Good afternoon prospect watchers. The trade deadline is passed....and I don't know about you guys, but I thought it was pretty disappointing after all the buildup. I think teams are still getting used to the implications of the new CBA.
***My next major project is to finish up the Top 20 Pre-Season organization reviews. Tentative order will be the Mets, Padres, Blue Jays, Rockies, Royals, White Sox, Marlins, Giants, and Brewers to finish off, though I reserve the right to change that. I also have articles in the work queue for Marcus Semien of the White Sox, Engel Beltre of the Rangers, Victor Black of the Pirates, Michael Choice of the Athletics, Drake Britton of the Red Sox, plus Prospect Retros (all by request) for Marco Scutaro, Jeff Kent, C.J. Wilson, Chris Davis, and LaTroy Hawkins. Off all that stuff, Scutaro and Semien will get done first since I've got the research almost done for those. Stay tuned, in other words, there's a lot coming up here.
***Yesterday's Minor League Ball Gameday discussion.
***San Francisco Giants prospect Roger Kieschnick made his major league debut yesterday, going 2-for-5 with two RBI (and two strikeouts). He was hitting .273/.339/.497 for Triple-A Fresno before his promotion, with 40 walks and 102 strikeouts in 374 at-bats.
Kieschnick was a third round pick out of Texas Tech back in 2008, but his progression through the farm system was slowed by a variety of injuries. A left-handed power hitter, he runs well, has a good arm, and looks like a prototype power-hitting right fielder. Complicating factors: he's already 26, old to just be reaching the majors, he's streaky, and he strikes out a lot. His plate discipline has improved from poor to adequate, but we'll have to see how it holds up against major league pitching. Warnings aside, he's always had power and an age 27 performance surge seems plausible for next year.
***The Rangers promoted infielders Luis Sardinas and Rougned Odor to Double-A yesterday.
***Another outstanding outing for Blue Jays prospect Marcus Stroman: 13 strikeouts in 6.1 innings for Double-A New Hampshire.
***Randy Holt looks at Mets right-hander Matt Harvey and examines how his first year in the major leagues ranks historically.
***Andrew Ball looks at newest Houston Astros outfielder L.J. Hoes.
More from Minor League Ball:
- Manny Ramirez experiment may be nearing the end
- Houston Astros Top 20 2013 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
- Chicago Cubs Top 20 2013 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
- Quiroli releases 20 best MiLBers to follow on Twitter list
- Minor League Ball Gameday, July 31
- Astros trade Bud Norris to Orioles for prospects Hoes, Hader
- Diamondbacks trade Ian Kennedy to Padres for Thatcher, Stites, draft pick
- Astros trade Justin Maxwell to Royals for prospect Kyle Smith
- Los Angeles Angels Top 20 2013 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
- Seattle Mariners Top 20 2013 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review