7/20 AAA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on July 21, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Minnesota Twins OF prospect David Winfree is a name that makes our run down of daily performances quite often, but he is oft overlooked amidst the prospecting ranks.  Yesterday the former 2003 draftee launched his 13th HR of the season as part of a three hit day and drove in two runs.  The Twins are still in contention for a post season bid and have a good deal of depth in their current OF situation, however, the 23 year old Winfree is someone to keep an eye on as a sleeper for future consideration.  At 6-3 230 lb. Winfree has as much power potential as anyone in the Twins’ system not named Angel Morales.  This season, Winfree is batting .274 with 13 HR 48 RBI and 22 doubles.  He has good athleticism and a strong arm that plays well in right field.  His positive strides made last year in plate discipline (41 BB/85 K) have gone by the wayside this year (15 BB/65 K), and he will need to shore that up in order to tack down a future big league job.  The Twins have some good depth in their outfield right now, but no one seems to have distinguished themselves as franchise fixtures.  Michael Cuddyer is signed through 2010, but his contract ($8.5M in ‘10) puts him at the center of several trade rumors.  The Twins are in need of an upgrade on the left side of their infield and there have been some rumors that Braves SS Yunel Escobar could be had for either Cuddyer or Denard Span.  Over the long term, I don’t see Winfree having a sustainable future with the Twins as trio of Ben Revere, Aaron Hicks, and Angel Morales are a couple years away from making their impact on the major leagues, but there could just be a window for Winfree to get a shot to make his major league debut when the rosters expand in September.

Houston Astros former 1st round southpaw turned outfielder Brian Bogusevic has had a decent season, but not to the level that I envisioned this past offseason.  After going 3-5 with a HR and three RBI yesterday, the former Tulane Wave is hitting .280 with 6 HR 44 RBI 11 SB and 44 runs scored.  There is still quite a bit to like in Bogusevic’s game.  At 6-3 215 lb., he is big, strong and has exceptional athleticism that allows for him to play at an above average CF with a cannon for an arm.  He’s shown better plate discipline in the past, but his 37 BB/80 K ratio this season is not particularly alarming.  At 25 years old, Bogusevic is primed to make his major league debut soon, but the fact that the Astros are in contention will delay that a bit.  Houston’s GM Ed Wade has given the indication that the Astros will utilize a wait and hold strategy as the deadline approaches.  They are not interested in selling off some of their high priced talent (Carlos Lee, Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman, Miguel Tejada) for much needed organizational depth.  Conversely, they are reluctant to dip into their farm system in order to add a piece or two.  I see the ‘Stros sliding out of the race as St. Louis and Milwaukee make the Central a two team race.  The best thing that Boguesvic can do over the next month is tighten up his BB/K ratio and continue to drive the ball with XBH authority.  The more he can do that, the better his MLB opportunities will be going forward.

Today’s top prospect from the AAA ranks is Arizona Diamondbacks catching prospect John Hester.  Yesterday, the 25 year old backstop belted HR’s number five and six, driving in three runs and scoring three times.  Hester is a 2006 13th round draftee of the D’backs who played sporadically at Stanford but has progressed steadily through Arizona’s farm system.  This season the 6-4 215 lb. Hester is hitting .313 for the Reno Aces with 6 HR 40 RBI 25 doubles and 10 stolen bases.   Defensively, Hester has drawn accolades from current Diamonbacks manager and former catcher A.J. Hinch as being the best at blocking balls in the dirt and shows above average aptitude at calling games, mobility and arm strength.

The organization’s depth at catcher is underwhelming.  Current Arizona starter Miguel Montero is enjoying his best season as a pro, but has still underdelivered since his promising minor league career.  Hester has been likened to K.C. backstop John Buck, but I think that he has a better bat than him.  Expect Hester to catch some Dan Haren and Brandon Webb pitches at some point this season and, perhaps, beyond that.

AAA Player of the Day—JOHN HESTER

 


Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Rhyne Hughes—2-4 HR(21) RBI 2B
• Steven Pearce—2-5 HR(13) 2 RBI
• Drew Stubbs—2-4 2B R BB SB(36)
• Chris Valaika—1-2 HR(5) RBI 2 BB
• Matt LaPorta—2-3 2 RBI 2B 2R BB
• Wes Hodges—2-4 R RBI
• Jason Pridie—4-5 R 5 RBI SB(20)
• David Winfree—3-5 HR(13) 2 RBI 2B
• Hernan Iribarren—3-5 2B 2R RBI
• Alcides Escobar—2-5 R RBI
• Tyler Greene—1-3 HR(5) RBI 2R 2 BB
• Brian Bogusevic—3-5 HR(6) 3 RBI
• Tommy Manzella—1-4 HR(6) 2 RBI BB
• Yorandy Ramirez—1-1 HR(10) 3 RBI
• J.P. Arencibia—2-4 HR(10) 2 RBI
• Kila Ka’aihue—3-5 2B 3R 3 RBI
• Michael Saunders—2-3 2B R
• Chad Huffman—2-5 2 2B RBI
• John Hester—2 HR(6) 3 RBI 3R BB
• Buster Posey—3-5 2B

Pitching:

• Dan McCutchen—6 IP 6H Er BB 6K W (9-5)
• James Simmons—5 IP 6H Er 2 BB 4K W (5-5)

6/2 AAA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on June 3, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Eric Young Jr. has gotten off to a red hot start in the month of June with seven hits over his last two games.  Pacing the league with 31 SB, Young has shown that he is a quite capable candidate to hit atop Colorado’s order as soon as the Rockies are ready to give him a shot.  His HR yesterday was evidence that he has some potential to drive the ball with authority at times.  Cameron Maybin had four hits yesterday and Will Venable had a big day at the plate with two HR and five RBI.  Angels OF prospect Chris Pettit is working on raising his average back towards the .400 plateau as he had three hits, including his 4th HR and two doubles. 

