Minor League Review - April
With the first month completed, I thought I'd take a look at who's hot, who's not and who to keep an eye on.
Triple A - Las Vegas
Second to none - Second baseman Tony Abreu has struggled of late, but he's still hitting .344/.406/.500. Granted, the PCL favors hitters, but he's coming off a solid season in Double A last year, a strong showing in winter ball and an impressive Spring Training performance. He's been getting playing time at shortstop and third base as well, so the Dodgers may try him out at the hot corner if Betemit stays cold.
Return of the Jedi - Southpaw Greg Miller's start on April 8th was his first since the end of 2003, so there's an understandable amount of rust: he's walked 16 in 17.2 innings. However, he's been near unhittable, allowing opponents just a .111 batting average. He's also struck out 18 batters and a 2.5:1 groundball ratio. Still just 22 years old, Miller needs more time to build endurance and fine tune his mechanics before he should be considered for a spot on the big club.
It takes two - Andy LaRoche and James Loney, the Dodgers' top two hitting prospects, are struggling early. LaRoche's OPS is just over .700, while Loney's is just under. While neither are hitting for much power, both are walking enough while getting time in corner outfield spots. If LaRoche turns it around, he too could be in contention for the Dodgers' starting third base job.
Making a comeback? - After injuring his shoulder, Matt Kemp was activated from the DL and sent to Vegas due to an overcrowded bench. In his first at bat with the 51's, Kemp homered. In his next game, Kemp homered again. He's only played 6 games with the club and I dont expect him to spend much more time in the minors.
Double A - Jacksonville
Hu's the man! - Shortstop Chin Lung Hu struggled with the bat last season, mustering a line of just .254/.326/.334. However, he's really turned it around this April, hitting .337/.356/.490 while hitting 11 doubles, good for second in the league. His defense has improved as well. The one weakness in his game is his ability to draw a walk, collecting just 3 free passes in a little over 100 PA's. He's also stolen 3 bases but been caught stealing twice. I expect his average to drop, but hopefully his walks will rise.
Ragtime - Outfielder Anthony Raglani was actually demoted from Double A to High A after slumping with the bat. While he hit well in Vero, it didnt continue when he was sent back to Jacksonville. But this year is different, as Raglani has found his power stroke. Coming into the day, he was second in the league in OPS with a 1.067 mark; he's also second in the league with 6 Homeruns and leading the league with 4 triples. And while he's only hitting .267, he's drawn 15 walks in less than 100 PA's to give him an OBP of .387. Should he keep this up, Raglani could find himself in Triple A before long.
Scooter visits the DL - Lefty Scott Elbert's first two starts of the season were very promising, as he allowed a combined 3 walks while striking out 18. However, in his third outing, he walked 7 in just 3 innings and was diagnosed with tendonitis in his throwing shoulder before being placed on the DL. Scouting Director DeJon Watson said it was a precautionary measure and it's almost time for Elbert to return. Whether his new found command returns remains to be seen.
Professor X - Outfielder Xavier Paul spent 2005 and 2006 in High A Vero Beach with mixed results. He seemed to have found a niche batting leadoff, though he hasnt served that role thus far in Jacksonville. But he's been hitting well lately, raising his season line to .295/.374/.443. He's also playing centerfield and has plenty of speed to cover the amount of ground required. To go along with his plus speed, Paul has the strongest outfield arm of any Dodger farmhand. It's been a long road for a kid who was once ranked among the top 10 prospects in the system, but hopefully the 22 year old will ride this hot streak to Vegas and eventually LA.
Meloan officer - Drafted in the 5th round out of the university of Arizona in 2005, last season didnt start off well for Jon. He was sideland with soreness in his throwing arm and began the year in extended spring training. The Dodgers wanted to bring him back slowly so he began the season coming out of the bullpen. The results were immediately impressive, as his fastball jumped in velocity to the mid 90s and his curveball became a devestating breaking ball. He's parlayed his improved repetoire to becoming a dominant reliever, having struck out 19 batters in 13.1 innings while allowing just 3 ER and 2 walks. With great stuff and great control, Meloan is on the fast track to the big leagues. Expect to see him in the majors before the year is over.
