MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action - 5/2/13

Triple-A

• Sean Gilmartin has been very sharp lately, and the Braves was at it again on Thursday, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings to take his first loss of the season, according to Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com.
• Oscar Taveras hit his third home run of the season, as the Cardinals outfielder is how hitting .313 on the season.
• Mike Zunino and Nick Franklin weren't able to join in the offensive party with their Mariners teammates on Thursday, as both went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts each.  Franklin, playing shortstop on this night, has been the subject of promotion rumors given the Mariners offensive struggles this season in the majors and his red-hot start.
• Jonathan Villar had a huge day at the plate, as the Astros shortstop prospect went 4-for-4 with a home run, reports Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.  Villar is now hitting .442 over his past 10 games and is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak.

Double-A

• Jameson Taillon allowed at least three runs for the third straight start, although this time out, just two of them were earned.  Taillon was able to strike out six batters in as many innings, but took the loss in the outing, the third of the year for the Pirates right-hander.
• In a somewhat unlikely pitcher's duel, Yankees lefty Nik Turley struck out eight over six innings of one-run baseball to defeat Blue Jays right-hander Deck McGuire, who allowed just two runs over six innings of his own.  Both pitchers entered the game with ERA's over 5.00.
• It took Anthony Ranaudo 85 pitches to get though 5 1/3 innings before being removed due to the Red Sox pitch limit restrictions, but during his time in the game, he managed to allow just one run while striking out four.
• Archie Bradley appeared to have no trouble making the transition to Double-A, as the Diamondbacks through a six-inning complete game in a shortened contest, striking out seven batters in six innings and allowing just one run.  Bradley, recently promoted to Mobile, has battled control issues last season, but has showed much improvement this year and walked just two in his first start at his new level.
• Yasiel Puig hit his fifth home run of the season, but it wasn't enough run support for fellow Dodgers prospect Chris Reed, who got roughed up in the start, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

High-A

• Aaron Sanchez was dominant on Wednesday, striking out six batters and allowing just one run in 3 2/3 innings. Sanchez has been good again this season and now has a 3.16 ERA and a 2.54 FIP on the year.
• Marlins pitcher Jose Urena got hit around in his latest start, allowing six runs (five earned) in five innings of work, but still managed to earn a win.
• Sam Selman, the Royals second-round pick last year, struggled again, allowing five runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings of work.  The left-hander is walking too many batters, having now allowed 18 free passes in 21 innings.

Low-A

• Byron Buxton hit his fifth home run of the season as the Twins prospect continues to dominate the Midwest League.  The second overall pick from last season is now hitting .388/.509/.694 on the season and could earn himself a promotion in the next month. 
• Joey Gallo hit his ninth home run of the season and fellow Rangers teammate Lewis Brinson hit fifth en route to a 6-3 victory.

Archie Bradley Promoted to Double-A

The Arizona Diamondbacks have promoted one of their top pitching prospects Archie Bradley to Double-A Mobile, Bradley himself said on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Bradley was the 7th overall pick in the 2011 draft, a prep pick out of Oklahoma who also had scholarship offers to play quarterback for the University of Oklahoma.  He and Dylan Bundy were generally considered the best high school pitching prospects in the nation that year.  Bradley threw just two professional innings in his draft year.

His professional career really got under way last season in South Bend, where he spent the entire season as a 19-year-old full-time starting pitcher in the Midwest League, no small feat in its own right.  Over the course of his 27 starts, Bradley showed flashes of why he was selected so high, posting a 3.84 ERA while striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings - a total that would be impressive for any pitcher and is even more noteworthy for a player competing against older hitters.

The only issue for Bradley last season was his control.  Bradley led the Midwest League with 84 walks, good for a 5.6 BB/9 rate, at least twice as high as the Diamondbacks would like it to be.  It was, essentially, the only flaw in an otherwise dominant season, but a concerning fact if it became a trend this season.

Well, it didn't.

In five starts in the hitter-friendly California League, Bradley has struck out even more batters and gotten his walk rates under control.  Over 28 2/3 innings, Bradley has struck out 43 batters to just 10 walks (a 13.5 K/9 rate against 3.1 BB/9).

That was all the Diamondbacks needed to see.  Whether they simply wanted to get him out of the California League and into a more hitter-neutral environment before any damage was done or if they feel he's ready to be on the fast track many anticipated when he was drafted remains to be seen, as the team hasn't officially made any announcement yet regarding his promotion, and likely won't provide us with an explanation anyway.  

Diamondbacks fans should, by no means, read into this move as an indication that Bradley is in any way knocking on the doorstep of the major leagues.  Still just 20-years-old, Bradley still has a lot of work to do to refine his natural abilities.  His mid-90's fastball and power curve ball are potential plus pitches, but he still needs a lot of work learning how to command them within the strike zone more effectively, and his change-up remains a work in progress and will be a necessary tool at the upper levels of the minors.

Still, by making a move like this so early in the season, the Diamondbacks are simultaneously rewarding Bradley for his improvement while protecting their prized prospect from the difficult task of pitching in the California League as the temperatures begin to rise in the summer.

