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Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 3-for-5, 2 2B, R, RBI, SB CS

It's fun to get a new prospect before the draft and international signing period, and that's what we have in Martin, who signed a five year deal out of Cuba that included a $5 million bonus. After getting his feet wet in extended spring training, the 23-year-old made a dynamic pro debut last night, but let's temper expectations a bit. He's not a toolsy monster as much as he's a classic centerfielder with above-average speed and defensive skills. He's not Carlos Beltran, he's more the player people hoped Julio Borbon could be with a better approach. He's good, but tap on the breaks a bit, folks.

Others Of Note:

  • Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-3, 2B, R, 3 BB, K. Starting to show some signs of life with .319/.450/.596 mark in 12 May games; maybe they just shouldn't play him in April after two straight brutal starts.
  • Brandon Allen, 1B, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 3-for-4, 2 HR (5), 3 R, 3 RBI, BB. At times, I get the idea that he's not getting another shot in Arizona no matter how well he hits; .310/.400/.532 in 34 games.
  • Yonder Alonso, 1B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-3, 2 BB. On base 14 times in last five games to up averages to .322/.378/.534 in 31 games; deserves big league look in left field.
  • Tim Beckham, SS, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, K, SB. 12-for-26 (.462) in last seven games and .302/.378/.397 in 33 games; scouts note true progress at the plate, but is it enough?
  • Charlie Blackmon, OF, Rockies (Triple-A Colorado Springs): 3-for-4, 2B, HR (7), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K. While .317/.388/.570 line in 35 games looks like a breakout year at first glance, .290/.351/.464 road numbers a better gauge of his true talent.
  • Bobby Borchering, 3B/1B, Diamondbacks (High-A Visalia): 3-for-5, K. 20-for-53 (.377) in last 13 games and .276/.315/.433 overall; continues to split time between both corner infield slots with Matt Davidson, while neither looks good at the hot corner.
  • Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox (Low-A Greenville): 4-for-6, 4 R, RBI, SB. Want a brief, but insane run? How about 14 hits and 24 total bases in just four games? .393/.448/.679 overall, and adds solid all-around tools to go with the bat.
  • Yordy Cabrera, SS, Athletics (Low-A Burlington): 2-for-3, HR (2), R, 2 RBI, BB, K. He's been rough around the edges at shortstop, but that bat his impressed; .293/.363/.463 in 22 games.
  • Adrian Cardenas, 3B/OF, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 4-for-4, 2B, HR (2), 3 R, RBI. Certainly looks like he's finally solved Triple-A with .354/.407/.488 line; playing more left field than anything else, which hurts chances for big league look.
  • Zack Cox, 3B, Cardinals (High-A Palm Beach): 3-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, 3 RBI. First professional home run comes in 140th at-bat; .312/.333/.368 in 31 games as the guy can hit, but showing surprisingly little in the ways of power and patience.
  • Travis D'Arnaud, C, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire): 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, 3 RBI. Hitting well since returning from the disabled list (again), but still at just .230/.277/.393 on the season.
  • Khris Davis, OF, Brewers (High-A Brevard County): 2-for-4, HR (7), R, 2 RBI, K. Home runs in back-to-back games and .315/.367/.568 in 31 games; a bit old for the level, but keeps on hitting.
  • Robbie Erlin, LHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K. Arguably has the best peripherals in the minors at 42 IP, 17 H, 5 BB, 47 K; also outdueled Indians prospect Drew Pomeranz.
  • Pedro Florimon, SS, Orioles (Double-a Bowie): 2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI. BB. Remains a nice sleeper with .260/.357/.410 line in 32 games and very good defense.
