2014 MiLB Random Thoughts Thread

[EmpireWF]

The full-season leagues kick off tomorrow and here's a look at some of the top prospects and where they'll begin 2014.

-OF Byron Buxton (MIN): On the DL before reporting to AA New Britain
*Not a Top 10 MIN prospect* But 23-year-old Dominican 1B Kennys Vargas will debut at New Britain following his 19 HR 2013

-Oscar Taveras (STL): St. Louis officially purchased the AAA Memphis Redbirds franchise over the past week and that's where Taveras will start the year. He'll play beside fellow top 5 STL prospect Stephen Piscotty in the outfield.

-Archie Bradley RHP (ARI): AAA Reno

-SS Javier Baez (Cubs): AAA Iowa
-3B Kris Bryant (Cubs): AA Tennessee
-OF Albert Amora (Cubs): A Daytona

-SS Carlos Correa (HOU)
-RHP Mark Appel (HOU): both will be at A Lancaster
-OF George Springer (HOU): AAA Oklahoma City

-SS Francisco Lindor (CLE): AA Akron

-RHP Noah Syndergaard (NYM)
-RHP Rafael Montero (NYM): both at AAA Las Vegas

-SS Addison Russell (OAK): AA Midland

-OF Gregory Polanco (PIT)
-RHP Jameson Taillon (PIT): both @ AAA Indianapolis

-RHP Jon Gray (COL): AA Tulsa

- RHP Robert Stephenson (CIN): AA Pensacola

[EmpireWF]

Rafael Montero last night, 6 IP, 4 H, no walks, 5 SO of shutout ball, got the W.

Syndergaard goes tonight in Vegas.

[Woy]

Aledmys Diaz went 4-5 with a double and triple today in AA Springfield.

[Slateman]

Burns has got some wheels

[EmpireWF]

Well, Brandon Nimmo has started off where he left off last season.....HOT!

13 for 32, .406/.525/.563, more SO's than walks (10-8), so there's that.

[EmpireWF]

Nimmo...still hot.

Mets 1st rounder from last year, 1B Dominic Smith is struggling badly at Low-A Savannah. Unless he works out of it, wouldn't be surprised if he's demoted once the short season leagues start up in June.

But here's Keith Law on ESPN talking about Noah Syndergaard's curveball:

For Syndergaard, the issue has always been the breaking ball…. When he was drafted, he was a big kid who threw hard – really easy delivery – but no breaking ball. I actually talked to Syndergaard before the Future’s Game last year, and said to him, “What are you throwing now, both curveball and a slider?” He said, “yeah, I’ve got both. It doesn’t really matter to me which one turns out to be the weapon, but I’m going to need a plus breaking ball if I’m going to be a really good Major League pitcher.” It seems like every couple of months, the breaking ball, the curve ball specifically, just improves a little bit. I think the curveball is going to be the weapon for him. It was above average at the end of last year, and flashing a little better than that in Spring Training. I think that’s going to be the separator.

[Slateman]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/02/25/michael-taylor-could-be-on-the-fast-track/

There is no better defensive center fielder that walks this earth,” one National League scout said. “Majors, minor leagues, whatever.”

[EmpireWF]

Brandon Nimmo Monday night: 4 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, 1 2B

On the season in High-A- .407/.530/.549, 24 G, 28 R, 37 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 24 BB, 20 SO, 5/7 SB

Just his third year out of high school (where he didn't play HS baseball in Wyoming) and it looks like he's putting it all together. Past two seasons, he's struck out way more than he's walked so it's great to see (so far at least) the walks are up. The one thing scouts are waiting on is the power but the assumption is it will come as he gets older (he's just 21-years-old).

No way he keeps this pace but as long as he doesn't go into a big slump with a ton of strikeouts, he could see AA Binghamton sometime late this summer.

[DDRGuido]

not MLB but Steven Moya for the Erie Seawolves (Tigers AA affiliate) killed it this past weekend.

9-12, 3 HR's, 7 RBI's, 2 SB's.

[EmpireWF]

not MLB but Steven Moya for the Erie Seawolves (Tigers AA affiliate) killed it this past weekend.

9-12, 3 HR's, 7 RBI's, 2 SB's.

Interesting player. 23-years-old and a slugger. Only 6 walks and 51 strikeouts but he's got 15 doubles and 8 HR on the season so far.

Big guy too at 6'6 and over 220 pounds...with 7 stolen bases this year lol.

[SuperKevin]

Nationals AA pitcher Matt Purke needs Tommy John surgery. When he comes back he'll be out of options so his time with the Nationals is likely going to be over

[DDRGuido]

[ram29jackson]

[EmpireWF]

Mets promoted prospects CF Brandon Nimmo, 2B Dilson Herrera and LHP Steven Matz to Double-A tonight.

[DDRGuido]

not MLB but Steven Moya for the Erie Seawolves (Tigers AA affiliate) killed it this past weekend.

9-12, 3 HR's, 7 RBI's, 2 SB's.

Just saw Steven play Monday night in Erie and now he is pinch-hitting for Detroit in the top of the 9th against Cleveland.