August 14, 2009
Future Shock Blog
August 14
by Kevin Goldstein
Maybe he will pitch this year after all
Jake Peavy, RHP, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte)
Thursday's stats: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
The biggest name to move, and the biggest surprise at the trade deadline, the big question about the White Sox acquisition of Jake Peavy revolved around whether or not he'd even pitch again this year. With seven weeks left to go in the season, things are looking more positive than ever after three dominant innings in his first rehab start. He got his fastball up to 93 mph and complemented it with a sharp breaking ball.
I hear Lynchburg is lovely this time of year
Tony Sanchez, C, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia)
Thursday's stats: 3-for-5, 2B, HR (5), 3 R, 4 RBI
One of the appeals of drafting Sanchez with the fourth overall pick this June was the prospect that he could move quickly. He certainly seems like he's ready for the second promotion of his young career, as he's now 10-for-22 with four doubles, three home runs, and 12 RBIs in his last five games and is batting .358/.465/.613 in 27 games for the Power.
Meanwhile, with the pick after Sanchez . . .
Matt Hobgood, RHP, Orioles (Rookie-level Bluefield)
Thursday's stats: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
The fifth overall pick two months ago, Hobgood signed quickly for a slightly under-slot deal. He easily delivered the best start of his pro career on Thursday, retiring 15 of the 17 batters he faced with three strikeouts and nine groundball outs. At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Hobgood certainly looks the part, and with a fastball and curve that both rate as plus, he pitches the part as well.
Beginning to roll
Randall Delgado, RHP, Braves (Low-A Rome)
Thursday's stats: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K
A highly regarded 19-year-old from Panama, Delgado struggled early in his full-season debut, as occasional command troubles led to inconsistent results. The stuff on the other hand, has impressed all year, and he's put together an impressive run of late, giving up just three earned runs over 24 innings in his last four outing with 35 whiffs. With a plus-plus fastball that sits at 92-95 mph and features heavy sink, as well as a curve and changeup with the potential to be above-average big league offerings, his ceiling is right there with any of the impressive group of arms in the Sally League this year.
On-base machine
Tim Fedroff, OF, Indians (High-A Kinston)
Thursday's stats: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K
A seventh-round pick last year who signed for second-round money ($725,000), Fedroff's overall line of .289/.387/.395 is brought down by a miserable June. However, he has been the hottest hitter in the Carolina League of late, reaching base in a league-high 32 straight games while batting an even .500 (21-for-42) in June. He has gone back and forth between left and center field this year, and where he ends up long-term will almost certainly determine his value down the road.
Sleeper alert!
Sean Black, RHP, Yankees (Short-season Staten Island)
Thursday's stats: 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
Three years ago, Black was a second-round pick by the Nationals out of a New Jersey high school, but he turned down an offer approaching a million dollars in order to attend Seton Hall. Three years of middling results later, and he settled for $150,000 as a seventh-round selection. With six no-hit innings on Thursday, Black lowered his pro ERA to 1.52 in six starts. His stuff doesn't blown anyone away, as his fastball is average at 89-91, but his curveball is a quality pitch. So far that's been enough to limit New-York Penn League batters to a .178 batting average.
Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
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11 comments have been left for this article. 
Kevin, this is off topic from today's update, but I was wondering how Bumgarner's velocity has been since you reported him topping out at 89 a couple weeks ago. Has it come back at all?