August 18, 2010

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of August 17

by Kevin Goldstein

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Carlos Carrasco, RHP, Indians (Triple-A Columbus): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 6 K

Once the top prospect in the Phillies system, Carrasco has certainly stalled a bit since getting to the upper levels, but at 23, he's not exactly an old man whose window of opportunity has closed, and his stuff hasn't regressed in any way. Always inconsistent, Carrasco has been throwing more strikes of late and the results are clear with a 1.64 ERA since the All-Star break. He should be in line for a September call up and a long look next spring.

Jeurys Familia, RHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 12 K

One of the best pure arms in the Mets system, an inability to throw strikes has led to a disastrous season for the 20-year-old Dominican, whose ERA sat at 6.30 just 17 days ago. Since then, he's put together his three best starts of the year, striking out 30 over 20 1/3 innings while walking just six. It's always been a case of merely harnessing his stuff, and he still has one of the highest ceilings in the system.

Others Of Note:

• Yonder Alonso, 1B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, K. Hitting .373 in last 40 games and .299/.357/.459 overall; scouts still wonder about power potential.
• John Buck, C, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 2-for-4, 2 HR (2), 2 R, 6 RBI, K. Certainly looks ready from that line.
• Michael Burgess, OF, Nationals (Double-A Reading): 2-for-4, 2 HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Big Double-A debut; strikeout rate is a problem, but has been tapping into raw power more of late.
• Michael Choice, OF, Athletics (Short-season Vancouver); 2-for-5, 2B, HR (2), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K. .325/.438/.650 line in 10 games is outstanding; 16 Ks in 40 at-bats shows some serious luck involved as well.
• Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 2-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI. Some of the weirdest splits you'll see; .509 (27-for-53) against lefties, just .238 vs. right-handers.
• Harold Garcia, 2B, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 2-for-4, HR (3), 2 R, 3 RBI. Remembered for his big Florida State League hitting streak early in year; up to .325/.394/.450 in 37 Eastern League games with bat and wheels making him a very real prospect.
• Grant Green, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 2-for-4, 3B, R, RBI. Heating up again after brief August slump; hitting .315/.361/.499 and the errors have slowed down a bit.
• Shawn Haviland, RHP, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 11 K. Harvard product could be a bit of a sleeper; 150 Ks against just 36 walks in 133.1 innings and showing plus velocity.
• Elliot Johnson, UT, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 4-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (10), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB. Ex-prospect has saved his big league chances with .318/.376/.480 line while playing second, short and a both corner outfielder spots.
• Marc Krauss, OF, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 2-for-4, 3B, HR (24), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K. 20 total bases in last six games; .315/.378/.539 overall.
• Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R 2 RBI, SB. Ultra-toolsy outfielder is on 13-for-32 (.406) run and .316/.397/.419 overall; still zero home runs in 155 at-bats.
• Cameron Maybin, OF, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (3), R, 2 RBI, K. Batting .339/.417/.509 in 29 games; attractive change-of-scenery player in the offseason?
• Yorman Rodriguez, OF, Reds (Rookie-level Billings): 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, K. Just turned 18 years old three days ago and starting to grow into tools; .359/.358/.495 and that's not a typo (one walk in 103 at-bats).
• Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Blue Jays (Rookie-level GCL Jays): 4 IP, 0 R, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K. Supplemental first-round pick has been sloppy, but also dominant with 24 Ks in 16 innings.
• Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (GCL Yankees): 2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB. Best hitting prospect in the league is just 17 and batting .365/.432/.617.
• Tanner Scheppers, RHP, Rangers (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R 3 BB, 0 K. Suddenly not so dominating of late; 17 base runners allowed in 9.1 August innings is delaying big league chances.
• Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake): 1-for-4, HR (29), R, 2 RBI, K. Home runs in back-to-back games and .363/.453/.645 since the break; considering the Angels first base situation, he deserves a chance.
• Dayan Viciedo, 3B, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 3-for-5, 2 K. First hits since return to minors; hasn't drawn a walk since June 9, when he walked twice.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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