Yesterday’s top prospect is former Cincinnati Reds ace-in-waiting Homer Bailey.  The Reds’ former 1st round pick from the ‘04 draft has had a roller coaster season quite similar to his volitile professional career.  Yesterday, he was on top of his game as he allowed just four hits over eight scorelesss innings, walking two and striking out five.  For the season, Bailey is 5-5 at AAA Louisville with a 3.79 ERA and 22 BB/52 K over 59.1 IP.  He has, at times, looked like a #1 starter (as shown by his April 29th 15 strikeout performance against Toledo).  Other times, he has looked overmatched (as shown by his sole four innings, six run, six walk outing for Cincinnati earlier this season).  Bailey reminds me a bunch of Boston’s Clay Buchholz as a pitcher with stuff that is far better than his performance at the major league level.  On the upside, Bailey has been quite durable this season, going at least six innings in each of his last eight starts.  He has had good control, allowing just the 22 walks, but he has also been a bit more hittable, surrendering a .264 BA to opposing hitters including 9 HR.  He has historically been a flyball pitcher, which in a park like Cinergy Field, often spells D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R.

Bailey is just 23 years old and still has considerable upside that could be realized given the right opportunities.  The Reds have shopped him around to several other clubs over the past season, and it may in fact be a change of scenery that puts him back on the right road to success.  Two months in, the Reds are in the thick of a competitive NL Central hunt, though could be losing ground fast as Edwin Encarnacion is on the shelf until at least late June with a fractured wrist and Joey Votto is on the DL for an undisclosed personal issue. 

The Reds are desperately in need of a bat and a couple more starts like this out of Bailey could be his ticket to a better opportunity with a new franchise.  Watch this closely….

AAA Player of the Day—HOMER BAILEY

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Cameron Maybin—4-5 R
• Angel Salome—1-3 2B RBI
• Jon Jay—2-5 R SB(12)
• Julio Borbon—1-4 R BB SB(15)
• Chris Johnson—2-4 3B R RBI
• Kila Ka’aihue—3-4 2B R
• Ben Copeland—4-5 HR(1) RBI 2B 3R
• Eric Young Jr.—3-5 HR(2) RBI 2B 2R
• Chris Pettit—3-4 HR(4) 2 RBI 2 2B
• Will Venable—3-5 2 HR(12) 5 RBI 2R
• Chad Huffman—2-3 2B R 2 BB
• Trevor Plouffe—2-4 HR(5) 2 RBI
• Drew Stubbs—2-5 2B R
• Drew Sutton—1-2 HR(2) 2 RBI 2 BB 2R
• Juan Miranda—2-4 3B R
• Will Rhymes—2-3 2B R BB SB(8)
• Brent Duglach—2-4 HR(5) 2 RBI BB SB(3)
• Gordon Beckham—1-4 2B R

Pitching:

• Chris Tillman—5 IP 4H 4 UER 4K L (5-1)
• Homer Bailey—8 IP 4H 2 BB 5K W (5-5)

5/25 AAA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 26, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

I hope all of you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend and found some time to set aside to honor those that have served or are serving in our Armed Forces.  Yesterday’s action in the AAA ranks saw Mets superstar prospect Fernando Martinez belt his 8th HR as did Royals 1B prospect Kila Ka’aihue.  Carlos Gonzalez had three hit, including his 6th dinger and slow starting ‘05 1st rounders Jeff Clement and Andrew McCutchen each collected three hits and scored two runs to raise their season averages over the .290 mark.

Today’s top prospect is no stranger to this list.  Boston’s Clay Buchholz tossed a complete game shutout yesterday, toying with perfection before allowing a single by Danny Richar in the 9th inning.  He went on to strike out the next two batters and end the game on a groundout.  Buchholz struck out seven in the game and threw just 96 pitches, 70 of them for strikes.  Stuff has never been a question for Clay, but he struggled with his control last season when he was with the big club.  All signs indicate that he has put those troubles behind him this year as he has completely dominated hitters in the International League this year.  In 8 starts, Buchholz is 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA, 12 BB/49 K’s and holding hitters to a miniscule .140 BAA in 48 innings.  The time is coming soon where Boston will once again call upon Buchholz to pitch in their rotation.  Odds are that he will enjoy much more success this time through.