Duffman returns - After going through shoulder surgery last season, Justin Orenduff came back in a limited role, piggybacking Scott Elbert as he pitched a pair of innings each time out. Prior to his injury, Orenduff worked a fastball around 90mph and a plus slider, both of which should return in time. His control has been off, as he's walked 11 men in 12 innings, but that should improve with time.
Megrew returns tew - Another pitcher who's suffered an injury, lefty Mike Megrew had Tommy John surgery following the 2004 season. After being selected by the Marlins in the 2005 Rule 5 draft, he was returned to the Dodgers and spent most of that year regaining his strength. After spending last season in Vero Beach, the 6'6 southpaw has done relatively well in his Double A debut posting a 3.76 ERA with 9 walks and 27 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. He never threw very hard, but he has a pair of reliable secondary offerings. Megrew will likely spend most of the year in Double A, though he might see time in Vegas before the season's over.
C Diddy - First baseman / DH Cory Dunlap has been struggling this season. He's hitting just .205 through the first month of the season with only 3 extra base hits. However, as to be expected, he's drawing more than enough walks. He's a prime candidate to turn it around after a subpar April.
High A - Inland Empire
April showers bring May flowers - After being converted to catcher during the offseason, Dodger officials were probably more concerned with Lucas May's defense than his bat. But he broke out in a big way this April, putting up a line of .333/.387/.667 with a share in the league lead in HR with 8. The former shortstop spent most of his time last season in the outfield before moving behind the plate. He's still raw as a backstop but has the athleticism to be at least passable defensively. His defensive flexibility leads me to believe he has a future in the bigs as a super-utility man, but if he keeps hitting like this, it will be hard to keep his bat from playing every day.
Throw the gloves down - Former third baseman and hockey player Jamie Hoffman has transitioned so well to the outfield that Baseball America ranked him as the best defensive outfielder in the system coming into the season. Despite his size at 6'3 205 lbs, Hoffman isnt a big power threat. But he's slugging .484 this year with 3 doubles and 2 HR in 18 games. Hoffman missed about a week with an injury, so hopefully he can stay healthy the rest of the season.
3 times a pitcher - A trio of righties have promising seasons ahead of them. Jesus Castillo, James McDonald and Javy Guerra have all gotten off to rocky starts, but all have promising stuff. Castillo was mentioned by name by Logan White last year as a guy to keep an eye on and that's good enough for me. McDonald, a former outfielder, has pitched very well in his last 3 outings, allowing just 4 ER and 6 walks while striking out 20 in 16 innings. Guerra, who had Tommy John surgery last year, is fighting with his control. But prior to his injury, his fastball was in the low to mid 90s and he's still only 21. The Cally league favors hitters, but all these guys have promise.
De-ouble de-trouble - Shortstop Ivan De Jesus Jr and third baseman Blake DeWitt have both struggled offensively thus far. While DeWitt has collected 10 extra base hits, he's hitting just .211 with an OBP of .255. De Jesus Jr, who drew an impressive 63 walks last year, has drawn 9 so far this season but is still hitting just .242 with no HR. He does have 4 doubles and 3 triples to go along with 3 stolen bases though. Friendly conditions should see both these infielders' numbers improve and both still have a lot of talent.
Denk Tank - Second baseman Travis Denker began the season injured, so he's only gotten 12 games in thus far. He's hitting .302/.354/.419 with 4 walks, 2 doubles and a HR. Expect the average to drop, but the OBP and SLG to improve.
Low A - Great Lakes
Special K - Being selected with the 7th overall pick last June, 6'3 lefty Clayton Kershaw came into the season with huge expectations. And he scared the hell out of everyone in his season debut, walking one more batter in less than 3 innings than he did last year in 37. But chalk it up to a Texas kid in cold weather, as Kershaw has heated up along with the weather. In his last 4 starts, he's struck out 33 batters compared to just 9 walks and 2 ER. His 1.08 ERA is 5th in the league and his 35 strikeouts are good for second. However, his 15 walks are the most in the league and after showing impeccable command in his first pro season, he's been much more wild in his second. Still, Kershaw has dominant stuff and should earn a midseason promotion to Inland Empire.
