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Pitching Prospect of the Day: Drake Britton, LHP, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; easy plus fastball; developing slider; average changeup; potential back-end starter or late-inning reliever.

Position Prospect of the Day: Byron Buxton, CF, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 5-6, 2B, 2 3B, 3 R, RBI. The tools are absolutely ridiculous. I have spoken with a few scouts who have seen him, and everything comes back positive. Take a look at what Jason Parks wrote for more info on Buxton; .487/.556/.641 with 2 2B, 2 3B, and 6 stolen-bases in last 39 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances on June 5:

“The Good”

  • Ronald Guzman, 1B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI; plus-plus potential hit tool; easy plus power potential; below-average runner; defensive profile will put pressure on bat; second game back from the disabled-list. Take a look at what Jason Cole had to say about him in a recent Ten Pack.
  • Maxwell Muncy, 1B, Athletics (High-A Stockton): 3-5, 3 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, K; potential plus power; advanced hitter; hit tool should allow him to tap into raw power; limited to first base defensively; will have to reach offensive ceiling to fit the profile.
  • Jorge Polanco, 2B/SS, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 4-6, 2 2B, R, 4 RBI, BB; potential solid-average hit tool; solid-average runner; solid-average defensive ability at second; gap power that will provide plenty of doubles.
  • Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Pirates (Double-A Altoona): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; easy plus fastball; solid-average changeup; yet to find a consistent breaking ball; acquired for Joel Hanrahan in the offseason.
  • Cesar Puello, OF, Mets (Double-A Binghamton): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB. Puello has hit a home run in three consecutive games. The Mets have been vigorously working to calm down Puello’s swing mechanics in order to help him utilize natural ability; 8-for-13 with 3 2B and 3 HR in last three games.
  • Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; plus fastball; plus slider; average curveball; inconsistent changeup; stuff will tick up in bursts; best fit may be as a late-inning reliever.
  • Robbie Ray, LHP, Nationals (High-A Potomac): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; easy plus fastball; fringy slider; developing changeup; fastball velocity has taken a large step forward in 2013.
  • Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K; plus fastball; slider and changeup will both be usable major-league pitches; limited ceiling; back-end profile; 20.1 IP, 15 H, 3 ER, 7 BB, 13 K in last three starts.
  • Nick Williams, OF, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 3-5, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI; potential plus hit tool; solid-average power; developing defensive ability; stock on the rise.

“The Bad”

  • Tyson Gillies, CF, Phillies (Double-A Reading): 0-5, 3 K. Gillies was included in the Cliff Lee trade, and was viewed as a toolsy outfielder who needed to slow the game down. Well, a few years later, Gillies still has not slowed the game down.
  • Courtney Hawkins, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 0-3, BB, 3 K. Hawkins may end up getting his own section in this column full time. His production can only be described as “bi-polar”.
  • Jason Martinson, SS, Nationals (High-A Potomac): 0-4, 2 K. Martinson has plenty of tools, but is a touch on the older side and lacks polish.
  • Rougned Odor, 2B, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 0-4, 2 K. Rough night for Odor, but overall he has done an excellent job at the plate this season.

“The Ugly”

Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Low-A Hickory): 0-5, R, 3 K. As I have previously stressed, Gallo will have many days like this. The major concern I had when I saw him was that he was looking to pull everything and had no intention of taking anything to the opposite field.

Thank you for reading

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zasxcdfv
6/06
"Rough night for Odor" - pun intended? If so, bravo.
newsense
6/07
Yeah, Odor really stunk.
spundin
6/06
At this rate do you see a Jason Heyward type progression where he's in AA and possibly starting next year for them if he keeps these #s up?
mort10
6/07
To my knowledge the plan was to let him hit the entire season in Low-A. I'm not sure the Twins even thought he would come out and tear the league up like he has. I would think he spends a month in High-A at the end of this year, and starts there next season.
hyprvypr
6/06
What is the attrition rate for guys like Buxton? Do players at low-A frequently bust, even with those extreme tools? We all realize the upside is tremendous, an MVP type, HOF-type player, but how often do they fail to even reach the MLB level as a decent player? My hunch is more than 50%, not that I'm rooting against him.

Every baseball fan wants to see prospects succeed, myself included.
mort10
6/07
I agree with your thinking. It is not 100% that Buxton will be a role 7 or above player. The tools are crazy, but he will need to prove he can hit quality pitching(Double-A). I believe he will be able to, but until he does so we have unanswered questions.
Schere
6/06
What is it that caps the upside of 20 yo Eduardo Rodriguez?
mort10
6/07
sorry for not getting back to this quickly, but I don't project him to have a plus secondary offering. In addition, he commands his fastball well, but it is not something that will miss a ton of bats. He will be a very useful starting pitcher.
MaineSkin
6/11
Guzman on video make Gallo look bad. Easier swing with better control of the barrel, is this kid a Hickory year away from top 50? I do not see Brinson's bat when he swings and the best was an oppo field HR where he just let the swing and bat do the work. If this little trend of BBs continue, are we watching BJ Upton part II except a future in a top 3 ML park for hitters?