June 29, 2009

Future Shock Blog

June 29

by Kevin Goldstein

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Some extras from today's Ten Pack . . .

Not a California League mirage

Logan Forsythe, 3B, Padres (Double-A San Antonio)
Sunday's stats: 2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, BB
A supplemental first-round pick last June out of the University of Arkansas, Forsythe was having what seemed to be a breakout campaign this year, batting .322/.472/.504 for High-A Lake Elsinore, but some questions remained, as they always do when somebody puts up big numbers in the Cal League. Moved up to Double-A at the break, he's now 6-for-13 with four walks in his first four Texas League games, and the breakout is looking more real by the day. There are lingering questions about his power ceiling as a third baseman, but when you are reaching base in nearly half of your plate appearances, those questions tend to be put aside.

"One of those guys who could hit .300 in his sleep"

Adrian Cardenas, 3B/2B, Athletics (Double-A Midland)
Sunday's stats: 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB
That's how one scout summarizes Cardenas, a slick-hitting infielder acquired from the Phillies last summer in the Joe Blanton deal. He's not a power guy, but his bat speed and hand/eye coordination both fall into that special category. After a 7-for-13 weekend, Cardenas is now batting .352/.427/.477 in 54 Texas League games, and even playing a surprisingly good third base for the first time in his career.

Patience is a virtue

Casey Crosby, LHP, Tigers (Low-A West Michigan)
Sunday's stats: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
A fifth-round pick in 2007 who signed for second-round money, Crosby missed nearly all of 2008 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he was the talk of Detroit's fall instructional league, and his full-season debut was among the most anticipated in the organization. A 6-foot-5 power left-hander who has been sitting at 94 mph this year while getting as high as 97, Crosby has 74 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings while limited the Midwest League to a .218 batting average, and scouts rate him as among, if not the best pitching prospect in the league.

These stats haven't been padded by Coors...yet

Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Short-Season Tri-City)
Sunday's stats: 4-for-5, 2 2B, HR (1), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K
Many saw Wheeler as a mid first-round selection going into the draft earlier this month, so it was surprising to see him go to Colorado at No. 32 overall, the final pick of the first round. An athletic outfielder with at least average tools across the board, Wheeler put up some huge numbers at Sacramento State this spring, and is looking to do the same in his pro debut, reaching base 11 times while driving in seven in his first five games.

Sleeper alert!

Mark Hamilton, 1B, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis)
Sunday's stats: 4-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI
A second-round pick in 2006 out of Tulane, the biggest problem with Hamilton's development has been an inability to stay healthy. A classic big, strong, slow left-handed first baseman, Hamilton was having a career-saving year at Double-A, batting .307/.421/.521 in 48 Texas League games, and now he's continued to rake after a promotion to the Pacific Coast League. As a first base prospect, he's as blocked as any prospect could possibly be, but that doesn't mean he's not worth noting.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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