Prospect Hot Sheet (July 8): Dozier Wears Out PCL Pitchers
This installment of the Prospect Hot Sheet considers what minor league players have done from July 1-7. Remember, this feature simply recognizes what the hottest prospects in the minors did in the past week—it’s not a re-ranking of the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.
Contributing: Ben Badler, Matt Eddy, Kyle Glaser, Josh Norris and Vince Lara-Cinisomo.
1. Hunter Dozier, 3b, Royals
Team: Triple-A Omaha (Pacific Coast)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .594/.639/.938 (19-for-32), 10 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BB, 1 SO, 0-for-1 SB
The Scoop: He got thrown out stealing? What a bum. Seriously, Dozier’s bounceback season hit its peak this week, when he hit nearly .600 and reached base nearly two-thirds of the time. The Royals asked Dozier to cut back his swing a bit and he’s improved as a hitter without losing any power. (VLC)
2. Hunter Renfroe, of, Padres
Team: Triple-A El Paso (Pacific Coast)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .438/.500/.781 (14-for-32), 8 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BB, 8 SO, 0-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Another Hunter making Triple-A his prey. Like Dozier, Renfroe made a mechanical swing adjustment a year ago and has lost no power from it, while improving his bat-to-ball skills. A prototype right fielder, Renfroe needs only better plate discipline to make his mark as a big league power threat. (VLC)
3. Yoan Moncada, 2b, Red Sox
Team: Double-A Portland (Eastern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .435/.500/1.000 (10-for-23), 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 3-for-3 SB
The Scoop: The game’s top prospect at midseason, Moncada has had no trouble so far adjusting to his new level. Bumped to Double-A on June 21 after the Carolina League all-star break, Moncada has already clubbed four home runs with the Portland. That’s as many as he hit during the first half of the season at high Class A Salem. (JN)
4. Alex Bregman, ss, Astros
Team: Triple-A Fresno (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .323/.344/.839 (10-for-31), 5 R, 1 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO
The Scoop: The upper levels of the minor leagues have proved to be no challenge for Bregman, who is just a year removed from playing at Louisiana State. After tearing up the Texas League, he moved up after the all-star break and has responded with five home runs in his first eight games, bringing his total to 19 for the season. (JN)
5. Isan Diaz, ss, Brewers
Team: low Class A Wisconsin (Midwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .360/.467/.880 (9-for-25), 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 5 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-3 SB
The Scoop: Orlando Arcia is the Brewers’ top prospect and likely shortstop of the future. However, Diaz is making noise a few levels behind him. There’s a chance he moves to second base in the future, but the Brewers like his offensive potential no matter where he plays. With 11 home runs this season in the middle of the infield, it’s easy to see why. (JN)
6. D.J. Peterson, 1b, Mariners
Team: Triple-A Tacoma (Pacific Coast)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .407/.484/.852 (11-for-27), 7 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBIs, 4 BB, 8 SO
The Scoop: An organization-wide emphasis on pitch selection has forced the 2013 first-rounder to become vastly more discerning, and as a result Peterson is seeing success in the upper minors for the first time. He hit .326/.396/.609 in his final month at Double-A Jackson to earn a promotion to Tacoma, where he recorded a hit in seven of his first eight games. (KG)
7. Rafael Devers, 3b, Red Sox
Team: high Class A Salem (Carolina)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .462/.517/.885 (12-for-26), 6 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: After a slow start to the year in the Carolina League, Devers has turned it on. The 19-year-old led the minors with eight extra-base hits this week, which is more long hits than he accumulated in the entire months of April, May or June. (JN)
8. Bradley Zimmer, of, Indians
Team: Double-A Akron (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .346/.414/.692 (9-for-26), 4 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 SO, 3-for-3 SB
The Scoop: Zimmer, despite his success, is swinging and missing out at an alarming rate. His current 30 percent strikeout rate would be by far a career worst. However, the 2014 first-rounder is showing improved power and stealing bases at a career-high clip. He’s a smooth defender who figures to be able to stay in center field. (VLC)
9. Andrew Benintendi, of, Red Sox
Team: Double-A Portland (Eastern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .333/.440/.857 (7-for-21), 5 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 4 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-2 SB
The Scoop: The 2015 first-rounder hit just .172 with eight strikeouts in his first eight Double-A games, but he made a quick adjustment. In his past 38 games, Benintendi has hit .306/.365/.556 with 21 extra-base hits, including six homers. (ME)
10. Amed Rosario, ss, Mets
Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .433/.455/.600 (13-for-30), 7 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 3 SO
The Scoop: The Mets’ top prospect remains scorching hot since his promotion to Binghamton, and he continues to raise his stock to the level of one of the game’s elite shortstop prospects. He had four multi-hit efforts in eight games this week and received big news when he was announced as the replacement for suspended Yankees shortstop Jorge Mateo in the Futures Game. (KG)
11. Ozzie Albies, 2b, Braves