The Great Wall - A second round pick in 2005, Josh Wall became the highest selected pitcher to sign in that Dodger draft class. But his production over the last 2 seasons has been disappointing. Very projectible at 6'6 and 200 lbs, Wall's fastball has dropped from the low 90s to the high 80s and his curve, once projected as a plus pitch, is just fringe average. But after a disappointing debut, Wall has pitched pretty well. Over his last 3 starts (16.1 IP), he's struck out 16 and allowed just 1 walk. His new found command should help him turn around his pro career and hopefully he'll continue to improve as the season goes on.
Stevie Wonder - Another 2005 draft pick, Steven Johnson's most notable factoid to date was replacing the injured Joel Hanrahan in Double A last year...as an 18 year old. Though he stands about 6'0 tall and cant buy a beer yet, he pitches well beyond his years and makes the most out of his otherwise ordinary stuff. After his brief stay in Jacksonville (4.2 scoreless innings), he went to Ogden where he led the Pioneer League in strikeouts (86 in 78.2 IP). Aside from his second outing, where he allowed 4 ER in 2 innings, Johnson has been solid and should only improve. While his ceiling isnt high, he should move quickly.
No offense, but... - The biggest effect that moving the Dodgers' Low A affiliate to Michigan has had is a complete inability to get anything going on offense. The team's highest OPS belongs to shortstop Francisco Lizarraga, whose .767 mark is more due to a freakishly good start (.354 BA) than actual ability. First baseman Eduardo Perez leads the team in HR with 2, and is tied with OF Matt Berezay for the lead in doubles with 5. And the more noteworthy prospects are struggling mightily, with 2006 supplemental first rounder Preston Mattingly hitting just .224 with 20 strikeouts in 16 games. 2005 fourth rounder Josh Bell, ranked as one of the system's best power hitters, has only 1 HR through his first 21 games. 19 year old Trayvon Robinson, who is learning the nuances of switch-hitting, has cooled off from a hot start and is now batting just .247. However, he's used his plus-plus speed to steal 8 bases in 9 attempts. And catchers Kenley Jansen and Carlos Santana are each hitting under .150. While the offense as a whole is likely to improve, the start of the season has been disappointing for the hitters as a whole. Still, like these players, the season is young and hope should stay alive.
Triple A - Las Vegas
Second to none - Second baseman Tony Abreu has struggled of late, but he's still hitting .344/.406/.500. Granted, the PCL favors hitters, but he's coming off a solid season in Double A last year, a strong showing in winter ball and an impressive Spring Training performance. He's been getting playing time at shortstop and third base as well, so the Dodgers may try him out at the hot corner if Betemit stays cold.
Return of the Jedi - Southpaw Greg Miller's start on April 8th was his first since the end of 2003, so there's an understandable amount of rust: he's walked 16 in 17.2 innings. However, he's been near unhittable, allowing opponents just a .111 batting average. He's also struck out 18 batters and a 2.5:1 groundball ratio. Still just 22 years old, Miller needs more time to build endurance and fine tune his mechanics before he should be considered for a spot on the big club.
It takes two - Andy LaRoche and James Loney, the Dodgers' top two hitting prospects, are struggling early. LaRoche's OPS is just over .700, while Loney's is just under. While neither are hitting for much power, both are walking enough while getting time in corner outfield spots. If LaRoche turns it around, he too could be in contention for the Dodgers' starting third base job.
Making a comeback? - After injuring his shoulder, Matt Kemp was activated from the DL and sent to Vegas due to an overcrowded bench. In his first at bat with the 51's, Kemp homered. In his next game, Kemp homered again. He's only played 6 games with the club and I dont expect him to spend much more time in the minors.
Double A - Jacksonville
Hu's the man! - Shortstop Chin Lung Hu struggled with the bat last season, mustering a line of just .254/.326/.334. However, he's really turned it around this April, hitting .337/.356/.490 while hitting 11 doubles, good for second in the league. His defense has improved as well. The one weakness in his game is his ability to draw a walk, collecting just 3 free passes in a little over 100 PA's. He's also stolen 3 bases but been caught stealing twice. I expect his average to drop, but hopefully his walks will rise.
