September 8, 2009

Future Shock Blog

September 8

by Kevin Goldstein

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And remember, he's only 19

Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville)
Monday's stats: 2-for-4, 2 HR (16) 2 R, 6 RBI, BB, SB
Stanton hit just .231 at Double-A with 99 strikeouts in 79 games, but he still hit 16 home runs in 299 at-bats in a pitcher's environment as a teenager. He's the best pure power prospect in the minors, will be one of the youngest players in the upcoming Arizona Fall League, and the low batting average has done little-to-nothing to hurt his stock.

Second-half superstar

Ryan Kalish, OF, Red Sox (Double-A Portland)
Monday's stats: 1-for-4, HR (14), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Kalish's final Double-A line of .271/.341/.440 doesn't really tell the whole story, as he was one of the Eastern League's top players down the stretch, batting .302/.384/.561 after the All-Star break with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases in 50 games. He's not a guy who blows you away with his tools as much as he's a guy where it's hard to find any weaknesses in his game.

The season ended too soon . . .

Aaron Hicks, OF,Twins (Low-A Beloit)
Monday's stats: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K, SB
It's a shame, as Hicks was just finally beginning to get things going in September, going 8-for-20 in his last five games with three doubles, a triple a home run, and a pair of stolen bases. While his .251/.352/.382 line doesn't blow anyone away, few in the Midwest League came even close to matching his tools.

Small sample size . . . or the next big thing?

Will Myers, C, Royals (Short-Season Idaho Falls)
Monday's stats: 5-for-5, 2B, HR (4), 4 R, RBI, BB
Given $2 million as a third-round pick this June, Myers has been nothing short of electric as a pro this year, batting .436/.500/.782 in 14 games for the Chukars. Yes, it's a small sample size, but it's still some monster numbers, and luckily the Pioneer league gives us just a few more games to evaluate.

Late-season power surge

Josh Bell 3B, Orioles (Double-A Bowie)
Monday's stats: 2-for-3, HR (9), R, RBI
When Bell went to Baltimore in the George Sherrill deal, everything about his season took a major step forward except for his power output, as he hit just 11 in 334 at-bats for Double-A Chattanooga. After the trade, the power showed up in a major way, as Bell smashed nine in just 114 at-bats, finishing the year with a .289/.346/.570 line in 33 games for Bowie. Off to the Arizona Fall League, he'll get a genuine look for a big league job next spring.

Sleeper alert!

Trayvon Robinson, OF, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga)
Monday's stats: 2-for-3, 2 HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI
Robinson struggled a bit at Double-A after moving up in August, but he's still one of the bigger breakout players in the minors this year. A toolsy player from South Central Los Angeles, Robinson has been slow in transforming his tools into performance, but everything came together this year, as his finished the year with a .300 batting average, 17 home runs, 60 walks and 47 stolen bases.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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