July 7, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 6

by Kevin Goldstein

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Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Twins (Rookie-level Elizabethton): 2-for-5, 2 HR (6), 2 R, 4 RBI

A 19-year-old Venezuelan with a lot of tools, Arcia has been one of the early buzz players in the short-season leagues, bashing six home runs in 15 games and hitting .377/.433/.770 overall. A switch hitter with plus raw power, especially from the left side, Arcia is raw when it come to an approach at the plate, and he'll likely fill out to the point where he'll be confined to a corner outfield slot, but he's hitting a lot of balls very hard, and for now, that's all that matters.

J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-6, HR (22), R, 2 RBI

His .317/.365/.645 line is impressive enough, but the streak that he's on almost defies words. In his current 14-game hitting streak, the 2007 first-round pick is 28-for-63 (.444) with nine doubles and eight home runs, good for a .968 slugging percentage. In other words, going two-for-six with a bomb was actually a below-average night for him of late. Ridiculous.

Chris Dwyer, LHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Hey, look everyone!  It's another Royals prospect having a breakthrough season. A fourth-round pick in last year's draft who received a first-round bonus of $1.45 million, Dwyer struck out 93 over 84 1/3 innings in 15 starts for High-A Wilmington with a 2.99 ERA, and the Texas League didn't exactly pose a much greater challenge in his Double-A debut. He's a classic power pitcher with above-average velocity and a good curveball, and just another part of a future for the Royals that could be pretty darn bright.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 4-for-4, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB

The 2008 third-round pick is proving that last year's breakout campaign was very real, as by going 12-for-18 in his last four games with seven doubles, the player with the Capt. Kirk nickname is now batting a healthy .296/.341/.515. He's not insanely toolsy, but he doesn't really have a weakness either, with true 20/20 potential in the big leagues, although scouts worry about the strikeout rate and if he can stay in center field once he reaches the majors.

Others of Note:

• Yonder Alonso, 1B/OF, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-5, HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI, K, SB. Important to note that he's playing left field on occasion; season numbers still poor (.257/.294/.401), but 14-for-34 (.412) in last eight games with four doubles and three home runs.
• Nate Baker, LHP, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 8 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K. A hit batter and error on the shortstop were the only blemishes; '09 fifth-rounder is strike-throwing lefty with average stuff and old for the league.
• Manuel Banuelos, LHP, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K. So far, so good for talented Mexican southpaw who missed first part of season following appendectomy.
• Engel Beltre, OF, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 2-for-4, R. Of Beltre's five Double-A games, this is his second worst, as he's 10-for-18 overall.
• Peter Bourjos, OF, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 3-for-5, 3B, RBI, K. 14-for-23 in last five games have pushed batting average up 27 points with overall line of .281/.331/.442.
• Chelsor Cuthbert, 3B, Royals (Rookie-level AZL Royals): 2-for-5, 3B, HR (1), R, 3 RBI, K. What? More Royals? $1.4 million Nicaraguan third baseman with first pro home run; doesn't turn 17 until November.
• Jordan Danks, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte); 2-for-4, 2 HR (6), 2 R, 4 RBI, K. Big game, but overall disappointing season at .245/.307/.387.
• Randall Delgado, RHP, Braves (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Had been scuffling of late, allowing 16 runs over 21 1/3 innings in last four starts; lacks the ceiling of Teheran, but that doesn't mean he's not good.
• Lucas Duda, OF, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 3-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI. Horrible outfielder, like Chris Carter bad, but hitting .319/.390/.722 in 20 Triple-A games.
• Danny Duffy, LHP, Royals (Rookie-level Idaho Falls): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Working way back after brief retirement; like the Royals need more prospects.
• Kelvin Duran, OF, Yankees (Rookie-level GCL Yankees): 3-for-4, RBI, K, SB; 1-for-3, 2B, R SB. 19-year-old is 65 runner with true centerfield skills and a bit of pop out of a smallish frame; a sleeper worth watching.
• Danny Espinosa, SS, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 2-for-4, 3B, HR (10), R, 3 RBI, K. Up to .252/.330/.427 thanks to hot hitting of late; rare shortstop with good secondary skills.
• Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 4-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI.  25-for-58 (.431) since promotion; kind of a contact machine with few walks, few strikeouts, and little power; a successful run by any measurement, but a strange one as well.
• Scooter Gennett, 2B, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 2-for-4, 2B. Has doubled in seven straight games and has 11 two-baggers in last 11 contests; .339/.393/.502 overall and it's hard not to like him.
• Kyle Gibson, RHP, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K. Back on a roll after a mid-season slump; 19 2/3 innings with two earned runs in last three starts.
• Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 3-for-4, RBI. 8-for-17 with 17 total bases in five July games; .356/.431/.551 overall in 81 games and suddenly on the list of best pure hitters in the minors.
• Corban Joseph, 2B, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 2-for-4, HR (6), R, 2 RBI. 13-for-31 (.419) in last eight games and .313/.384/.463 overall; second baseman showing impressive power and patience.
• Casey Kelly, RHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 8 K. Season-high in strikeouts, but ERA is now 5.45 with Eastern League hitting .307 against him.
• Leon Landry, OF, Dodgers (Rookie-level Ogden): 3-for-5, R, RBI. Third-round pick is 10-for-20 in last four games, but college guys in the Pioneer League are supposed to rake.
• Joe Leonard, 3B, Braves (Rookie-level Danville): 2-for-5, HR (1), R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Last month's third-round pick is 8-for-18 in first four pro games.
• Jake McGee, LHP, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Beginning to dominate like his pre-surgery days; 26 Ks over 15 innings in last three starts.
• Mike Minor, LHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 5 IP, 5 H, 1 B, 2 BB, 6 K. 15 Ks over 12 2/3 innings in first two Triple-A starts; possibility of MLB debut this season?
• Jordan Pacheco, C, Rockies (High-A Visalia): 4-for-5, R, RBI. On-base catcher without much power, but 13-for-19 in last four games and .333/.410/.449 overall.
• Derrick Robinson, OF, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-5, RBI, K, SB. Fastest player in the system has made big progress with the bat; hitting .303/.368/.388 after seven hits in last three games.
• Chris Rusin, LHP, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. '09 fourth-round pick was a cost-effective senior sign; ability to throw strikes, get groundballs, and shutdown lefties could get him to the big leagues as a reliever.
• Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K.  Signs of life or just another tease?  Seven days ago he allowed seven runs in one inning.
• Scott Sizemore, 2B, Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 3-for-5, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI.  Up to .326/.392/.477 and will get another big league shot at some point; still like his future.
• Blake Smith, OF, Dodgers (Low-A Great Lakes): 3-for-4, HR (11), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB.  Hottest hitter in the Midwest League; 13-for-24 in last six games with five home runs and overall line of .306/.381/.548.
• Travis Snider, OF, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 4-for-5, 3 2B, 2 R, RBI, K, SB.  Excellent first rehab game at Double-A.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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