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June 16, 2009

Minor League Update

June 16

by Kevin Goldstein

Where experience and readiness collide

Mat Latos, RHP, Padres (Double-A San Antonio)
Monday's stats: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 12 K
The Padres' top prospect finally got touched up for a few runs on Monday night, but still, it's hard to get more dominant than 12 of 16 outs coming via the whiff. The six-foot-six righty got up to 96 mph on several occasions. With Jake Peavy out of the picture for quite a while, it seems way too early to give Latos, who has less than 170 innings of pro experience a big league look . . . or does it?

Delayed arrival

Austin Jackson, OF, Yankees (Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre)
Monday's stats: 3-for-4, 2B
With Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera doing a serviceable job as the Yankees' center field tandem, one can't help but wonder is Jackson would be an upgrade. While it's unlikely that he's in line for anything more than a September call-up, the top prospect in the Yankee system is stating his case for something earlier, as he has hit at least .328 in every month of the year as part of an overall line of .345/.415/.459 while going a perfect 12-for-12 in the stolen base department.

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11 comments have been left for this article.

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danbrod11

(9936)

Kevin,
Any concern that Austin Jackson has K'd 62 times in 229 AB and has only 1 HR on the year and only 20 extra base hits total?

Jun 16, 2009 10:12 AM

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battlekow

(31681)

Not to mention his .470 BABIP. Luck- and park-adjusted line, courtesy of Minor League Splits: .253/.333/.341.

Jun 16, 2009 10:57 AM

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nickwynne

(13339)

So I guess the question re: Darnell is, why is Forsythe still at High-A when the Padres have two under-performing 3B at San Antonio?

Jun 16, 2009 10:19 AM

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erniepoe

(8192)

Kevin,
Thanks for the update on Neal! I've been to a few SJ Giants games to watch Bumgarner, Posey, Villalona and the crew (I saw Bumgarner's first start of the year), and Neal is a guy who I saw really good things from, but since he wasn't on any prospect lists (despite being only 21 years old), I figured I was just seeing a fluke. Glad to see the cat is out of the bag, as I was going to e-mail you and ask you about why he wasn't more highly thought of... Question answered! Again, LOVE this column.

K

Jun 16, 2009 10:22 AM

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boards

(10244)

I was at the game last night and Latos was literally unhittable for the first 4 innings, retiring the first 12 batters. The only well-hit ball all night was the leadoff double in the fifth. It was followed by bloop single to plate the run and the second run scored on a sacrifice bunt that Latos threw into right field allowing th runner to score all the way from first. The third run in the sixth came on two singles and a sac fly.

I sat behind the plate and while I am not a scout nor do I even have enough experience to know the first thing about pitching, Latos looked great. His fastball had plenty of movement and was sitting around 93 while hitting 96 as Kevin mentioned. He was getting plenty of strikeouts looking on fastballs and his breaking stuff had several hitters fooled. Einertson struck out twice on breaking balls that just looked filthy.

He did seem to let the hits ruffle him a bit before he put it back together.

Jun 16, 2009 10:28 AM

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billm21

(35836)

The Padres aren't going anywhere this year, so they really have no big incentive to rush Latos. I don't see a reason to give him a big league look any time before September, although I would enjoy seeing how he would do given the opportunity. I just think it would be prudent to let him continue developing in AA.

Jun 16, 2009 11:32 AM

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G. Guest

(44778)

I have no data on this, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see the Padres take a chance on giving Will Inman a taste of the bigs.

Again, this is nothing but a hunch.

Jun 16, 2009 12:13 PM

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G. Guest

(44778)

I just noticed today that Inman has been promoted to AAA and isn't doing very well. There's no reason to promote him over Latos.

Jun 17, 2009 06:44 AM

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G. Guest

(44778)

BTW, I love the A and AA profiles.

Jun 16, 2009 12:15 PM

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rotosavant

(18313)

I wonder if Austin Jackson's drop in (already marginal) power this year is more of a function of approach than abilities. Kevin -- can you shed any light on whether he is being groomed as an OB/lead-off guy such that he has stopped trying to swing from the fences? If so, he's following direction well.

I've only seen limited ABs from last year and this year, and his swing seems more LD oriented.

Jun 16, 2009 12:32 PM

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Adam Hobson

(29493)

I've read somewhere that the Yankees emphasize approach and good at bats down at the minors and they figure they power will come from that, if it is ever to come. I also think the minor league environments he's played in have helped either, as the majority of the Yankee affiliates play in pitchers parks in pitchers leagues (which is kinda why Yankee pitching prospects get overrated (Joba, IPK, Hughes), while their hitting ones (Cano, Melky) seem to come from nowhere.

That all said, I've often wondered if Austin Jackson has been a bit overrated. His ceiling to me just seems to be that of an average center field bat. That's nothing to sneeze at, but he's also not going to be another Grady Sizemore or Matt Kemp. I definitely don't consider him the Yanks top prospect anymore as that honor goes to Jesus Montero, and I kinda also like both Zach McAllister and Austin Romine (average catcher > average center fielder) more than Jackson at this point as well.

Jun 16, 2009 16:11 PM

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<< Previous Article

Under The Knife: Big N... (06/15)

<< Previous Column

Minor League Update: J... (06/15)

Next Column >>

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Next Article >>

BP Fantasy Beat: Oppon... (06/16)

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