The Z-meter tracks the story arcs of 25 top prospects (or players we just like) on their way to the bigs. It is named after current Washington Nationals star Ryan Zimmerman, who made the transition from anchoring the University of Virginia to starring in MLB in one year.
Promoted:
Evan Longoria, 3B, Durham (AAA) to Tampa Bay Rays (MLB)
Luke Hochevar, RHP, Omaha (AAA) to Kansas City Royals (MLB)
Max Scherzer, RHP, Tucson (AAA) to Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Jacksonville (AA) to Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
Jay Bruce, OF, Louisville (AAA) to Cincinnati Reds (MLB)
Homer Bailey, RHP, Louisville (AAA) to Cincinnati Reds (MLB)
Ian Stewart, 3B, Colorado Springs (AAA) to Colorado Rockies (MLB)
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Sacramento (AAA) to Oakland (MLB)
Chase Headley, 3B, Portland (AAA) to San Diego (MLB)
Eulogio De La Cruz, RHP, Albuquerque (AAA) to Marlins (MLB)
Joe Koshansky, 1B, Colorado Springs (AAA) to Rockies (MLB)
Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Iowa (AAA) to Chicago Cubs (MLB)
Nelson Cruz, CF, Oklahoma (AAA) to Rangers (MLB)
Justin Masterson, RHP, Portland (AA) to Boston (MLB)
Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Tennessee (AA) to Iowa (AAA)
Luke Montz, C, Harrisburg (AA) to Columbus (AAA)
Wade Davis, RHP, Montgomery (AA) to Durham (AAA)
Kila Kaaihue, 1B, Northwest Arkansas (AA) to Omaha (AAA)
Travis Snider, DH, New Hampshire (AA) to Syracuse (AAA)
David Price, LHP, Montgomery Biscuits (AA) to Durham Bulls (AAA)
Mat Gamel, 3B, Huntsville Stars (AA) to Nashville Sounds (AAA)
Antonio Bastardo, LHP, Clearwater (A) to Reading Phillies (AA)
David Price, LHP, Vero Beach (A) to Montgomery (AA)
Matt Weiters, C, Frederick Keys (A) to Bowie Baysox (AA)
Lars Anderson, 1B, Lancaster JetHawks (A) to Portland SeaDogs (AA)
Travis Snider, OF, Dunedin (A-Advanced) to New Hampshire (AA)
Ian Gac, 1B, Clinton (A) to Bakersfield (Advanced A)
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP, Asheville (A) to Modesto (Advanced A)
Josh Vitters, 3B, Boise (Short A) to Peoria (A)
Huzzah! Over-the-hill power hitters rejoice! Our very own Crash Davis, Oklahoma slugger Nelson Cruz, has been called up to The Show. Let’s hope it’s the best damn 21 days of his life. I hear the ballparks are like cathedrals, you never handle your own luggage, and the women all have long legs and brains.
In his place, welcome 18-year-old Madison Bumgarner. He’s 14-3 for the Augusta Greenjackets. Which is nice. Oh, and one hundred and fifty five strikeouts. Which is bleedin’ phenomenal.
Mat Gamel got the bump up to the triple-A Nashville Sounds, so he’s technically advancing faster than the traded Matt, LaPorta. Then again, LaPorta was in the Olympics, so that’s a whole different kettle of fish heads.
Let’s see who else is hot this week:
The top level. These prospects are in AAA in the prime of their youth, and ready for the call that will change their lives.
Andrew McCutchen, CF – Indianapolis Indians (Pirates): .280 – 72R – 9HR – 46RBI – 31SB – 66BB – .391 SLG – .763 OPS
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B – Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners): .266 – 78R – 12HR – 67RBI – 47BB – 2SB – .434 SLG – .788 OPS
Colby Rasmus, LF (rehab assignment) – Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals): .249 – 56R – 11HR – 36RBI – 15SB – 49BB – .395 SLG – .741 OPS
Luke Montz, C – Columbus Clippers (Nationals): .242 – 15R – 2HR – 18RBI – 10BB – 0SB – .349 SLG – .638 OPS
Wade Davis, RHP – Durham Bulls (Rays): 7GS – 3W – 2L - 3.07 ERA – 19BB – 40K
Kila Kaaihue, 1B – Omaha Royals: .341 – 22R – 9HR – 17RBI – 16BB – 0SB – .671 SLG – 1.122 OPS
Travis Snyder, DH – Syracuse Chiefs (Blue Jays): .333 – 6R – 1HR – 14RBI – 3BB – 1SB – .463 SLG - .836 OPS
David Price, LHP – Durham Bulls: 3GS – 0W – 1L – 4.85 ERA – 6BB – 12K
Mat Gamel, 3B – Nashville Sounds (Brewers): .000 – 0R – 0HR – 0RBI – 0BB – 0SB – .000 SLG – .000 OPS
These guys also have the potential to skip straight to the majors, but may get promoted to AAA first.
Austin Jackson, OF – Trenton Thunder (Yankees): .287 – 74R – 9HR – 68RBI – 55BB – 19SB – .425 SLG – .782 OPS
Dexter Fowler, OF (Olympics) – Tulsa Drillers (Rockies): .337 – 86R – 9HR – 61RBI – 61BB – 20SB – .514 SLG – .944 OPS
Cameron Maybin, CF – Carolina Mudcats (Marlins): .278 – 68R – 13HR – 46RBI – 56BB – 20SB – .465 SLG – .838 OPS
Elvis Andrus, SS – Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers): .295 – 78R – 4HR – 63RBI – 35BB – 50SB – .374 SLG – .724 OPS
Trevor Cahill, RHP (Olympics) – Midland RockHounds (Oakland): 7GS – 6W – 1L – 2.19 ERA – 19BB – 33K
Antonio Bastardo, LHP – Reading Phillies (Phillies): 12GS – 2W – 4L – 3.43 ERA – 32BB – 49K
Matt Wieters, C – Bowie Baysox (Orioles): .357 – 35R – 11HR – 48RBI – 35BB – 0SB – .626 SLG – 1.081 OPS
Lars Anderson, 1B – Portland SeaDogs (Red Sox): .307 – 25R – 5HR – 25RBI – 20BB – 1SB – .535 SLG – .942 OPS
Matt LaPorta, CF (Olympics) – Akron Aeros (Indians): .277 – 60R – 21HR – 73RBI – 48BB – 2SB – .534 SLG – .915 OPS
Fernando Martinez, CF – Binghamton Mets (Mets): .279 – 45R – 7HR – 37RBI – 23BB – 6SB – .412 SLG – .741 OPS
Alcides Escobar, SS – Huntsville Stars (Brewers): .332 – 92R – 8HR – 74RBI – 30BB – 32SB – .440 SLG – .807 OPS
These guys have vast potential but need to work out some kinks in A-ball before they can advance.
Ian Gac, 1B – Bakersfield Blaze (Rangers): .264 – 26R – 11HR – 42RBI – 16BB – 0SB – .450 SLG – .770 OPS
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP – Modesto Nuts (Rockies): 11GS – 8W – 2L – 2.35 ERA – 11BB – 57K
Rick Porcello, RHP – Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit): 23GS – 7W – 6L – 2.80 ERA – 32BB – 68K
Mike Moustakas, SS – Burlington Bees (Royals): .269 – 71R – 21HR – 67RBI – 38BB – 6SB – .466 SLG – .796 OPS
Madison Bumgarner, LHP – Augusta Greenjackets (Giants): 23GS – 14W – 3L – 20BB – 155 K
Prospects chosen from Diamond Cutter’s Top 25, Baseball America, and my own irrational sense of whimsy.
