Minor League Update: Games of May 10-12

Games of Friday, May 10

Pitching Prospect of the Day: Rafael De Paula, RHP, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K; easy plus fastball with good life; plus potential curveball; developing changeup, which has plus potential; dominating Low-A while smoothing out mechanics; 33.1 IP, 21 H, 10 ER, 16 BB, 58 K in seven starts.

Position Prospect of the Day: Domingo Santana, RF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-4, 3 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI; plus-plus raw power; good bat speed; plus arm in right; will always have swing and miss involved with his game; .256/.362/.578 with 8 2B, 7 HR, and 35 K in 90 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances on May 10:

“The Good”

• Mookie Betts, 2B, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 4-5, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, K; compact swing; gap power; high motor; solid-average speed; fringy prospect.
• Noel Cuevas, OF, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 3-5, 2 3B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 K; big-time raw power; will be forced to play left field; hit tool will need play up at the highest level; .278/.284/.391 with 4 2B, 2 3B, and 2 HR in 110 at-bats.
• Anthony DeSclafani, RHP, Marlins (High-A Jupiter): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; plus-plus fastball; plus potential slider; 31.0 IP, 24 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 29 K in seven starts.
• Ryan Jackson, IF, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB, K; compact swing; ability to make consistent contact; gap power; fringy runner; enough defensive ability to play shortstop; future looks to be in a utility role; .347/.421/.455 with 8 2B, HR, and 23 K in 101 at-bats this season.
• Christian Lopes, 2B, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K; good bat-to-ball ability; developing power; below-average runner; will have to hit and hit a lot to fit the profile; .333/.344/.429 with 6 2B and 2 HR in 126 at-bats.
• Trevor May, RHP, Twins (Double-A New Britian): 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K; potential plus-plus fastball; plus curveball; developing changeup; below-average command; will get a shot to start, but may end up in the bullpen long term; 39.1 IP, 30 H, 14 ER, 19 BB, 37 K in seven starts.
• Mason Melotakis, LHP, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; easy plus fastball; plus slider; changeup is a work in progress; 29.0 IP, 28 H, 10 ER, 15 BB, 30 K in six starts.
• Telvin Nash, 1B, Astros (High-A Lancaster): 3-6, 2 HR, 2 R, 7 RBI, 3 K; plus-plus raw power; lot of swing and miss in his offensive game, and that’s putting it mildly; might have a DH-only profile; hard to project a big-league future; .310/.437/.500 with 2 2B, 3 HR, and 19 K in 58 at-bats this season.
• Michael O'Neill, OF, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 2-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB; compact swing built for making consistent contact; below-average power; average speed; will be able to play all three outfield positions in a pinch; fringy prospect.
• Brett Oberholtzer, LHP, Astros (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K; four-pitch mix (fastball/cutter/curveball/changeup); fastball can touch plus velocity; cutter and curveball are usable pitches; changeup has solid-average projection; projects best as back-end starter.
• Matt Olson, 1B, Athletics (Low-A Beloit): 3-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; solid-average hit tool; plus power potential; fringy runner; first-base defensive profile; .297/.395/.514 with 12 2B and 4 HR in 111 at-bats.
• Stephen Piscotty, RF, Cardinals (High-A Palm Beach): 3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI; plus potential hit tool; gap power; good baseball instincts; .317/.377/.567 with 5 2B, 7 HR, 8 BB, 12 K in 104 at-bats.
• Roman Quinn, SS, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 2-4, HR, R, RBI, BB, K; has struggled in Low-A thus far; switch hitter smoothing out hitting mechanics; sneaky power potential; top-of-the-scale runner; will have to move off of shortstop at some point.
• Anthony Rendon, 3B, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 3-4, 2 2B, RBI; back to basics in Double-A; pressed a bit during promotion to majors; hit tool has plus-plus potential; solid-average power potential; plus defensive profile at third base; .338/.485/.595 with 10 2B, 3 HR, 20 BB, and 16 K in 74 at-bats.
• Cameron Rupp, C, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 3-4, HR, R, RBI, K; thick frame; muscles balls with long swing; solid-average catching ability; backup profile.
• Addison Russell, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 3-5, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; see, the ability is still there; potential plus hit tool; plus power; plus arm; plus-plus glove; average runner; range has been questioned; only 19; still developing skills.
• Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI, K; potential plus hit tool; easy plus power potential; plus-plus arm; currently a below-average defender; only viable move would be to first base; firsthand accounts give me a positive vibe; .268/.347/.472 with 8 2B and 6 HR in 127 at-bats.
• Oscar Taveras, CF, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis: 4-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, K; plus-plus hit tool; plus-plus power; solid-average arm; solid glove; may have to move away from center field; bat will play anywhere on the diamond; .314/.349/.483 with 8 2B and 4 HR in 118 at-bats this season.
• Andy Wilkins, 1B, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI; solid bat speed; plus raw power; fringy runner; only home defensively will be at first; fringy prospect whose bat will have to reach its ceiling in order for him to contribute at highest level; .349/.396/.744 with 2 2B and 5 HR in his last 43 at-bats.

