn’t have great command, and is still learning his body. But of all the negatives, the positives are really showing so far.

Other Notable Performances:

Mickey Moniak, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Low-A, Lakewood): 4-5, R, 2B, BB
Drafted in the 1^st round in 2016 from La Costa Canyon HS in Carlsbad, CA. One thing that everyone wondered about is how much power he can add to his frame. If he adds too much he might be a LF, too little and he becomes more of a slappy CF type.

Ozhaino Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves (Triple-A, Gwinnett): 3-5, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K, 2 SB
Signed out of Curacao on July 2, 2013. Welcome back from the DL. We missed you. *happy face emoji*

John Silviano, OF, Miami Marlins (High-A, Jupiter): 2-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI, BB, 2 K
Drafted in the 13^th round in 2012 from Summit Christian HS in Fort Myers, FL. After three years with the Blue Jays, Silviano was able to play one season of college baseball at Lynn University. After the season, the Marlins picked him up where he has been rather ho-hum. But this was not a ho-hum night, a drink to you sir.

Zach Granite, OF, Minnesota Twins (Triple-A, Rochester): 3-5, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI
Drafted in the 14^th round in 2013 out of Seton Hall University. A double-plus runner, Granite won’t hit for much power (although his speed will help extend hits), but has a knack for making contact. He fits the 4^th OF/pinch-runner mold at the big league level.

Nick Solak, 2B, New York Yankees (High-A, Tampa): 2-7, 3 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB, K (DH)
Drafted in the 2^nd round in 2016 from the University of Louisville. A polished hitter, Solak is known for making contact, and frustrating pitchers with his strike zone discipline. While he is a 2B only player, some scouts have speculated him trying the OF to utilize his plus speed.

Yordan Alvarez, 1B, Houston Astros (Low-A, Quad Cities): 3-3, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Signed out of the Dominican Republic on June 15, 2016. Do you like big power? Do you like left-handed big power? Do you like young, athletic, left-handed big power?? Then look right here! The other stuff? Shhhhhh…

Ryan Borucki, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A, Dunedin): 7 IP, 4 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 10 K
Drafted in the 15^th round in 2015 out of Mundelein HS, Mundelein, IL. Now that he is healthy for the first time in a long time, Borucki has showed what made him so promising to start. When on, his arsenal can get above-average to better grades across the board. There is a strong chance he will get drafted in the Rule 5 Draft if Toronto doesn’t protect him.

A.J. Puckett, RHP, Kansas City Royals (High-A, Wilmington): 6 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K
Drafted in the 2^nd round in 2015 out of Pepperdine University, Pepperdine, CA. He has gotten mixed reviews thus far from both Wilson Karaman, and Victor Filormo.

Thomas Hatch, RHP, Chicago Cubs (High-A, Myrtle Beach): 8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K
Drafted in the 3^rd round in 2016 from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. Seen as a pitchability guy with an average arsenal last season, Hatch’s velo has ticked up slightly in pro ball. This improves his overall outlook and could be a #4/5 SP now.

Aaron Bummer, LHP, Chicago White Sox (Double-A, Birmingham): 2 2/3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Drafted in the 19^th round in 2014 from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. If you were listening to the draft at all, you might’ve heard from Jim Callis and Jon Mayo saying “so-and-so did well in the Cape”. The Cape, referring to the Cape Cod League, is a high prospect league and if you do well there, you will be put on watch the following year. Bummer threw mid-90’s during his summer tour, then regressed when back at college. Healthy and in pro ball, Bummer has regained that velocity and looks up a solid-setup man at the big league level.

Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Detroit Tigers (High-A, Lakeland): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
Drafted in the 4^th round in 2016 from the University of Louisville. After turning down the Dodgers in 2015 as a late 1^st-rounder, Funkhouser went back to school…and did not perform as well. The Tigers overlooked this and bet on the power pitcher still being in there. While the strikeouts aren’t all the way back, his velocity, sharp slider, and crisp control certainly are.

Fight Another Day:

Ryan Cordell, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (Triple-A, Colorado Springs): 0-4, 3 K
Drafted in the 11^th round in 2013 from Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. Sometimes, when you see all of your friends around you getting called up to the big leagues, hitting a baseball is hard.

Zach Muckenhirn, LHP, Baltimore Orioles (Low-A, Delmarva): 4 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Drafted in the 11^th round from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND. The last North Dakotan to be drafted, the concern with Muckenhirn is what pitch in his fringe-average to average arsenal will miss bats? While his command is advanced, he has struggled to miss barrels and bats at this level.

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