June 12, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of June 11

by Kevin Goldstein

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Marcel Ozuna, OF, Marlins (High-A Jupiter): 3-for-5, 2 HR (15), 2 R, 6 RBI.

It's hard to call someone the hottest hitter in the game based on two nights, but how about five home runs and 12 RBIs over that stretch? That was enough to raise the 21-year-old Dominican's OPS 90 points to .261/.332/.513, and he certainly has an intriguing tools combination of
raw power and arm strength that both earn 70 scores on the 20-to-80 scale. There's still plenty of debate over just how much Ozuna's hit tool will develop, but he's not a pure whiff machine, and even at a .260 batting average, he could provide plenty of value.

Others Of Note:

• Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Royals (Low-A Kane County): 3-for-5, HR (5), R, 4 RBI. Recovering from June slump; .306/.368/.449 in 61 games.
• Edwar Cabrera, LHP, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Bouncing back from recent rough patch; 3.25 ERA with .192 opponent's average and one of the best changeups around.
• Patrick Corbin, LHP, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Pitching well, but does Trevor Bauer get the next call?
• C.J. Cron, 1B, Angels (High-A Inland Empire): Hitting .354 in last 40 games after ugly April; .300/.341/.492 overall but also hasn't drawn a walk in 16 games.
• Travis D'Arnaud, C, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-5, 2B, HR (14), R, 2 RBI. Up to .333/.383/.593 overall and could force the Blue Jays to make a tough decision at some point in the second half.
• Tim Federowicz, C, Dodgers (Triple-A Albuquerque): 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, K. Explosion of A.J. Ellis makes his future a bit cloudy; 8-for-13 in last three games and .292/.350/.503 overall.
• Scooter Gennett, 2B, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 2-for-3, 2 2B, BB, CS; 1-for-4, 2B; Has been steadily over .300 for last three weeks; .304/.353/.412 overall.
• Garrett Gould, RHP, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Has been hit around a bit while also missing plenty of bats; 4.71 ERA with 67 Ks in 63 innings.
• Grant Green, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-5, R, K, CS. 18-for-35 during seven-game hitting streak to lift batting average 38 points; .304/.339/.467 overall, but profiles changes considerably if he's in left instead of center.
• Miles Head, 3B, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 4-for-4, HR (13), R, 3 RBI, BB. 10-for-20 in last five games and .379/.433/.671 overall; a bat-only guy, but it's quite a bat.
• Adeiny Hechavarria, SS, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB. Fifth straight two-hit game; .327/.375/.455 overall but much of it cames from destroying lefties (.434/.485/.576).
• Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, R, 2 RBI, K. Has been coming on strong of late with .947 OPS in 11 June games; .269/.325/.462 in 58 games.
• Shelby Miller, RHP, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 4 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Continues to be plagued by the long ball as he's given up 14 in 61.1 innings; 5.72 ERA and scouting reports just aren't close to last year's.
• Julio Morban, OF, Mariners (High-A High Desert): 1-for-3, HR (13), R, 3 RBI, K. 20-year-old Dominican is taking advantage of environment but has definite offensive upside; five home runs in last eight games and .343/.389/.651 overall.
• Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 1-for-3, HR (9), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K. Six home runs in last 11 games and .340/.398/.734 in 25 games since promotion; still profiles better in a corner than center.
• Justin Nicolino, LHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 K. Season-high Ks but also first outing with more than one walk allowed; 1.34 ERA with 45/9 K/BB in 47 innings.
• Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K. Kind of weird to see him hit just singles after last week's seven home runs; .311/.414/.622 overall.
• Chris Reed, LHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K. Six hitless innings in two Double-A outings.
• Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (22), 2 R, 4 RBI, K. Less than two weeks before service time is no longer an issue; .370/.430/.753 in 59 games.
• Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins (Low-A Beloit): 2-for-5, HR (15), R, 4 RBI, 2 K. Strikeouts have finally dropped the batting average but power remains other-worldly; .243/.351/.517 in 63 games.
• Drew Vettleson, OF, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB, K, CS. Good hit tool, but people are unsure as to how much he'll do around it; .286/.359/.433 in 61 games.

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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