Minor League Roundup - August 14th

The Good

Anthony Gose – Buffalo (Triple A)

1/3 – 1 SB, 1 BB, 2 K

Despite being passed over for the promotion when Colby Rasmus went down, Gose still went out and had another decent game.  Yes, he struck out twice more, but another stolen base.  That’s now 10 consecutive steals without being caught.

Kyle Drabek – Buffalo (Triple A)

3 IP – 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 3/2 GB/FB

In Drabek’s first appearance in Buffalo he was absolutely awesome.  3 perfect innings, while piggy bagging off Drew Hutchison.  While the team continues to take things very slowly with Drabek (since its his 2^nd Tommy John surgery), but I’m expecting to see him come September. 

Moises Sierra – Buffalo (Triple A)

2/4 – 1 HR, Outfield Assist,

After struggling for most of the AAA season Sierra has really caught fire lately, and hit his 4^th home run in his last 9 games.  Prior to that he only had 6 in the prior 4 months.  Positive sign, for a player who I see as a fringe major leaguer. 

Aaron Sanchez – Dunedin (High Single A)

5 IP – 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 9/0 GB/FB

After struggling for his last few starts, and being lifted in his last start with a blister issue, Sanchez came back with a vengeance.  Not only did he have 6 strikeouts, but all 9 of outs came via the groundball.  A step back in the right direction.

L.B. Dantzler – Vancouver (Short Season Single A)

2/4 – 1 HR

The senior first baseman drafted out of the University of South Carolina in the 14^th round continues to impress in his first professional season.  Hitting his 8^th home run, in just 42 games, and boosting his slash line to .320/.394/.569.  Who knows what he’ll become, but I think it might be time to push him up the ladder for the past couple weeks of the year.

Tom Robson – Vancouver (Short Season Single A)

5 IP – 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 8/2 GB/FB

Robson continues hit hot throwing since his promotion to Vancouver, scattering 2 hits over 5 innings, and also generating 8 groundball outs.  If things keep going this well for the rest of the season, we can look at the 20 year old Robson, to start next year in a full season league.

D.J. Davis – Bluefield (High Rookie)

2/6 – 1 HR, 1 BB

*Double Header*

After two consecutive days of rainouts, Bluefield got back on the field, and the speedy Davis had a pretty solid couple games, including his 5^th home run of the season.  Its been a bit of an up and down season for the 19 year old, but given how raw he was when he was drafted the overall package of his season has to be seen as positive.

Matt Dean – Bluefield (High Rookie)

4/7 – 1 2B

*Double Header*

The big 1^st baseman had a pair of very quality games in soggy Bristol.  There had been some very large doubts about Dean, especially given that he was signed to a well above slot value in 2010.  He’s shown the ability to hit the ball consistently (.300+ batting average), but since he’s a first baseman, you’d sure like him to show more power (just 19 extra base hits in 47 games). 

Zak Wasilewski – Bluefield (High Rookie)

5 IP – 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 5/1 GB/FB

Wasilewski, the 20 year old 14^th round pick in 2012 had his best professional start.  Scattering 6 hits over 5 full innings, and not walking anyone (the first time he’d done that all season).  The local Virginia product has made a serious jump this season.  In his second season after undergoing Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted, his control has improved, and is yet another high ceiling arm to add to the Jays stocked cupboard.

Alberto Tirado – Bluefield (High Rookie)

5 IP – 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 5/1 GB/FB

If Wasilewski was good in the first half of the double header, the 18 year old Tirado was even better.  Carrying a no-hitter into the bottom of the 4^th before allowing the only hit he’d allow in his 5 innings.  He also tied his season high in strikeouts with 6.  The youngest player on the Bluefield roster dropped his ERA to 1.56.

The Bad

Drew Hutchison – Buffalo (Triple A)

3 IP – 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K, 1/1 GB/FB

Unlike Kyle Drabek who’s rehab has gone about as smoothly as possible, Hutchison is running into some speed bumps after his promotion to AAA.  While this one wasn’t quite as disastrous as his first outing, it still wasn’t good.  He showed the typical lack of command you’ll frequently see from pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery.  Though that isn’t a good thing, its far from worrisome, since I haven’t seen any reports of setbacks or discomfort.  Hutchison was already ahead of schedule, so even despite these speed bumps I’d expect we’ll catch a glimpse of him during the September roster expansion.

Ryan Goins – Buffalo (Triple A)

0/4 – 2 K

After I advocated Goins getting the promotion in place of Kawasaki on the podcast today, Goins went out and fell into a 0 for 9 slump.  Goins is never going to be a star, but given that the Jays decided to protect him from the Rule 5 draft by placing him on the 40 man roster this winter, I still think he should be getting a shot to see what he can do instead of 32 year old Munenori Kawasaki.

Matt Smoral – GCL (Low Rookie)

1 IP – 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Another appearance, another typical Smoral outing.  The good news is that the reports I’ve seen on him is that the stuff is still there, its just that he’s having a really difficult time repeating his mechanics.  No surprise for the 6’8 220 lb monster.  As I say every time I include him, this is going to be a long process for Smoral, we’re going to need to have patience.

The Other

Franklin Barreto – GCL (Low Rookie)

1/3 – 2 K

Clinton Hollon – GCL (Low Rookie)

Did Not Play

This has nothing to do with their play on the field, but I have a report from a source that both of the players have been promoted from the Complex League to Bluefield.  I’ll be very interested to see what the corresponding moves in Bluefield might be, because Barreto will be displacing Dawel Lugo at shortstop, meaning Lugo will either be moving to his eventual home of 3^rd, and Mitch Nay would go to Vancouver.  Or perhaps Lugo will be the one getting promoted. 

Hollon has really impressed after having concerns about him elbow coming out of the draft.  None of that has been seen, and he joins what is now a totally stacked Bluefield pitching staff, along with Alberto Tirado, Adonys Cardona, Chase DeJong, and Jairo Loubert to name just a few.