BA 2013 Hot Sheet

[pots]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-tony-cingrani-leads-the-april-12-list/

11. Nolan Fontana ss, Astros

Nolan Fontana
Team: High Class A Lancaster (California)

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .423/.529/.885 (11-for-26), 2 HR, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBIs, 8 R, 6 BB, 7 SO, 1-for-1 SB.

The Scoop: Fontana enjoyed his first week in Lancaster, but don’t expect him to maintain his Cal League-leading .885 slugging percentage. (He also had a whopping .579 average on balls he put in play.) He’s more of a gap power guy. Nonetheless, the Astros’ 2012 second-round pick does know his way around the batters’ box, opening the year on a seven-game hitting streak, in addition to his reputation as a reliable defender at shortstop.
 

Team Photo:

Asher Wojciechowski, rhp, Astros.  After allowing just two hits in his first two appearances (9 IP, 0 R, 4 BB, 11 SO) for Double-A Corpus Christi, the 24-year-old has shown that he has the makings of a back-end starter.

Unfortunately:

NOT HOT

Jonathan Villar, ss, Astros. As a 21-year-old in Triple-A, Villar is one of the youngest players in the Pacific Coast League, but he’s been bad in just about every way possible on offense. He’s 1-for-25 (.040), doesn’t have an extra-base hit yet and he’s drawn just two walks. Even on the rare occasions when Villar has been on base, he’s managed to get erased, as he’s 0-for-2 stealing bases despite having excellent speed.

Mike Foltynewicz, rhp, Astros. Foltynewicz has to know he’s going to take his lumps pitching for high Class A Lancaster. His first two outings in the JetHawks’ hitters’ paradise both ended badly, as he gave up a combined 10 runs (seven earned) on 12 hits over five innings. The 21-year-old did strike out seven, but he also didn’t do himself any favors with seven walks.

Should be noted Folty did very well his next start

[Jacksonian]

Cooper = idiot.  22 year old Butler gets #5 on his list pitching in low-A.

[astrosfan76]

Villar with a triple, single, and stolen base in last night's game.  Hoping this is the start of a hot streak for him. 

[Reuben]

I wonder if the Astros have considered trading for Scott Van Slyke (#12). He's hit throughout his minor-league career, including last year in his first real taste of AAA. He's completely blocked with the Dodgers at 1B, LF, and RF, and has been removed from their 40-man. A few years back BA rated him the best defensive OF in their system, so I'm guessing he has some true defensive value and versatility. He's Andy Van Slyke's son, he's huge and he has 6 dingers in 12 games this year... if the Brett Wallace experiment is over, why not give this guy a shot? Perhaps he could give them what they hoped Freiman would, but with the ability to play OF as well.

[geezerdonk]

Is Van Slyke eligible for the Rule 5 draft? Good genes.

[astrosfan76]

Springer on this week's list at #5 after going .375/.444/.833 (9-for-24), 3 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBIs, 6 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 2-for-2 SB for the week.  There's a paragraph written about his skill set and K rates, but nothing we don't already know about.  On the Helium list, however, was a more interesting choice, Teoscar Hernandez.  Here's what they had to say:

Teoscar Hernandez, cf, Astros: A $20,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, Hernandez first appeared on the prospect radar two years ago when he ranked among the Top 20 prospects in the Dominican Summer League. He immediately showed a projectable 6-foot-2 frame, good bat speed, power potential and a strong arm, but his pitch recognition and game skills were still raw when he arrived in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last year. There’s still a bit of crudeness to his game, but the 20-year-old Hernandez is hitting .286/.329/.443 in 16 games for low Class A Quad Cities and showing signs that a breakout could be on the horizon.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-april-26-jesse-biddles-16-strikeouts-stand-out/

[Duman]

Several folks close to the org have mentioned Hernandez as one to watch.  I think it was Mike Fast that I heard say he really liked him.

[MusicMan]

Villar #1 on this week's Hot Sheet

[pots]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-10-christian-yelich-keeps-lining-lasers/


Folty made the team photo this week:

Mike Foltynewicz, rhp, Astros: After spending the last month dominating high Class A, Foltynewicz got bumped up to Double-A Corpus Christi and kept on rolling. Making his Double-A debut at age 21, Foltynewicz struck out nine over five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.

