MLB Prospect Weekly News
& Notes
- This week has been
mixed for Houston Astros prospects and fans, as starting pitcher Mark Appel has
shown some progression (or regression to the norm), but Carlos Correa fractured
his fibula on a slide into third, keeping him out for the remainder of the
season. Appel has a collective 5.40 ERA over his past two starts, with five
total strikeouts. This may sound horrendous, but when you compare it to his
previous three outings, allowing 17 earned runs in just 6.2 innings pitched, it
is progress, just not as fast as the Astros front office and fans wish. Prior
to his injury, shortstop Correa had an OPS of .926 on the season. Correa was
named to the Futures Game roster, but, of course, will not play. Starting
pitching prospect Mike Foltynewicz struggled on Thursday, giving up four earned
runs in five innings. High-A third baseman Rio Ruiz went ice cold this past
week, posting an OPS of .678 in 33 plate appearances, far below his season OPS
of .817. Although he has not started this week, keep an eye on AA pitching
prospect Kyle Smith, who is posting an 3.78 ERA on the season, displaying good
command, walking only 1.89 batters per nine innings and striking out 9.82
batters per nine innings.
- Mookie Betts was called
up to the major league Boston Red Sox today after posting an OPS of .869 in
AAA, with a wOBA north of .400, which is very good. The big issue here is that
some of his value comes from the position he plays, second base. He will be
playing the outfield for the Red Sox, which he can do, and it makes sense to a
degree as the Boston Red Sox outfield has been anemic offensively this year. A ton
of people love Betts bat and it will be interesting to see how he translates in
the next week. AA pitching prospect Henry Owens was selected to the 2014 MLB
Futures Game. This news came out the same day Owens had a rough outing in AA,
giving up four earned runs in six innings pitched. While starting pitcher Cody
Kukuk looked great in A ball, he has since struggled in High-A ball, posting an
8.33 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched. He has been really roughed up in his past two
starts, giving up ten earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. I would be worried
about Kukuk, as he has been killed in every appearance so far in High-A. Second
baseman Sean Coyle has been impressive in AA this year, putting up an OPS of 1.024.
With Betts movie up, I would expect a call-up to AAA for Coyle anytime.
- The curious case of
Kris Bryant continues in AAA Iowa for the Chicago Cubs, as he has ten hits in
33 at bats, five of them being home runs. Yesterday, Bryant had a three hit
performance, raising his OPS for the week up to 1.427. He still has some
strikeout issues, but seems to be adjusting to AAA pitching, which is a good
sign. Bryant is still playing third base for some reason that is beyond me. Bryant
and teammate Javier Baez were both named to the Futures Game this week. Baez
has had a good week in AAA, posting an OPS of .780, higher than his season
average of .722. He showed some improvement in taking walks/striking out, raising
his walk percentage to 9.7% and lowering his strikeout rate to 29%. While those
still seem disappointing, baby steps with Baez and plate patience. According to
Theo Epstein, president of the Chicago Cubs, the Cubs are trying to “re-program”
the way Jorge Soler’s body moves to prevent future injury. Outfielder Soler
returned to Rookie ball this week, having an OPS of 1.667 in fifteen plate
appearances, which sounds impressive, but if he did not put up those numbers
rehabbing in R ball, it would have been a major disappointment. Cubs AAA second
baseman prospect Arismendy Alcantara had a great night last night, going 4-6
with one home run. Alcantara is putting up an OPS of .890 in AAA in 315 plate
appearances. With major league second baseman Darwin Barney’s struggles on the
season, Alcantara could (and should) be called up before year’s end. Reliever
prospect Zack Cates has been putting up encouraging numbers, with an ERA of
2.89 in 9.1 innings after being promoted to AA. This week has been a rough one
for Cates, putting three earned runs in four innings pitched. Cates gave up no
earned runs prior to this week. Starting pitcher Dallas Beeler was called up
this week and will start Saturday. Hunter Cervenka has quietly been pitching
well in relief in AA, posting an ERA of 2.87 in 31.1 innings pitched. He should
be promoted to AAA soon, but the Cubs front office is conservative on call-ups.