AAA Player of the Day—CLAY BUCHHOLZ

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Aaron Cunningham—1-3 R 2 BB 2 SB(2)
• John Raynor—3-5 2R
• Cameron Maybin—2-4 3B R RBI BB
• Jeff Clement—3-5 2R
• Adam Moore—2-4 2B R RBI BB
• Bryan Anderson—3-3 BB
• Carlos Gonzalez—3-4 HR(6) RBI 2R
• Kila Ka’aihue—2-3 HR(8) RBI BB
• Brian Bogusevic—2-5 R RBI 2 SB(4)
• Fernando Martinez—1-5 HR(8) 2 RBI
• Dusty Brown—3-4 HR(2) RBI
• Andrew McCutchen—3-4 2R
• Shelby Ford—1-4 3B R 2 RBI
• Michael Brantley—2-4 2 2B RBI

Pitching:

• Jack Egbert—5 IP 2H UER K W (2-0)
• Bud Norris—6.2 IP 4H ER 3 BB 5K W (2-3)
• Adam Ottavino—6 IP 5H 2 ER 2 BB 8K L (0-5)
• Clay Buchholz—9 IP H 7K W (3-0)

5/17 AAA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 18, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Michael Bowden threw eight innings of shutout ball, striking out seven and allowing just three hits.  He’s been even better this year than last year allowing just four earned runs in his first 42 IP, mainly on the strength of a stingy .136 BAA.  The Red Sox have a plethora of good pitchers on the big league club right now, but there is ample reason that both he and Clay Buchholz will get another opportunity at some point this season.  Detroit Tigers OF prospect Wilkin Ramirez rapped three hits including is 5th HR and Kila Ka’aihue blasted his 7th.  One time top catching prospect Jeff Clement continues to break out of his horrible early season slump, collecting three more hits and driving in two runs.  Clement has been used primarily as a DH with recently promoted Adam Moore getting the bulk of the time behind the plate.

Today’s top performer is no stranger to the prospecting world.  Former 1st overall pick and 2008 post season hero David Price tossed five hitless innings fanning 9 hitters in a no decision.  Price has struggled with his control this season and has not resembled the pitcher that dazzled the baseball world this past October.  As a result, the final eBay values of Price’s first year cards have dropped to less than 50% of their peak values from this past fall.  The Rays currently have Jeff Niemann filling the #5 spot in their rotation, but he has struggled with his command all season making him the most likely candidate to be shuttled to the bullpen once Tampa is ready to recall Price.

AAA Player of the Day—DAVID PRICE

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Brandon Jones—2-4 R RBI
• Wilkin Ramirez—3-3 Hr(5) RBI BB SB(14)
• Alcides Escobar—2-4 2B RBI
• Angel Salome—3-4
• Matt Antonelli—1-4 2B R 2 RBI
• John Raynor—2-3 2 2B R BB
• Kila Ka’aihue—3-5 HR(7) 2 RBI 2B
• Freddy Sandoval—2-4 HR(4) 2 RBI 2R BB
• Jaime Hoffmann—1-3 HR(3) RBI BB
• Jesus Guzman—3-5 2B R RBI
• Matt Downs—1-4 HR(6) 3 RBI BB
• Jeff Clement—3-5 2 2B 2 RBI BB
• Cliff Pennington—2-4 RBI BB 3 SB(13)
• Eric Patterson—1-2 4 BB 2 SB(13)

Pitching:

• Vin Mazzaro—5.2 IP 3H ER 2 BB 4K
• Doug Fister—7 IP 9H 5K W (2-0)
• David Price—5 IP 0H 2 BB 9K
• Cesar Ramos—5.1 IP 3H ER 3 BB 2K W (2-2)
• Dillon Gee—6.1 IP 3H 5 BB 8K
• Michael Bowden—8 IP 3H 4 BB 7K
• Billy Buckner—6.1 IP 5H 3 BB 8K W (2-2)

5/14 AAA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 15, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Yesterday was a big day for Iowa Cubs prospects as Jake Fox blasted his 15th HR and scored three times and Brad Snyder hit #10 and 11 while driving in three.  Rockies prospect Carlos Gonzalez hit his 5th HR and Phillies OF John Mayberry Jr. hit #7.  Andrew McCutchen’s four hit day gives him 9 hits in his last 14 AB, raising his average to .297.  Neftali Feliz had his best outing of the season tossing five innings of one-hit ball striking out seven for his second win.

Today’s top prospect is Matt Wieters.  The O’s catcher more than made up for the absence of Nolan Reimold from the lineup by hitting two HR, driving in four runs and scoring three times.  It has been a disappointing power season for Wieters, but his big performance yesterday may be all that he needs to kick start his season.  He is slated to be one of the O’s callups once June 1st rolls around and I fully expect that he will do as much as he can in the next two weeks to warrant that promotion.

AAA Player of the Day—MATT WIETERS

Other Notable Performances

• John Mayberry Jr.—2-2 HR(7) 2 RBI 3B 2R BB
• Michael Aubrey—1-2 HR(3) 2 RBI
• Matt Wieters—2-5 2 HR(3) 4 RBI 3R
• Andrew McCutchen—4-5 2B R RBI
• Luke Hughes—2-3 HR(6) RBI 2R BB
• Reid Brignac—2-3 2B 3R BB SB(2)
• Michael Saunders—3-5 2B R
• John Raynor—4-5 RBI
• Brett Hayes—1-4 HR(1) 2 RBI
• Jake Fox—4-6 HR(15) 2 RBI 3R 2B
• Brad Snyder—3-6 2 HR(11) 3 RBI
• Carlos Gonzalez—1-2 HR(5) 2 RBI
• Eric Young Jr.—1-4 2B 2R BB
• Kila Ka’aihue—2-4 2B RBI BB R
• Chad Huffman—1-3 HR(6) RBI
• Julio Borbon—2-5 R SB(7)
• Jaime Hoffmann—2-6 R RBI SB(6)

Pitching:

• Neftali Feliz—5 IP H Er BB 7K W (2-1)

4/30 AAA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on May 1, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Nolan Reimold hit HR number seven last night and Alcides Escobar hit his second.  Mariners outfield prospect Michael Saunders came off of the DL and put one over the fence and Carlos Gonzalez had a huge day at the plate with five hits, including two triples, three runs and six runs batted in. 