  • Nick Franklin, SS, Mariners (High-A High Desert): 3-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Still waiting on the breakout; .245/.371/.400 in 29 games.
  • Todd Frazier, 3B, Reds (Triple-A Louisville): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (8), R, 2 RBI, BB. Impressive comeback season continues; 11-for-25 with 25 total bases in last five games and .283/.361/.575 overall.
  • Kyle Gibson, RHP, Twins (Triple-A Rochester): 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Not the savior in Minnesota as much as he's a middle-rotation starter who can get hit around when the command is off.
  • Michael Givens, 2B, Orioles (Low-A Delmarva): 4-for-4, 3 R, SB. Even with a flawless night, he's hitting just .186/.260/.204 in 30 games.
  • Anthony Hewitt, OF, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 3-for-5, HR (4), R, 3 RBI, K. I don't want to say he's getting it yet, but he is hitting .289/.357/.605 in 10 May games.
  • J.J. Hoover, RHP, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Yup, another good Braves pitching prospect; more command than stuff but hardly a pure finesse arm.
  • Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (4), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, K. .296/.414/.472 line in 34 games; deserves a big league look now that the bloom is off the Sam Fuld rose.
  • Erik Komatsu, OF, Brewers (Double-A Huntsville): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (2), 2 R, RBI. He's little, he's not especially good against lefties and he doesn't have power, but he's a good runner with excellent contact skills and batting .347/.438/.495 in 28 games.
  • Alex Liddi, 3B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 2-for-6, 2B, HR (7), 2 R, RBI, 2 K. Five home runs in last 12 games and slugging .627 in May.
  • Matt Lipka, SS/2B, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-for-6, 3 R, RBI, CS. Top Atlanta pick from 2010 draft was in 4-for-40 slump before last night; .231/.295/.231 in 32 games. That's right, 31 hits, all singles.
  • Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 3-for-4, HR (5), R, 5 RBI, BB. Hitting .336/.370/.545 while showing his usual plus defense at third base. Only three months older than Brentz, and a much better prospect.
  • Andrew Miller, LHP, Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket): 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 6 K. International League is hitting just .143 against him, but he's also walked 24 in 30.2 innings.
  • Jesus Montero, C, Yankees (High-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 1-for-4, HR (2), R, 3 RBI, 2 K. First home run in 25 games; .327/.347/.425 overall.
  • Gift Ngoepe, SS/2B, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): 3-for-5, R. Sleeper Alert! 21-year-old South African is good athlete who is still learning the game; .316/.373/.487 in 23 games.
  • Juan Nicasio, RHP, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K. 1.90 ERA in seven starts; average stuff that plays up on plus command and control.
  • Roy Oswalt, RHP, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Velocity rarely topped 90 in rehab outing.
  • Chris Parmelee, 1B, Twins (Double-A New Britain): 3-for-3, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB. Fomer first-round pick is batting .331/.399/.480 in 32 games; still just in Double-A in his sixth pro season, so take it with a grain of salt.
  • Edward Salcedo, 3B/SS, Braves (Low-A Rome): 3-for-6, 2 R, 3 RBI. Last year there was just tools, but now there are tools and performance; 7-for-12 in last three games and .311/.391/.451 overall.
  • Julio Teheran, RHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 7.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 7 K. Career-high 120 pitches.
  • Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 1-for-2, HR (1), 2 R, RBI, BB, K. First rehab game.
  • Cory Vaughn, OF, Mets (Low-A Savannah): 3-for-4, 2 BB. Certainly hitting and getting on base, but just one home run in 111 at-bats for weird line of .333/.460/.441 in 33 games; scouts are crazy mixed on him.

