5/18 High-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 19, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

San Francisco’s Buster Posey and L.A. Dodgers 3B prospect Edgardo Baez each hit their 6th HR’s yesterday with Posey batting in four runs.  Baltimore Orioles prospects Tyler Henson and Billy Rowell each went deep as did St. Louis Cardinals OF prospect Shane Peterson.  On the bump, Cardinals RHP Brian Broderick tossed eight scoreless innings for his second win.

Today’s top player at the High-A ranks is no stranger to the prospecting industry.  Pittsburgh’s top pick from last year Pedro Alvarez went 3-5 with his 8th HR, two RBI and three runs scored.  Alvarez has gotten off to a slow start average-wise, but has hit much better over his last 10 games.  Alvarez drew some fire from Pittsburgh media for showing up to spring training overweight and out of shape, but he seems to be starting to find his stride after hitting just .219 in April.  He remains a top tier offensive talent that should hit 30+ HR perennially for the improving Pirates organizaiton.

High-A Player of the Day—PEDRO ALVAREZ

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Engel Beltre—2-5 2R 3B SB(8)
• Taylor Harbin—4-5 SB(6)
• Brad Chalk—3-5 R RBI
• Trayvon Robinson—2-4 2R RBI 3 SB(13)
• Edgardo Baez—1-3 HR(6) RBI 2R BB
• Buster Posey—2-4 HR(6) 4 RBI
• Nick Noonan—1-4 2B 2R BB
• Charlie Blackmon—2-4 2R RBI
• Maikol Gonzalez—2-3 2 RBI 2 BB SB(5) R
• Pedro Alvarez—3-5 HR(8) 2 RBI 3R 2B BB
• Jordy Mercer—1-6 2B 2R RBI SB(4)
• Alex Presley—2-6 3b 2 RBI
• Ty Henson—2-5 HR(3) 3 RBI 2R BB SB(9)
• Brandon Waring—2-5 2 RBI 2 2B BB
• Billy Rowell—1-4 HR(5) 2 RBI
• Caleb Joseph—4-6 2B R RBI
• Pedro Florimon Jr.—2-6 2B R RBI 2 SB(8)
• Darin Mastoianni—2-5 2 2B R RBI
• Kevin Ahrens—3-4 2 2B
• Shane Peterson—2-4 HR(3) 3 RBI 2B 2R BB

Pitching:

• Brian Broderick—8 IP 4H ER 2K W (3-3)
• Leandro Cespedes—6 IP 6H 2 ER BB 6K L (1-1)

5/7 High-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 8, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Seattle’s Italian import Alex Liddi has made some significant strides in his development this season and he continued to impress yesterday, going 3-4 with his seventh HR and two RBI.  Logan Forsythe scored four times and drove in a run and teammate Felix Carrasco belted his fourth HR and drove in four runs.  White Sox 3B prospect Brent Morel looked sharp in a double header, combining for five hits, including his sixth HR, two RBI and four runs scored.  Light-hitting Blue Jays OF prospect Darin Mastroianni stole two more bases yesterday, increasing his season total to 24 in just 26 games.  On the mound, inconsistent and oft-injured Oakland A’s fireballer Craig Italiano surrendered an unearned run over six innings, striking out eight and earning his third win of the season.

Today’s top player in the upper realm of the single-A ranks is, once again, Cleveland Indians 1B prospect Matt McBride.  The muscular Lehigh alum went 5-7 in a double header with his sixth HR, six RBI and two doubles.  McBride is now batting .421 on the season with 35 RBI, 22 runs and 14 doubles in his first 28 games.  At 23 years old, it would seem that he will earn a promotion to AA soon, but Beau Mills is currently blocking his progress.  McBride seems to be one of those players who may need a change of scenery, as the Indians seem too well stocked at other positions to give McBride a fair shake at a regular roster spot.  The Tribe is desperate for rotational depth and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them package one of their fine corner infielders or outfielders in an acquisition down the road.  McBride’s sustained success will continue to make that an increasingly viable option.

