5/27 High-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 27, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Similar to the AA docket of games, the High-A slate is a bit light as rainouts plauged much of the Florida State League and the California League had the night off. Jason Heyward rapped three hits and drove in three runs, raising his season average to .295.  Baseball’s top outfield prospect has been exceptional over his last 10 games, hitting .359 with 3 HR 8 RBI and 9 runs scored.  Top minor league lefties Brian Matusz of the Orioles and K.C.’s Danny Duffy locked horns in a pitchers duel as each went six-plus scoreless innings, striking out five hitters each.

Today’s top High-A player is Chicago’s 1B/OF prospect Christian Marrero.  The brother of Nationals slugger Chris Marrero went 4-4 with his 4th HR and three RBI.  Marrero is said to have considerably less potential than his younger brother, but he has outperformed him so far this season, hitting .333 with 4 HR 23 RBI and 13 doubles in 44 games.  Marrero has a sweet lefthanded swing that should hit for a high average and 12-15 HR power at the major league level.

High-A Player of the Day—CHRISTIAN MARRERO

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Christian Marrero—4-4 HR(4) 3 RBI 2R
• Jason Heyward—3-4 2B R 3 RBI
• Mike Moustakas—1-3 2B RBI BB
• Miles Durham—1-4 HR(5) RBI
• Pedro Alvarez—1-4 2 RBI
• Mark Reed—2-3 2 RBI 3B
• Colt Sedbrook—3-3 2B 2R
• Moises Sierra—2-2 2B 2R 4 RBI
• Kevin Ahrens—1-2 R RBI 2 BB
• John Tolisano—1-2 3B 2R 2 BB SB(4)

Pitching:

• Richard Castillo—7 IP 7H ER 2 BB 5K
• Andrew Cashner—5 IP 3H ER 5K
• Danny Duffy—6 IP 5H BB 5K
• Brian Matusz—7 IP 4H 2 BB 5K

8/18 Low A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on August 19, 2008 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Time is ticking and the minor league baseball season is coming to a close.  Here are some nice performances from the South Atlantic and Midwest Leagues!

Freddie Freeman

• 2-3 2R BB—.325 18 HR 94 RBI 151 H 68 R (How good will he get?)

 

Cody Johnson

• 2-4 HR(23) 4 RBI 3B 2R —.270 3 HR 13 RBI last 10 (Adam Dunn comps seem fair)

 

Eric Fryer

• 2-5 2B RBI R—.419 2 HR 5 RBI 12 R 18 H last 10 games (BrewCrew stocked at Catcher)

 

Caleb Gindl

• 2-5 RBI 2R—.297 9 HR 70 RBI 12 SB 36 2B (133 K’s too much for his moderate power)

 

David Mailman

• 4-4 (all singles)—.429 2 HR 8 RBI 18 H last 10 games

 

Oscar Tejeda

• 2-4 2B 3B R—.244 2 HR 29 RBI 9 SB in 84 games (he’ll get better)

 

Travis D’Arnaud

• 2-4 HR(5) RBI 2R BB—.412 HR 2 RBI 5R in 4 games at Lakewood (higher ceiling than Marson)

 

Angel Villalona

• 3-4 2 RBI 2B—Just turned 18 (.254 14 HR 56 RBI)

 

Tyler Henson

• 1-4 HR(10) 4 RBI 2R—.269 10 HR 57 RBI 19 SB

 

Zach Britton

• 6 IP H 2ER 5BB 7K (W)—11-6 3.06 ERA 99K/136IP (3.06 GO/FO)

 

Mauricio Robles

• 7 IP 4H Er BB 3K (L)—4-3 2.50 ERA 69K/84IP .167 BAA (watch him)

 

Andrew Lambo

• 2-4 2B RBI—.294 15 HR 77 RBI 33 2B

 

Neftali Soto

• 2-4 2B 2 RBI—.338 8 HR 37 RBI .918 OPS 23 2B (in 55 games at two levels)

 

Devin Mesoraco

• 1-4 HR(9) RBI—.269 9 HR 40 RBI in 74 games

 

Justin Smoak

• 1-3 2B BB—Long awaited minor league debut for Rangers top pick

 

Blake Beaven

• 6 IP 3 H ER 2BB 5K—9-6 2.50 ERA 66K/112IP (not dominant, but solid)

 

Jovan Rosa

• 2-4 2R 2 RBI BB 2B—.288 7 HR 77 RBI 36 2B (119K/118G)

 

Danny Duffy

• 5 IP 2H BB 7K (W)—5-1 1.14 ERA 55K/47IP last 10 games (read more below)

 