- On Sunday, Diamondbacks
pitching prospect Braden Shipley had one great day, striking out ten in seven
innings pitched. Reports indicate his changeup and curveball were killer
pitches alongside his easy plus fastball. Yesterday, Shipley could not get it
going, giving up eight earned runs and striking out zero in 3.1 innings
pitched. Although Shipley has an ERA of 4.97 in 29 innings with the High-A
affiliate, he shows flashes of potential, as seen on Sunday. There is some
concern that he is almost 22 ½ years of age and does not have High-A locked
down yet, but he shows enough to keep an eye on him and expect him to develop.
With the fastball, changeup, and curveball, we are looking at three likely plus
pitches at the least. Shipley made the Futures Game roster. Since being
promoted to AAA, starting pitching prospect Archie Bradley has struggled,
putting up an ERA of 5.18 in 24.1 innings pitched. The walk rate of 4.44 in
nine innings pitched is concerning in AAA, especially for the Diamondbacks top
prospect. Since being promoted to AAA, Jake Barrett has been mixed
performance-wise, alternating outings, allowing a home run in one outing, then allowing
no earned runs, then back to a single home run outing, then no earned runs. I
would not consider this bad news as it has been just four innings, so give him
time and he will make the big league club. Another interesting story for the
Diamondbacks farm system has been shortstop Nick Ahmed, who has an OPS of .829
in AAA this year. He has been hot this week, posting an OPS of 1.219 in 37
plate appearances. With Chris Owings and Didi Gregorius already taking up
shortstop spots, it is unclear if they will move Ahmed to a different position,
trade him, or perhaps trade Owings or Gregorius. Now that La Russa is the man
in charge, it is still unclear what this means for the Diamondbacks franchise.
- Washington Nationals
starting pitching prospect Lucas Giolito has been one of the success stories for
those who come back after a UCL injury and Tommy John surgery. The nearly
twenty year old Giolito has been a killer in A ball, with a K/9 of 10.04, a
BB/9 of 3.46, and an ERA of 2.30 in 54.2 innings pitched. He dazzled in six
innings on Thursday, striking out nine and giving up no earned runs. He was
named to the Futures Game and will likely be promoted to AA before the end of
the year. Everyone loves him and seems to think he will be a possible ace in
the major leagues before long. Starting pitching prospect A.J. Cole was promoted
to AAA yesterday after posting an ERA of 2.92 in 71 innings pitched. Cole gave
up an astonishing 0.13 HR/9 in AA. AA outfielder was named to the Futures Game
roster after putting up an OPS of .984 in 325 plate appearances. Taylor had
what was a down week for him, posting an OPS of .753 in twenty-eight plate appearances.
If the Washington Nationals can find a spot for him on their big league club,
he might be called up by the end of the year. I would be shocked if he is not
in the majors beginning in 2015.
- Top Cleveland Indians
prospect Francisco Lindor was the lone representative on the Futures Game
roster for the Indians. Despite struggling this year with an OPS of .770 in 319
plate appearances, Lindor is still considered one of the top prospects in all
of baseball and the top shortstop prospect in baseball by many. One reason for
this is his BB% and K% compared to someone like Javier Baez. On the year, Lindor
has a BB% of only 11%, but his K% is only 16%. Lindor has developed some pop,
hitting six home runs on the year, beating his home run totals in High-A and AA
last year combined. While it is only been three games, Lindor has had a good
week, putting up an OPS of 1.111. While old at twenty-seven years of age, reliever
Austin Adams has been fairly productive pitching in AAA for the Cleveland
Indians, putting up an ERA of 2.65 in 34 innings pitched. He really could be
called up by the Indians or be used as a trade chip to a team looking to add a
bullpen arm (there are many). Adams has given up one run since May 7, which is
pretty impressive.
- Let us talk about
Mariners top prospect Taijuan Walker. Since the last prospect news and notes,
Walker had one start in which he pitched nine innings, striking out eight,
walking one, and giving up no earned runs. After the game, Walker was quoted as
saying he is “back to feeling normal,” which may just be talk, but that mindset
is encouraging, especially with a top prospect like Walker. Walker’s status
with the Mariners organization is up for questioning, with the Mariners
seemingly in on Jeff Samardzija. I do not think it is likely he will be traded,
as he would have been traded for David Price in the offseason if General
Manager Jack Z. wanted to trade him. Perhaps with the team in the playoff hunt
the Mariners finally may make a move and if it is a big one, it will require
Walker. Two prospects for Seattle were named to the Futures Game: outfielder Gabby
Guerrero and third baseman D.J. Peterson. Guerrero being named to the roster is
a bit of surprise, as he has not had the best year, putting up an OPS of .794
in High-A ball. Guerrero has been ice cold this past week, putting up a poor
OPS of .524 in six games. After putting up an OPS of .997 in A ball, D.J.
