Hitter of the Day: Renato Nunez, 3B, Athletics (AFL Mesa Solar Sox): 3-5, 3 R, 3 HR, 5 RBI, K
Well, then. One thing about Nunez that’s rarely been questioned is the raw power, and he put on a display of it yesterday in the desert. He has some holes in his plate coverage and the kind of aggressive approach that can spell trouble when he’s introduced to new and better arms along the way, but at least one evaluator last summer liked the work ethic enough to override some of those concerns. He curtailed his whiffs this year in posting a solid season at Double-A, and that he survived the dreaded jump from the cozy Cal League to the cavern in Midland at the tender age of 21 was an impressive point in his favor.
Pitcher of the Day: James Paxton, LHP, Mariners (AFL Peoria Javelinas): 3.1 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 5 H, BB, 3 K
Paxton earns the distinction solely on the merits of successfully completing another outing with no health issues to report. Sometimes, that’s enough.
Others of Note:
Christian Arroyo, SS, Giants (AFL Scottsdale Scorpions): 3-4, BB, 2B, HR, 2 R
Arroyo put together an impressive season in the California League, showing steady improvement at the plate in holding onto much of his baseline contact skills while adding loft and drive to his swing. His approach is aggressive, but the makings of an above-average hit tool and game power that can push a 50 are here. He’s also even odds to stick at shortstop at this point despite uninspiring range, thanks to outstanding reads and instincts along with a plus arm. He’s in a perfect organization for developing his brand of middle-infield profile, and the franchise can remain appropriately level-a-year conservative with the former first-rounder through the upper minors.
Dominic Smith, 1B, Mets (AFL Salt River Rafters): 3-3, BB, RBI
Smith has really tested the limits of the James Loney Profile in his professional career to date, showing an almost exclusively opposite-field approach that locks up his power and throws away the key. He’s in some kind of groove in Arizona so far, however, going 6-for-his-first-8 with five walks. He mercifully figures to advance out of the dreaded Florida State League next spring, and he’ll need to seize the opportunity to add a pull-side component to his offensive attack if he hopes to man the cold corner in Flushing some day.
Carlos Estevez, RHP, Rockies (AFL Salt River Rafters) IP, 2 K, SV
The Dominican fireballer was up to 98 with some movement as Modesto’s closer earlier this season and showed an average slider that could ultimately settle in as an above-average complement if he can rein in the command a bit. He was loose in the zone in my look, but while it didn’t so much matter against High-A hitters, he got touched up a bit at Double-A after a promotion in May. He can be a factor in Colorado’s bullpen mix as soon as spring training.
Brett Phillips, CF, Brewers (AFL Surprise Saguaros): 1-3, BB, 2B, SB
One of my personal favorites from the past year, Phillips combines an across-the-board skillset with top-shelf makeup to project as a solid major leaguer capable of sticking in center. The stolen base is notable, as despite well above-average speed he showed raw instincts in timing pitchers and breaking on his attempts at High-A last spring. It’s also worth noting that he’s getting game reps in right field this fall in deference to Lewis Brinson, and that should allow him a few opportunities to properly show off his howitzer of a right arm.
Trevor Williams, RHP, Marlins (AFL Mesa Solar Sox): 2 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 2 H, BB, 3 K
There’s nothing particularly exciting about Williams’ profile, but he’s the kind of arm every organization needs. He can throw strikes with four pitches, though none rates as a plus offering and his strikeout numbers have been pedestrian at every stop. He’s a big boy who should be able to eat innings at a near-enough-to-league-average rate, making him an attractive prospect for a team like the Marlins to control through his pre-arbitration years.
Aledmys Diaz, SS, Cardinals (AFL Surprise Saguaros): 2-3, R
The Cardinals plunked down eight million bucks for Diaz two years ago, and after missing the better part of two full calendar years on account of defection and injury he started slowly this year before crushing the ball for the better part of three months down the stretch in Double-A and Triple-A. The general rap on Diaz has been that his defense wouldn’t be able to cut it at short, which makes this report on his glove work at the six spot yesterday an interesting one.
Jose Martinez, OF, Royals (VWL Tiburones de la Guaira): 2-3, BB
There have been approximately 7.4 million professional baseball players in history named Jose Martinez, including two currently employed by the Royals, so you’re forgiven if this name doesn’t immediately conjure the specific player. This one is a former top prospect in the White Sox system who appeared to stall out many moons ago, only to re-emerge with his third organization this past season to lead the PCL in OPS at age 26. His 6-foot-7 frame manages a surprisingly direct swing path, driving an impressive whiff rate of just around 13 percent over his last 1,100-some-odd plate appearances in the last three years. He’s picked up right where he left off in Venezuela, going 15-for-his-first 36 with nine walks to just three strikeouts, and it’s entirely possible that if everything breaks right he can be this year’s Jesus Aguilar.
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