July 14, 2009

Future Shock Blog

July 14

by Kevin Goldstein

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More good news for Royals fans?

Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals (High-A Wilmington)
Monday's stats: 2-for-6, 2B, HR (10), R, 2 RBI
After discussing Eric Hosmer possibly finding the groove yesterday, the Royals' first-round pick from the previous year, who has also been a disappointment this year, may be finding one of his own, as with his fourth straight two-hit game, he's now 12-for-31 in his last seven with four doubles and two bombs. The bat speed remains crazy, so don't write him off yet.

Meanwhile, in other All-Star Game News

Josh Bell, 3B, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga)
Monday's stats: 2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Bell has swung a hot bat of late, but he saved his best for last night's Southern League All-Star Game. He earned MVP honors while hitting the game's only home run off Tampa's Jeremy Hellickson. Bell's raw power is significant, but he has had problems tapping into it this year, with just eight home runs in 281 at-bats. At the same time, he has already established a career high with 42 walks, and his .278/.368/.459 line has far more positives than negatives.

Power/Speed Combo

Grant Desme, OF, Athletics (High-A Stockton)
Monday's stats: 1-for-4, HR (8), R, RBI, 2 K
How many guys have 19 home runs and 28 stolen bases at this point? That's were Desme stands, after non-stop injuries cost him most of the last two seasons. The 110 strikeouts in 331 at-bats is a giant concern, but one scout sees the possibility of an Eric Brynes-type of player down the road.

Future Home Run Derby Contestant?

Chris Dominguez, 1B/3B, Giants (Short-Season Salem-Keizer)
Monday's stats: 1-for-4, HR (2), R, RBI, K
An absolutely massive human being, Dominguez was a third-round pick out of Louisville last month based on his 80 raw power, but he didn't go higher because of a tremendous strikeout rate. So far, the power is showing up more than anything else, as between rookie-ball and the Northwest League, Dominguez now has four bombs and 16 RBIs in his first 11 games. We're still a long way from figuring out how much of the swing-and-miss will hinder his development, but so far, so good.

Blast from the past

Adam Loewen, OF, Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin)
Monday's stats: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB, K
The fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft, arm injuries derailed Loewen's career as a pitcher, but he was a two-way star as an amateur, and the Jays are giving the Canadian a shot at returning as a position player. As a 25-year-old with a .244/.349/.346 line at High-A, his chances are extremely slim, but he's 6-for-13 with a home run and a pair of walks in his last six games, and it's just fun seeing the name in a box score.

Sleeper alert!

Jhan Marinez, RHP, Marlins (High-A Jupiter)
Monday's stats: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
A 20-year-old Dominican who joined the team in May, the Florida State League has hit just .116 against Marinez in 21 innings this year, but he wasn't on anyone's radar at all, until the scouting reports started coming in - and they're bordering on shocking. Sitting at 94-96, touching 97 and registering a few triple-digit readings on the radar guns so far, Marinez has been one of the most powerful arms on the circuit this year and deserves more attention down the stretch.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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