Minor League Update: Games of Thursday, August 19th

Prospect of the Day:

Michael Kopech, RHP, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 6 IP, 3 H, R/ER, 0 BB, 11 K
Kopech was an easy guy to get behind coming into the year given his electric arm and potential to breakout, but what he’s done recently has bordered on otherworldly. With truly sensational stuff, headlined by a triple-digit fastball and potentially devastating curveball, Kopech has the ingredients to be a frontline starter, particularly if he can continue to harness his stuff and avoid walks like he did last night.

Others of Note:

Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 2-4, R. Nothing wrong with this High-A debut for Tucker. I expect we’ll see some glowing reports coming from our own Wilson Karaman very soon as he gets his eyes on him in the Cal League.

Corey Ray, OF, Brewers (High-A Brevard Country): 3-5, R, 3 2B, K. The transition to pro ball hasn’t been easy for Ray after a long college season, but this is a glimpse of what he’s capable of bringing to the table.

Isan Diaz, 2B, Brewers (Low-A Winsconsin): 3-4, 2 R, HR, K. The kid can flat-out hit, and I’m not sure the numbers tell the entire story of what Diaz is capable of long term. The 2017 season could be the true coming-out party.

Ronald Dominguez, RHP, Mariners (Low-A Clinton): 7 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 11 K. According to my friend Mr. Christopher Crawford, Dominguez is a strike-throwing kid with some chance to start down the line because of just that trait. Even with a modest upside like that, last night was a helluva performance.

Bobby Dalbec, OF, Red Sox (Short-Season Lowell): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR. A high-profile pick for the Red Sox, Dalbec destroyed at least one of these home runs last night, and I’m sure the other wasn’t a cheap one knowing his raw power and the ballpark in Lowell.

Tom Murphy, C, Rockies (Triple-A Albuquerque): 2-3, 2 R, HR, BB, K. There really isn’t much left for Murphy to prove in the minor leagues. At this point, it’s just a matter of when the Rockies decide he could help their club; a decision they already made with David Dahl, and they should make with Murphy sometime soon.

Brendan Rodgers, SS, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 3-3, 4 R, 2 HR, BB. Ho hum, another two bombs and a walk from one of the South Atlantic League’s youngest players. He could be the top prospect in the game before too long.

Gerson Moreno, RHP, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 1 IP, 3 K. Joe Jimenez gets all the headlines among relief prospects, particularly in the Tigers system, but Gerson Moreno could be the next guy you hear a lot about. He runs his lively fastball up to 100-101 mph and will sit 97-98 in every outing. He’s still raw, but there’s a late-inning ceiling here.

Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 3-4, 2 2B. Tellez has had a nice season in Double-A this year, looking like a guy that could carve out a place for himself on a big-league roster.

Dan Vogelbach, DH, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-3, R, 2B, HR, BB. Now in a league where he can actually play his proper defensive position, Vogelbach has a path to posting this type of line consistently in the big leagues. He should be in Seattle doing what he’s always done—rake—next season.