MLB Prospect Watch

Arizona Fall League Preview: Surprise Saguaros

With the start of the Arizona Fall League this afternoon, we complete our team-by-team preview of which prospects to watch for this fall.

We've previewed the other five teams already, and you can check them out below:

Mesa Solar Sox

Phoenix Desert Dogs

Scottsdale Scorpions

Peoria Javelinas

Salt River Rafters

 

You would expect a team like the Saguaros, featuring prospects from deep farm systems like the Red Sox, Royals and Rangers, to feature a wealth of talent, but such is not the case. The Saguaros do feature some interesting talent, and like most of the AFL, the majority of it comes with a bat.

 

Kolten Wong (STL)

The Cardinals have had a revolving door of fill-ins and defensive-minded players at second base for the past decade, and while that hasn't stopped them from winning a pair of World Series titles, that strategy could change with the emergence of Wong. The 2011 first round pick didn't tear up the Double-A Texas League is season, but he more than held his own after making the jump from just a half-season of Low-A ball. He doesn't feature much power, but he's good with the bat and could be the true leadoff hitter the Cardinals need.

Bryce Brentz (BOS)

If the Red Sox ever actually hold on to one of their outfield prospects and let him have a shot in the majors, it could be Brentz. The corner outfielder continues to hit at ever level, posting an .833 OPS at Double-A Portland this season. He has good power but needs to refine his aggressive approach at the plate.

Other Notable Hitters

Luis Sardinas is among the best defensive shortstops in the game, and is since hitter too, but with Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar ahead of him in the Rangers organization, he may never get a chance to show it off in Texas. Kellin Deglan struggled again at the plate in a repeat of the Sally League, but he does maintain decent pop for a catcher, so he'll keep getting opportunities.

 

Arsenal of Arms

J.C. Sulbaran (KC)

The dynamic Sulbaran had always had control issues to go along with his impressive stuff, but the right-hander lost all control after a mid-season trade to the Royals. In six starts after the trade, Sulbaran walked almost a batter-per-inning, rendering him completely ineffective. He still has power stuff, but his lack of command is going to land him in a relief role if he doesn't clean it up quick.

Other Notable Pitchers

Sam Freeman spend time in the Cardinals bullpen this season and figures to be a LOOGY next year. Justin Marks put together a respectable season at Double-A before he was given one Triple-A start, in which he allowed nine runs. Brock Huntzinger had some success pitching in relief for the first time in his career.

 

 

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Prospect Action - 8/14/12

Triple-A

• The dominant version of Jeurys Familia showed up on Tuesday night, as the Mets right-hander struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, reports Zack Cox of MiLB.com.  For Familia, it was the first start in five outings in which he hadn't given up at least four runs.
• Jake Odorizzi took another step towards a September call-up by throwing seven scoreless innings, says Cox.  Odorizzi hasn't given up more than three runs in an outing since the middle of July, spanning six straight starts, but the Royals will likely hold of on calling him up to the majors until after the end of the Pacific Coast League playoffs, which Omaha has a good chance of making.
• In his first start since July 28th, Danny Hultzen threw 3 2/3 shutout innings, says Mike Curto of The [Tacoma] News-Tribune.  Hultzen was not injured, but rather the Mariners are closely monitoring his innings towards the end of his first full professional season.
• Julio Teheran turned in a much-needed good start, looking like the dominant version of himself that earned him billing as the top prospect in the Braves farm system before the season.  The right-hander threw eight scoreless innings on Tuesday, striking out nine without walking a batter, according to Paul Eldert of The Virginian-Pilot.  

Double-A

• In his Double-A debut, Brandon Workman threw six strong innings, allowing just a a pair of singles, writes Kevin Thomas of The Portland Press Herald.  The Red Sox right-hander was 7-7 with a 3.40 ERA in 20 starts at High-A Salem before the promotion, with a miniscule 1.6 BB/9 rate.
• Also making his Double-A debut was Orioles top prospect Dylan Bundy, who gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings while walking three, says David Driver of MiLB.com.  Bundy began the year in Low-A ball, where he didn't give up a run in 30 innings, which he followed up with 54 1/3 innings with a 2.98 ERA in High-A before his most recent promotion.
• Adam Morgan turned in another strong start, as the Phillies prospect threw six innings, allowing just two runs, says Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball.com.  It was the second start at Double-A for Morgan, who is now 2-0 at the new level after going just 4-10 at Clearwater, despite his 3.29 ERA there.
• Dodgers right-hander Matt Magill struck out 11 batters in seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits, reports Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.