Today’s top prospect is none other than Tommy Hanson who surrendered three hits in six innings, striking out nine for what was, surprisingly, his first win of the season.  Hanson has pitched well enough (1.69 ERA 9 BB/39 K in 26.2 IP) to earn a promotion despite his 1-3 record, but the Braves seem to be more interested in keeping at Gwinnett until June 1st in an effort to keep his arbitration clock from starting.  However, first year starter Kenshin Kawakami has been bothered by shoulder soreness his last couple of starts and has struggled as a result.  This situation bears watching as Hanson may find himself to be first in line for a roster spot should Kawakami go on the DL.

AAA Player of the Day—TOMMY HANSON

Other Notable Performances

Hitting:

• Van Pope—203 2 2B R BB SB(1)
• Diory Hernandez—3-4 2B 2 RBI BB
• Nolan Reimold—2-4 HR(7) 2 RBI 2B 2R
• Austin Jackson—2-3 2R BB SB(6)
• John Jaso—2-3 2B 2 RBI BB
• Kila Ka’aihue—2-3 2R 2 BB
• Chris Lubanski—3-5 3 RBI R
• Alcides Escobar—2-4 HR(2) RBI
• Chris Coghlan—4-5 2R
• Julio Borbon—1-5 2 RBI SB(5)
• Carlos Gonzalez—5-6 2B 2 3B 5 RBI SB(3)
• Eric Young Jr.—3-6 2R 2 RBI 2 SB(14)
• Michael Saunders—1-4 HR(1) 3 RBI
• Mike Carp—2-4 2B 2R
• Alex Romero—3-4 2B R RBI BB SB(3)
• Freddy Sandoval—2-5 2 2B RBI SB(4)
• Chris Pettit—3-5 2B R

Pitching:

• Garrett Olson—6.2 IP H ER 2 BB 6K W (2-2)
• Clayton Mortensen—6 IP 5H ER BB 4K W (2-1)
• Tommy Hanson—6 IP 3H 2 BB 9K W (1-3)

4/16 AAA Minor League Report

Posted by Jeremy on April 17, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Neftali Feliz won his first game of the season, thanks in large part to a 12 run fourth inning put up by Oklahoma City’s offense.  Carlos Gonzalez got his season on track with a three run, two RBI performance against Tuscon.  Jon Jay and Mat Gamel continue to swing hot bats, but not as hot as Angels 2B prospect Sean Rodriguez who hit his third HR of the season with three RBI and three runs scored.

Pacific Coast League Player of the Day—SEAN RODRIGUEZ

Other Notable Peformances:

• Josh Whitesell—2-4 R RBI
• Carlos Gonzalez—2-3 3R 2 2B 2 RBI 2 BB
• Matt Miller—3-4 2 RBI R 2B
• John Raynor—2-4 2B 2R BB
• Gaby Sanchez—2-5 2 RBI
• Jon Jay—2-3 2B 2R RBI
• Shane Robinson—2-5 R RBI
• Tyler Greene—2-4 2R
• Allen Craig—1-4 2B RBI
• Jess Todd—2 IP 2H 2K SV(1)
• Julio Borbon—2-5 2R 2 RBI 2 BB
• Max Ramirez—2-6 R RBI
• Joaquin Arias—2-4 3R RBI BB
• Greg Golson—2-3 2B 2R 3 BB 3 RBI
• Neftali Feliz—5 IP 3H 2 Er 2 BB 5K W(1)
• Mat Gamel—2-4 2B R
• Hernan Iribarren—1-4 3B RBI R
• Kila Ka’aihue—1-4 2 RBI
• J.R. Towles—3-4 2B R RBI
• Yordany Ramirez—2-4 2B 2 RBI R
• Sean Rodriguez—2-4 HR(3) 3 RBI 2B 3R SB(2)
• Will Venable—2-5 2R
• Kyle Blanks—2-4 2B R RBI BB
• Eric Patterson—1-4 HR(1) RBI 2R BB
• Cliff Pennington—0-2 2R 3 BB RBI
• Daric Barton—1-5 2B 3 RBI
• Mike Carp—1-4 2B R RBI

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

Pitching was at center stage tonight as Pawtuckett’s Kris Johnson outdueled Rochester’s Anthony Swarzak in a 1-0 win.  David Price surrendered just one earned run over five innings in a losing effort and Carlos Carrasco struck out six in six innings.  Matt Wieters hit his first bomb of the new season and Matt LaPorta and John Mayberry Jr logged in with their second.  The IL player of the day was New York Mets future 1B Nick Evans whose two HR four RBI day was tops in the AAA ranks.

