May 24, 2013

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, May 23

by Zach Mortimer

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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Daniel Norris, LHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K. Well, well, well, this is the Daniel Norris we all expected to see after he received a $2 million bonus after the 2011 draft. I saw him for a three-inning miniature stint this spring, the smallest of sample sizes. The fastball can touch plus velocities; curveball flashes plus; changeup can flash plus. The problem was that everything could just leave him in one pitch. He would go from “oh man” (in a good way) to “oh man” (in an awful way) in a spam of three pitches. I am still a believer. The stuff is still there, and I believe he can put it together; 34.1 IP, 41 H, 26 ER, 21 BB, 38 K in 10 outings.

Position Prospect of the Day: Eugenio Suarez, SS, Tigers (Double-A Erie): 4-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, K; potential solid-average hit tool; potential plus glove; solid-average runner; minimal power; wait-and-see type of prospect.

Other notable prospect performances on May 23:

“The Good”

• Albert Almora, CF, Cubs (Low-A Kane County): 4-7, 2 2B, R, RBI; plus hit tool; plus potential power; just returning from injury.
• Charlie Culberson, 2B/SS, Rockies (Triple-A Colorado Springs): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; average power potential; average hit tool; average runner; what does that sound like? You guessed it—utility-man ceiling; .278/.309/.475 with 11 2B, 1 3B, and 6 HR in 158 at-bats.
• Kelly Dugan, OF, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 4-6, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; I’ve always liked him. Potential solid-average power; solid-average runner; upper-cut swing; has potential; needs to stay healthy; .333/.394/.535 with 7 2B, 2 3B, and 3 HR in 99 at-bats.
• Zach Eflin, RHP, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; plus fastball; solid-average changeup; developing curveball; projectable; 32.1 IP, 30 H, 17 ER, 13 BB, 23 K in seven starts.
• Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia):5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 12 K; plus fastball; easy plus curveball; developing changeup; jump on board before it’s too late; 34.0 IP, 14 H, 8 ER, 21 BB, 50 K in eight starts.
• John Lamb, LHP, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; fastball sitting 84-89; lost command at higher velocity; curveball at 66-69 is messy; changeup at 71-72 has parachute action and lacks necessary arm speed.
• Jake Marisnick, CF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville): 3-3, HR, R, 2 RBI; flashes all the tools; good bat speed; can make loud contact; I believe in the dream; plenty of risk involved; .300/.378/.525 in last 40 at-bats.
• Carlos Pimentel, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; heavy fastball can touch 94; slider flashes plus and he has improved his command of it; having a very good season at Double-A thus far; 46.0 IP, 34 H, 15 ER, 12 BB, 57 K in nine outings.
• Victor Roache, OF, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K; plus-plus raw power; hit tool needs development; solid-average arm; a lot of question marks. I’ve never seen him in person, but all the write-ups I’ve read make me just a bit nervous about Roache.

“The Bad”

• Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 0-5, 4 K; Oh, Joey, how you love to swing and miss. Of course, you showed me all I needed to see when you sent that ball sailing out of the ballpark in the final game I attended.
• Brett Marshall, RHP, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 4.0 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; sinkerballer will have to keep the ball down in the zone or else things could get a bit dicey.
• Christian Walker, 1B, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 0-5, 4 K; he must have had the South Carolina loss to Vanderbilt, to knock them out of the SEC tournament, on his mind when he stepped in the box tonight.

 “The Ugly”

Larry Greene, LF, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 0-4, BB, 4 K; Greene is continuing to make me believe he will be back on the gridiron before he reaches Double-A.

Zach Mortimer is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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