The Z-Meter: 9/2/2009 September is for Call-Ups

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:

Jordan Zimmermann: Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) to Washington Nationals (MLB)

Matt LaPorta: Columbus Clippers (AAA) to Cleveland Indians (MLB)

Daniel Bard: Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA) to Boston Red Sox (MLB)

Mat Gamel: Nashville Sounds (AAA) to Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)

Fernando Martinez: Buffalo Bisons (AAA) to New York Mets (MLB)

Matt Wieters: Norfolk Tides (AAA) to Baltimore Orioles (MLB)

Antonio Bastardo: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (AAA) to Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)

Andrew McCutchen: Indianapolis Indians (AAA) to Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)

Carlos Carrasco: Columbus Clippers (AAA) to Cleveland Indians (MLB)

 

 

Jhoulys Chacin: Tulsa Drillers (AA) to Colorado Rockies (MLB)

Alcides Escobar: Nashville Sounds (AAA) to Houston Astros (MLB)

 

Antonio Bastardo: Reading Phillies (AA) to Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (AAA)

Justin Smoak: Frisco Rough Riders (AA) to Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA)

Madison Bumgarner: San Jose Giants (A) to Connecticut Defenders (AA)
Yonder Alonso: Sarasota Reds (A) to Carolina Mudcats (AA)
Pedro Alvarez: Lynchburg Hillcats (A) to Altoona Curve (AA)

Mauricio Robles: West Michigan Whitecaps (A) to Lakeland Flying Tigers (A+)
Josh Vitters: Peoria Chiefs (A) to Daytona Cubs (A+)

Carlos Carrasco – called up! After struggling horribly at LeHigh, being traded to the Indians organization and experiencing a renaissance, Carrasco is an Indian. It wasn’t a great debut – 3 innings, 6 earned runs, and an 18.00 ERA. But it’s a big league start, and I’m not sure I would have predicted that happening based on the early-season returns at this point.

 Pedro Alvarez continues to impress in his debut season. He’s posting an OPS over 1.000, which doesn’t happen often, let alone to a newly-minted AA player. The Pirates could use him today.

Brian has kept you apprised of the all-star game participants, some of whom are on this meter. I’ll try to keep track of who plays fall ball and who gets called up, since minor-league seasons are winding to a halt. 

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The top level. These prospects are in AAA in the prime of their youth, waiting for the call that will change their lives.

Wade Davis, RHP – Durham Bulls (Rays): 28 Games – 10 W – 8 L – 3.40 ERA – 60 BB – 140 K

Kila Kaaihue, 1B – Omaha Royals – .254 – 80 R – 17 HR – 54 RBI – 97 BB – 0 SB – .446 SLG – .841 OPS

Austin Jackson, OF – Scranton Wilkes-Barre (Yankees): .298 – 63 R – 4 HR – 62 RBI – 40 BB – 23 SB – .404 SLG – .759 OPS

Justin Smoak, 1B – Oklahoma City RedHawks (Rangers): .244 AVG – 25 R – 4 HR – 23 RBI – 35 BB – 0 SB – .360 SLG – .723 OPS

Travis Wood, RHP – Louisville Bats (Reds): 7 Games – 4 W – 2 L – 3.30 ERA – 16 BB – 26 K

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These guys also have the potential to skip straight to the majors, but may get promoted to AAA first.

 

Lars Anderson, 1B – Portland SeaDogs (Red Sox): .243 AVG – 49 R – 9 HR – 51 RBI – 57 BB – 2 SB – .361 SLG – .694 OPS

Carlos Santana, C – Akron Aeros (Indians): .290 AVG – 87 R – 21 HR – 93 RBI – 89 BB – 1 SB – .524 SLG – .940 OPS

 

Andrew Locke, OF – Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros): .338 AVG – 81 R – 20 HR – 109 RBI – 46 BB – 2 SB – .531 SLG – .920 OPS

 

Madison Bumgarner, LHP – Connecticut Defenders (Giants): 19 Games – 9 W – 1 L – 1.95 ERA – 30 BB – 69 K

 Jeanmar Gomez, RHP – Akron Aeros (Indians): 21 Starts – 10 W – 4 L – 3.38 ERA – 36 BB – 105 K

  

Kyle Drabek, RHP – Reading Phillies (Phillies): 15 Games – 8 W – 2 L – 3.64 ERA – 31 BB – 76 K

 

Pedro Alvarez, 3B – Altoona Curve (Pirates): .333 AVG – 42 R – 13 HR – 40 RBI – 34 BB – 1 SB – .590 SLG – 1.009 OPS

 

Eddy Martinez-Esteve, OF – Connecticut Defenders (Giants): .301 AVG – 57 R – 8 HR – 64 RBI – 46 BB – 2 SB – .444 SLG – .815 OPS

 

Deik Scram, OF – Erie SeaWolves (Tigers): .253 AVG – 73 R – 20 HR – 69 RBI – 61 BB – 9 SB – .487 SLG – .831 OPS

 

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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): .233 AVG – 50 R – 19 HR – 49 RBI – 29 BB – 1 SB – .442 SLG – .773 OPS

Yonder Alonso, 1B – Sarasota Reds (Reds): .303 AVG – 21 R – 7 HR – 38 RBI – 24 BB – 0 SB – .497 SLG – .880 OPS

Mike Moustakas, SS – Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals): .255 AVG – 65 R – 16 HR – 86 RBI – 31 BB – 10 SB – .428 SLG – .729 OPS

Che-Hsuan Lin, OF – Salem Red Sox: .268 AVG – 74 R – 7 HR – 53 RBI – 64 BB – 26 SB – .373 SLG – .730 OPS

Josh Vitters, 3B – Daytona Cubs (Cubs): .232 AVG – 18 R – 3 HR – 18 RBI – 4 BB – 1 SB – .345 SLG – .600 OPS

Collin Cowgill, OF (injured) – Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks): .277 AVG – 39 R – 6 HR – 36 RBI – 29 BB – 11 SB – .445 SLG – .819 OPS

Mauricio Robles, P – High Desert Mavericks (Mariners): 6 Games – 2 W – 2 L – 2.96 ERA – 17 BB – 26 K

Tim Beckham, SS – Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays): .279 AVG – 56 R – 5 HR – 62 RBI – 33 BB – 13 SB – .400 SLG – .732 OPS

Ezekiel Spruill, RHP – Rome Braves (Braves): 20 Games – 8 W – 6 L – 1 SV – 3.03 ERA – 24 BB – 95 K

Brad Brach, RHP – Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres): 58 Games – 1.31 ERA – 3 W – 3 L – 32 SV – 11 BB – 79 K

Jamie McOwen, RF – High Desert Mavericks (Mariners): .336 AVG – 74 R – 8 HR – 76 RBI – 39 BB – 13 SB – .478 SLG – .870 OPS

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NCAA: Only used if a prospect in college shows really, truly, immensely, hugely inescapable potential.

Stephen Strasburg, RHP – San Diego State: 14 Starts – 13 W – 1 L – 1.32 ERA – 19 BB – 195 K

Strasburg was the #1 pick in the college draft this season, and has signed with the Washington Nationals.

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Prospects chosen from Diamond Cutter’s Top 25, Baseball America, and our trademark irrational sense of whimsy.

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