2014 Regular Season Divisional Prospect News

[TheCrew07]

Prospect Q&A: Cardinals LHP Marco Gonzales

 

On Monday, I caught up with Cardinals No. 5 prospect Marco Gonzales, who induced 15 groundouts over eight scoreless innings for Class A Advanced Palm Beach on Sunday. The 22-year-old left-hander is 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA in his first five starts of the season and could be a candidate to move quickly through the St. Louis system. We talked about his latest gem, the Cardinals organization and what he thinks about climbing the ladder.

[TheCrew07]

Pederson, Lively named Pipeline Prospects of Month

Dodgers phenom shows power on road; Reds pitcher posts terrific K:BB ratio

 

Pipeline Pitching Prospect of the Month: Ben Lively, RHP, Bakersfield Blaze

Reds' No. 13 prospect, 5-0, 0.31 ERA, 5 GS, 29 IP, 13 H, 1 run, 1 ER, 1 BB, 40 K

 

Lively has thrived in Bakersfield, typically one of the most inhospitable places for pitchers in the Minor Leagues. He leads the California League in most pitching categories, from strikeouts to ERA to wins.

 

Lively gave up one run in his first start of the season before reeling off 24 consecutive scoreless innings. He threw 17 innings before issuing his first walk of the year on April 22.

 

In part because of his deception and ability to excel with average stuff, Lively earns comparisons to Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani. Lively's stats after five starts at Bakerfield even closely mirror those of Cingrani, who posted a 0.32 ERA and struck out 37 batters in his first 28 innings with the Blaze.

 

Like Cingrani once did, Lively may be pitching his way onto the fast track in Bakersfield.

 

Honorable mentions

Aaron Blair, RHP, South Bend Silver Hawks: D-backs' No. 3 prospect, 1-1, 2.56 ERA, 5 GS, 31 2/3 IP, 17 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 10 BB, 43 K

 

Ismael Guillon, LHP, Dayton Dragons: Reds' No. 10 prospect, 2-0, 1.59 ERA, 5 GS, 28 1/3 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 12 BB, 31 K

 

Jimmy Nelson, RHP, Nashville Sounds: Brewers' No. 1 prospect, 3-1, 1.97 ERA, 5 GS, 32 IP, 19 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 31 K

[TheCrew07]

MiLB Game Scores from Week 4

 

Here’s how to calculate a pitcher’s game score:

 

• Start with 50 points
  Add one point for each out recorded
  Add two points for each inning completed after the fourth
  Add one point for each strikeout
  Subtract two points for each hit allowed
  Subtract four points for each earned run allowed
  Subtract two points for each unearned run allowed
  Subtract one point for each walk.

 

Mike Fiers, 84

 

Mike Fiers is off to a such a hot start in the Pacific Coast League that something must be working especially well for him. What is it?

 

“Everything,” he told Jackson.

 

Fiers pitched a seven-inning two-hitter and struck out 11 without issuing a walk Wednesday as Triple-A Nashville blanked New Orleans, 1-0, in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Greer Stadium.

 

“I’ve been able to throw all four of my pitches for strikes, really locating with most of them every start,” the 28-year-old right-hander said. “Usually, when I go into a game, I pick the best three to work with, but when all four are working this well, it makes it easy for me to to keep hitters off-balance [throughout the game].”

 

Read the full story

[TheCrew07]

Cal notes: Reds' Lively off to blazing start

Bakersfield righty pitching himself into position for quick promotion

[TheCrew07]

Blaze's Vidal makes big splash in '14 debut

In return to catching, Reds prospect gets four hits, drives in five runs

[TheCrew07]

Vitters smacks two more homers for Iowa

Cubs outfield prospect has gone yard in three consecutive games

[TheCrew07]

Texas notes: Ramsey keeps things upbeat

Cardinals center fielder displaying leadership on field, in clubhouse

[TheCrew07]

Ben is BA's international guru, ask questions you might have about anything Brewer related.

 

Baseball America Wednesday Chat With Ben Badler

[TheCrew07]

Rusin tosses first PCL no-hitter since '09

I-Cubs left-hander keeps New Orleans at bay in historic outing

[TheCrew07]

Bryant homers twice, plates six runs

Cubs' No. 2 prospect continues to raise bar on his own expectations

[TheCrew07]

Lively tosses seven more shutout innings

Reds' right-hander scatters four hits, strikes out six in no-decision

[TheCrew07]

Baseball America Prospect Report (May 8)

May 8, 2014 by Staff Report

 

HITTER OF THE DAY: Kris Bryant, 3b — Double-A Tennessee (Cubs)

 

Joey Gallo had two homers and now leads the minors with 12, but another touted third base prospect takes the prize. Bryant was 3-for-4 with two homers and a double and a career-high six RBIs. Bryant, 22, leads the Southern League with eight homers, 17 extra-base hits, a .600 slugging percentage, 69 total bases and 26 runs scored.