Ragtime - Outfielder Anthony Raglani was actually demoted from Double A to High A after slumping with the bat. While he hit well in Vero, it didnt continue when he was sent back to Jacksonville. But this year is different, as Raglani has found his power stroke. Coming into the day, he was second in the league in OPS with a 1.067 mark; he's also second in the league with 6 Homeruns and leading the league with 4 triples. And while he's only hitting .267, he's drawn 15 walks in less than 100 PA's to give him an OBP of .387. Should he keep this up, Raglani could find himself in Triple A before long.
Scooter visits the DL - Lefty Scott Elbert's first two starts of the season were very promising, as he allowed a combined 3 walks while striking out 18. However, in his third outing, he walked 7 in just 3 innings and was diagnosed with tendonitis in his throwing shoulder before being placed on the DL. Scouting Director DeJon Watson said it was a precautionary measure and it's almost time for Elbert to return. Whether his new found command returns remains to be seen.
Professor X - Outfielder Xavier Paul spent 2005 and 2006 in High A Vero Beach with mixed results. He seemed to have found a niche batting leadoff, though he hasnt served that role thus far in Jacksonville. But he's been hitting well lately, raising his season line to .295/.374/.443. He's also playing centerfield and has plenty of speed to cover the amount of ground required. To go along with his plus speed, Paul has the strongest outfield arm of any Dodger farmhand. It's been a long road for a kid who was once ranked among the top 10 prospects in the system, but hopefully the 22 year old will ride this hot streak to Vegas and eventually LA.
Meloan officer - Drafted in the 5th round out of the university of Arizona in 2005, last season didnt start off well for Jon. He was sideland with soreness in his throwing arm and began the year in extended spring training. The Dodgers wanted to bring him back slowly so he began the season coming out of the bullpen. The results were immediately impressive, as his fastball jumped in velocity to the mid 90s and his curveball became a devestating breaking ball. He's parlayed his improved repetoire to becoming a dominant reliever, having struck out 19 batters in 13.1 innings while allowing just 3 ER and 2 walks. With great stuff and great control, Meloan is on the fast track to the big leagues. Expect to see him in the majors before the year is over.
Duffman returns - After going through shoulder surgery last season, Justin Orenduff came back in a limited role, piggybacking Scott Elbert as he pitched a pair of innings each time out. Prior to his injury, Orenduff worked a fastball around 90mph and a plus slider, both of which should return in time. His control has been off, as he's walked 11 men in 12 innings, but that should improve with time.
Megrew returns tew - Another pitcher who's suffered an injury, lefty Mike Megrew had Tommy John surgery following the 2004 season. After being selected by the Marlins in the 2005 Rule 5 draft, he was returned to the Dodgers and spent most of that year regaining his strength. After spending last season in Vero Beach, the 6'6 southpaw has done relatively well in his Double A debut posting a 3.76 ERA with 9 walks and 27 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. He never threw very hard, but he has a pair of reliable secondary offerings. Megrew will likely spend most of the year in Double A, though he might see time in Vegas before the season's over.
C Diddy - First baseman / DH Cory Dunlap has been struggling this season. He's hitting just .205 through the first month of the season with only 3 extra base hits. However, as to be expected, he's drawing more than enough walks. He's a prime candidate to turn it around after a subpar April.
High A - Inland Empire
April showers bring May flowers - After being converted to catcher during the offseason, Dodger officials were probably more concerned with Lucas May's defense than his bat. But he broke out in a big way this April, putting up a line of .333/.387/.667 with a share in the league lead in HR with 8. The former shortstop spent most of his time last season in the outfield before moving behind the plate. He's still raw as a backstop but has the athleticism to be at least passable defensively. His defensive flexibility leads me to believe he has a future in the bigs as a super-utility man, but if he keeps hitting like this, it will be hard to keep his bat from playing every day.
Throw the gloves down - Former third baseman and hockey player Jamie Hoffman has transitioned so well to the outfield that Baseball America ranked him as the best defensive outfielder in the system coming into the season. Despite his size at 6'3 205 lbs, Hoffman isnt a big power threat. But he's slugging .484 this year with 3 doubles and 2 HR in 18 games. Hoffman missed about a week with an injury, so hopefully he can stay healthy the rest of the season.
