Gustavo Nunez, SS, Tigers (High-A Lakeland): 5-for-6
Nunez had a breakout season in 2009, when he hit .315/.360/.425 in the Midwest League, but everything crashed to the ground last year when he collapsed to .222/.263/.281 in the Florida State League. A bit old for the league as a 23-year-old repeater, he's suddenly looking like the 2009 version, going 12-for-25 in his last five games to lift his season averages to .363/.411/.559 in 24 games. An above-average defensive shortstop with plus speed, nearly anything with the bat could put him on a much faster track.
Allen Webster, RHP, Dodgers (High-A Rancho Cucamonga): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
The No. 7 prospect in the Dodgers system, Webster doesn't get much hype, but he's a highly mature product for 21, with all of his pitches rating as average-to-plus, and an especially impressive changeup. He's allowed just one run over 18 innings in his last three starts, but what makes the run so impressive is that the last two outings, which consist of 15 strikeouts over 11 shutout innings, took place at High Desert and Lancaster, the two best hitting environments in all of the minor leagues. He deserves pitcher of the week in all of the minors just for that accomplishment.
Others Of Note:
- Scott Beerer, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-3, HR (4), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB. 28-year-old converted pitcher is a bat-only guy; 11-for-18 in last five games and .313/.352/.552 on the season.
- Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K. Arm still getting stretched out in just third start of the season.
- Robert Bundy, RHP, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 8 K. The next Orioles right-hander with a power sinker; 30 strikeouts in 24.2 innings but secondary stuff needs work.
- Yordy Cabrera, SS, Athletics (Low-A Burlington): 3-for-7, 2B, R, RBI, 2 K, SB. Supplemental first-round pick seems to be finding his swing; 7-for-14 in last three games and up to .283/.328/.417.
- Dusty Coleman, SS, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 2-for-6, HR (4), 2 R, RBI, 3 K. Home runs in three of last four games and up to .288/.375/.490; could go from sleeper to prospect quickly at this pace.
- Rubby De La Rosa, RHP, Dodgers (Double-A Chattanooga): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Hardest thrower in the Dodgers system has been consistently touching the upper 90s with some triple digit readings on the gun; some scouts still like him better in the bullpen and think he could pitch there now in the big leagues.
- Randall Delgado, RHP, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Complete game victory in double-header game; 2.51 ERA in six starts and scouts so a No. 3 big league starter as his floor.
- Neftali Feliz, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. He's just fine.
- Reymond Fuentes, OF, Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore): 2-for-5, 2B, K, SB. Eleven multi-hit games in 23 starts and overall line of .313/.343/.404; needs a more patient approach to profile as leadoff hitter.
- Cole Gillespie, OF, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno) 2-for-5, 3B, SB. Not an especially good prospect, nor an especially fast one, but that's nine triple in 24 games as part of .396/.473/.677 season line.
- Cameron Greathouse, LHP, Cubs (Low-A Peoria): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K. Talked about as a sleeper on this week's podcast; potential left on left specialist.
- Grant Green, SS, Athletics (Double-A Midland): 3-for-5. Officially white-hot; 20-for-43 during ten-game hitting streak and .288/.344/.405 overall.
- Matt Harvey, RHP, Mets (High-A St. Lucie): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K. Recovers from his one bad start with a doozy; 1.10 ERA in six games with 39 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.
- L.J. Hoes, 2B, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 5-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI. Bouncing back from horrible start and one great night puts him up to .263/.311/.411.
- Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 3-for-5, RBI, BB, K. It's getting a bit ridiculous; 19-for-31(.613) in last eight games and .439/.525/.582 overall as the pressure rises in Kansas City.
- Jiwan James, OF, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): Tools are still nuts, but how long to we wait for them to click? 11-for-29 during six-game hitting streak and .280/.327/.400 on the season.
- Casey Kelly, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio): 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K. Longest start as a Padre and 10 groundball outs; 3.78 ERA in six starts.
- John Lamb, LHP, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K. Second straight excellent start as he's finally 100%.
- Jordon Lyles, RHP, Astros (Triple-A Oklahoma City): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K. Triple-A struggles seem to be behind him; 19 IP, 11 H, 4 BB, 20 K in last three starts.
- Matt Moore, LHP, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K. Best start of the season lowers ERA to 4.60, but peripherals, including 41 strikeouts and just six walks in 29.1 innings, have been outstanding all year.
- Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas): 3-for-4, K. Back in action after missing more than a week; .283/.328/.434 in 14 games.
- Tyler Pastornicky, SS, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, K; 3-for-5, 2B, HR (2), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. Power isn't part of his package, but home runs in back-to-back games and 11-for-24 in last five; .310/.364/.430 overall as true defensive shortstop with plus speed.
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Padres (Triple-A Tucson): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (9), R, 3 RBI. Home runs in back-to-back games as .402/.458/.757 overall; some of it is the park, but some of it is real growth as well as he's learning to hit for both average and power.
- Mike Ryal, LHP, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K. Six-foot-five lefty with command and deception on average velocity fastball; could have relief possibilities down the road.
- Adrian Salcedo, RHP, Twins (Low-A Beloit): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Low-90s fastball plays way up due to movement and command; trouble with breaking ball projection could limit him to No. 3 ceiling.
- Mike Trout, OF, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): 3-for-4, RBI, CS. Back-to-back three hit games and .316/.379/.557 overall; strange that he has just four stolen bases, though.
- Joe Wieland, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K. Hardly the sexiest arm in the system, but pounds the strike zone with three average-to-plus pitches and has 41 strikeouts against just three walks in 31 innings.
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But yeah, I totally called it.
I suspect the players who gain Super-2 status are relatively nondescript relief pitchers and utility infielders/4th outfielder types - the guys that teams aren't really *worried* about gaining Super-2 status. Unless there's some change in the number of those types of players in a given year, teams are probably going to be safe waiting until ~June 1 to bring up Buster Posey, Eric Hosmer, et al.
Would like to know if I'm wrong on that, though. :)
I commend them for their patience, but the Padres production at 1b is getting ridiculous...