[TheCrew07]

Ha, well that didn't take long considering I just wondered about him the other day...

 

Healthy Soler shines in return to Smokies

Cubs' No. 5 prospect hits two-run double, reaches base four times

[TheCrew07]

A relatively quiet week.

 

Prospect Hot Sheet (May 9): Big, Bad Bryant

May 9, 2014 by Staff Report

 

1. Kris Bryant, 3b, Cubs

Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .462/.517/.962 (12-for-26), 9 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 SO

 

The Scoop: The Javier Baez career progression plan has hit a pothole early in the 2014 season, as he’s struggled to handle Triple-A pitchers the same way he abused big league pitchers in spring training. But one level below, Bryant’s development has been rolling along right on schedule. He’s hitting for average and power. He’s even stealing bases (five in six attempts). Really, the only disconcerting part of his early-season performance is his strikeout rate (28 percent), but his power and ability to draw walks mitigate that concern.

 

In The Team Photo

 

Wyatt Mathiesen, 3b, Pirates: Mathisen generated buzz after his pro debut in 2012, when he hit well in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and showed good tools behind the plate (after mostly shortstop in high school). But he struggled at the plate in 2013 and the Pirates moved him to third base this season at low Class A West Virginia, where he’s had better results. Having hit only one career home run previously, Mathisen hit three this week to raise his slash line to .264/.320/.364 through 32 games.

[TheCrew07]

Prospect Hot Sheet Chat (May 9)

 

Greg T. (Twin Cities): Why are the Cardinals bringing up Joey Butler (and Grichuk earlier), when they have two far superior hitters/players in Taveras and Piscotty???

 

Vincent Lara-Cinisomo: Hi Greg, It's simply a matter of playing time. Meaning, what's available vs. what the time wants those players to have. The Cardinals have a backlog of outfielders in the majors, Triple-A and Double-A. At this point, they want Taveras to get "a lot" more time in center field, in GM John Mozeliak's words, before he's considered for a callup. Butler's already 28 and profiles as an extra outfielder, so playing time is not an issue. Grichuk was hitting well at the time of his recall, and with Bourjos struggling, it was an easy decision to give him time. He's far more experienced, Grichuk, at this stage than Taveras, whose injuries issues have limited his time.

Kris Bryant (Tennessee): Is it possible you see me smashing bombs in Wrigley by the end of the year/Is it possible I'm up before my fellow bash brother Baez?

 

Vincent Lara-Cinisomo: Hi Kris, Thought you'd be busy knocking over fences right now. So, we've got two distinct but not entirely unrelated questions here. While it'd be neat to see Bryant aim for Waveland and Kenmore when he comes to the plate, again, there's no urgency for the team right now. Remember, Bryant's just a year removed from the University of San Diego, with just 36 games as a pro to his name before 2014. So, long answer short, not this year. I think the Cubs would have loved for Baez to take the second base job by the throat, but injuries and underperformance have slowed his roll, so to speak.

Mike (Detroit): Is Ben Lively the biggest surprise of the Minor League season? 6-0, 0.63 ERA, 54-3 (!!!) strikeout-to-walk ratio in 42 innings. Those are video-game numbers! Plus, he's doing it in the "hitter friendly" California League. Is this kid for real? Is he an early-season BA MILB Player of the Year candidate?

 

Vincent Lara-Cinisomo: Hi Mike, I'm not certain Lively's a surprise. He did pitch very well at Rookie-level Billings last season, belying an 0-3 record. He gave up just 21 hits in 37 IP and had a 49/12 SO/BB mark, so he wasn't chopped liver. Even as a college pitcher, he's young for High A ball and, as you said, he's straight-up Sega-ing batters. (I could have used an Intellivision reference, but you get the point). Yep, he's good.

[TheCrew07]

TH bringing it strong like always, nothing insightful or new. Subscriber content.

 

Hellweg Another Victim Of TJ Epidemic

May 10, 2014 by Tom Haudricourt

[TheCrew07]

Subscriber content.

 

Staying Healthy A Challenge For Cubs’ Prospects

May 10, 2014 by Gordon Wittenmyer

 

The latest of the touted prospects to hit the minor league disabled list is C.J. Edwards, the hard-throwing righthander acquired from the Rangers in the Matt Garza trade last July.

 

After a sore shoulder scuttled a scheduled side session late last month, Edwards had an MRI that revealed inflammation in the shoulder, an injury that could sideline him for two months.

 

Big league manager Rick Renteria said the organization breathed a “tremendous sigh of relief” because no structural damage was detected.

[TheCrew07]

Subscriber content.