High-A

• Matt Barnes took a no-decisions despite throwing five scoreless innings, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  The 2011 first-rounder hasn't been nearly as dominant in High-A as he was in the South Atlantic League, where he posted a 0.34 ERA in five starts, but he has pitched well, lowering his ERA to 3.40 in 17 starts, with 9.3 K/9 and just 2.4 BB/9.
• Kyle Parker hit two more home runs, giving the Rockies prospect 17 on the season.  Parker has taken full advantage of the California League this season, hitting .317/.419/.550 on the year, and has even limited his strikeouts.
• Domingo Santana went 3-for-3 as the Astros outfielder continues his emergence as a more all-around hitter.  Santana is hitting .291 this season, but more importantly, he has improved his patience at the plate, having already recorded 45 walks on the season.  The more selective approach is helping improve his average by keeping him from expanding the strike zone.
• Joc Pederson blasted a pair of home runs, giving the Dodgers center field prospect 15 on the season.

Low-A

• Kellin Deglan continued his recent hot hitting streak with a home run on Tuesday, reports The Hickory Daily Record.  The Rangers catching prospect has struggled at the plate this season, but is hitting .400 over his last ten games with four home runs.
• Mike Foltynewicz advanced to 14-3 on the season, throwing seven more scoreless innings and lowering his ERA to 2.78.  It's been a bounce back season for Foltynewicz, who needed a second season to get acclimated to the South Atlantic League, but has re-established himself as a true prospect this season.
• Clayton Blackburn earned his seventh win of the season, as the Giants prospect struck out nine over seven innings, allowing just two runs.

Rookie

• Bubba Starling hit his ninth home run while fellow Royals prospects Cameron Gallagher and Patrick Leonard each collected multi-hit games at Burlington.
• Over in the Pioneer League, Sem Selman struck out 11 over six innings of work, marking the second straight start with 11 strike outs and third time in five starts he's been in double digits.

 

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Prospect Action - 8/13/12

Triple-A

• Back in Triple-A, Tyler Thornburg struck out five batters in as many innings, allowing just an unearned run, says Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.  The Brewers have moved Thornburg all over the baseball map this season, including a few spot starts in the majors, but he is now settling into Triple-A for the first time in his professional career.
• Chris Hernandez threw six strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven, reports WPRI.com.  The Red Sox lefty has posted strong numbers despite low strike out numbers, with a 3.23 ERA on the season between Double and Triple-A.
• Tyler Cloyd picked up his minor league-leading 15th win on Monday, throwing six innings and allowing three runs, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  The Phillies prospect has emerged this season as a prospect despite being an 18th round pick and being 25-years-old in Triple-A.  

Double-A

• Jurickson Profar went 2-for-4 with a home run in support of Cody Buckel, who allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings.  Despite being in Double-A, the Rangers are considering calling Profar up for a bench role for their stretch run, says T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
• Nick Maronde got hit hard in his third Double-A start, giving up 10 hits in five innings as the Angels prospect dropped to 1-2 since his promotion.
• Oscar Taveras hit his 21st home run of the season as part of a 2-for-5 day for the Cardinals prospect.

High-A

• Cheslor Cuthbert collected two hits and scored two runs in support of fellow Royals prospect Brooks Pounders, who threw seven innings and allowed just an unearned run.  Pounders kept a lineup of Nationals prospects in check that included Anthony Rendon, who went 2-for-4 in what turned out to be his last game in the Carolina League.  Rendon was promoted to Double-A after the game, according to Luke Erickson of NationalsProspects.com.

Low-A

• Michael Fulmer threw five innings of one-run ball on Monday night, as the Mets right-hander continues to emerge on the prospect scene, notes Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.  Fulmer, a supplemental first round pick from 2011, has put together a nice first full season, posting a 2.54 ERA in 20 starts at Low-A Savannah.
• Kellin Deglan collected three hits, reports Hickory Daily Record, as the Rangers catching prospect raised his batting average to just .228 in his second stint in the South Atlantic League.

Short-Season

• Joe Ross, who has been on the disabled list since May with a sore shoulder, threw four hitless innings on Monday, writes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  The Padres 2011 first-rounder walked four in the outing, but he left healthy, which is a step in the right direction as he tries to get something out of a lost season.

 

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Prospect Action - 7/26/12

Triple-A

• Brewers top prospect Wily Peralta fanned a career-high 11 batters on Thursday night, giving up two runs in six innings of work, says Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.
• Chris Dwyer has struggled in his three starts since the Royals promoted him to Triple-A, giving up four runs in six innings.  He's now sporting a 6.88 ERA at the new level.

