Future Shock Blog: Minor League Update: Games of July 27

Danny Duffy, LHP, Royals(High-A Wilmington): 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 7 K.  Back in the spring, Duffy 'retired' for a bit.  It seemed like a temporary thing the second it happened, and that turned out to be the case, as he returned by June.  Not that the Royals need another really good southpaw (Lamb, Montgomery, Dwyer), but Duffy has quickly returned to form, showing average-to-fringe-plus velocity and a very good curveball to strike out 18 in his first 14 innings while giving up just eight hits.

Ryan Kalish, OF, Red Sox(Triple-A Pawtucket): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (5), 2 R, 2 RBI, K.  He's getting better and better, hitting .337/.387/.578 in 20 July games.  He's an average centerfielder and a really good corner defender.  He has 15-20 home run power, he can steal bases, he works the count, and he hits.  There's no one crazy tool, but with no weaknesses, Kalish is greater than the sum of his parts.

Bryan Morris, RHP, Pirates(Double-A Pittsburgh): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K.  Morris gives more good news for Pirates fans, as they're already seeing the young hitters in the big leagues and now the pitchers are coming along as well.  Guys like Morris and Jeff Locke (in yesterday's report) aren't monster prospects, but they are definite upgrades over what's in the big leagues now.

Others Of Note:

• Brandon Allen, 1B/OF, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 2-for-4, HR (18), R, 3 RBI.  Seven home runs in last seven games and .265/.405/.549 overall; he is playing left field occasionally, which could increase value.
• Yonder Alonso, 1B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 4-for-6, 2B, 2 R, RBI.  He's been showing up here quite a bit of late, but he's still hitting only .277/.324/.417, and that's not very good for a first base prospect.
• J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, K.  Almost seems like an off night at this point; .311/.364/.650 overall.
• Dom Brown, OF, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valey): 2-for-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI, K.  Starting to heat up again; up to .346/.390/.561 but likely waiting until 2011 for a real chance at big league playing time.
• Lorenzo Cain, OF, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 1-for-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB.  Deserves a real big league look over Carlos Gomez.
• Chris Carter, 1B, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 2-for-4, HR (24), R, RBI, K.  Second-half surge continues; now slugging .750 since the break and .521 overall; 52 of 97 hits have gone for extra bases.
• Johermyn Chavez, OF, Mariners (High-A High Desert): 4-for-5, HR (25), R, 2 RBI, BB, K.  Yes, it's High Desert, but Chavez can't control where he plays; up to .310/.383/.576 and has hit 17 home runs in last 41 games.
• Christian Colon, SS, Royals (High-A Wilmington): 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI, K.  Royals fans can cease panicking after a slow start; batting average is up 60 points in last week to .277/.333/.376.
• Jonathan Correa, RHP, Reds (Rookie-level AZL Reds): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K.  Yet another interesting young arm in the system; 19-year-old Dominican has 25 Ks over 16 innings in last three starts thanks to 91-93 mph fastball and plus slider.
• Zach Cozart, SS, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 3-for-6, 2 R, 2 RBI, K.  Attention Reds: This guy is better than Cabrera right now.
• Kyle Drabek, RHP, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K.  Lining up for a September look?
• Lucas Duda, 1B/OF, Mets (Triple-A Buffalo): 2-for-4, HR (12), R, 3 RBI.  Twelve home runs in 134 at-bats and .313/.376/.679 overall in 36 games; it's a bit fluky, but he can really hit.
• Matt Gamel, 3B, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): 3-for-6, R, 4 RBI.  Hitting like the Gamel of old by going 12-for-24 in last five games; .300/.383/.468 overall and still a bad third baseman.
• Niko Goodrum, SS/OF, Twins (Rookie-level GCL Twins): 0-for-5, 5 Ks.  Ultra-toolsy second-round pick has had nightmarish pro debut; .143/.191/.175 with 21 whiffs in 63 at-bats.
• Greg Halman, OF, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-5, 3B, HR (23), 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 K.  Yes, he strikes out at a crazy level; but isn't there some value in a center fielder with a .251/.333/.584 line and 23 home runs in 267 at-bats?
• Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 2-for-4, HR (6), R, 3 RBI, BB.  Just absolutely exploding; home runs in three straight games and Double-A line of .348/.412/.804.
• Brandon Laird, 3B, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 2-for-4, HR (23), R, RBI, K.  On another hot streak; 10-for-18 with three home runs in last five games and .288/.352/.528 overall.
• Zach Lutz, 3B, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 3-for-4, HR (9), 3 R, 3 RBI. First Eastern League game in more than two months due to foot fracture; picking up where he left off and batting .277/.405/.531 in 36 games.
• Trevor May, RHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): Finding bearings after struggling at High-A; 42 Ks in 29 innings since moving down and still has very good stuff.
• Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 2-for-4, 2 K.  Not a pure breakout, but certainly one of the good stories in the Boston system this year; hitting .323/.357/.538 since the break and a plus defender.
• Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 0.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R (6 ER), 1 BB, 0 K.  Ouchy ouch ouch.
• Alex Presley, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB.  Like the little engine that could, 5-foot-9 outfielder hasn't slowed down at Triple-A; up to .347/.398/.559 in 31 games.
• Cesar Puello, OF, Mets (Low-A Savannah): 2-for-4.  Speedy outfielder is batting .337/.427/.432 in July; .277/.363/.344 overall with 37 stolen bases but very little power.
• Trevor Reckling, LHP, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K.  Best start since moving back to Double-A; most important thing is that he's throwing strikes.
• Aderlin Rodirugez, 3B, Mets (Rookie-level Kingsport): 1-for-4, HR (9), R, RBI, BB, K.  18-year-old Dominican went ten games without a home run; still at .304/.358/.594 in 33 games.
• Tyler Saladino, SS, White Sox (Low-A Kannapolis): 3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI.  Seventh-round pick isn't loaded with tools, but he sure can play baseball; .327/.414/.469 in 13 Low-A games.
• Xavier Scruggs, 1B, Cardinals (Double-A Springfield): 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, K.  Double-A debut after hitting .269/.345/.456 in Florida State League; real hitting skills but only a mild sleeper as he's limited to first base.
• Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 3-for-5, R.  Cooled down considerably but ten hits in last five games and still .319/.425/.536 overall.
• Miguel Velazquez, OF, Rangers (High-A Bakersfield): 3-for-5, 2 R.  Hitting .280 since promotion, but power hasn't come along from Sally League; just two home runs in 107 at-bats for .364 slugging percentage.
• Brett Wallace, 1B, Blue Jays (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-for-5, 2 R, SB.  A stolen base people! Seriously, do we have video of this?  Also, he's 16-for-36 in his last seven games and hitting .351/.383/.614 since the break.
• Sean West, LHP, Marlins (Triple-A New Orleans): 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K.  Don't forget about him; lefties with his size and arm strength remain a rarity.
• Andy Wilkins, 1B, White Sox (Rookie-level Great Falls): 3-for-5, HR (2), R, 3 RBI, K.  Fifth-round pick is a bat-only first baseman, but hitting .333/.398/.514 so far as a pro.