BUY/SELL Analysis

Danny Duffy has done nothing but dominated since his debut with the Arizona League Royals club in late 2007.  In that stint, the former 3rd rounder went 2-3 1.45 ERA and 63 K’s in just 37 innings.  This season has rendered much of the same results for Duffy as he has compiled an 8-4 record with 102 K’s in just 82 innings.  Duffy’s fastball ranges from 91-94 MPH, though it is thought to have more life as he matures physically.  He has the makings of a plus curveball and solid slider as well.  One key to Duffy’s success is his ability to hide the ball during his delivery.  Command has been an issue for him in the past and his lack of groundball outs (.55/FO) is a concern as he faces more advanced hitters.  Duffy’s 1st year cards can be found in the 2008 Bowman and Chrome Prospects set and he may have autos in the upcoming Bowman Sterling and Bowman Heritage sets.  His Bowman Chrome cards sell for 75 cents to $1.00 each and refractors (#’ed to 599) can be had for $4-5 each.

Market Analysis: Pitchers, especially young ones, are dicey animals to prospect, as their futures are difficult to predict.  Duffy has been dominant since the get-go, but one has to wonder how much of that is due to being able to exploit young hitters with a deceptive delivery a la Tyler Robertson.  My feel for him is that his numbers will slide as he advances.  This is not to say that he doesn’t have a major league future.  HIs fastball and curve are a nice combination that should set himself into a 3rd or 4th spot in KC’s rotation within the next 3-4 years.  If you can snag his chromes for 75 cents he is might be a decent buy, but I would wait until AA to see if he is able to replicate his sterling numbers.

8/7 Low-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on August 9, 2008 under Minor League Ball today | 2 Comments to Read

Neftali Soto

• 1-4 HR( 8 ) RBI—.409 2 HR 6 RBI 18H last 10 games

 

Mike McCardell

• 8 IP 5H 2ER BB 7K (W)—8-3 2.82 ERA 112K/109IP

 

Mike Moustakas

• 2-5 2B R 2 RBI—.375 11R 6 HR 13 RBI last 10 games

 

Danny Duffy

• 6 IP 0H 2BB 4K (W)—5-2 1.61 ERA 58K/50IP last 10 games

 

Nick Noonan

• 2-5 HR(6) 2 RBI 2B R—.282 6 HR 55 RBI 23 SB 65 R

 

Angel Villalona

• 2-5 2B R RBI—.251 13 HR 48 RBI 17BB/102K

 

Ryan Adams

• 2-5 HR(10) 3 RBI R—.455 3 HR 15 RBI 20 H 9 R last 10 games

 

Caleb Gindl

• 1-3 2R 2 RBI 3B 2BB—Could be special once he cuts down the K’s

 

Steffan Wilson

• 3-4 2R RBI BB—.285 16 HR 80 RBI 72 R

 

Eric Fryer

• 3-5 R 2 RBI—.341 8 HR 54 RBI 13 SB (Another fine Brewers catching prospect)

 

Cody Johnson

• 2-5 2HR(20) 6 RBI 2R—.326 4 HR 12 RBI 11 R last 10 games

 

Jesus Montero

• 2-2 2B 2 RBI R 3BB—.385 3 HR 8 RBI 8R last 10 games

 

Austin Romine

• 2-4 HR(21) 3 RBI BB—.283 7 HR 34 RBI

 

BUY/SELL Analysis

Again, we will dip way below the radar to examine a 2B prospect for the Baltimore Orioles, Ryan Adams.  A 2nd round pick in the 2006 MLB draft, Adams has had a pretty non-descript beginning to his major league career at two short season stops.  ‘08 has been a better story for Smith at Low-A Delmarva where he has boosted his average to .317 with 10 HR 47 RBI and 55 runs.  Adams is 21 years old and the top ranked 2B prospect in the Orioles’ system.  He played SS as a high schooler, but switched to 2B where he has good range and a strong arm.  The biggest draw to Adams, however, is his bat which produces gap power and, with his excellent hand-eye coordination, should produce a high average.  Adams like many young prospects needs to hone his plate discipline (26 BB/87 K in 99 games).  Adams’ only 1st year cards are autographs in the 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects set.  They are selling for $3-4 while his refractors and x-fractors can all be had for the $6-10 range.

Market Analysis: I think the best is yet to come from Adams.  Granted, he still has areas of his game that he needs to improve and his ceiling is not as high as other all-star caliber prospects, but I think he will develop into a MLB player.  Regardless, Adams will make it onto the Orioles top 30 prospect chart this year, even as their system has improved greatly.  That will open some eyes of other prospectors, putting Adams on their radar screens.  BUY his autos at these prices.