 

Lambo In Limbo After Trade For Davis

May 10, 2014 by John Perrotto

 

• Righthander Kyle McPherson hit a major snag in his recovery from Tommy John surgery when he needed an additional operation to repair a fractured medial epicondyle in his right elbow. He will miss the entire season after pitching just twice last season for Indianapolis.

[TheCrew07]

Piscotty homers twice as Redbirds roll

Cardinals' No. 3 prospect drives in five, continues scorching May

[TheCrew07]

Stephenson delivers best outing of season

Without his fastball, Reds' top prospect keeps Pensacola off board

[TheCrew07]

As MH noted in today's LR congrats to Tyler Cravy and Jed Bradley!

 

Pitchers of the Week

For the week ending May 11

 

Rusin is technically not a prospect anymore as he has too much MLB time.

Pacific Coast League

Chris Rusin, Iowa

(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 3 K)<

Rusin had this sewed up by the time the ball had fallen into the webbing of Matt Szczur's outstretched glove last Wednesday. With that final out, the 27-year-old left-hander had completed the PCL's first no-hitter since 2009. (You can read our recap of the historic event here.) This is his second career Minor League Pitcher of the Week award with his previous honor coming in May 2012 with the I-Cubs. Rusin is 2-4 with a 3.58 ERA in six Triple-A starts this season.

Southern League

Tyler Cravy, Huntsville

(2-0, 0.69 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 1 BB, 14 K)

When the Huntsville Stars need a win, they turn to Cravy. The 24-year-old right-hander has now earned the win in five straight starts and is the Southern League leader with six wins. After starting the season in the bullpen, Cravy reached season highs with seven innings pitched and nine strikeouts at Chattanooga on Saturday. His 1.93 ERA and 0.80 WHIP rank seventh and second, respectively, in the Southern League.

Texas League

Kyle Hald, Springfield

(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 1 BB, 7 K)

After struggling through his worst Minor League season (5-8, 4.42 ERA in 24 starts) at Class A Advanced Palm Beach in 2013, Hald bounced back nicely in his return to the FSL, going 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in two starts there. He moved up to Double-A ball in late April and has been even better there, capped by his performance Tuesday against Tulsa. The 24-year-old left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA, 19 strikeouts and a .195 batting average-against in four starts (22 1/3 innings) with Springfield.

Florida State League

Jed Bradley, Brevard County

(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 7 K)

In case it wasn't evident yet, it is now: Jed Bradley seems to have this Florida State League thing figured out. Now in his third season with Brevard County, the 6-foot-4 left-hander is collecting his second Pitcher of the Week award of both the season and his career following a 6 2/3-inning scoreless performance against Daytona. He ranks second in the FSL with 42 strikeouts in 39 innings and ranks fourth with a 1.00 WHIP, thanks to only seven walks in that span.

[TheCrew07]

Chris McFarland's award was also noted in the LR by MH!

 

Offensive Players of the Week

For the week ending May 11

 

Southern League

Kris Bryant, Tennessee

(.464/.516/.929, 7 G, 13-for-28, 1 2B, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R, 2 BB, 8 K)

We knew Bryant was supposed to be good -- he was the second pick in the Draft last year, after all -- but the speed with which he is tearing through the Minors is startling nonetheless. The 22-year-old third baseman owns a .331/.437/.624 line in the Southern League after a dominant week that saw him club four homers. No one in the Minors scored more often than Bryant did last week and only one collected more than Bryant's 14 RBIs. Wednesday was a career night for the Cubs prospect as he went deep twice and drove in six runs, but he had four other multi-hit games during the week. Bryant still strikes out in more than 27 percent of his at-bats and has benefitted from a .425 average on balls in play, but those are minor caveats in the face of his excellence.

Midwest League

Chris McFarland, Wisconsin

(.440/.500/.880, 6 G, 11-for-25, 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB, 5 K, 3 SB)

McFarland is another player who is repeating a level with great success. An 18th-round pick in 2011, McFarland hit just .238/.298/.358 in 87 games with the Timber Rattlers last year. This season he's batting .298/.370/.538 and has already doubled last season's home run and stolen base total with six dingers and 14 steals in only 32 games. Two of those homers came against Cedar Rapids during a three-game set this weekend in which the 21-year-old infielder went 7-for-14 with six runs scored.

[TheCrew07]

Pipeline Perspectives: Cubs need Jackson in Draft

High school catcher/outfielder should be Chicago's top target with No. 4 pick

[TheCrew07]

Grichuk could be power source for Cardinals

Outfield prospect an aggressive hitter who has potential as run producer

[TheCrew07]

Pipeline Perspectives: Gordon fits for Cubs at No. 4

Chicago would be wise to consider high school shortstop in First-Year Player Draft