International League Player of the Day—NICK EVANS

Other Notable Performances:

• Fernando Martinez—2-5 2 2B 2R
• Nick Evans—2-5 2 HR(3) 4 RBI 2R
• Mark Melancon—1.2 IP 2 BB 3K W(2)
• Kris Johnson—5 IP 2H 2 BB 3K W(1)
• Anthony Swarzak—7 IP 5H Er 5K L(2)
• Matt LaPorta—1-4 HR(2) RBI
• Michael Brantley—1-3 RBI BB SB(2)
• Wilkin Ramirez—2-4 RBI
• Adam Rosales—2-4 HR(3) RBI 2R BB SB(2)
• Andrew McCutchen—1-4 R SB(3)
• Neil Walker—1-4 HR(2) 2 RBI
• Van Pope—3-4 2B RBI R
• Matt Joyce—1-3 2B RBI
• David Price—5 IP 4H UER BB 6K
• John Mayberry Jr.—1-5 HR(2) 3 RBI
• Matt Wieters—2-5 HR(1) RBI BB 2R
• Carlos Carrasco—6 IP 7H 2 ER 6K
• Luis Montanez—2-3 3R 2 RBI 2 BB SB(2)
• Nolan Reimold—1-5 2 RBI
• Mike Costanzo—1-4 2B R BB
• Justin Turner—3-4 RBI BB

4/11 AAA Report

Posted by Jeremy on April 11, 2009 under Minor League Ball today | Be the First to Comment

Let’s begin in the Pacific Coast League where Chris Lubanski belted a HR in his second consecutive game.  Jake Fox and Kila Ka’aihue each homered and had four RBI, but it was once again the Brewers’ Mat Gamel who stole the show.  The Nashville 3B had a 4-5 day with four RBI and three runs scored.

Pacifc Coast League Player of the Day—MAT GAMEL

Other Notable Performances:

• Chris Coughlan—2-4 2B R RBI
• Gaby Sanchez—2-4 2B 2R RBI
• Mat Gamel—4-5 2B 3R 4 RBI
• Angel Salome—1-2 R 2 RBI
• Jake Fox—2-3 HR(1) 4 RBI BB
• Jose Ascanio—4 IP 2H 4K
• Julio Borbon—2-5 R
• Joaquin Arias—2-5 2B R RBI
• Max Ramirez—2-4 2B RBI
• Neftali Feliz—4 IP 4H 6 BB 4K
• Adam Ottavino—5.1 IP 6H ER 3 BB 5K L(1)
• Shane Robinson—3-5
• Tyler Greene—2-5 HR(1) RBI
• Bryan Anderson—1-1 HR(1) RBI
• Freddy Sandoval—2-3 BB
• Sean Rodriguez—2-4 RBI R
• Brandon Wood—1-4 3B R RBI
• Anthony Ortega—5 IP 4H ER 2K W(1)
• Chris Lubanski—3-4 HR(2) RBI 3R 2 SB(2)
• Kila Ka’aihue—1-4 HR(1) 4 RBI
• Luke Hochevar—5 IP 7H ER BB K W(1)
• Xavier Paul—3-4 3 2B RBI BB
• Chin-Lung Hu—2-4 2B
• Will Venable—3-5 2B 3B 2R
• Kyle Blanks—3-5 2B R RBI
• Jesus Guzman—2-5 2B 2 RBI
• Mike McBryde—3-5 2R SB(2)
• Sean Doolittle—2-3 2B 3B 2R RBI BB

In the International League, Andrew McCutchen and Trevor Plouffe continued to swing hot bats, but it was the pinstriped pariah Ian Kennedy that dominated.  Yesterday’s six inning, 11 K performance went a long way towards helping the one time top pitching prospect earn his way back to the major leagues.

International League Player of the Day—IAN KENNEDY

Other Notable Performances:

• Trevor Plouffe—2-2 3B RBI R 2 BB
• Luke Hughes—1-4 2B R 2 RBI
• Dustin Martin—2-4 2B 2R
• Michael Bowden—4.2 IP 2H 2BB 5K
• Austin Jackson—2-5
• Kevin Russo—3-5 2 2B SB(1)
• Ian Kennedy—6 IP 4H ER 11K
• Carlos Carrasco—6 IP 4H 4K
• Diory Hernandez—2-4 2 2B 2 RBI
• Eider Torres—3-3 2 2B 2R RBI
• Wilkin Ramirez—1-4 2 RBI SB(1)
• Andrew McCutchen—1-4 HR(1) RBI

Top 20 First Base Prospects for 2009

Posted by Jeremy on February 2, 2009 under 2009 Top 20 Prospects | 2 Comments to Read

Hello everyone!  Sorry for the delay in getting this list out.  I have been away from the keyboard the past couple of days only to find that a vast influx of readers have stopped by to check things out.  To those of you who are new to Porter’s Prospect Report, please feel free to drop a line and say howdy.  Thank you to all for reading and I hope you enjoy this installment of the Top 20 prospects as we make our way down the 1st base line. 

As expected, this list was even more difficult to rank than the catchers, thanks in large part to a handful of 2008 draftees who all have bright futures ahead of them but not a whole lot of professional data to mull over.  Without further ado, here’s the list…

#1.) Justin Smoak—Texas Rangers

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Massive power from both sides of the plate a la Mark Teixeira.  He also has excellent plate discipline and is an above average defensive 1B.  The biggest question about Smoak is:  Why did he slip all the way to the 10th spot in the draft?

