May 30, 2014

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, May 29

by Jeff Moore

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Hitter of the Night: Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox (Winston-Salem, A+): 3-5, R, HR, K.
Anderson has plus tools but is also extremely raw, which makes his .279 batting average somewhat impressive, but oh my goodness does his 42-to-4 K:BB rate scare me.

Pitcher of the Night: Tim Cooney, LHP, Cardinals (Memphis, AAA): 9 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K.
A minor-league complete game is rare, but Cooney was two pitches away from the even-more-rare minor-league “Maddux,” finishing at 101 pitches. His strikeout rates have dropped in Triple-A this year and his walk rate his spiked, a surprising occurrence for a player who gets by with average stuff thanks to plus command.

Best of the Rest

Michael Feliz, RHP, Astros (Quad Cities, A-): 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K. Feliz is blessed with a big-time fastball, which can be enough to dominate in the low minors, but it’s his slider and changeup that will lead to more outings like this in the future.

Maxwell Muncy, 3B, Athletics (Midland, AA): 2-3, R, 2B, HR. Muncy has yet to show any kind of consistent power anywhere outside of the California League, and he’s ultimately destined for first base, making it a tough profile to fill. He has, however, maintained his extreme on-base skills and doubles power, giving him a chance to earn some kind of role as an offensive player.

Taylor Cole, LHP, Blue Jays (Dunedin, A+): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K. Sometimes things click for a player and other times he’s just out-smarting younger players. The jury is still out on which it is for Cole, who has almost doubled his strikeout totals this season while cutting his walk rate in half, but it doesn’t look like he’s going to find the answer in the Florida State League.

Tyler Wagner, RHP, Brewers (Brevard County, A+): 8 IP, 6 H, R, BB, 8 K. With average velocity and a three-pitch mix, the former fourth-round pick has an advanced plan for the Florida State League, allowing him to succeed without missing too many bats on most nights.

Tyler Naquin, OF, Indians (Akron, AA): 4-6, 2 R, BB, K. Scouts question his bat speed and ability to hit quality breaking stuff, but he’s holding his own in the jump to Double-A. Still, the power isn’t there for an everyday corner outfielder, meaning he’ll have to really show some value as a center fielder in order to avoid being a reserve, something he’s capable of doing.

Ryan Rua, 3B, Rangers (Frisco, AA): 2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, K. Rua exploded against younger competition last season to put himself on the map, but at least some of his power development was for real. He’s playing third base now in order to find a home defensively, so the power will need to play for him to have any value. He’s probably not an everyday player, but power will always play somewhere.

Henry Owens, LHP, Red Sox (Portland, AA): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. When the fastball command is on, Owens just doesn’t get hit hard. For some guys, especially those with really good stuff, sometimes it’s just that simple.

Fight Another Day

Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Blue Jays (New Hampshire, AA): 6 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. Fastball command, you must have, my young Blue Jay.

Dominic Smith, 1B, Mets (Savannah, A-): 0-5, 2 K. Smith has easy plus raw power, but it has yet to play in full-season ball, as he’s still looking for his first home run of the season.

Franmil Reyes, OF, Padres (Fort Wayne, A-): 0-4, 3 K. The strikeout numbers are relatively high for the young slugger, but not as egregious as you might expect.

Jonathan Gray, RHP, Rockies (Tulsa, AA): 5 1/3 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Gray, who has been very good in his first professional season, now has two stinkers tossed into the mix, surrounded by a number of excellent outings. Perhaps he’s just preparing himself for pitching in Colorado.

Notable Pitching Performances

• Zach Lee, RHP, Dodgers (Albuquerque, AAA): 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
• Justin Nicolino, LHP, Marlins (Jacksonville, AA): 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), BB, 4 K.
• Ismael Guillon, LHP, Reds (Dayton, A-): 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K.
• Jonathan Crawford, RHP, Tigers (West Michigan, A-): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

And yes, Kris Bryant homered again.