[pots]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-24-stetson-allie-making-pitcher-hitter-swap-look-easy/

7. Vincent Velasquez, rhp, Astros
Team: low Class A Quad Cities (Midwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 13 SO

The Scoop: It’s been a slow progression through the minors for Velasquez, who spent 2010 in Rookie ball, missed the 2011 season after having Tommy John surgery, then spent last year with short-season Tri-City. He’s looked promising in his full-season debut, where he’s sat in the low 90s, pitched down in the zone and used an effective changeup to keep hitters off balance.

[MusicMan]

Springer in the team photo this week:

George Springer, cf, Astros: Astros fans are understandably anxious to get their first look at Springer, the tooled-up 2011 first-rounder whose name is peppered all over the Double-A Texas League leaderboards. He homered three times this week to take the league homer lead with 16 in 50 games, and he batted .296 (8-for-27) with five walks and nine RBIs along the way. But as always, strikeouts were an issue. He whiffed 10 times.

[Reuben]

I'd love to hear a little more of a breakdown of his K problem. What is the primary issue? Does he have Pence-esque trouble recognizing and laying off the slider in the dirt? Is the changeup his Achilles heel? Does he refuse to cut down on his swing with 2 strikes? Is he too passive, working deep counts then letting borderline pitches go by with 2 strikes and getting rung up that way a lot?

[OregonStrosFan]

Springer in the Team Photo again this week: LINK

George Springer, cf, Astros: The minors home run leader with 17 also has 17 stolen bases, giving him a chance to achieve the ever-so-rare minor league 30-30 season. Springer, 23, has been ever so consistent doing it, as he had eight home runs in April and eight more in May. He had three multi-hit games this week.

[pots]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-june-14-joey-gallo-slugs-seven-home-runs/

6. Carlos Correa, ss, Astros
Team: low Class A Quad Cities (Midwest)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .375/.474/.531 (12-for-32), 10 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 6 BB, 8 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Because he plays in the same league as Byron Buxton, the player he was taken one spot ahead of in the 2012 draft, it’s maybe a little to easy to be disappointed by Correa’s first full season. While Buxton leads the Midwest League in a large number of offensive categories, Correa appears nowhere among the league leaders. But after a slow start, Correa is showing an excellent approach at the plate. He shrugs at balls off the plate, works counts into his favor and drives pitches back up the middle for singles and doubles. When you look at his Manny Machado-like frame, it’s easy to see that more power will come as he matures.

In the team photo:

Jonathan Singleton, 1b, Astros: After sitting out the first 50 games of the season while serving a suspension due to testing positive for marijuana, Singleton is now back to smoking the competition on the field. He’s hitting .313/.410/.625 with two home runs in nine games for Double-A Corpus Christi as a 21-year-old.

[pots]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-june-21-taijuan-walker-is-cruising-through-the-southern-league/

10. Jarred Cosart, rhp, Astros
Team: Triple-A Oklahoma City (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.50, 12 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 11 SO

The Scoop: Mark Appel has been the one getting all the headlines—and deservedly so as the No. 1 pick in the draft—but the Astros have a promising group of pitchers in the upper levels who aren’t far away from contributing in Houston. One of them is Cosart, who has used a power fastball to keep his ERA down to 2.97 with 79 strikeouts in 75 2/3 innings. Cosart’s strikeout rate has continued to climb as he’s become a more advanced pitcher, but he will have to figure out how to throw more strikes before he’s ready for a callup.

[pots]

Last weeks sheet had 4 mentions 3 good, 1 not so good:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-july-5/

No. 5 Nolan Fontana, ss, Astros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .379/.500/.517 (11-for-29), 4 2B, 10 RBIs, 6 R, 7 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: Fontana celebrated Independence Day by reaching base five times, going 2-for-3 with a double and three walks against Inland Empire. He’s going to make pitchers come in the zone, as that patience is a hallmark of his game. He drew 65 walks in 49 games last season in his pro debut and already has 54 in 58 games with Lancaster, ranking him third in the Cal League in both walks and on-base percentage (.432).

