6/21 AA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on June 22, 2009 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Milwaukee’s 3B prospect Taylor Green went 2-3 yesterday hitting his 4th HR, driving in three and walking twice. Green is putting together a solid month of June that has seen him hit .329 with all four of his HR and 16 of his 24 RBI. Green missed the first month and a half of the season rehabbing from offseason surgery on his wrist, though he appears fully healthy and strong now. Green reminds me a great deal of former Boston Red Sox 3B Bill Mueller. Like Mueller, Green is not a big guy (5-10 175 lb.) which makes his projected 12-15 HR power below average for MLB third basemen. He’s got excellent plate discipline and makes good contact at the plate using foul line to foul line. The Brewers have Mat Gamel ahead of him on the organizational depth chart, but Gamel continues to struggle defensively and, like Ryan Braun before him, should find a home at a different position. Green is a solid defender with a strong arm and soft hands that should play well at third base for the Brewers. He’s a major leaguer for sure, but he lacks the “wow” factor that other hot corner prospects may have.

Today’s top AA prospect is Texas Rangers SS prospect Marcus Lemon. The son of former Detroit Tigers OF Chet Lemon has been on a big hot streak as of late, hitting .500 (17-34) with six RBI and seven runs scored in his last 10 games. Lemon has long been lauded for his intangible skills (i.e. makeup, work ethic, leadership) and he has handled every challenge that the Rangers have put before him admirably. He is a disciplined and refined hitter who hits for a high average and good contact, but he doesn’t have much power and doesn’t utilize his plus speed as a weapon on the basepaths. Defensively, Lemon has improved from last year’s 43 errors by committing just 15 by the midpoint of this season. While he remains a work in progress, he should be able to stick as a shortstop prospect.

There’s just no room for Lemon, though. The Texas Rangers have moved from A.L. West doormat to frontrunner in a one year period and their rock solid left side of the infield has done wonders for improving the success of their pitching staff. Lemon is a solid prospect, but he is not good enough to supplant Elvis Andrus or Ian Kinsler as a middle infielder. Outside of a trade, there is just too much talent in Texas’ system for Lemon to supplant at this time. Even if he was to make the transition from shortstop to the outfield, Lemon’s game at this stage is too one dimensional to trump Texas’ flotsam of fourth outfielders or prospects like Julio Borbon or Greg Golson.

AA Player of the Day–MARCUS LEMON

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

Jesus Montero—2-4 RBI 2B
Ruben Tejeda—2-3 2B R
Lucas Duda—2-2 HR(4) RBI BB
Matt McBride—3-4 2B 2 RBI 3R
Jared Goedert—3-4 2 2B 2 RBI
Danny Worth—2-4 2 2B 2 RBI BB
Brad Emaus—2-4 2B R RBI
Ian Desmond—1-4 2R BB 3 SB(10)
Michael Taylor—3-5 HR(12) 2 RBI
Jeremy Slayden—4-4 HR(2) 2 RBI 3R
Rene Tosoni—2-3 2R 3 RBI 2 BB
Juan Portes—3-5 RBI
Danny Valencia—2-5 2 RBI
Brett Pill—2-4 HR(7) RBI 2R BB
Andrew Lambo—1-3 2B R RBI BB
Taylor Green—2-3 HR(4) 3 RBI 2 BB
Logan Morrison—2-3 2R RBI BB SB(1)
Michael Stanton—1-5 HR(13) 2 RBI
Scott Cousins—2-4 2B 3B RBI R
Marquez Smith—2-4 2 HR(10) 2 RBI 2R
Wellington Castillo—1-3 HR(6) 3 RBI BB 2R
Mitch Moreland—2-4 2B RBI
Marcus Lemon—3-3 2B 2 RBI R
Cedric Hunter—2-5 2R 3B
Brian Joynt–2-5 2B R

Pitching:

Luis Perez—7.1 IP 4H ER 2 BB 8K