Double-A

• In his debut with the Astros organization, Matt Heidenreich allowed just one earned run over eight strong innings of work while striking out seven, reports Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.
• Taijuan Walker was back to his old dominant ways on Thursday, as the Mariners top prospect threw six shutout innings, striking out eight and givin up just two hits, according to Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.
• Kyle Skipworth hit his 12th home run of the season, giving the Marlins catching prospect one more than he hit last season, notes Jeff Elliott of The Florida Times-Union.

High-A

• Trayce Thompson hit his 21st home run of the season as part of an 11 run offensive outburst by the White Sox affiliate in Winston-Salem, writes John Dell of The Winston-Salem Journal.
• Jose Fernandez put together his best start in the Carolina League, throwing five shutout innings to earn his second win of the season, outpitching Phillies prospect Perci Garner, who gave up five runs in as many innings.
• The Astros affiliate in Lancaster lost despite home runs from outfield prospects George Springer and Domingo Santana.  For Springer, it was his 19th of the season, while it was the 17th of the year for Santana.

Low-A

• The Rangers South Atlantic League affiliate in Hickory got a home run from Kellin Deglan as part of a nine-run onslaught, according to the Hickory Daily Record.  It was the eighth home run of the season for the former first-rounder who has been struggling this season, hitting just .209 in his second try at the level.  The only run scored in the game by Delmarva was a solo shot by Orioles prospect Nick Delmonico.
• In a Low-A prospect pitching matchup, Giants prospect Kyle Crick threw five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) to earn his fifth win of the season, outpitching Astros prospect Mike Foltynewicz, who gave up six runs (rive earned) without getting out of the fourth inning, dropping to 11-3 on the season.

 

Prospect Action - 6/7/12

Triple-A

• Paul Clemens continues to earn victories despite pitching poorly, as the right-hander allowed four runs over five innings and watched his ERA rise to 6.10, but picked up his seventh win of the season.
• Jake Odorizzi struck out 10 in 6 2/3 innings to pick up his third victory of Triple-A this season, getting run support from fellow Royals prospect Wil Myers, who hit a grand slam off of the rehabbing Roy Oswalt.

Double-A

• Zack Wheeler continues to dominate Double-A, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com, as the Mets top prospect struck out seven in as many innings, allowing just an unearned run.  Danny Rosenbaum was on the losing end of the anticipated pitcher's duel, as the Nationals lefty fell to 7-2 on the season after giving up four runs (three earned) over seven innings.
• Tigers C James McCann wasn't good in his first taste of Double-A, struggling devensively and on the bases, according to Mike Copper of The Erie Times-News.
• Blue Jays 2010 first-rounder Deck McGuire continues to struggle at the Double-A level, dropping to 2-7 on the season after allowing six runs in five innings.  McGuire now has a 6.83 ERA on the season and has stuck out just 40 batters in 59 1/3 innings, and has yet to finish the seventh inning in any of his 12 starts.
• Taijuan Walker suffered his worst outing of the season, as the Mariners phenom gave up four runs (three earned) while lasting just three innings.  The young right-hander has allowed four runs in back-to-back starts after having not allowed more than two in any of his first nine of the season.
• Barret Loux threw five more shutout innings, advancing to 11-0 on the season, out-pitching Keyvius Sampson, who continues to struggle in Double-A, giving up four runs in six innings to lower his ERA to 6.19.

High-A

• Jacob Petricka threw just three innings thanks to a rain delay, but the White Sox prospect gave up two runs during the short stint, says The Winston-Salem Journal.
• Angels 1B prospect C.J. Cron went 3-for-4 with a home run, notes Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.  It was the 10th of the season for the 2011 first-rounder.
• Cody Buckel pitched well again, but two runs in 5 2/3 innings was too much, as the right-hander dropped to 5-2 on the season.

Low-A

• Adys Portillo couldn't get out of the second inning, as the Padres right-hander allowed five runs in 1-plus innings, but it wasn't all his fault, as only one of the runs was earned, notes Peter Wallner of MLive.com.
• Nick Tropeano earned his fifth win of the season, reports The Lexington Herald-Ledger, as the Astros right-hander struck out six in as many innings.
• Kyle Crick turned in perhaps the strongest start of his young career, as the Giants righty fanned 10 batters over seven innings of shutout baseball, according to Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.  Despite getting hit hard in two of his previous four starts, the 2011 supplemental first-rounder is sporting an ERA of 3.45 this season, and has struck out 61 batters in 47 innings.
• Luke Jackson navigated through a potent Charleston River Dogs lineup to pick up a win, scattering five hits in as many innings, as the Rangers prospect picked up his fifth win of the season, reports The Hickory Daily Record.  Jackson got a home run from catching prospect Kellin Deglan in support of the victory.