Lefty Daniel Norris is beginning to put together the pieces that could eventually help him make good on the Blue Jays' $2 million investment.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Daniel Norris, LHP, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K. Well, well, well, this is the Daniel Norris we all expected to see after he received a $2 million bonus after the 2011 draft. I saw him for a three-inning miniature stint this spring, the smallest of sample sizes. The fastball can touch plus velocities; curveball flashes plus; changeup can flash plus. The problem was that everything could just leave him in one pitch. He would go from “oh man” (in a good way) to “oh man” (in an awful way) in a spam of three pitches. I am still a believer. The stuff is still there, and I believe he can put it together; 34.1 IP, 41 H, 26 ER, 21 BB, 38 K in 10 outings.
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Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez has made some swing adjustments that could turn him into a big-league regular.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Reno): 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K; potential solid-average fastball; easy plus curveball; average changeup; early-season struggles in the PCL; profiles as a very good number-three starter.
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Marlins lefty Andrew Heaney impressed in his 2013 debut, fanning nine in 4 1/3 innings.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Andrew Heaney, LHP, Marlins (High-A Jupiter): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K; potential plus fastball; potential plus curveball; potential average changeup; first start of the 2013 season.
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Carlos Contreras delivered a dominant outing for the Reds' High-A affiliate, but his future is likely in the bullpen.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Carlos Contreras, RHP, Reds (High-A Bakersfield): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K; potential plus fastball; potential plus changeup; fringy curveball; below-average command; most believe his future is in the bullpen.
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Reds outfielder Jesse Winker has good offensive upside, but will need to reach his ceiling to be an everyday player.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Neil Ramirez, RHP, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 11 K; plus fastball; potential plus slider; inconsistent changeup; get-me-over curveball; stuff will tick up in bursts; back-end starter or possible setup man; 43.0 IP, 21 H, 14 ER, 18 BB, 55 K in eight starts.
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Diamondbacks righty Archie Bradley is soaring toward the top of prospect lists with electric stuff and excellent numbers to prove it.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Archie Bradley, RHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; top-notch pitching arsenal; plus-plus fastball; potential plus-plus curveball; solid-average changeup; big, athletic frame; stock on the rise; could be a top-10 overall prospect; 42.2 IP, 29 H, 5 ER, 16 BB, 63 K in eight starts at two levels this year.
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Evaluators are mixed on Jesus Aguilar's ceiling, but he looked the part of a future regular last night.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Max Fried, LHP, Padres (Low-A Fort Wayne): 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 8 K; polished high-school arm; plus fastball; plus-plus curveball; changeup could be solid-average; started a no-hitter on this evening; room to add mass to his frame; number-two-starter ceiling; 19.0 IP, 17 H, 8 ER, 10 BB, 22 K in four starts.
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Rays lefty Blake Snell is beginning to turn heads for Low-A Bowling Green.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Blake Snell, LHP, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K; fastball has easy plus potential; slider and changeup both have plus potential; command is developing; get on board, the stock has two arrows pointing up; 25.2 IP, 23 H, 8 ER, 16 BB, 34 K in six starts.
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Christian Yelich showed off his plus-plus hit tool in a five-knock effort for Double-A Jacksonville.
Pitching Prospect of the Day: Alec Asher, RHP, Rangers (High-A Myrtle Beach): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K; big frame; fastball can reach plus velocity; will need to locate because it can straighten out on him; slider with plus potential; curveball and changeup both developing into major-league-quality pitches; thanks to my good friend Jason Cole for the info.
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Minor League Update: Games of Thursday, May 23
Surprise Me!