High-A Player of the Day—MATT MCBRIDE

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Ryan Kalish—1-4 HR(4) 2 RBI
• Freddie Freeman—2-4 2B 2 RBI
• Jordy Mercer—3-5 2 RBI R
• Caleb Gindl—2-3 2B BB
• Darin Mastroianni—1-3 r RBI 2 BB 2 SB(24)
• Michael Durant—1-3 HR(2) 2 RBI
• Shane Peterson—2-4 HR(2) RBI 2R
• Shawn O’Malley—3-5 2 2B 2 RBI 2R
• Chris Sexton—2-5 2B 3R
• Matthew Fields—3-5 HR(6) 3 RBI
• Alex Buchholz—2-3 HR(2) 3 RBI BB
• Scott Vanslyke—5-5 2 2B 2 RBI 2R
• Edgardo Baez—2-4 RBI 3R BB
• Trayvon Robinson—2-6 HR(4) 2 RBI
• Alex Liddi—3-4 HR(7) 2 RBI 2B
• Jonathan Gaston—3-3 2B R RBI BB
• Josh Flores—2-3 2 2B R RBI
• Logan Forsythe—3-4 4R RBI
• Felix Carrasco—3-4 HR(4) 4 RBI 2 2B 3B BB
• Logan Payne—2-3 3 RBI BB
• Brad Chalk—3-6 3B 2 RBI R SB(9)
• Hector Gomez—2-4 2 2B RBI R
• Charlie Blackmon—2-4 2B 2 RBI R
• Mitch Moreland—3-4 2B 3R BB SB(1)
• Joey Butler—3-4 R RBI BB
• Brent Morel—3-4 HR(6) 2 RBI 2 2B 2R (Game 1)…..2-4 2R 3B (Game 2)
• Billy Rowell—2-3 (Game 1)…..2-3 HR(2) 2 RBI (Game 2)
• Kraig Binic 2-4 HR(5) 3 RBI 2R
• Lonnie Chisenhall—3-4 2 2B 2R 3 RBI (Game 1)…..2-3 2R BB (Game 2)
• Matt McBride—4-4 2 2B 3 RBI (Game 1)…..1-3 HR(6) 3 RBI (Game 2)
• Cord Phelps—3-4 2R RBI

Pitching:

• David Bromberg—7.2 IP H 4 BB 5K
• Zack Stewart—9 IP 5H Er BB 6K W (1-1)
• Dan McDaniel—5.2 IP 2H 2 BB 9K W (3-0)
• Andrew Hess—6 IP 6H 2 BB 7K
• Eric Berger—6 IP 2H 2 BB 4K W (3-1)
• Steven Johnson—6 IP 6H 2 ER BB 10K W (2-2)
• Bruce Billings—4.1 IP 6H 2 ER 2 BB 8K
• Craig Itialiano—6 IP 3H UER 3 BB 8K W (3-2)
• Blake Beavan—9 IP 4H 3 UER BB 5K W (1-4)
• Jacob Rasner—4 IP 3H BB 6K

5/6 High-A Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 7, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Offense was as plentiful in the California League as was rain in the Carolina League.  Top prospects from all leagues put up monster performances, making today’s report an exceptional pleasure to produce.  Angel Villalona is proving that he was ready for the challenges of High-A ball by smacking his fourth HR as part of a perfect 4-4 day with three RBI, two doubles and four runs scored.  Michael Burgess hit HR number six and drove in three and Mitch Moreland and Reese Havens also hit their sixth dingers.  Dodgers young prospect Edgardo Baez belted two HR’s as did Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

As good as these performances were, they paled in comparison to what both M’s OF prospect Joe Dunigan and Astros OF prospect Jonathan Gaston did.  Each slugger belted three HR’s and drove in seven runs.  Gaston’s came as part of a five hit, four run day and Dunigan’s HR’s tied him with Iowa’s Jake Fox for top spot in MiLB.

Gaston had a miserable start to his professional career after being selected in the seventh round of the ‘08 draft.  He batted just .193 with 2 HR and 25 RBI in 62 games at short season Tri Cities.  Plate discipline was a problem with him, but was not an issue during his tenure with the University of Arizona.  Gaston’s power outburst this season (.273 9 HR 20 RBI) is a little intriguing and worth watching.  His previous season high was 12 with the Wildcats in ‘08.  A factor to consider in this is the fact that he is a left handed hitter who plays his home games in Lancaster’s power-friendly confines.  This season, it appears that he has regained his strike zone judgement, which will only benefit him going forward.

