Minor League Update: Games of Tuesday, April 23

Pitching Prospect of the Day: Martin Agosta, RHP, Giants (Low-A Augusta): 6.1 IP, H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K; fastball can get away from him at peak velocity; slider more of the weak-contact variety as opposed to a bat-missing one; changeup has made plenty of improvement and now profiles as a plus potential pitch with good arm speed and late fading action; profiles best as a back-end starter; 21.0 IP, 16 H, 4 ER, 7 BB, 27 K in four starts this season.

Position Prospect of the Day: George Springer, CF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB; easy plus power potential; solid-average defensive potential in center field. The amount of solid contact Springer can make will ultimately determine his role.

Other notable prospect performances from April 23:

“The Good”

• Jorge Alfaro, C, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; plus-plus power potential; plus runner; elite arm strength; gaining polish with every at-bat and every inning behind the plate; the potential is almost silly to think about; .295/.353/.459 in 61 at-bats this season.
• Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K; whoa, did Betances turn back into 2011 Betances? For those still holding out hope that he can be a significant contributor on a big-league roster, this one’s for you.
• Garin Cecchini, 3B, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, K; added major muscle mass in the offseason; solid-average power potential; solid-average hit potential; fringy runner; great overall baseball instincts; .328/.414/.525 with nine walks and 11 strikeouts in 61 at-bats this season.
• Luis Cessa, RHP, Mets (Low-A Savannah): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7K; 21-year-old converted position player; keep an eye on him going forward; 17.2 IP, 15 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 16 K in three starts this season.
• Gabriel Encinas, RHP, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K; fastball can touch plus velocities; curveball flashes solid-average; developing changeup. This 21-year-old’s delivery can get away from him, leading to command issues; 23.0 IP, 11 H, 1 ER, 7 BB, 20 K in four starts.
• Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 4 RBI; best raw power in the minor leagues; swing has plenty of miss in it; if you like guys with potential to compete for home-run titles in fantasy, then he is one you want to keep an eye on; .235/.346/.588 with seven homeruns in 68 at-bats this season.
• Tyler Goeddel, SS/3B, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 3-4, 2B, 3B, 3 R, RBI; linear swing; frame has plenty of room to fill out; repeating Low-A; .279/.338/.412 in 68 at-bats this season.
• Kyle Hendricks, RHP, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K; average fastball; fringy secondary stuff; superb command of all pitches; great pitchability; acquired in Ryan Dempster trade; back-end ceiling with a possibility to pitch low-leverage innings out of the bullpen; 20.0 IP, 21 H, 9 ER, 7 BB, 15 K in four starts.
• Heiker Meneses, SS/2B, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 3-5, 2B, 2 3B, R, 3 RBI; average hit tool; gap power; plus runner; ability to play all infield positions; profiles best as a utility man; .357/.379/.607 with eight extra base hits in 56 at-bats.
• Tyler Naquin, CF, Indians (High-A Carolina): 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; super-deep hand load will lead to inability to hit quality velocity; in the series I saw him, everything he hit was to the opposite field; could not cover the inner half of the plate; quick hands; plus runner; arm will be a weapon; proceed with major caution; .324/.385/.465 with 19 strikeouts in 71 at-bats.
• Henry Owens, LHP, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K; plus fastball up to 94 with plenty of life; two-plane breaking curveball with plus potential; changeup a work in progress; long levers allow for plenty of projection; 21.0 IP, 12 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 22 K in four starts this season.
• Cameron Perkins, 1B/OF, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; good hand-eye coordination allows him to make solid contact; average bat speed; fringy power at best; tough profile; .333/.346/.520 in 75 at-bats.
• Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins (High-A Fort Myers): 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI; elite raw power; plus-plus arm; swing has miss in it; can create consistent hard contact when he stays within himself and allows his natural ability to show; .384/.439/.740 in 73 at-bats this season.
• Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K; has had his ups and downs as a prospect; potential plus fastball; average-to-solid-average changeup; developing slider; may profile best as a reliever.
• Rob Rasmussen, LHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; four-pitch mix (fastball/slider/curveball/changeup); fastball is fringy; both breaking balls could be average; fringy changeup; good pitchability; small frame; could be a back-end starter or a middle reliever.
• Luigi Rodriguez, OF, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, K; plus-plus runner; plenty of range for center; sneaky power; hit tool needs to take many steps forward; bat speed question marks; plate discipline problems; .274/.357/.339 with 23 strikeouts in 62 at-bats.
• Michael Wacha, RHP, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; plus potential fastball; plus potential curveball; plus potential changeup; great pitching frame; will need to continue to show durability; 23.0 IP, 14 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 12 K in four starts.
• Daniel Winkler, RHP, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K; solid-average fastball; changeup is a work in progress; plus slider; sleeper-type prospect.

“The Bad”

• Garrett Gould, RHP, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 3.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K; lack of fastball command got him in trouble last night.
• Billy Hamilton, CF, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 0-3, BB, K; the fastest man in baseball is currently in a little bit of a slump; .162/.262/.216 in last 37 at-bats, but he still has seven stolen bases in that time period.
• Jurickson Profar, SS/2B, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rocks): 0-3, BB; hit a little bit of a rut in what looks to be his final season as a prospect; still showing on-base ability even though his average is down; .218/.348/.382 with 11 walks and 14 strikeouts.

 “The Ugly”

Lewis Brinson, CF, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 0-5, 3 K; still working on refining his swing; plate discipline can get away from him; 30 strikeouts in 78 at-bats.