7. Vince Velasquez, rhp, Astros
Team: low Class A Quad Cities (Midwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.90, 2 G, 1 GS, 10 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 14 SO, 1 SV

The Scoop: It may have taken few years longer than the Astros expected for Velasquez to make his full-season debut, but he’s been effective when healthy. After rebounding from Tommy John surgery that erased his 2011 season, he now has more strikeouts (93) than innings (81) while maintaining a 3.56 ERA, showing a low-90s fastball that can touch 96 with a quality changeup to keep hitters off balance.

No. 10 Rio Ruiz, 3b, Astros
Team: low Class A Quad Cities (Midwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: .348/.483/.609 (8-for-26) 6 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: Ruiz has had much more trouble with the Midwest League than his teammates Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. His OPS has not topped .700 since the third day of the season and he has shown less power than expected. He hasn’t turned a corner yet, but this was an encouraging week. Ruiz has three multi-hit games this week, including only the second three-hit game he’s had this year. He also managed to draw four walks on July 1 after drawing just nine in the entire month of July.

NOT SO HOT

Lance McCullers Jr., rhp, Astros: It’s been a bad year but a good week for Quad Cities’ Rio Ruiz. It’s been a good year but a bad week for his teammate McCullers. McCullers had his worst start of the season this week, giving up six runs, nine hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.

[MusicMan]

Springer #1 this week

[astrosfan76]

Springer #1 this week

Of course he was:

The Scoop: Unless he’s caught up in a Sharknado or gets promoted to Houston in the very near future, Springer is going to become the minors’ first 30-30 man since Grant Desme hit 31 home runs and stole 40 bases in 2009. He’s just four home runs and two steals shy of 30-30 right now, and one wonders if he can make a run at 40-40 if he spends the balance of the season in Triple-A.

It’s plausible, though unlikely. Springer is on pace for 41 homers and 44 steals, but that would require him to keep up his impossible pace.

It’s worth noting that Springer hasn’t yet played in any of the PCL’s top hitter’s parks. In fact, more than a third of his Tripe-A games have come at New Orleans and Nashville, two of the better pitcher’s parks in the league. And his home park of Oklahoma City is the toughest park in the PCL for home runs.

[juliogotay]

Of course he was:

Interesting. I did not know that about the OKC park. I've been there, pretty legit and nice yard.

[astrosfan76]

Interesting. I did not know that about the OKC park. I've been there, pretty legit and nice yard.

From what he's shown, I'm not too worried about parks robbing him of home runs; when he gets a hold, it's going to travel far.

[VirtualBob]

From what he's shown, I'm not too worried about parks robbing him of home runs; when he gets a hold, it's going to travel far.

Agreed ... Top of the equipment shed in dead center at Dell Diamond would be out of anywhere.

[MusicMan]

In the team photo this week:

• Michael Feliz, rhp, Astros: Testing positive for performance-enhancers got Feliz’s original contract with the Athletics terminated, which is how he ended up signing with Houston in 2010. As he’s matured, his velocity has started to climb back to previous enhanced heights. The 19-year-old Feliz is also showing improved control with a 1.27 ERA and a 35-4 K-BB mark for short-season Tri-City through 28 1/3 innings.

[MusicMan]

Not-so-hot for Singleton:

Jonathan Singleton, 1b, Astros: Houston will add the 21-year-old Singleton to its 40-man roster this fall to shield him from the Rule 5 draft, but a September callup is less assured in light of his performance at Triple-A Oklahoma City. After a rough 3-for-25 week with four walks and 14 strikeouts, he’s hitting just .195/.301/.301 with three homers in 38 games (he missed the first 50 with a drug suspension). Singleton’s spiraling strikeout rate is the biggest concern here, as more than a third of his plate appearances (36 percent) have resulted in no contact.

[seib22]

Not to derail the thread here, but is there a clear picture on who could potentially be targeted for the Rule V?

[austro]

Not-so-hot for Singleton:

When Drew Corleone, Sphinx Drummond and I went out to watch OKC, Springer and Singleton were at completely opposite ends of the excitement spectrum. Springer was just electrifying, and Singleton looked completely lost. If I didn't already know who he was, I wouldn't have given him a second look. He looked completely overmatched. Maybe he's just in a bad spell, but based on what I saw that night, I don't understand how he could be on anybody's top-anything list.

