MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action - 5/13/13

Triple-A

• Jonathan Schoop's three-hit day, which included his third home run of the season, was just a part of the offensive onslaught put forth by his Orioles teammates in their 14-1 drubbing on Sunday.  Schoop is now hitting .349 over his past 10 games, but still just .268 on the season.
• Nick Franklin hit a go-ahead home run in the 13th inning to seal the deal for his Mariners teammates on Sunday.  For Franklin it was part of a 3.for-6 day that saw his batting average rise to .349 as he continues to make his case for a call-up.
• On a home run-filled afternoon, A's outfielder Michael Choice hit his eighth blast of the year while Brewers outfielder Khris Davis hit a pair of bombs.

Double-A

• Anthony Rendon had a perfect game at the plate, one which included his fourth home run of the season, and the Nationals prospect is now hitting .452 (14-for-31) since his return to the minors.
• Jesus Aguilar hit his fourth home run of the season as part of a day in which he reached base three times.  The Indians first base prospect has struggled to carry his 2012 success over into the Double-A level this year and is slugging just .381 on the season.
• Anthony Ranaudo advanced to 5-1 on the season as the Red Sox prospect tossed six shutout innings while striking out five.  The outing lowered his ERA to 1.38 on the season.
• On-base magician Mike O'Neill reached safely three more times on Sunday, collecting a pair of hits and a walk.  The Cardinals outfielder is now hitting .340 on the season with a .489 on-base percentage.

High-A

• Clayton Blackburn struggled for the third straight start as the Giants prospect allowed five runs (four earned) in four innings.  Blackburn has now allowed at least four runs in three consecutive outings after not allowing more than two in any of his first four starts.
• Tyler Naquin hit his third home run of the season.  The Indians outfielder is now hitting .291/.346/.454 on the season.
• After struggling in Triple-A this season and Double-A last season, Angels prospect Orangel Arenas is back in the California League and turned in a dominant start in his first outing, allowing just one run in seven innings.

Low-A

• In a crazy offensive day, the Twins got impressive performances at the plate from two of their top picks from last year's draft.  Byron Buxton, the second overall pick, went 4-for-7 to raise his batting average to .352 on the year, but he was outdone by third-rounder Adam Brett Walker, who went 4-for-6 with two doubles and two home runs.
• Cubs first baseman Rock Shoulders continues to display his power, hitting a grand slam on Sunday, his eighth home run of the season.

 

Rendon Replaces Zimmerman

This winter, I attempted to predicted when we might see top prospect Anthony Rendon in the majors. At the time, I said, "he shouldn't make the Nationals roster out of spring training, and shouldn't be called up even if their is an injury to fill unless he's had time to learn the position he will be playing."  What I didn't factor in was if that injury was to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

Rendon has been called up to the majors by the Nationals to take Zimmerman's place, as the cornerstone of the franchise heads to the disabled list with lingering shoulder issues, according to Mark Zuckerman of NatsInsider.com.

Rendon already knows how to play third base.  He played it in college and has played it primarily in the minors, which greatly limits the learning curve of jumping to the major leagues.  If he was slated to be playing any other position in the majors, there would have had to be significant time dedicated in the minors towards learning that position, but when it comes to filling for Zimmerman, it's only a matter of whether or not his bat is ready.

Rendon has just 225 minor league plate appearances thanks to injury.  He's hit just .249 in those at-bats, but his performance hasn't differed largely from what the Nationals expected when they selected him sixth overall in 2011.  Despite his low batting average, Rendon has shown an ability to control the professional strike zone, drawing 37 walks over that time compared to just 38 strike outs.  That plate discipline will serve him well in the major leagues.

Rendon is off to a hot start this season, hitting .292/.462/.500 for Double-A Harrisburg, but he has yet to appear at the highest level of the minors, making his jump to the major leagues a somewhat perilous endeavor.  The Nationals have wisely not announced a plan for Rendon for when Zimmerman returns, and those plans could easily be dictated by Rendon's performance in the majors.  Despite the Nationals full lineup, if Rendon proves he's ready for the task, they could find a way to keep him around long-term, even after Zimmerman returns.

 

 

Prospect Action: 4/15/13

Triple-A

• Michael Choice homered for the second straight night and third time in two games as part of a perfect night at the plate for the A's outfielder.
• Andrew Carraway earned his first win of the season as the Mariners starter struck out six in 5 2/3 innings of work.  Mike Zunino went hitless in the contest.
• Danny Rosenbaum continues to pitch well, as the Nationals prospect, who was returned to them after being selected in the Rule V draft, allowed just one run (his first of the season) over six innings of work, despite striking out just one batter.
• Allen Webster struck out seven batters in five innings, as the Red Sox pitching prospect continues to carry over his hot spring training into the regular season and now sports a 0.90 ERA after two starts.

