August 10, 2009
Future Shock Blog
August 10
by Kevin Goldstein
Skyrocketing stock
Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies (Double-A Reading)
Sunday's stats: 3-for-5, 2 HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI, K
The Phillies got their man at the trade deadline with Cliff Lee, but the big story on a prospect level was that they did it without dealing away any of their top prospects, including Brown. Moved up to Double-A after the deadline, Brown is having no trouble proving that he has the skills to succeed at the upper levels, as he's batting .333/.415/.733 in his first eight games with the R-Phils.
Such a perfect day
Ryan Kalish, OF, Red Sox (Double-A Portland)
Sunday's stats: 4-for-4, HR (8), 4 R, RBI, BB
I'm the first to admit the Kalish has been one of my guys since his big showing in the New York-Penn League in 2007. He's quickly getting his top prospect status back over the past month or so, as he's finally hitting for power again after dealing with an ugly wrist injury. Josh Reddick's advancement has Kalish back in center field, where the scouting reports are solid. Now batting .353/.422/.627 in his last 26 games, he has firmly placed himself among the top position prospects in the system.
Everyday is Halloween
Josh Bell, 3B, Orioles (Double-A Bowie)
Sunday's stats: 2-for-3, HR (1), R, RBI, BB
Speaking to Josh Bell last week after the trade, one thing he was most excited about, beyond the opportunity to move a little more quickly, was the uniform itself, as black and orange had its appeal to him. With his first home run as an Oriole on Sunday, Bell has lived up to expectations so far.
Working his way back
Jaime Garcia, LHP, Cardinals (High-A Palm Beach)
Sunday's stats: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Once one of the top prospects in the Cardinals system, Garcia's 2007 season was cut short by elbow soreness, and after it flared up once again last year, Garcia went under the knife for Tommy John surgery. Returning to action for the first time this year a week ago, Garcia has now whiffed 11 in his first seven shutout innings while giving up just three hits. Just as importantly, command is often slow to come for elbow surgery survivors, and Garcia has yet to walk a batter.
Big things come in small packages
Josh Harrison 3B/2B, Pirates (High-A Lynchburg)
Sunday's stats: 3-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, SB
A sixth-round pick in 2008 out of the University of Cincinnati, Harrison was seen as a bit of a throw-in by the Cubs in the deal that sent John Grabow and Tom Gorzelany to the Cubs, but he's actually a bit of a prospect. At 5-foot-8, he's never going to blow anyone away with his tools and athleticism, but the one thing he can do is hit, including a .324 in his first nine games as a Pirate.
Sleeper alert!
Josh Prince, SS, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin)
Sunday's stats: 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, K, CS
A third-round pick in June out of Tulane, Prince earned a mention in this report early in his debut when he stole six bases in one game. He's not just a flash in a pan, and scouts think the Brewers may have found something here. After batting .298/.426/.348 in the Pioneer League with 26 stolen bases in 36 games, Prince is having no problem in his first exposure to full-season ball, reaching base 12 times in his first six games for Wisconsin with three stolen bases and seven runs scored. A walk machine with plus-plus speed and enough skills to stay at shortstop, scouts see more than enough all-around ability to make up for his non-existent power.
Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
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On the Beat: Weekend R... (08/09)
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9 comments have been left for this article. 
I was kind of half-expecting to see one or both Braves prospects, Randall Delgado and Adam Milligan, pop up in here today.
Delgado seems to have turned some kind of corner in his last four starts, and I was curious if there were any scouting reads to go along with that.
Similarly, the toolsy Milligan is playing Ike to the Sally league's Tina, after finally making his debut this year.
Yeah, because domestic battery is so funny.
Yeah, I retract it. Apologies.
*tips cap*
Delgado deserved a mention -- somehow he got dropped to make up for it I can give you a scouting report from his seven inning no-hit start over the weekend as he sat at 94 mph into the 7th, got as high as 96, and just as importantly showed off both a good curve and change, a combination that's hard to find in pitchers so young.
Thanks for the report. That's a really impressive array of info on the kid. I know the Sally league has a surfeit of exciting young pitchers. I'd guess that Delgado still lags behind Martin Perez, Matt Moore and Jordan Lyles, and I'm sure most would say Casey Kelly too (though I think I prefer Delgado, personally). I'm excited to watch Delgado and Teheran chase each other through the minors.