Weaknesses: He will not set any land speed records on the bases and his defensive acumen does not extend beyond 1B.

2009 Outlook: Smoak played in the Arizona Fall League briefly which indicates to me that he will start his season with High-A Bakersfield in the California League.  Given that tasty tidbit of info, it is quite likely that he will put up some gaudy numbers and a trip to AA Frisco on the Texas Ranger fast track is, by no means, out of the question.

2.) Lars Anderson—Boston Red Sox

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Lars is a polished hitter with a tall, powerful frame that will develop more power as he matures.  He drives just about everything that he swings at and utilizes top notch plate discipline to boot.  Defensively, Anderson is a whiz with the potential to earn Gold Gloves in future seasons.

Weaknesses: Much like Smoak, Anderson is not a particularly quick baserunner and his defensive abilities are limited to first base.

2009 Outlook: The Red Sox are pretty well set with Youkilis manning the controls for the next couple of seasons and Mike Lowell and David Ortiz signed through 2010.  That should keep Anderson at AAA for the entire season with, perhaps a September cameo possible this season.  Lars is too good to keep down for long and the Red Sox may decide to get creative this off season to prepare room for their #1 overall prospect.

3.) Logan Morrison—Florida Marlins

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Like Smoak and Anderson, Morrison employs a lethal combination of power, batting average and plate discipline to make him one of the league’s up an coming sluggers.  His numbers in the Arizona Fall League (.404 5 HR 29 RBI) shows that his ‘08 dip in power may be an aberration.

Weaknesses: He is an average fielder at 1B, and his boost in batting average in ‘08 came at the expense of some of his power.  While he has the potential to hit for both, there is an ever so slight uncertainty that it will happen.

2009 Overview: AA should provide a good bearing on Logan’s projectible future.  If his AFL contributions are any indicator, Gaby Sanchez’s reign as the Marlins’ starting 1B will be a very short one.

4.) Yonder Alonso—Cincinnati Reds

2008 Stats:

Strengths: A solid high average bat that should produce at least 20-25 HR power in the major leagues.  His plate discipline and patience may be the best from any prospect in the ‘08 draft class as well.

Weaknesses: He is a fringe average defensive 1B who has virtually no shot at playing any other positions.  He has a pudgy frame that could add unwanted, performance detracting weight in future seasons.

2009 Overview: Alonso’s polish and sterling performance in the Hawaiian Winter League should allow him to jump directly to AA Carolina for the beginning of the ‘09 season.  The Reds are well set with Joey Votto performing the every day duties at 1B, but Alonso’s bat will not wait long in the Reds’ farm system.  Votto has the ability to play LF, though, and it seems reasonable that he could move there to make room for Yonder by 2010.

5.) Freddie Freeman—Atlanta Braves

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Freeman has just scratched the surface of what his towering and powerful frame can produce.  He shows an incredible aptitude for driving in runs and driving the ball to all fields and scouts say that the ball sounds different coming off of his bat.  Defensively, Freeman has good instincts around the bag and a strong arm as well.

Weaknesses: His 6-5 220 lb. frame has the potential to build quite a bit more bulk, which should cut into his athleticism even further.  He will also have to increase his walk totals as he progresses.

2009 Outlook: The Braves should send Freeman to High-A Myrtle Beach to team with OF prospects Jason Heyward.  Freeman will be just 19 this season and his potential to be an elite power hitter could boost him to the top of this list in the next season or two.

6.) Kyle Blanks—San Diego Padres

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Blanks is a hitting machine, lacing line drives to the gaps and piling up RBI’s in bunches.  He has solid plate discipline and his nimble feet around 1B belies his behemoth-like frame.

Weaknesses: His 6-6 270 lb. frame has some softness and could be an injury culpability over time.  Despite his size, Blanks doesn’t drive balls for power to the opposite field much.  This could just be an approach thing that could be rectified with more work.  Also, his defensive skill set doesn’t extend beyond the first base bag, which siginificantly limits his opportunities with San Diego.

2009 Outlook: The Padres already have a pretty good 1B in Adrian Gonzalez which means that Blanks should get a heavy dose of AAA pitching this season.  Gonzo’s contract extends through 2011 and the price tag is quite low.  This makes Blanks a prime candidate for a change of scenery as a high-value trading chip within the next season or two.

7.) Eric Hosmer—Kansas City Royals

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Prime time power potential and the ability to hit for a high average.  Hosmer was the most polished prep hitter of the ‘08 draft.  His defense has also drawn rave reviews as his range, arm strength, and soft hands are all well above average.

Weaknesses: Not enough data at the major league level.  His plate disicpline at a pro level and power output will be monitored closely.  Like many big hitters, Hosmer’s long arms can make him more culpable to being jammed by pitches up and in.

2009 Outlook: The Royals are flush with 1B prospects througout their system, but Hosmer is far and away the best of the bunch.  It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hosmer get a shot at full season Low-A Burlington come April.

8.) David Cooper—Toronto Blue Jays

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Has the potential to be a future batting champion.  Cooper hits frozen ropes from foul line to foul line with the potential to hit 25-30 HR per season. 

Weaknesses: He is not an exceptional defensive player and has below average speed.