[Jacksonian]

Not to derail the thread here, but is there a clear picture on who could potentially be targeted for the Rule V?

That can't be known until 40-man rosters are set after the World Series.

[jbm]

I certainly didn't anticipate his current struggles, but I'd put good money on Singleton's future success as a hitter.  Apparently, the odds I'd receive get better every day. 

[juliogotay]

I certainly didn't anticipate his current struggles, but I'd put good money on Singleton's future success as a hitter.  Apparently, the odds I'd receive get better every day. 

He's very young for AAA I believe. I thought he'd be playing 1B in Houston next year but a full year at AAA may do him alot of good.

[VirtualBob]

When Drew Corleone, Sphinx Drummond and I went out to watch OKC, Springer and Singleton were at completely opposite ends of the excitement spectrum. Springer was just electrifying, and Singleton looked completely lost. If I didn't already know who he was, I wouldn't have given him a second look. He looked completely overmatched. Maybe he's just in a bad spell, but based on what I saw that night, I don't understand how he could be on anybody's top-anything list.

Exactly my assessment earlier this month when I saw them. I was surprised by both.

[MusicMan]

This week's hot sheet:
1. Stassi
7. Velasquez
11.  DDJ
Team Photo: Teoscar Hernandez, Ruiz, Springer

[Reuben]

From the Hot Sheet Chat:

Matt (Austin, TX): Does Stassi have the talent to surpass Castro in a couple of years as HOU main backstop?

J.J. Cooper: I don’t see that happening. He could end up as Castro’s backup. Castro is a better all-around catcher with just as much bat.

[Nate Colbert]

I suppose you could call this the monthly version of the BA Hot Sheet:

Stassi, DDS and Springer represent 3 of the 13 slots on BA's All Prospect team for July.

[MusicMan]

Correa was #1 on this week's Hot Sheet.

[Nate Colbert]

Correa was #1 on this week's Hot Sheet.

That Hot Sheet also mentions Singleton in the team photo section and Kyle Smith in the Not so Hot area.

[Nate Colbert]

On this week's Hot List:

#5 Kyle Smith

He became the first pitcher to complete a game with two or fewer hits in the Cal League all year. The fact that he did it in High Desert, the toughest park in the full-season minors for pitchers, is even more remarkable.

#8 George Springer

He leads the minors with 33 homers on the year, with roughly three weeks remaining to build on that total.

Before you label Springer a creation of his home environments, note that Double-A Corpus Christi (1.085) and Oklahoma City (.882) feature home-run park factors that rank in the middle of the pack—or worse—when compared with other league locales. In fact, OKC ranks 15th out of 16 Pacific Coast League teams in terms of homer friendliness, and sure enough Springer has hit just three of his 14 Triple-A homers at home. For the season, he’s at 11 bombs at home and 22 on the road.

[MusicMan]

Did I hear correctly that Callis is leaving BA?

[jbm]

Where did you hear it?

[MusicMan]

Where did you hear it?

Posted on Minor League Ball.

[MusicMan]

Hmmm... sure looks that way.

Ask BA long has been one of my favorite things to read or write at BA, so it’s with some sadness that I write the next sentence … This will be my last edition of Ask BA. Baseball America has asked me to hold off on providing more details for now (those will come out later in the week), but I can tell you that J.J. Cooper will take over this column starting next Monday.

[astrosfan76]

Or at least stepping into a new role.  But, he has gotten pretty big, as far as prospect guys go, so I wouldn't be surprised if he is moving on.

[MusicMan]

Did I hear correctly that Callis is leaving BA?

BA makes it offical: Callis is gone.

ETA: Going to MLB.com

[astrosfan76]

Another strong week for the farmhands, with Springer sitting at #4, Luis Cruz at #7, and Rio Ruiz at #8.  Here's the line on Springer:

The Scoop: With the season winding down, Springer put together another fine week to help boost his case for the best overall season in the minors. If he had enough at-bats to qualify, he’d rank seventh in the PCL in average, first in on-base percentage and first in slugging by a large margin. His home run this week was his 18th in just 208 Triple-A at-bats, which is still the sixth best on the circuit. (He needs three in four remaining games to reach 40 for the season.) The only things keeping Springer from Houston is Oklahoma City’s run at the PCL title and that sticky issue of big league service time.