Tigers prospect Bruce Rondon recorded another save, but he did give up a run in this outing, despite striking out three.
Double-A
Adam Conley earned his sixth win of the season after striking out eight batters over seven innings of work. The Marlins left-hander got all the run support he would need from a pair of home runs by Jake Marisnick and Kyle Jensen.
Mike O'Neill continues to defy logic as the Cardinals prospect reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with a pair of walks, raising his batting average to .332 and his on-base percentage to .442 on the year.
High-A
Courtney Hawkins continued to show off his power potential despite his propensity for striking out, as the White Sox prospect blasted his 12th home run of the season.
Chris Stratton continued his winning ways in the South Atlantic League on Friday night, advancing to 7-3 after striking out 9 batters in six innings of work. The Giants first-round pick from 2012 out of Mississippi State is having no problem adjusting to full-season ball, working his ERA down to 3.56 while striking out over a batter per inning.
Another 2012 first-rounder, Nick Travieso, earned his first win as a professional, allowing just one run over five innings of work. Travieso was supported by fellow Reds prospect and 2012 draftee Jesse Winker, who hit his ninth home run of the season.
Yelich probably shouldn't be up this season, but he probably will be at some point, especially given the Marlins track record this season. It would be a real stretch, not to mention a real detrement, however, if Marisnick is rushed to the majors this season (despite his two grand slams on Thursday night). Marisnick still has plenty of tools, but his 33/5 K/BB ratio in Double-A is the biggest reason for his struggles (.652 OPS on the season) and his biggest obstacle to overcome in order to have major league success.
Most importantly, however, are the logistics of trying to fit Yelich or Marisnick into the lineup in the major leagues. Giancarlo Stanton will be back at some point, and despite being rushed and a prime regression candidate, Marcell Ozuna has played well enough to stay in the lineup. Chris Coghlan is hitting well of late, Justin Ruggiano leads the team in home runs, and Logan Morrison is on a rehab assignment and could see some time in the outfield as well. It's a crowded lineup, and while there is a need to sell tickets, there is no need for additional outfielders.
Choice Knocking on Oakland's Door?
Former first-round draft picks tearing it up in Triple-A are typically expected to get a phone call to the majors at any point, and things are no different for A's outfield prospect Michael Choice, notes Joe Davidson of The Sacramento Bee. After all, Choice is hitting .291/.400/.476 in the Pacific Coast League while walking more than ever and striking out less.
But for now, the A's don't have room to play him anywhere. The A's entered the season with a crowded outfield, consisting of four starter-worthy players (Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick and Chris Young) and a DH in Seth Smith who plays mostly against right-handers but is also an outfielder. They're all still around, meaning Choice is staying in Sacramento.
But for how long? Reddick is on the DL with a wrist injury and got off to a terrible start in trying to replicate his breakout 2012 season. Young isn't hitting either now that he's getting a chance to play. Choice isn't taking their jobs away now, but if they continue to struggle, the A's could choose to promote Choice and try him out in the outfield rather than add a bat at the trade deadline, a move that could cost them Choice in the first place.
When Will Cosart Get the Call?
The Houston Astros stink and all of the optimism surrounding their organization resides in the minor leagues, making it a natural question to ask when a player like Jarred Cosart, the team's best near-major-league-ready starter, will be called up? Brian McTaggart of MLB.com asked just that question, and while he was all but told that Cosart will get to the majors at some point this season, it appears that there is no immediate rush to bring him up.
Astros GM Jeff Luhnow's answer was that Cosart isn't getting called up because there are no available spots in the Astros rotation, which is dumb, if it were true, but no one really believes Luhnow here. This is the kind of answer GM's give to questions like this from beat writers. What Luhnow would likely have preferred to say is "when he can stop walking a batter every other inning."
Cosart is one of the more talented players acquired by the Astros during their rebuilding process and has a power arm that has helped him put up good numbers in the minors. Despite this, however, he simply gives away too many free base runners, and has walked 4.6 BB/9 in Triple-A over the past two years. His command issues cause many (including myself) to believe that his future is as a reliever, but the Astros are wisely leaving him as a starter for now. What they can't do, however, is rush him to the majors.
Cosart needs to remain in Triple-A and continue the refinement of his command and his off-speed pitches in hopes of being able to remain a starter in the big leagues. Once he's ready, no one on the Astros pitching staff is going to block his path.
Johnny Hellweg earned his second win of the season thanks to six shutout innings despite walking six batters in the outing. It was the first time since his initial start of the season that the Brewers flame-thrower allowed zero runs and he's now walked 31 batters in 38 2/3 innings.