Team: Double-A Mississippi (Southern)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .444/.531/.593 (12-for-27), 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 2 SO, 3-for-3 SB
The Scoop: The Braves demoted Albies from Triple-A Gwinnett to Mississippi on June 30 in order to team him with fellow shortstop Dansby Swanson. Albies has taken over second base and has hit .469 with four walks in his first eight games back in the Southern League. (ME)
12. J.P. Crawford, ss, Phillies
Team: Triple-A Lehigh Valley (International)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .433/.452/.600 (13-for-30), 4 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO
The Scoop: The Phillies’ top prospect slumped badly when he first got to Triple-A, hitting .229 with a .595 OPS in his first 37 games after a May promotion. He broke out of his slump in a big way last week with four multi-hit games in seven days, including back-to-back three-hit nights to close out the week. (KG)
13. Trea Turner, of/ss, Nationals
Team: Triple-A Syracuse (International)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .367/.406/.667 (11-for-30), 9 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 3-for-3 SB
The Scoop: The Nationals are preparing Turner for a big league role, for he has been alternating between center field and shortstop since June 27. With an above-average hit tool aided by plus speed, he could be a spark-plug for a Nats team that aims to play deep into October. The demotion of strikeout-prone outfielder Michael A. Taylor has cleared the way. (VLC)
14. Clint Frazier, of, Indians
Team: Double-A Akron (Eastern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .300/.344/.567 (9-for-30), 5 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 BB, 7 SO, 2-for-3 SB
The Scoop: The hyper-talented 2013 first-rounder continues to elevate himself to a top-25-level player. Frazier had a hit in all seven games last week, and continues to be on pace for new career highs in doubles, runs, and homers despite being more than three years younger than the average player in the Eastern League. (KG)
15. Mike Papi, of, Indians
Team: Double-A Akron (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .318/.467/.773 (7-for-22), 8 R, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 7 BB, 6 SO
The Scoop: Though he’s hitting just .224 at two minor league stops this season, the 2014 sandwich pick showcased strong secondary skills this week with four extra-base hits and seven walks. Papi plays mostly right field, with some first base and left field mixed in. (ME)
16. Rowdy Tellez, 1b, Blue Jays
Team: Double-A New Hampshire (Eastern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .481/.548/.815 (13-for-27), 5 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBIs, 4 BB, 6 SO, 3-for-3 SB
The Scoop: The burly Northern California product combines power with a feel to hit, and this year he’s added a discerning batting eye. He ranks second in the Eastern League with 46 walks, just two behind Bradley Zimmer. Two red flags: he struggles against lefthanders and he plays fringe-average defense at first base. (VLC)
17. Miguelangel Sierra, ss/2b, Astros
Team: Rookie-level Greeneville (Appalachian)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .368/.478/.947 (7-for-19), 4 R, 1 3B, 3 HR, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 SO, 1-for-1 SB
The Scoop: Signed for $1 million out of Venezuela in 2014, Sierra has gotten stronger and has begun driving the ball for power. He ranks among the Appalachian League leaders with five home runs and a .723 slugging percentage while recording a 1.057 OPS through 12 games. (ME)
18. Jhailyn Ortiz, of, Phillies
Team: Rookie-level GCL Phillies (Gulf Coast)
Age: 17
Why He’s Here: .375/.444/.875 (9-for-24), 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 1 BB, 6 SO
The Scoop: The Phillies spent $4 million during last July’s international signing period to acquire Ortiz and the power he possessed. He’s not a polished hitter, but this week he showed off his best asset with a double, a triple and three home runs in the early stage of his pro career. (JN)
19. Rob Whalen, rhp, Braves
Team: Double-A Mississippi (Southern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.69, 2 GS, 13 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 16 SO, 4 BB
The Scoop: Acquired from the Mets a year ago in the trade that sent Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe to New York, Whalen is a curveball specialist with strong control who ranks among the Southern League elite with a 2.20 ERA and 92 strikeouts. He has allowed two or fewer runs while pitching at least six innings in 11 of his 17 starts this season. (ME)
20. Ricardo Sanchez, lhp, Braves
Team: low class A Rome (South Atlantic)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 0.75, 12 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 13 SO, 4 BB
The Scoop: Heretofore a disappointment for the Braves because of spotty control, Sanchez dialed in with seven innings of one-hit ball and 11 strikeouts in his first start this week and followed with five scoreless innings in his next outing. The 5-foot-11 Venezuelan has held opponents to one run or fewer in three of his last four starts. (KG)
HELIUM WATCH
Derian Cruz, ss, Braves: Yes, the Braves just committed a ton of dough to international free agents last week, but don’t forget about the key players they snagged on July 2 last year. Both Cruz and center fielder Cristian Pache are off to hot starts in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as 17-year-olds, with Cruz tied for third in the league at total bases and hitting .370/.370/.587 through 10 games. Signed for $2 million as the No. 5 international prospect available last year, Cruz is an explosive athlete with premium speed and solid contact skills, with the bat speed and physical projection to grow into 10-15 home runs down the road. (BB)
Comments are closed.