September 7, 2017

Minor League Update

Games of September 6th

by Steve Givarz

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Hitter of the Day:

Lewin Diaz, 1B, Minnesota Twins (Low-A, Cedar Rapids): 3-4, R, 3 2B, 4 RBI

Meet Lewin Diaz. He hits the balls hard. Like really hard. He has immense raw power, and hasn’t even tapped into all of it yet. He hit 33 doubles to go along with his 12 homer this season He barrels up line drives, he doesn’t swing and miss often, and is even a usable defender at 1B.

Pitcher of the Day:

Michel Baez, RHP, San Diego Padres (Low-A, Fort Wayne): 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K

While not much was known about Baez heading into the season, everyone knew who he was by the end of it. We even have two separate eyewitness reports on him. One from Will Siskel here, and a second from Nathan Graham here. You pick your favorite.

Other Notable Performances:

Freicer Perez, RHP, New York Yankees (Low-A, Charleston): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K
Do you like Domingo Acevedo? Of course you do, what is there not to like! If you like Acevedo, but wanted less polish, then meet Perez. While long, gangly, and armed with a big heater, there is not much in the way of secondaries.

A.J. Puk, LHP, Oakland Athletics (Double-A, Midland): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K
It has been a good run for the tall left-hander. He struck out a ton of guys, walked a lot of guys, and showcased the high ceiling he holds.

Corey Oswalt, RHP, New York Mets (Double-A, Binghamton): 7 IP, 5 H, R, ER, BB, 7 K
A Mets pitching prospect that isn’t hurt (although I might have jinxed him, if so tell everyone that Jeffrey Paternostro said it), Oswalt is a tall, projectable righty with a lot of good things. He throws a ton of strikes, has great sink, and can throw a bunch of offspeed for strikes.

Logan Shore, RHP, Oakland Athletics (High-A, Stockton): 4 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 6 K
While he has less of a ceiling than his draft-mate Puk, one could argue that Shore has a higher floor. He does have more polish, throws more strikes consistently, and has a quality changeup. But his ceiling is limited due to just average velocity, and a fringe breaker.

Dakota Hudson, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Triple-A, Memphis): 6 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Hudson, has vaulted his way up to Triple-A after being the team’s first-rounder in 2016. He has everything you like to see, but don’t expect him in St. Louis until next season.

Andrew Jordan, RHP, Cincinnati Reds (Low-A, Dayton): 6 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 5 K
A 13^th-rounder in 2015, Jordan has a fringe average fastball, but a host of secondary offerings that he can all throw for strikes. While nothing grades out as better than average, this kind of profile could improve with more experience and added strength.

Sean Murphy, C, Oakland Athletics (Double-A, Midland): 3-5, 2 R, HR, RBI, K
Murphy has a really good arm, like a really good arm. Some have graded it an 80, while a 70 is the more common grade. He has power too, which always gives catchers a chance.

Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays (Triple-A, Durham): 2-5, 2 R, RBI, K
The Rays have had a revolving door of infielders this season, and I am surprised that Adames has not been one of them. While he may not be a SS at the end of the day, does it even matter anymore with shifting?

Jordon Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels (Rookie, Orem): 2-5, R, HR, RBI
The outfield for Orem is filled with stud prospects. I mentioned Torii Hunter yesterday, and between him, Brandon Marsh, and Adell, I would be shocked if any fly balls landed on grass.

Daniel Pinero, SS, Detroit Tigers (Low-A, West Michigan): 2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, K
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I really like Jordy Mercer, but I wish he was taller and Canadian.” Meet Pinero, who’s absolute ceiling is that of Mercer, a good glove with some pop, playable contact, and a good reputation.

Fight Another Day:

Mack Lemieux, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Low-A, Kane County): 1 2/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, K
Sometimes, when you are getting ready for hockey season, and share a last name with perhaps the greatest hockey player of all time, you forget how to play baseball.

Brandon Lowe, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A, Montgomery): 0-4, 3 K
Or, when you are getting ready for football season, you also forget how to play baseball.

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