Thank you for reading

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uptick
5/13
Kevin -- thanks for the update on Brandon Allen...inquiring minds wonder about the Snakes mindset wrt to Allen... Branyan and Miranda each have BA's less than .220, so can someone remind me why Allen is down at Reno?
kgoldstein
5/13
Seems like his big league failures built a very big doghouse.
mmontice
5/13
It's not like that team is going anywhere this year, so even if they think he doesn't have what it takes to make it in the big leagues long term, why not call him up June 1st and keep your fingers crossed? As mentioned by Wade, its not like he can do any worse than Branyan and Miranda have so far this year.

Also, if they are hoping Branyan can turn it around so they can trade him for 1-2 C-Level prospects and save some bread, his long history of up and (mostly) down years says that might never happen.
pobothecat
5/13
Saw a Kevin Towers quote today re: Wily Mo --- something to the effect of 'We're very aware of what he's doing in Reno. Problem is, what we really need up here is a left-handed bat.'

Parra, Mirandyan, Drew, Montero, K. Johnson --- now the resistance to B.A --- just doesn't add up, does it?

Is it possible that he's trying to move Brandon Allen for a young arm he likes and doesn't want to put another 'fail' on the kid's resume? Only thing I can think of.
FelixPieInTheSky
5/13
Kevin, have you heard anything about Brett Jackson's injury?
kgoldstein
5/13
Jammed his finger pretty good, going to be a week or so.
fantasyking
5/13
So am I the only one outraged that the Braves let Teheran throw 120 pitches? And then Frank Wren bragged about encouraging it?

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20110512&content_id=18987806¬ebook_id=18991926&vkey=notebook_atl&c_id=atl
leites
5/13
Another fun read - thanks, Kevin!

If everything works out for Leonys Martin, do you think he could eventually hit 15 HRs a year, playing in Arlington?
pobothecat
5/13
Similar curiosity. My brief reading on him suggested more-than-Borbonish power.
kgoldstein
5/13
I think 10-15 is the range.
pobothecat
5/13
24 stolen bases in four games???? Seriously, how is that even possible?
JoshuaGB
5/13
I think it was 24 total bases (don't worry, I read it the same way at first)
alskor
5/13
To be fair, 24 total bases is almost as silly.
pobothecat
5/13
ohhhh. that does make more ... uh, okay, anyway, I'll be ... uh ...
JoshuaGB
5/13
Kevin, any news from the A's Chris Carter? He showed so much potential to be at least a poor man's Ryan Howard, and I haven't heard a thing from him this year. What gives?
gwguest
5/13
He's hitting .143 with a .346 Slugging and only two home runs this season in 65 PA. Combine that with 30.8% K rate, and you will get radio silence on a prospect.
benharris
5/13
He also injured his thumb and hasn't played since April 20.
JoshuaGB
5/13
Yeah, I suppose that would do it. Here's hoping it is just the thumb.
mattp31
5/13
He's out with I believe a thumb injury in AAA Sacramento
ultimatedub
5/13
How long should they stick with Givens before trying him as a pitcher? Two years, assuming similar slash lines?
gwguest
5/13
Seeking clarification:

When you say that a guy like Pedro Florimon is a sleeper, do you mean that he has a chance to make it as a everyday MLB player or something more (or less)?
kgoldstein
5/13
It pretty much just means here's an under-the-radar guy for your perusal. It doesn't have specific meaning other than, hey, this guy might be better than you think. In Florimon's case, I think he has at least a shot at second-division starter.
gwguest
5/14
Thanks for the clarity. It's always fun to see guys like Florimon get another mention after one early last year.
georgeforeman03
5/13
In the past, you've listed Salcedo as a 3B, but above he's 3B/SS. Any chance he can actually make the bigs as a SS?
kgoldstein
5/13
Outside shot. They're doing a rotation thing at Rome with him, Lipka and Elmer Reyes, but it's not every three days, it's every player spending two weeks there and then splitting up at 2B/3B.
georgeforeman03
5/13
Is it because they view all 3 as legit prospects? (I've never heard of Reyes.) Or do they just want Lipka and Salcedo to have some flexibility down the road in case they don't stick at SS?
kgoldstein
5/13
It's a little bit of both, but I don't like the plan at all.
carp1626
5/13
Do sabermetric savy scouts use stats from incomplete games that end up being suspended and otherwise forgotten? For instance Wil Myers hit a homerun last night, if a scout is at the game he is going to make note of it, but do SABR people use it too?
kgoldstein
5/13
All I have are official stats to go on.
Nevy72
5/13
I heard Nicasio was hitting mid 90's with his fastball, how is that average stuff?
kgoldstein
5/13
If you want to say average-to-plus, that's fine. He's generally 90-92.
mrenick
5/14
Nicasio was pumping 92 regularly by the stadium gun last night. the gun at the park is generally considered to be about 2mph slow. He was 88-89 (stadium gun) during the first inning but started hitting low 90's in the second.
wombat104
5/13
Andy Dirks called up today to take Maggs spot (DL). He was a Leyland favorite during spring training, will be interesting to see what happens. Probably nothing more than a 4th OF, but you never know.
BobbyMcNeill
5/14
love the updates Kevin! Montero's not really at High-A is he?? assume that's a typo.
sephrath
5/15
typo... scranton is AAA
mpfaelzer
5/15
Kevin,

what's the latest on Brandon Belt?

Thanks,

Mike