5/5/15 MINOR LEAGUE THREAD: Hot Peraza!

[rico43]

TUESDAY’S GAMES

ALL TIMES EDT

CLASS AAA

Gwinnett 3, Scranton/WB 1

WP: Wisler (1-3) 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K.
Cornely (Save, 1) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K.
Cunningham 2-3, 2B, 2 R, SB; Peraza 3-4, 3B, 2 SB (.323); Benson 2-4, 2 RBI.

CLASS AA

Mississippi (11-12), idle

ADVANCED CLASS A

Carolina 4, Lynchburg 1

WP: Thurman (3-2) 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Cabrera 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.
Otero (Save 1) 1 P, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Meneses 1-3; Lien 2-3, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI; Camargo 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI.

CLASS A

Rome (11-13), idle


NOTES
Willams Perez (1.33 ERA) 2nd in IL. Folty still 3rd in strikeouts (30 in 22 IP)
Aaron Kurcz (5 saves) one off league lead
Ryan Weber (1.45) 4th in SL ERA.
RYan Kelly (6 saves) tied for SL lead.
Steve Janas (3-0, 0.72) leads Carolina League in ERA.
Tyler Jones (5 saves) one off league lead
Sean Furney (3-1) one off SAL league wins lead
**Not much doubt that Janas (a Marietta native drafted out of Kennesaw in 2013) is Pitcher of the Month for April (Perez a strong second)***

[50PoundHead]

Three of our four teams are below .500, but it's nice to see that we don't have any of our affiliates mired in total sucktitude the way Rome was last season.

[thethe]

Three of our four teams are below .500, but it's nice to see that we don't have any of our affiliates mired in total sucktitude the way Rome was last season.

As you said in yesterdays minor league thread, we are seeing a lot of encouraging offensive performances down on the farm and going into the year that was the biggest question mark.

Still no massive power guys but some that are projected to at least be in the 10-15 range.

[Russ2dollas]

BP article where Mallex Smith is the author's favorite fringe prospect for Braves........still thinking 4th OF
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...rticleid=26253

[Braves1976]

BP article where Mallex Smith is the author's favorite fringe prospect for Braves........still thinking 4th OF
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...rticleid=26253

Why it could work: “I like him. He can play really play center field, a 55 center fielder. He’s got a short stroke with plenty of barrel control. It’s a fourth-outfield type, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s up with Atlanta this season.” –Tucker Blair

Personally, I see starter potential in CF for Smith and I also don't see any reason to call him up this season.

[smootness]

Why it could work: “I like him. He can play really play center field, a 55 center fielder. He’s got a short stroke with plenty of barrel control. It’s a fourth-outfield type, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s up with Atlanta this season.” –Tucker Blair

Personally, I see starter potential in CF for Smith and I also don't see any reason to call him up this season.

I agree. It will all hinge on his OBP. If he can OBP at .350 or better in the majors, with elite speed and above-average CF defense, he isn't a 4th OF.

[cajunrevenge]

With his speed he really just needs about a .330 OBP to be a starter in center. With quality defense the threshold for being a starter is very low. Especially for the Braves. So far we have got .189/.279/.360 from CF this year which is pretty much what we got the last 2 years. Mallex shouldnt have a problem beating that kind of performance.

[Jay212033]

I hate to jinx him but Peraza is killing it! Already 3-3, 3B, 2 SB in the 5th inning!

[nsacpi]

Peraza is an elite prospect. Will be in the Top 20 in the mid-season lists.

[smootness]

Peraza has figured out AAA. Time to call him up whenever it makes sense, probably June.

[skillet]

Peraza has figured out AAA. Time to call him up whenever it makes sense, probably June.

Not until he can't reach super 2, sometime in June just not exactly sure which day.

[Jay212033]

Well I officially jinxed him smh!

[atl717]

Peraza is an elite prospect. Will be in the Top 20 in the mid-season lists.

No. Does not have the upside to warrant that. Good player.

[thethe]

No. Does not have the upside to warrant that. Good player.

SHocker that you are negative on him. Peraza is absolutely an elite prospect.

[rico43]

Thurman, the "other" pitcher in the Gattis trade, pitches shutout ball and earns his third win. Nice ninth by Otero for the save.