“The Bad”

• Jorge Alfaro, C, Rangers (Low-A Hickory0; 0-4, BB, 3 K; The Legend sometimes struggles, just like the rest of us.
• Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 0-4, 3 K; plenty of power and plenty of swing and miss; .220/.326/.542 with 6 2B, 10 HR, and 50 K in 118 at-bats.
• Brian Goodwin, OF, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 0-3, 3 K; mediocre start to the season for Goodwin, but reports from scouts have stayed positive; .255/.338/.416 with 6 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 44 K in 137 at-bats. 
• Mitch Walding, 3B, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 0-5, 2 K; can get off balance at the plate; shows ability, but is far from a finished product.

“The Ugly”

Trayce Thompson, OF, White Sox (Double-A Birmingham): 0-5, 4 K; lots of swing and miss in the game; may never hit enough to allow raw power to play; his brother might be one of my favorite basketball players to watch #splashbrothers; .222/.344/.389 with 33 K in 126 at-bats this season.

Games of Saturday, May 11

Pitching Prospect of the Day: Tyler Thornburg, RHP, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K; potential plus-plus fastball; both curveball and changeup will be usable pitches; still smoothing out his mechanics.

Position Prospect of the Day: Corey Dickerson, LF, Rockies (Triple-A Colorado Springs): 4-5, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 3 R, 5 RBI; plus hit tool; gap power; left-field defensive profile; grinder; most likely will settle in as a future fourth outfielder; .377/.405/.640 with 9 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR in 117 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances on May 11:

“The Good”

