June 14, 2011

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 13

by Kevin Goldstein

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Michael Taylor, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-4, 2 HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, K

Acquired straight up for Brett Wallace prior to the 2010 season, Taylor's .272/.348/.392 campaign was one of last year's bigger downturns among prospects, but after having his season delayed by injury, he's showing signs of a rebound. Numbers are great, but when they are back up by scouting information, they are even better, and Taylor has worked hard to get a load back into his swing while being more aggressive in his approach. At .296/.355/.490 in 24 games, the early returns are promising.

Others Of Note:

• Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K. Snaps out 0-for-12 slump and up to .297/.415/.487 on the season; should be up any day now.
• Kyle Blanks, 1B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (1), 3 R, RBI, K. Back-to-back three-hit games and first Triple-A home run in five games.
• Andrew Brackman, RHP, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton): 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K. New role (bullpen), same results; 6.92 ERA in 53.1 innings while allowing 104 batters to reach base.
• Lorenzo Cain, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, HR (5), R, RBI. Almost seems to be forgotten about, but hitting .295/.365/.478 in 54 games with good center field defense.
• Brett Cecil, LHP, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Second dominant complete game in last two starts; unfortunately gave up eight runs over 3.1 innings in between them.
• Colin Cowgill, OF, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 3-for-4, HR (12), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB. 30-for-56 (.536) in last 13 games and .375/.440/.621 overall in 62; not sure how he gets a look as long as the big league club remains enamored with Gerardo Parra.
• Zack Cozart, SS, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB. Now hitting .491/.532/.737 in 14 June games will wondering what else he has to do to get noticed by the big league brass.
• Mat Gamel, 1B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 3-for-5, 2 HR (13), 2 R, 3 RBI. Hitting .310/.377/.548 in 62 games; hard to get worked up when he made his Triple-A debut in 2008.
• Johnny Giavotella, 2B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI. Hitting .407 in June and up to .310/.372/.441 overall; deserves to be up.
• Jason Hagerty, C, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-6, 2B, HR (7), 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 K. Three home runs in last two games and .332/.400/.582 on the season; once again old for his level as bat remains ahead of the glove.
• Matt Harvey, RHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K. 36 strikeouts over 23 innings in his last four starts and has given up one or fewer earned runs in nine of 13; 2.44 ERA over 70 innings with 88 whiffs.
• Slade Heathcott, OF, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 0-for-4, 3 K. Hit .370 in April, has hit .209 since with 36 strikeouts in 129 at-bats.
• Jason Heyward, OF, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 1-for-3, 2B, R, BB. Rehab, back soon.
• Marc Krauss, OF, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (10), R, RBI, 2 K. June signs of life continue; .244/.345/.475 overall.
• Ryan Lavarnway, C, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R. Triple-A debut after .284/.360/.510 line at Double-A; bat remains ahead of glove.
• Charles Leesman, LHP, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K. Mild sleeper as big, physical lefty with solid three pitch mix but control issues; 3.36 ERA in 13 games.
• Jake McGee, LHP, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Starting to find his groove back in the minors; 7.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 9 K in last five appearances.
• Deck McGuire, RHP, Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Like Harvey, looking more and more like he's ready for a second half at Double-A; 3.07 ERA over 70.1 innings with 70 Ks.
• Tommy Mendonca, 3B, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 4-for-6, 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI, K. 12-for-19 in last four games and .315/.356/.565 overall; scouts don't think approach will keep working as he moves up.
• Jermaine Mitchell, OF, A's (Double-A Midland): 3-for-5, 2B, RBI. It's hard to get too worked up about a 26-year-old outfielder whose prospect star has faded, but he's hitting .405 in his last 16 games and .372/.479/.657 in 60 games.
• Jesus Montero, C, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton): 2-for-4, HR (5), R, 3 RBI, BB. Back in the lineup after hitting the bench for undisclosed purposes; .293/.339/.424 in 51 games.
• Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 R, RBI. First home run in ten games since return from DL; just .265/.328/.381 in30 games.
• Andy Oliver, LHP, Tigers (Triple-A Toledo): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 5 BB, 9 K. That's everything to like and be concerned about when it comes to Oliver in one neat game line; 3.82 ERA in 11 games.
• Rafael Ortega, OF, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 3-for-4, 3B, R, BB, K, SB. 20-year-old Venezuelan speedster with gap power is hitting .366/.395/.537 in June to up season line to .279/.314/.393 in 53 games.
• Wily Mo Pena, OF, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 2-for-5, 2 HR (20), 3 R, 2 RBI, K. Now second in the minor leagues in home runs, and that's just cool.
• Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, K. .280/.389/.503 line in 51 games remains one of the most impressive in the minors considering age and position.
• Trayvon Robinson, OF, Dodgers (Triple-A Albuquerque): 2-for-3, 3B, HR (14), R, RBI, BB, K. Three home runs in last six games, .409 in June, .304/.363/.567 overall and Tony Gwynn Jr. keeps getting big league starts.
• Cody Scarpetta, RHP, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K. Follows up 3 IP, 8 R outing with best star of the year; inconsistent doesn't really do it justice.
• Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 0-for-4, BB, 3 Ks. One of the biggest disappointments in prospect land; outfielder experiment didn't work and hitting just .251/.370/.333 in 54 games.
• Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K, SB. Since dropping to .294 on May 29, he's 20-for-45 (.444) in 13 games with four triples and 11 stolen bases; .327/.430/.551 overall.
• Dayan Viciedo, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 3-for-5, R. 12-for-29 during seven-game hitting streak and .318/.365/.518 overall.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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