This move indicates that the Diamondbacks do not play to have Bradley spend an entire year at each minor league level if not necessary, potentially speeding up his timetable to the majors to sometime towards the end of next season, obviously depending on how he pitches over the next 12-15 months.

 

Prospect Action - 4/16/13

Triple-A

• White Sox right-hander Andre Rienzo finally put together a solid outing, allowing just one run over six innings to earn his first victory of the season on Tuesday.  The Brazil native allowed five and seven earned runs, respectively, in his first two starts, and now lowers his ERA to 7.16 on the season.
• Gerrit Cole was strong, allowing just one run in 6 1/3 innings while striking out five, but walking four in the outing.  It's the best start of the season for the Pirates top prospect, who allowed three runs in his first outing and had his second start shortened by pitch count limitations.
• After a rough start his last time out, Kyle Gibson put together his best outing of the year, allowing just one run over six innings while striking out five.  The Twins prospect has two one-run outings on the season, sandwiching a poor start in which he gave up five runs.
• Jurickson Profar hit his first home run of the season, a three-run blast off of Astros pitching prospect Brett Oberholtzer as part of a three-hit day that also included a triple.  The Rangers still have Profar playing short stop, despite their extension with Elvis Andrus.
• Nolan Arenado put together a two-hit night, but the Rockies third base prospect was outdone by his hot corner counterpart Matt Davidson, who had a double and a homer in support of fellow Diamondbacks prospect Chase Anderson, who struck out seven over six innings.

Double-A

• J.R. Graham took a no-decision despite seven strikeouts in six innings of one-run ball from the Braves right-hander.
• Jesse Biddle wasn't sharp, but he was still effective, as the Phillies top prospect battled through four walks in six innings to allow just one run while striking out eight.
• For the second time in three starts, Kevin Gausman got hit around hard.  This time the Orioles prospect allowed 10 hits over six innings while allowing six runs (five earned).

High-A

• Miguel Sano, still playing third base, hit his fourth home run of the season and is now batting .413 this season.
• Justin Nicolino was strong on Tuesday, as the Marlins prospect allowed just one baserunner in five innings of work.  It was the best outing of the year for Nicolino, who came over to the Marlins in this off-season's blockbuster trade.
• Clayton Blackburn continues to dominate the tough California League, as the Giants pitching prospect struck out nine in six innings, and saw his ERA raise (slightly) to 1.06 on the year.  Blackburn has a 21-to-2 strike out to walk ratio on the season.

Low-A

• Michael Ynoa gave the A's a lot to be optimistic about on Tuesday, putting together his best start as a professional.  The Dominican bonus baby struck out five batters in three innings, allowing only an unearned run.  The fact that he's healthy and making his starts is a good sign for the A's, but his improved command and ability to miss some bats are real signs of progress.
• Parker Bridwell is finally pitching the way the Orioles expected, allowing two runs in five innings for his third straight solid outing.  Bridwell has been highly-touted for years, but has never been able to translate his ability into on-field produciton.  He is repeating the South Atlantic League this season.
• Stetson Allie continued his power surge, as the converted pitcher hit his sixth home run as part of a four-hit day that raised his batting average to .411 on the year.  The Pirates converted him into a first baseman relatively quickly after drafting him as a pitcher, but the move has paid off thus far as Allie dominates the Sally League in the early going.

Didi Gregorius Promoted to Majors, Role to be Determined

The Arizona Diamondbacks have called short stop prospect Didi Gregorius up to the major leagues to take the roster spot of second baseman Aaron Hill, who is headed to the DL, reports Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.  Gregorius injured his elbow this off-season and has spent most of his time in the minors this season as a DH, just recently playing a full game in the field.

Gregorius was acquired by the Diamondbacks this off-season in a three-team deal that included the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians and set top prospect Trevor Bauer to the Indians.  I answered the question, "Who is Didi Gregorius?" in December as the trade was being formulated, and what I wrote about his potential role with the Indians (where it was speculated at the time that he may be going), and the same applies for his role with the D-Backs.

Gregorius is a natural short stop, but he has the tools to play anywhere on the infield.  The Diamondbacks newest opening is at second base looks to be filled by the versatile Martin Prado for the time being, with Eric Chavez seeing an increase in playing time at third base, at least against right-handed pitching.  Gregorius also hits left-handed, eliminating him as a platoon candidate.

Starting short stop Cliff Pennington and his .644 OPS, however, aren't exactly lighting the league on fire, so it wouldn't be shocking to see Gregorius steal some of his at-bats at short, although that has nothing to do with Hill's injury other than the fact that it brought Gregorius onto manager Kirk GIbson's list of options.

The Diamondbacks have not said how they plan to use Gregorius, but it's hard to imagine they bring him to the majors and sit him on the bench.  With an opening at second base, the ability of Prado to play second, third and the outfield, and Pennington's ability to slide over to second base as well, there should be plenty of opportunities to get Gregorius at-bats.

Hill is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.  Even if Gibson can only get Gregorius in the lineup around four days per week, that should get Gregorius 60-100 at-bats from which the Diamondbacks can make a better decision about his future.  No matter where he is playing in the field, the next month or so essentially works out to be an audition for both Gregorius and Pennington to see who will be the starting short stop when Hill 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.