3 times a pitcher - A trio of righties have promising seasons ahead of them. Jesus Castillo, James McDonald and Javy Guerra have all gotten off to rocky starts, but all have promising stuff. Castillo was mentioned by name by Logan White last year as a guy to keep an eye on and that's good enough for me. McDonald, a former outfielder, has pitched very well in his last 3 outings, allowing just 4 ER and 6 walks while striking out 20 in 16 innings. Guerra, who had Tommy John surgery last year, is fighting with his control. But prior to his injury, his fastball was in the low to mid 90s and he's still only 21. The Cally league favors hitters, but all these guys have promise.
De-ouble de-trouble - Shortstop Ivan De Jesus Jr and third baseman Blake DeWitt have both struggled offensively thus far. While DeWitt has collected 10 extra base hits, he's hitting just .211 with an OBP of .255. De Jesus Jr, who drew an impressive 63 walks last year, has drawn 9 so far this season but is still hitting just .242 with no HR. He does have 4 doubles and 3 triples to go along with 3 stolen bases though. Friendly conditions should see both these infielders' numbers improve and both still have a lot of talent.
Denk Tank - Second baseman Travis Denker began the season injured, so he's only gotten 12 games in thus far. He's hitting .302/.354/.419 with 4 walks, 2 doubles and a HR. Expect the average to drop, but the OBP and SLG to improve.
Low A - Great Lakes
Special K - Being selected with the 7th overall pick last June, 6'3 lefty Clayton Kershaw came into the season with huge expectations. And he scared the hell out of everyone in his season debut, walking one more batter in less than 3 innings than he did last year in 37. But chalk it up to a Texas kid in cold weather, as Kershaw has heated up along with the weather. In his last 4 starts, he's struck out 33 batters compared to just 9 walks and 2 ER. His 1.08 ERA is 5th in the league and his 35 strikeouts are good for second. However, his 15 walks are the most in the league and after showing impeccable command in his first pro season, he's been much more wild in his second. Still, Kershaw has dominant stuff and should earn a midseason promotion to Inland Empire.
The Great Wall - A second round pick in 2005, Josh Wall became the highest selected pitcher to sign in that Dodger draft class. But his production over the last 2 seasons has been disappointing. Very projectible at 6'6 and 200 lbs, Wall's fastball has dropped from the low 90s to the high 80s and his curve, once projected as a plus pitch, is just fringe average. But after a disappointing debut, Wall has pitched pretty well. Over his last 3 starts (16.1 IP), he's struck out 16 and allowed just 1 walk. His new found command should help him turn around his pro career and hopefully he'll continue to improve as the season goes on.
Stevie Wonder - Another 2005 draft pick, Steven Johnson's most notable factoid to date was replacing the injured Joel Hanrahan in Double A last year...as an 18 year old. Though he stands about 6'0 tall and cant buy a beer yet, he pitches well beyond his years and makes the most out of his otherwise ordinary stuff. After his brief stay in Jacksonville (4.2 scoreless innings), he went to Ogden where he led the Pioneer League in strikeouts (86 in 78.2 IP). Aside from his second outing, where he allowed 4 ER in 2 innings, Johnson has been solid and should only improve. While his ceiling isnt high, he should move quickly.
No offense, but... - The biggest effect that moving the Dodgers' Low A affiliate to Michigan has had is a complete inability to get anything going on offense. The team's highest OPS belongs to shortstop Francisco Lizarraga, whose .767 mark is more due to a freakishly good start (.354 BA) than actual ability. First baseman Eduardo Perez leads the team in HR with 2, and is tied with OF Matt Berezay for the lead in doubles with 5. And the more noteworthy prospects are struggling mightily, with 2006 supplemental first rounder Preston Mattingly hitting just .224 with 20 strikeouts in 16 games. 2005 fourth rounder Josh Bell, ranked as one of the system's best power hitters, has only 1 HR through his first 21 games. 19 year old Trayvon Robinson, who is learning the nuances of switch-hitting, has cooled off from a hot start and is now batting just .247. However, he's used his plus-plus speed to steal 8 bases in 9 attempts. And catchers Kenley Jansen and Carlos Santana are each hitting under .150. While the offense as a whole is likely to improve, the start of the season has been disappointing for the hitters as a whole. Still, like these players, the season is young and hope should stay alive.
posted by Jared @ 9:32 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home