Big man, big bat
Brandon Allen, 1B, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte)
Monday’s stats: 3-for-5, HR (1), 3 RBI, K
One can read a lot of things into Allen’s move up to Triple-A. He was having a good year at Double-A (.290/.372/.452), but he wasn’t killing it, so was this a roster numbers game, a precursor to a possible big league look, or none of the above? No matter what, the big, beefy slugger is enjoying his new digs, going 8-for-14 with two doubles and a home run in his first four games for the Knights, while earning plenty of accolades from scouts, some of whom see him as an above-average big league first baseman down the road.
Here we go again
Homer Bailey, RHP, Reds (Triple-A Louisville)
Monday’s stats: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K
It’s another one of our two or three annual teases by the guy who every once in a while still looks like one of the best young arms around. In his last five starts, Bailey has allowed just two runs over 38 1/3 innings, while striking out 38 and walking just seven. He’s probably going to get yet another look, but trying to figure out if this is the time he figures it out is a roll of the dice at this point.
Get ready for another roll
Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins (Double-A Jacksonville)
Monday’s stats: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 R, RBI, BB, K
After slugging 39 home runs this year, Stanton mashed out 12 in his first 180 Florida State League at-bats which, when taken into context, might actually be the more impressive feat. Moved to Double-A at the beginning of the month, Stanton got off to a slow start for the Suns, but he’s starting to come around, going deep in back-to-back games. Have we mentioned that he’s only 19? This is a monster prospect, maybe the best pure power hitter in the minors today.
Moved up too quickly, but could be back soon
Daniel Schlereth, LHP, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile)
Monday’s stats: 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Called up to the big leagues less than year following his first-round selection, Schlereth wasn’t quite ready for the show, putting up a 9.64 ERA in six games, but he wasn’t exactly overmatched either, striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings. Sent back to Double-A, he’s certainly making a run for another shot, striking out 10 of the 21 batters he’s faced since returning to the big leagues. He’s really just some control issues from becoming a dominating big league arm, as his 92-95 mph fastball with remarkable life is a truly nasty pitch, while his power curve generates plenty of swings and misses itself.
Are the stats finally catching up to the stuff?
Garrett Mock, RHP, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse)
Monday’s stats: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K
Mock has confounded scouts for years now. A third-round pick by Arizona in 2004, Mock has a power frame and pure power stuff, but the performances have never really come close to approaching the scouting reports, as he entered the season with a career minor league ERA of 4.21. The Nationals experimented for a while with him as a reliever, but now he’s back in his original role, and might be putting it all together. In five starts for the Chiefs, he has a 2.30 ERA and 35 whiffs in 27 1/3 innings.
Sleeper alert!
Jordan Parraz, OF, Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
Monday’s stats: 2-for-3, HR (7), R, 2 RBI, BB
A third-round pick by the Astros in 2004, Parraz is a 6-foot-3, 220 pound athlete with gap power, above-average speed and a fantastic arm, but it took him forever to get going in the Houston system, as he didn’t get to Low-A until his fourth full season as he ended up moving to Kansas City in a low-profile deal for Tyler Lumsden. While he’s more than a bit old for a prospect, getting his first taste of the upper levels while turning 25 in October, Parraz is having suddenly having a career year, batting .358/.451/.553 and, unlike most late bloomers, scouts have always been intrigued by him. He’s worth keeping an eye on at the very least.
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