2009 Outlook: After playing at three levels last season, it is quite apparent that Cooper is on a fast track to Toronto.  The Blue Jays have current 1B Lyle Overbay signed through the 2010 season, which should provide Cooper with ample time to put the finishing touches on his development.  He should spend most of the season at AA New Hampshire but a promotion to AAA Syracuse and, perhaps, a September audition in Rogers Centre could also be in the cards.

9.) Kila Ka’aihue—Kansas City Royals

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Ka’aihue’s ‘08 season was remarkable in every way.  Eye popping power production, a .300+ batting average and more than 100 walks made him a pitcher’s nightmare at multiple levels. 

Weaknesses: His incredible ‘08 season represents a huge spike over the production from the previous four years worth of statistics.  Has he taken a step forward in development or is this a one year aberration?  His defense at 1B is only so-so and he may profile better as a DH.

2009 Outlook: No one was more disappointed with the Royals’ trade for Mike Jacobs than Kila Ka’aihue.  This development ensures that the Hawaiian slugger will either be mired in a part time 1B/DH gig with K.C. or, more likely, will head to AAA Omaha to demonstrate that he can re-enact his numbers from last season.

10.) Chris Carter—Oakland Athletics

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Chris Carter may just be the king of the HR hitters on this power-packed list.  Even more scary is the fact that his 39 HR from ‘08 may be peanuts compared to what he could produce once his 6-4 210 lb. frame fills out a bit more.  Carter has shown a willingness to draw walks and his 32 doubles hit shows a willingness to be a more complete hitter.

Weaknesses: Carter strikes out…a lot. His mediocre batting average in the California League infers that his all or nothing approach could be exploited at higher levels.  The A’s have also struggled to find a defensive home for Carter, as he has spent time at 1B, 3B, and in the OF with ho-hum results. 

2009 Outlook: Carter will take his big bat to AA Midland to prove that the friendly skies of Stockton did not influence his HR totals.  While his power is prestigious, Carter has several wrinkles in his game that still need to be ironed out over the next couple of seasons.

11.) Angel Villalona—San Francisco Giants

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Off the charts power projectibility.  Villalona has the ideal frame and swing to be a league-leading HR hitter.  He is agile for his size and should be a solid fielder akin to the former All-Star 1B Andres Galarraga.  Villalona is described by many within the Giants’ organization as being a humble, likeable person with a good work ethic.

Weaknesses: 18 BB vs. 118 K’s.  Villalona is an overly aggressive hitter who has rudimentry pitch recognition.  His strapping body has some baby fat on it which, if not trimmed down, could have detrimental effects on his athletic abilities.

2009 Outlook: Villalona improved as the season progressed which should earn him a promotion to High-A San Jose.  If he struggles though, he may head back to Augusta for more refining.  At just 18 years old, the sky is the limit for Angel.

12.) Sean Doolittle—Oakland Athletics

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Doolittle is a polished hitter with promising gap power with an athletic and projectible 6-3 190 lb. frame.  He his has the ability to play 1B at a Gold Glove level, but his range and arm strength also makes him a viable outfielder as well.

Weaknesses: Sean’s strikeout totals (154 in 135 games) were uncharacteristically high, perhaps due to the fact that he made a more concerted effort to increase his power numbers. 

2009 Outlook: Doolittle’s solid showing in the Arizona Fall League (.293 8 HR 26 RBI) may earn him a promotion to AAA Sacramento for the start of the ‘09 season.  It is quite difficult to figure out where the former Virginia Cavalier will play in Oakland as the roster is already overflowing with OF’s and 1B.  Things should really open up for Doolittle in 2010 as Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi will be gone and the Daric Barton era at 1B will likely come to an end.

13.) Beau Mills—Cleveland Indians

2008 Stats:

Strengths:  Mills offers a comprehensive package of average and power potential.  His 6-3 220 lb. frame is strong and durable.  Beau has good MLB bloodlines as his dad Brad Mills is a former MLB player and the Boston Red Sox bench coach.  His makeup and leadership skills have been lauded by the Indians’ organization.

Weaknesses: Like many 1B prospects, Mills is limited athletically and has slow footspeed.  He was a poor fielding 3B in college and his defensive potential as a 1B has yet to be determined. 

2009 Outlook: Mills showed good offensive numbers in a pitching friendly environment last season.  He moves to AA Akron to hopefully build on his promising power numbers.  The Indians will have some interesting decisions to make within the next couple of seasons as several promising power hitters like Matt LaPorta, Wes Hodges, and Nick Weglarz are all players whose defensive deficiencies in other areas may relegate them to becoming inadvertent competitors with MIlls at 1B.

14.) Brandon Allen—Chicago White Sox

2008 Stats:

Strengths:  Built like an NFL linebacker, Allen may be the most complete athlete on this list.  His power-packed bat has the potential to hit 30+ HR per season and he should also be able to produce 10-15 SB per year as well.  Allen nearly doubled his walk totals and his increased power did not have a negative effect on his K rate.

Weaknesses: Allen is still trying to figure things out defensively.  He has oscillated between the outfield and first base, but has yet to truly master either position.  His strikeout totals are still a bit too high and he will never contend for a batting average title.

2009 Outlook: Allen handled the challenges of AA ball exceedingly well, but there is no real need for the White Sox to rush him along yet.  Paul Konerko is signed through 2010, though it seems probable that Chicago will try to move him before then.  Allen needs to tune up his hands and footwork , and AA seems to be the best place to do it.  If he continues to mash, a promotion to AAA should happen at some point in ‘09.  Allen is just 23 years old and his future in the launching pad known as “The Cell” is quite promising.