Peterson was promoted to AA on Tuesday, where he has played two games. He has
had two hits and a walk in nine plate appearances, but that is a sample size
too small to even think about. AA pitching prospect Victor Sanchez did not have
a good week, giving up four earned runs in 6.1 innings in one start and four
earned runs in four innings in the other start. His strikeout numbers were down
for both games to four and two, respectively.
- Time for your weekly
Joey Gallo update, Texas Rangers fans. Over the past week, third baseman Gallo
has put up a disappointing (yes, disappointing for him) OPS of .833 with three
home runs. The really bad news is the BB% and the K%. He took no walks this
week and struck out 58.3%. That is seriously concerning, but that is the type
of player Gallo is, a swing for the fences without regard-type. Historically
guys with such poor plate patience do not make it, but Gallo has elite power, probably
the best in the minor leagues (sorry Javier Baez). Rangers outfielder Nick
Williams heated up since making his High-A debut on Tuesday, posting an OPS of
1.218 in 13 appearances before being placed on the seven day DL for an
undisclosed injury. The expensive Jairo Beras had an above average week in A
ball amid a disastrous season. For the year, Beras has posted an OPS of .552,
but has posted an OPS of .750, which is a small sample, but perhaps Beras is
finally trending in the right direction. Seventeen year old starting pitching
prospect Marcos Diplan has quietly been tearing up Rookie ball, putting up an
ERA of 1.52 in 23.2 innings pitched. He has had a relatively tight leash on
innings pitched, often going out for four or five innings, but he strikes out
four, five, or seven in that short amount of time. Diplan is definitely a guy
to keep an eye on.
- Baltimore Orioles starting pitching prospect
Dylan Bundy was at one time considered the best pitching prospect in all of
baseball, and even the best overall prospect by some. An UCL injury and Tommy
John surgery derailed that, but since coming back and rehabbing in Low-A ball,
Bundy has looked like his old self. In three starts, he has twenty-two
strikeouts, three walks, and one earned run in fifteen innings pitched. His
fastball has been sitting in the 91-93 mph range. He is still throwing a solid
curveball and his cutter sat between 86-89 in his most recent outing. Dylan
Bundy will be an ace on a major league team in two years. Both the Rays and
Cubs should use Samardzija or Price to try and get him before his prospect hype
gets back into the stratosphere. Outfielder Dariel Alvarez and starting pitcher
Hunter Harvey both were named to the Futures Game roster. Alvarez has been
solid in AA this year, putting up an OPS of .825, but he has only drawn walks
2.5% of the time and is already twenty-five years of age. Nineteen year old
Hunter Harvey has just been a force in A ball with a 2.98 ERA over 66.1 innings
pitched. In his most recent outing on Monday, Harvey struck out seven and gave
up one earned run in six innings pitched.
- AA pitcher Robert
Stephenson was the lone selection for the Cincinnati Reds in the Futures Game.
Stephenson has been mediocre to say the least this year, putting up an ERA of
4.17 in 82 innings pitched. He also has a fairly concerning BB/9 of 4.50. The
past week has been mixed for Stephenson going seven innings, striking out
seven, and only allowing three runs, then going five, striking out five, and allowing
four earned runs. If anything, Stephenson is trending sideways, which has to be
worrying for a top prospect in a club’s farm system. In semi-prospect news, the
Reds signed Raisel Iglesias, a 5’11” Cuban pitcher. His fastball touches 96 and
his breaking ball sits in the 76-81 range via Ben Badler. Some expect him to start, but with the height, I think
it is more likely that he is headed to the bullpen.