Double-A

• It was a good day for the top prospects in the Dodgers organization, as Zach Lee tossed six scoreless innings and was supported by multi-hit days by Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson, reports Jon Reed of AL.com.
• Anthony Rendon hit his second home run as part of a two-hit day that included a double and left him hitting .333/.473/.571 on the season.
• After struggling in Portland last year, Anthony Ranaudo appears to have it figured out in 2013, turning in another strong start, this one including five shutout innings and six strike outs.
• Taijuan Walker struck out six batters in as many innings, but walked four batters for the second time in three outings this season.

High-A

• Jose Urena often gets overshadowed in the Marlins system, but on Monday night he took the spotlight, throwing six innings of two-hit ball, notes Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.
• Angel Villalona homered for the second straight game as the Giants prospect appears to be getting more comfortable back in the batter's box after his time away from competition.
• Archie Bradley was dominant for the second straight start, striking out eight in six innings of work.  The Diamondbacks prospect now sports a 0.51 on the season with 19 strike outs in 11 2/3 innings.

Low-A

• Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI's.
• Rangers power prospect Joey Gallo hit his fourth home run of the year but also struck out two more times in a game that sums up his abilities perfectly.

Prospect Action - 4/11/13

Triple-A

• Kyle Gibson was not good on Thursday, as the Twins pitching prospect allowed five runs without getting out of the fifth inning.
• Braves first base prospect Joey Terdoslavich hit his first home run of the season, coming off of White Sox pitcher Andre Rienzo, who struggled, allowing seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.  Jared Mitchell collected two hits and stole a pair of bases in the loss.
• Alex Colome took a no-hitter into the 5th inning, writes Robert Emrich of MiLB.com, as the Rays prospect ultimately allowing just two hits in six innings while striking out seven.

Double-A

• Nationals top prospect Anthony Rendon hit his first home run of the season and is still playing third base despite being blocked there in the majors by Ryan Zimmerman.
• Kevin Gausman bounced back from a rough first start of the season, as the Orioles pitching prospect allowed just one run over six innings of work, notes Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun.
• Red Sox pitching prospect Brandon Workman allowed just three hits over six strong innings, according to The Hartford Courant.
• J.R. Graham failed to make it out of the fourth inning and took a loss, despite a home run from Christian Bethancourt in support of his effort, writes Solomon Crenshaw, Jr. of AL.com.

High-A

• The Blue Jays are still limiting the pitch counts of Aaron Sanchez, but that hasn't stopped the right-hander from dominating when he's on the mound, writes Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com, who notes that Sanchez threw five no-hit innings on Thursday.
• Mets prospect Domingo Tapia struggled with his control on Thrusday, walking four batters while failing to get out of the first inning.
• Luke Jackson dominated in his second start of the season, striking out seven over five innings of shutout baseball.  The Rangers right-hander now has a 2.00 ERA and 11 strike outs in nine innings on the season.
• Phillies third base prospect Maikel Franco homered for the second straight game, this time as part of a three-hit day that also included a pair of doubles.

Low-A

• 2011 first-rounder Joe Ross threw five shutout innings while striking out eight and allowing just two baserunners on Thursday.  It was the second straight five inning scoreless outing for the Padres right-hander this season.
• The Marlins Low-A affiliate in Greensboro got two-hit days from Yordy Cabrera and Jesus Solorzano en route to a 6-4 victory.

Blogs Track Teams - 4/4/13

• Doug Gray of RedsMinorLeagues.com recaps the Reds farm system, including Billy Hamilton's Triple-A debut, who had a double and made a nice sliding play in center field.
• TalkingChop.com breaks down the Braves farm system, including a solid opening day performance for Phil Gosselin.
• BlessYouBoys.com talks about the Tigers, including an opening day win for Kyle Lobstein, despite giving up three runs in five innings.
• NationalsProspects.com has notes on the Nationals organization, including a three-hit day for returned Rule V draft pick Jeff Kobernus, and Anthony Rendon, who reached base three times.
• Tim Williams of PiratesProspects. com breaks down the Buccos, including a rough day for converted pitcher Stetson Allie, who went 0-for-4 with 4 strike outs on opening day.
• BrewCrewBall.com has the Brewers organizational update, including Jed Bradley's uneven opening day start.