• Cody Asche, 3B, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley): 2-5, HR, R, 4 RBI, 2 K; plus potential hit tool; developing power could reach an average level; .283/.346/.433 with 7 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR in 120 at-bats.
• Matt Barnes, RHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K; plus-plus fastball; solid-average curveball; usable changeup; smooth delivery; looking to maintain consistency in Double-A.
• Cameron Bedrosian, RHP, Angels (Low-A Burlington): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; fastball will sit in plus velocities; still developing all of his secondary options; 12.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 17 K since moving to relief earlier this season.
• Michael Choice, OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 K; easy power; swing has a good deal of miss in it; average runner; will most likely have to move to a corner; the amount of contact he can make will determine how much of his power he can utilize.
• C.J. Cron, 1B, Angels (Double-A Springfield): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI; plus-plus raw power; massive frame; bottom-of-the-scale runner; hit tool still needs development; will have to mash to fit first-base profile.
• Matt Fields, 1B, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 2-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, K, 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, W; Fields hit a home run and got the win, so he had to go in the Update, right?
• Kevin Gausman, RHP, Orioles (Double-A Bowie): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K; well, we all know about my love for Mr. Gausman; fastball can touch elite velocity; solid-average slider; plus-plus changeup; working on being able to spot pitches down in the zone consistently; when he gets it completely figured out… watch out.
• Terrance Gore, OF, Royals (Low-A Lexington): 3-4, 2 R, RBI, SB; average bat speed; minimal power; elite runner; well-below-average arm; excellent skills on the bases; .248/.343/.299 with 19 SB in 117 at-bats.
• Brandon Jacobs, LF, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, K; swing can get very long; plus raw power; left-field defensive profile; at this point, he is a fringy prospect at best;
• Jack Lopez, SS, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 3-5, 3B, HR, 2 R, 7 RBI; fringy defender at short; has bat speed; swing can get long; off-balance against soft stuff; have not liked what I’ve seen thus far.
• Dane Phillips, C, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, K; hit tool has potential; average power potential; work in progress behind the plate; .310/.375/.577 with 8 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR in 77 at-bats.
• Stefen Romero, 2B/OF (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, K; solid-average hit tool; average power potential; average run; tough profile with which to fill an everyday role; .296/.346/.521 with 5 2B, 1 3B, and 3 HR in 71 at-bats.  
• Eddie Rosario, 2B, Twins (High-A Fort Myers): 2-5, 2B, 3B, R; potential plus hit tool; plus runner; flashes power potential; potential future first-division second baseman; .351/.381/.545 with 9 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR in 134 at-bats.
• George Springer, CF, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; loud tools; plus power; plus bat speed; aggressive at the plate; plus runner; plus arm; will strike out a good amount; first-division potential; .292/.387/.646 with 10 2B, 12 HR, and 9 SB in 130 at-bats.
• Zack Wheeler, RHP, Mets (Triple-A Las Vegas): 7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; most thought he would be the best of the Mets’ young duo of pitchers; plus-plus fastball; easy plus curveball; solid average slider;  average changeup; perfect pitching frame; will be in majors by July; 43.1 IP, 40 H, 18 ER, 18 BB, 47 K in eight starts.
• Michael Ynoa, RHP, Athletics (Low-A Beloit): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K; fastball ranged from 90-95; curveball flashed plus; changeup showed potential; ship has taken on water but has not sunk yet; 22.0 IP, 14 H, 3 ER, 7 BB, 23 K in seven starts.

“The Bad”

Stetson Allie, 1B, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 0-3, 3 K; big raw power; will struggle to make consistent contact against quality pitching.

 “The Recovering”

Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 3.1 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 1 K; Perez was in position to be the number-five starter for the Rangers. Then, he suffered a broken arm, and will be forced to get back to where he was coming out of spring training.

Games of Sunday, May 12

Pitching Prospect of the Day: Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K; easy plus fastball; plus-plus curveball; developing changeup; excellent size and strength; polished young arm; potential number-two starter; 27.0 IP, 21 H, 6 ER, 6 BB, 25 K in six starts.

Position Prospect of the Day: Adam Walker, OF, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 4-6, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 7 RBI; easy power; developing hit tool; will be challenged by quality stuff; solid-average runner; stock on the rise; .321/.369/.664 with 10 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR in 131 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances on May 12:

“The Good”