Otero, lest we forget, was the sensation of the 2009 short season , the little (5-9) lefty going 6-1, 0.84 with 93 Ks in 64 IP for the DSL at age 17. But he did not pitch in 2010, worked only 11 innings in 2011, 3 innings in 2012, and 32 innings in 2013. But he got 4 wins and 4 saves for a horrid Rome team last year and .... wait for it .... he's still only 22 years old.

[clvclv]

SHocker that you are negative on him. Peraza is absolutely an elite prospect.

Don't know that he'll necessarily fit into the Top 20, but that A.) doesn't particularly matter, and B.) certainly doesn't keep him from being considered "elite". Will be tough for him to crack the Top 20, but who really cares?


Preseason MLB Pipeline Rankings:

1.) Buxton
2.) Bryant (Promoted)
3.) Correa
4.) Lindor
5.) Russell (Promoted)
6.) Giolito
7.) Seager
8.) Julio Urias
9.) Moncada
10.) Gallo
11.) Syndergaard
12.) Miguel Sano
13.) Tyler Glasnow
14.) Pederson (Promoted)
15.) Rodon (Promoted)
16.) Archie Bradley (Promoted)
17.) Jon Gray
18.) Daniel Norris (Promoted)
19.) Swihart (Promoted)
20.) Henry Owens

That's 7 promotions so far with Correa, Lindor, and Seager beating down the door. Alex Meyer and Eddie Butler have also been promoted, so Peraza would have to jump 9 guys if Correa, Lindor, and Seager aren't promoted, plus there are several guys ranked below Jose who've also had pretty impressive starts as well - Jorge Alfaro, Kyle Schwarber, Maikel Franco, Steven Matz, Eduardo Rodriguez, Rafael Devers, Manuel Margot, and a few others.

He might not crack the Top 20 in part because there are just too many names to jump AND because he may well get promoted before those new lists come out, but that certainly shouldn't stop him from being considered "elite" right now.

[clvclv]

Thurman, the "other" pitcher in the Gattis trade, pitches shutout ball and earns his third win. Nice ninth by Otero for the save.

Otero, lest we forget, was the sensation of the 2009 short season , the little (5-9) lefty going 6-1, 0.84 with 93 Ks in 64 IP for the DSL at age 17. But he did not pitch in 2010, worked only 11 innings in 2011, 3 innings in 2012, and 32 innings in 2013. But he got 4 wins and 4 saves for a horrid Rome team last year and .... wait for it .... he's still only 22 years old.

Probably also worth pointing out that Thurman's effort came against a pretty loaded lineup of Indians' prospects - including Top 100 guys in Clint Frazier and Bradley Zimmer plus Mike Papi.

Have been on Otero (and mentioned keeping an eye on him fairly often) for a long time. Mauricio Cabrera had a good outing as well and his ERA now sits at 2.08 with a .182 BAA. If he can clean up the walks a little bit, we should see him climb the ladder pretty quickly (although I'd like to see him start to be used to close games fairly soon).

[thethe]

Minors are real healthy this year.

[Russ2dollas]

Probably also worth pointing out that Thurman's effort came against a pretty loaded lineup of Indians' prospects - including Top 100 guys in Clint Frazier and Bradley Zimmer plus Mike Papi.

Have been on Otero (and mentioned keeping an eye on him fairly often) for a long time. Mauricio Cabrera had a good outing as well and his ERA now sits at 2.08 with a .182 BAA. If he can clean up the walks a little bit, we should see him climb the ladder pretty quickly (although I'd like to see him start to be used to close games fairly soon).

Thurman by all accounts is going to be a valuable piece. I thought the breakdown on him is that he doesn't have any elite stuff. But most think he's going to be a cheap and effective 4 or 5 with 6 years of control. That is a very valuable piece.

[Russ2dollas]

my issue with Peraza is the lack of doubles and the lack of walks. He's going to have to be Ichiro in terms of OBP to live up to the prospect hype, and that is a A Lot of singles.

I am excited about the INF defense of
Peterson
Simmons
Peraza

Ground balls to the left side should be an out. Peraza would really help out FF's range. Just let Fredi hug the line and scoop throws.