In his return to Triple-A, Martin Perez allowed four runs in five innings but struck out four to take a loss. The Rangers left-hander hasn't truly been effective at any level since a half-season stint in Double-A in 2011, yet because of his talented left arm, he continues to be a focal point of prospect followers.
Sonny Gray allowed just one run in his first six innings of work, but the A's right-hander failed to get out of the seventh inning and allowed four runs (three earned) when it was all said and done in the loss.
Michael Wacha tossed his Cardinals teammates on his back on Thursday and led them to a victory behind seven dominant innings of one-run baseball during which the 2012 first-rounder struck out eight and walked just one.
Double-A
The Marlins got a nice glimpse into their future on Thursday as Christian Yelich continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run in support of left-hander Adam Conley, who has been inconsistent this season but allowed 3 runs (two earned) in five innings on this night.
Trevor May has generally been strong in his initial season in the Twins organization, but on Thursday he allowed more runs than innings pitched for the second time this season, allowing five runs and nine hits in four innings.
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.
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.
It's not as though we didn't know the Marlins were desperate, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch them continue to rush prospects to the majors.
In response to the latest injury to star Giancarlo Stanton, the Marlins have called up outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna and inserted him directly into their starting lineup, this despite his having just 10 games of experience above A-ball. In addition to his lack of experience, the 22-year-old Dominican native is an incredibly raw prospect at the plate, especially with his approach.
Ozuna, like so many young power hitters, has had issues with plate discipline and strikeouts. The right-handed hitter has hit 22 home runs or more in each of the past three minor league seasons, but also has a 341-to-109 strike out to walk ratio over that time. Last year, Ozuna put together a nice, but not exceptional, year at High-A Jupiter as a 21-year-old, hitting .266/.328/.476 in a full season there with 27 doubles and 24 home runs.
Ozuna is a physical specimen, with the type of raw power that organizations wish they could teach. He also has a free-swinging approach, one that the Marlins determined needed more work in the Florida State League to begin this season. After just four games there, he was bumped to Double-A, where he was red-hot for a 10-game stint. But even while hot -he hit five home runs for Jacksonville - he struck out nine times.
Eric Weston of FishStripes.com makes the case that the red-hot Ozuna could jump-start the Marlins offense, and explains the lack of other outfield options on the 40-man roster. Both of those facts may be true, but neither is a reasonable excuse for rushing Ozuna to the majors.
Ozuna has the potential to be an impact player, providing 20-30 home runs annually along with potentially-plus defense in a corner outfield position. He will never be confused for a patient hitter and will always battle contact issues, but he has the potential to develop his approach enough to allow his power to play at the major league level. In fact, as Weston points out, his strike out rates have declined in each of the past two seasons. But by jumping Ozuna directly to the majors, the Marlins have greatly increased the chances of stunting his growth.
Here's a similar situation where this happened before:
The organization and teams may have given it away, but can you guess the prospect? Those are the final two minor league seasons of Wily Mo Pena before the Reds called him to the big leagues, at least one year too early.
Much like Ozuna, Pena was a physically gifted power hitter with extreme strike out rates thanks to an extremely aggressive approach at the plate. Pena put together a few above-average years thanks to tremendous raw talent, but ultimately was never able to put his abilities to full use in the majors. Would that have been different if he had been left in the minors until he was 22? We'll never know. But it couldn't have hurt, and rushing him certainly didn't help.
Ozuna was already swinging and missing too much against competition in the low minors, and that flaw will be exposed even further in the majors, much in the same way it was for Pena. Ozuna's numbers aren't quite that dramatic, but they are in the same mold, and he has been older for his levels of competition than was Pena.
The Marlins were limited in their choices for outfielders already on the 40-man roster (a predicament they've put themselves in), but there were still plenty of options within the organization that would have been better than Ozuna.
Even if Ozuna comes in hot and helps jump start the Marlins pathetic offense, it will be only a temporary jump, equivalent to a cup of coffee attempting to get a worker through a all 24-hour shift - it may help for a short time, but it's not a permanent solution.
Ozuna has a chance to be a part of the long-term solution in Miami, but it's not going to happen this year. Exposing him to the majors now, and especially leaving him there for a large portion of this season, without having spent any significant time in Double or Triple-A facing more advanced off-speed pitches from older pitchers, exposes him and could ruin his development.
Ozuna is simply not ready to hit major league pitching, and the league will show that fact sooner rather than later. The Marlins can only help that the exposure doesn't do permanent damage.