Joe Dunigan also had his fair share of struggles in ‘08, playing at Low-A Wisconsin (.240 14 HR 58 RBI 28 SB and 31 doubles).  Dunigan’s plate discipline was also a detriment as he struck out 142 times in 119 games.  This season, he is tearing the cover off of the ball, hitting .390 with a league leading 12 HR 30 RBI and 6 SB.  Dunigan is powerfully built and has good speed.  He played in the OF and 1B last season and should be able to hit his way into a major league lineup.  As good as things are going, his 9 BB/27 K in 25 games is still a concern as he will not be able to maintain a .300 batting average employing a free-swinging approach at the plate.  However, the blend of power and speed numbers is an increasingly rare commodity these days, making Dunigan an under the radar guy to watch once his first year cards come out.

High-A Players of the Day—JOE DUNIGAN & JONATHAN GASTON

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Dave Thomas—1-3 HR(6) RBI
• Collin Cowgill—3-4 2R 3 RBI
• Ryne White—2-3 2B 2R 2 BB
• P.J. Phillips—1-4 HR(2) RBI 2R 2 BB
• Charlie Blackmon—3-5 2B 2R 3 RBI
• Brian Rike—3-4 2 RBI 2B R
• Hector Gomez—1-4 2B 2 RBI R BB
• Maikol Gonzalez—3-3 2B 2R 2 RBI BB SB(2)
• James Shuck—3-6 2B 2R RBI
• Marcos Cabral—3-4 4R 2B 2 BB
• James Castro—3-6 2B R 2 RBI
• Chris Minaker—3-6 3 2B 3R 2 RBI
• Craig Corrado—4-6 2B R RBI SB(5)
• Yefri Carvajal—3-4 2B 2 RBI
• Logan Forsythe—1-2 HR(3) RBI 2R 2 BB
• Trayvon Robinson—3-6 RBI SB(6)
• Steven Caseres—2-5 HR(4) 3 RBI 2R BB
• Edgardo Baez—3-6 2 HR(4) 3 RBI 2R SB(2)
• Tyson Gillies—3-6 HR(2) RBI BB 2B
• Joe Dunigan—4-7 3 HR(12) 7 RBI 3R
• Jonathan Gaston—5-5 3 HR(9) 7 RBI 4R
• Carlos Peguaro—1-6 HR(2) 3 RBI
• Alex Liddi—1-3 2R 2 BB
• Nick Noonan—4-6 3B R 2 RBI
• Brandon Crawford—2-6 2R
• Angel Villalona—4-4 HR(4) 3 RBI 2 2B 4R
• Roger Kieschnick—2-4 2R 3B BB
• Mitch Moreland—1-3 HR(6) RBI BB
• Timmy Smith—3-4 R
• Michael Burgess—3-3 HR(6) 3 RBI 2B
• Chris Marrero—2-3 2R
• David Espinosa—1-4 HR(4) RBI
• Mike Moustakas—3-4 2B
• Eric Farris—3-5 2B RBI SB(14)
• Caleb Gindl—1-3 2B R 2 BB
• Dominic Brown—2-4 2B 3B BB
• Eric Fryer—2-4 2B RBI R SB(6)
• John Tolisano—2-5 3B R SB(3)
• Raul Barron—2-3 HR(1) 3 RBI
• Andy Dirks—3-3 2B 2 RBI BB
• Kody Kaiser—2-4 2R HR(3) RBI BB
• Yonder Alonso—3-5 R RBI
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis—2-3 2 HR(5) 3 RBI
• Reese Havens—1-3 HR(6) RBI BB
• Hector Pellot—2-3 HR(2) 2 RBI BB 2R

Pitching:

• Brad Holt—6 IP 2H 2 BB 5K W (2-1)
• Jeff Mandel—6 IP 3H ER 2 BB 2K W (3-1)
• Clayton Tanner—5 IP 4H UER 2 BB 4K W (2-0)
• Kyle Drabek—6.1 IP 6H ER BB 9K
• Alex Cobb—6 IP 5H ER BB 3K W (1-2)
• Dellin Betances—6 IP 6H ER 2 BB 4K W (2-3)