- Catcher Kevin Plawecki
and starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard were the two selections for the Futures Game
for the New York Mets. Plawecki was promoted to AAA on Thursday after putting
up an OPS of .864 in AA on the year. He has had eight plate appearances in AAA,
so I am going off of a tremendously small sample size in analyzing two games. While
Plawecki’s OPS of .821 in AAA sounds impressive so far, you have to keep in
mind that the Mets AAA club is in the Pacific Coast League where hitters can
put up video game numbers, so that number is about average to above average,
not something to rave over quite yet, especially with a miniscule sample size. On
the other hand, Noah Syndergaard’s ERA of 5.35 in AAA sounds horrible, but it
is a hitter’s league, so I would not put too much stock in either hitters or
pitchers’ numbers in the Pacific Coast League. Since being promoted to AA,
Brandon Nimmo has not set the world on fire offensively, posting an OPS of .714
in thirty plate appearances. Nimmo still displays great plate patience, walking
20% of the time, while striking out only 16.7% of the time. In High-A, Nimmo
was walked 17.9% of the time and struck out 18.3% of the time. Thought Nimmo
might make the Futures Game roster, but he did not.
- The two individuals
named to the Futures Game for the Phillies were shortstop J.P. Crawford and third
baseman Maikel Franco. Crawford was just promoted to High-A ball last week and
has struggled since, putting up an OPS of .686 in 40 plate appearances. In 267
plate appearances in A ball, Crawford put up an OPS of .804. What is especially
concerning with him is his BB% and K%. He gets walked 10% of the time and
strikes out 27.5% of the time in High-A, but then again, small sample size, as
he was literally 1:1 in BB/K in A ball. Franco has spent the entire season in
AAA, but has looked pretty bad, posting an OPS of .596. The past week has not
been kind to him, as he has put up an OPS of .405 in his past seven games. Someone
who made the Futures Game roster last year, pitcher Jesse Biddle, continues to
struggle in AA. On the season, Biddle has an ERA of 5.03 and was given a “mental
break” by Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and is now listed as day-to-day.
- The Colorado Rockies
had one person selected to the Futures Game, SS Rossell Herrera. Herrera has
spent the entire year in High-A ball, putting up a mediocre OPS of .706. He has
only had one game where he has homered the entire year, hitting two home runs,
creating a power surge for the rest of the season for Herrera. High-A catcher William
Swanner has struggled all year in High-A, posting an OPS of .743. He spent all
of last season in High-A and put up very similar numbers, so he is not
progressing like he should. Swanner has been on a hot streak over the past
week, though, putting up an OPS of .919 in seven games. It probably is too
small of a sample size to analyze too seriously, but he is trending in the
right direction. Last year’s third overall pick Jon Gray continues to perform
fairly well, putting up an ERA of 3.77 in 74 innings pitched. Last Friday was
not Gray’s best outing as he was roughed up in five innings pitched, giving up
five earned runs, but striking out seven. He is still performing better than
the pitcher chose two spots ahead of him, Mark Appel.
- Marten Gasparini just
turned seventeen and is already playing in Rookie ball for the Kansas City
Royals. The highest paid European free agent ever, Gasparini is putting up an
OPS of .642 in 27 plate appearances. Two points on this. 27 plate appearances
in a career is certainly small sample size. He also just turned seventeen. The
only other seventeen year old more advanced than Gasparini at this point is
Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias. Christian Binford was the lone person named to the
Futures Game roster, putting up an ERA of 2.35 in 76.2 innings pitched in
High-A ball. Binford was hit up in his last start, giving up three earned runs
in 6.2 innings pitched, but striking out six in the process.
- The aforementioned pitching
prospect Julio Urias was named to the Futures Game roster, alongside shortstop Corey
Seager. Urias is seventeen years old and playing well in High-A ball, which is
unbelievable really. In 49.2 inning in High-A, Urias has an ERA of 3.44. He has
a plus fastball and a plus curveball at seventeen. I cannot overemphasize how
impressive this is. Shortstop Corey Seager has spent the entire season in
High-A, putting up an OPS of 1.010, which is also impressive. Seager is likely
to end up at third base, so I am not sure why they are playing with him at
shortstop. The past week has been slightly above average for Seager, putting up
an OPS of 1.096 during the seven game stretch. Joc Pederson was snubbed from
the Futures Game, despite hitting 1.005 in 332 plate appearances in AAA. Pederson
was just placed on the seven day DL for a shoulder injury. All three are a big
part of the Dodgers future plans.
- Braves pitcher Lucas
Sims has been good at times in High-A ball, putting up an ERA of 4.71 in 84
innings pitched. On Thursday, Sims had an impressive performance, striking out
six in seven innings, allowing no earned runs.
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