September 10, 2014

Minor League Update

Games of Tuesday, September 9

by Jeff Moore

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Wilmer Difo, SS, Nationals (Hagerstown, A-): 3-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, K. The South Atlantic League player of the year didn’t impress me in a short two-game stint earlier this year, but that alone should tell you why it’s important to see a player for a longer period of time. As word spread throughout the Sally League about Difo’s performance early in the season (five home runs in May), the league began to avoid him more frequently, and he took what they gave him. That wasn’t the best strategy, because, with plus speed, he made them pay quite often (49 steals on the season). I still don’t see him as a power threat long term, and his performance did come as a 22-year-old in Low-A ball, but it was a breakout performance nonetheless. He also features a plus arm at shortstop, giving him an interesting package of tools on which to build.

Danny Diekroeger, 3B, Cardinals (State College, SS): 3-5, 3 R, 3B, BB. Drafted in the 10th round this past summer out of Stanford, Diekroeger offers a solid skill set and tools to carve out a major-league career. He saw time at second base as well, though he primarily played third, and offered moderate pop and plate discipline while helping the Spikes to a title.

Eddie Butler, RHP, Rockies (Tulsa, AA): 5 IP, 3 H, R (0 ER), 4 BB, 4 K. Missing bats isn’t Butler’s forte nearly as much as it is breaking them with a hard running two-seamer, but it would be nice to see a pitcher with such a power arsenal miss a few more than the 5.2 K/9 he offered in Double-A this season. The Rockies stress generating weak contact with pitchers throughout their organization, but that’s just a troublesome amount of balls to be putting in play in Coors Field, especially from a pitcher with the stuff to miss a few more than that. The drop off in strikeout rate this season signaled a drastic shift for Butler, who had no issues in that area in the past, and even though he spent time on the DL with shoulder inflammation, I didn’t receive any reports of his stuff being diminished.

Edwin Escobar, LHP, Red Sox (Pawtucket, AAA): 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K. After tons of success lower in the minors, Triple-A finally got the best of Escobar this season, though the PCL has a way of doing that to a lot of pitchers, especially those with fringy stuff. Escobar throws a lot of strikes, but not always the best ones, an issue that gets punished in the PCL. He’s been better since joining the Red Sox and still profiles as a major-league arm, though it’s likely more of a back-end profile than anything else.

Enny Romero, LHP, Rays (Durham, AAA): 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, BB, 2 K. Romero features power stuff, but a lack of command will likely send him to the bullpen. He doesn’t throw enough strikes, though he made strides in that area this season, but more importantly, he doesn’t miss enough barrels, getting squared up far too often for a pitcher with his stuff.

Clayton Blackburn, RHP, Giants (Richmond, AA): 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K. All Blackburn did this year was once again go out and exceed the expectations that come with his slightly above-average arsenal. By throwing a ton of strikes and commanding multiple pitches, Blackburn allows his stuff to play up. It’s still not the highest-ceiling profile, but he’s going to be a major-league starter for a while, and that has a lot of value.