Friday Minor League Update

Ah, the elusive minor league update.  I think things are back to normal - so here we go, back again with the Friday group of players to check in on.  Pedro Alvarez, Starlin Castro, and Yonder Alonso have been rolling this week.  

Everyone is reporting on Justin Smoak's promotion to the bigs.  I think he will make everyone forget about Chris Davis' potential and be a mainstay in the Texas lineup from now on.  Will he occasionally struggle?  Yes.  Is he their best prospect and best player for 1st base? Yes and Yes.  Everyone else will be projecting him today so why not throw our hat in the ring?  .275 AVE / 17 HR / 65RBI / 45R.

Now on to the Friday players:

Yonder Alonso is going to be in Cincinnati in 2011 but will they give him a shot this year?  If he keeps this up it will be tough for them not to give him some time - it would be a good idea for him to learn another position or three while he is raking in the minors since the OF is quite crowded and Joey Votto is pretty darn good in his own right at 1st base.  Scott Rolen and Votto have had some injury issues in the past so if he can adapt just a little to play both corners, he will be quite valuable with his big bat.

Starlin Castro is still hitting.  He started in spring training and hasn't stopped.  With the Cubs being the Cubs, its tough to say when he will get his chance, but if I were a betting man (and I am), I say he is up sometime around the all-star break if he keeps putting up these kind of numbers that he has in the first couple weeks of the season.

Michael Stanton hit another HR but is starting to strike out quite a lot - again.  He had shown some good BB/K rate in the first week of the season but since then has taken up the swinging and missing a bit more.  He is a super prospect and I would rather have him on my keeper team than just about any other minor leaguer.  Power is just one aspect as he will be good defensively and is a smart player - will he keep the high K rate?  Probably.  Can he keep it below 25%.  As he matures, Yes.

Carlos Santana fouled a ball off his knee - he is day to day and the injury is not believed to be serious.  

Mike Montgomery continues to pitch very well and should be considered one of the best pitching prospects in the minor leagues at this point with the way he is throwing the ball.  Jhoulys Chacin bounced back from his previous start quite nicely.  Christian Friedrich was also good with allowing only 1ER and having 8Ks in his last start.  Trevor Reckling struggled badly allowing 6ER in 3IP.  Everyone can have tough outings and I really like Reckling's make-up so expect him to get back to solid baseball sooner rather than later.