15.) Brandon Snyder—Baltimore Orioles

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Snyder’s second half performance and his stint in the Arizona Fall League makes him a prime time breakout candidate for 2009.  Brandon has the potential to be a .300+ hitter with good power to the alleys.  His defense at 1B should be much better than it was as a catcher or third baseman too.

Weaknesses: Plate discipline still needs refining.  Snyder has a tendency to be overly aggressive and streaky at times.  He also has a stocky build that could add athletically inhibitive pounds as he ages.

2009 Outlook: AA Bowie will be a good test for Snyder.  The Eastern League, especially early in the season, can be tough on young hitters and their power numbers.  If he continues his torrid pace, Brandon’s stock could rise significantly.  The Orioles were hot bidders in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, which indicates their desire to add a big time bat to their infield.  Snyder has an opportunity this season to make the O’s believe that he can fill that void.

16.) Chris Marrero—Washington Nationals

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Limitless power projectibility and a sweet right-handed swing that can potentially hit for a high batting average.  Unlike many young power hitters, Marrero has a good feel for the strike zone and doesn’t rack up big strikeout totals.

Weaknesses: Injuries cut his 2008 season to just 70 games.  His 6-3 210 lb. frame is not overly athletic and it has been difficult for him to find a defensive home. 

2009 Outlook: Marrero has reportedly worked hard this offseason to get himself into tip-top shape for the ‘09 season.  Expect him to start at High-A Potomac again to shake the rust off.  If all goes well, he could find himself back on Washington’s fast track and his status on this list could rise significantly.

17.) Gaby Sanchez—Florida Marlins

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Sanchez is a line drive hitter with average power and very good plate discipline.  He has put a great deal of effort into sculpting his body and increasing his athleticism.  Unlike most 1B prospects, Sanchez is not a liability on the basepaths.  In fact he has the potential to accrue double-digit SB numbers at the major league level. 

Weaknesses:  Gaby is an older prospect who has maxed out physically and likely will not develop above average power numbers.  Additionally, Sanchez appears to be a victim of circumstance as the highly touted Logan Morrison is knocking on the door to his major league career.

2009 Outlook: Sanchez has a good shot at winning the opening day nod for the Marlins in ‘09.  While he doesn’t hit for as much power as recently departed Mike Jacobs, his blend of batting average and plate discipline should be welcome additions to this power-packed lineup.

18.) Allan Dykstra—San Diego Padres

2008 Stats:

Strengths: At 6-5 220 lb., Dykstra is the prototypical statuesque power hitting lefty with a decent glove and advanced plate discipline.

Weaknesses: In the same vein of protypical 1B, Dykstra is athletically limited and a liability on the basepaths.  On a list of top-tier corner infielders, Dykstra is a solid but unspectacular talent.

2009 Overview: Dykstra is a few levels behind top prospect Kyle Blanks, which allows the Padres time to bring him along at a leisurely pace and to further decide what to do about their depth at 1B.  The Wake Forest alum is a few years away from his major league debut and, by that time, we will have a much better bearing on what can be expected from him in his major league career.

19.) Mark Trumbo—L.A. Angels

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Trumbo has a classic power hitter’s swing that generates a high percentage of long flyballs.  He has put in great efforts to increase his strength and agility and the dividends are apparently paying off.

Weaknesses: The bulk of Trumbo’s numbers were accrued at Rancho Cucamonga, which has a history of inflating offensive performances (remember Brandon Wood’s 2005 season?).  Mark will be hard pressed to replicate those numbers at higher levels as his athleticism could limit him.  Additionally, his 33 BB/96 K ratio is less than desirable for someone of his power potential.

2009 Outlook: Kendry Morales is finally getting his shot at the starting gig in L.A.  His performance will dictate the pace at which Trumbo is promoted this coming season.  It is quite possible that Mark will start the ‘09 season back at Arkansas in hopes that he regains the power stroke that betrayed him in the AFL (1 HR in 154 AB).  Conventional wisdom should show that he is not quite as good as his Rancho Cucamonga numbers indicated.

20.) Mike Carp—Seattle Mariners

2008 Stats:

Strengths: Superb plate discipline and a line drive bat that hits line drives to all fields.  Carp has a good work ethic and showed resilience by bouncing back from a bad 2007 season.

Weaknesses: Carp’s power potential is significantly less than the other prospects on this list.  He is not a particularly good defensive player and he still struggles to hit left-handed pitching.  Put that all together and you have a platooning DH. 

2009 Outlook: The Mariners are, to say the least, a team in transition.  The assortment of 1B currently on the M’s roster is far from formidable.  Carp will start the season at AAA Tacoma, but there is a realistic shot that he will earn a call up at some point.  At just 22 years old, Carp could still develop into a Lyle Overbay-type player.

Others to consider: Brandon Laird, Anthony Rizzo, Ike Davis, Juan Miranda, Kala Ka’aihue, Joe Koshansky, Chris Parmelee, Michael Durant

Next up are the 2nd basemen, I should have them up within the next 48 HRs.  Enjoy!

Recent MLB Callup #6—Kila Ka’aihue

Posted by Jeremy on September 8, 2008 under Market Watch | Read the First Comment

KK more apt to BB