• Torsten Boss, 2B, Orioles (Low-A Delmarva): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 6 RBI; aggressive player; strong frame; good bat speed; can sell out for power; solid-average arm; power potential may be only average; utility profile.
• Byron Buxton, CF, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 4-7, 2B, 3B, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2 K; crushing the ball in his first full professional season; tools to be the number-one prospect in the game in 2014; elite runner; easy plus-plus arm; easy plus power potential; easy plus hit tool; stock on the rise in a big way; .352/.458/.608 with 9 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, and 13 SB, in 125 at-bats.  
• Garin Cecchini, 3B, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, K; hit tool will play at an average level; solid-average power potential; easy arm strength; fringy runner; top-end baseball instincts; .376/.471/.675 with 12 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, and 11 SB in 117 at-bats.
• Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 3-4, 3 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, K; starting to all come together; plus raw power; shows good barrel-to-ball relationship; will try to do too much and swing can get lengthy; good plate discipline; plus arm; fringy range; second-division-starter ceiling.
• Keury De La Cruz, OF, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, K; swings from the heels; upper-cut swing; hit tool has potential to be average; super aggressive; average defensive profile; high risk to reach ceiling, which is a second-division right fielder.
• Brian Flynn, LHP, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K; solid-average fastball; solid-average slider; get-me-over curveball; flashes an average changeup; back-end starter potential; 47.0 IP, 37 H, 11 ER, 13 BB, 50 K at two levels this season.
• Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K; fastball up to 94; curveball is a hammer with easy plus potential; developing changeup; stock on the rise, big time; 30.0 IP, 13 H, 6 ER, 19 BB, 42 K in seven starts.
• Tyler Goeddel, 3B, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB; solid-average hit tool; developing power; developing frame; repeating Low-A.
• Josh Hader, LHP, Orioles (Low-A Delmarva): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K; low three-quarters arm slot; deceptive delivery; fastball can touch plus velocity; curveball flashes solid average; changeup still a work in progress; 30.2 IP, 19 H, 7 ER, 15 BB, 30 K in six starts.
• Dilson Herrera, 2B, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 3-5, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, K; good bat speed; will be challenged by quality velocity; has tools; will need to make more consistent contact.
• Jimmy Nelson, RHP, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; big-time fastball; plus slider; delivery has lots of effort; future high-leverage reliever; 42.0 IP, 38 H, 19 ER, 8 BB, 47 K in eight starts.
• Sean Nolin, LHP, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; smooth mechanics; high-three-quarters arm slot; fastball worked 88-91 (T94) with good command to both sides; curveball was 72-74 with big break; changeup hit 79-81 and flashed fading action; cutter 84-87 with short, quick break; back-end profile.
• Renato Nunez, 3B, Athletics (Low-A Beloit): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, BB; violent swing; shows power potential; will be tested by quality pitching; work in progress defensively; .283/.341/.566 with 8 2B and 8 HR in 113 at-bats.
• Jose Ramirez, RHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K; low-three-quarters arm slot; delivery has some effort; fastball worked 95-96 with sink and run; slider at 87-89 flashes depth and has solid-average potential; changeup with power fade at 84-86 has plus-plus potential; below-average command profile. Ramirez will get the chance to start, but I believe his ultimate future will lie in high-leverage bullpen innings; 19.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 26 K in four outings.
• Trevor Story, SS, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 2-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K; really rough start to the 2013 season; massive swing and miss in his offensive game; needs to slow the game down; can make loud contact; ability to stay at shortstop.
• Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K; plus-plus fastball; plus-plus curveball; potential solid-average changeup; talked to one scout who liked Taillon significantly better then Gerrit Cole; 44.2 IP, 14 ER, 16 BB, 47 K in eight starts.

“The Bad”

• Noel Arguelles, LHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 2.0 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 1 K; well, Noel, you got $7 million and the Royals really would have liked to spend that in a different way.
• Fred Ford, 1B, Royals (Low-A Lexington): 0-4, 3 K; plus raw power; will expand the zone badly; plenty of swing and miss; will need to get back into the outfield to maintain his prospect status; .162/.288/.265 with 49 K in 117 at-bats.
• Slade Heathcott, CF, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 0-3, 2 K; did not see him play well over the weekend; tough time making contact; swung through a lot of pitches in the zone; plus-plus runner; can play center field; stock declining; .204/.279/.287 with 33 K in 108 at-bats.

 “The Ugly”

Nate Karns, RHP, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 0.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 0 K; tough outing for Karns, but I’ve gotten solid reports on him so far.