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)
Justin Masterson, RHP, Portland (AA) to Boston (MLB)
Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Tennessee (AA) to Iowa (AAA)
Luke Montz, C, Harrisburg (AA) to Columbus (AAA)
Antonio Bastardo, LHP, Clearwater (A) to Reading (AA)
David Price, LHP, Vero Beach (A) to Montgomery (AA)
Matt Weiters, C, Frederick Keys (A) to Bowie Baysox (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)
Since we’ll all be traveling and BBQing during the upcoming long weekend, I’m just going to go ahead and post the Z-meter early, and hopefully just take the time to update it on Saturday or Sunday to keep us all current.
The dam broke this week. Several players who had been playing well for long stretches got their marching orders. Jeff Samardzija moved up from AA to AAA, as did Catcher Luke Montz. Matt Weiters and David Price made the move from A to double-A. Ian Gac and Jhoulys Chacin parlayed hot first halves in low A into second seasons in high A.
Samardzija is the strangest mover of all. He has lost far more games than he has won. He doesn’t strike a lot of guys out. And yet he advances easily. If anyone has a theory or, better yet, inside info on the improbable rise of The Shark, let me know.
**Update** Here’s an exchange that took place in Paul Sullivan’s Mailbag regarding Shark:
Paul, why did the Cubs promote Jeff Samardzija to Triple-A rather than Donald Veal? Veal has much better numbers at Double-A. Is it the large contract given to Samardzija, or do the Cubs think he has a higher MLB upside? –Randy, Denver
The Cubs say Samardzija earned the promotion due to his recent success in Double-A, and he’s pitched well at Iowa in his first couple of starts. I would imagine they’re getting him ready to come up as a right-handed reliever for the stretch run, and since they gave him a $10 million contract, they probably figure they need to start getting their money’s worth, starting this year. Lots of pressure on Samardzija? Of course. But I think he dealt with a little bit of that on Saturday afternoons in South Bend, so he should be able to handle it.
[ChicagoSports.com]
So, you know… he might not be ready, but we paid him a lot of money, so here goes!
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): .281 – 47R – 8HR – 33RBI – 21SB – 35BB – .415 SLG – .777 OPS
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B – Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners): .252 – 41R – 5HR – 36 RBI – 24BB – 1SB – .395 SLG – .730 OPS
Colby Rasmus, LF – Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals): .253 – 53R – 11HR – 36RBI – 12SB – 48BB – .410 SLG – .765 OPS
Nelson Cruz, RF – Oklahoma Redhawks (Rangers): .352 – 71R – 24HR – 69RBI – 18SB – 47BB – .705 SLG – 1.157 OPS
Jeff Samardzija, RHP – Iowa Cubs (Cubs): 2GS – 1W – 1L – 3.00 – 8BB – 9K
Luke Montz, C – Columbus Clippers (Nationals): .000 – 1R – 0HR – 0RBI – 1BB – 0SB – .000 SLG – .125 OPS
These guys also have the potential to skip straight to the majors, but are more likely to get promoted to the top of this meter first.
Kila Kaaihue, 1B – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals): .281 – 36R – 18HR – 48RBI – 54BB – 3SB – .567 SLG – .999 OPS
Austin Jackson, OF – Trenton Thunder (Yankees): .2874 – 47R – 7HR – 46RBI – 41BB – 13SB – .428 SLG – .783 OPS
Jacob McGee, LHP (injured) – Montgomery Biscuits (Rays): 15GS – 6W – 4L – 3.94 ERA – 37BB – 65K
Cameron Maybin, CF – Carolina Mudcats (Marlins): .266 – 54R – 12HR – 36RBI – 42BB – 16SB – .472 SLG – .833 OPS
Wade Davis, RHP – Montgomery Biscuits (Rays): 17GS – 7W – 6L – 4.14 ERA – 39BB – 69K
Elvis Andrus, SS – Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers): .279 – 45R – 1HR – 31RBI – 19BB – 26SB – .337 SLG – .676 OPS
Travis Snider, RF – New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays): .273 – 40R – 11HR – 45RBI – 30BB – 1SB – .458 SLG – .816 OPS
Antonio Bastardo, LHP (injured) – Reading Phillies (Phillies): 9GS – 2W – 3L – 3.11 ERA – 29BB – 39K
Matt Wieters, C – Bowie Baysox (Orioles): .214 – 4R – 0HR – 2RBI – 2BB – 0SB – .286 SLG – .598 OPS
Matt LaPorta, CF – Huntsville Stars (Brewers): .294 – 52R – 19HR – 63RBI – 41BB – 2SB – .592 SLG – .999 OPS
Mat Gamel, 3B – Huntsville Stars (Brewers): .379 – 69R – 15HR – 70RBI – 37BB – 5SB – .636 SLG – 1.078 OPS
David Price, LHP – Montgomery Biscuits (Rays): 1GS – 1W – 0L – 3.00 ERA – 4BB – 7K
Fernando Martinez, CF – Binghamton Mets (Mets): .299 – 23R – 4HR – 19RBI – 8BB – 0SB – .443 SLG – .778 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): .438 – 4R – 1HR – 4RBI – 0BB – 1SB – .750 SLG – 1.152 OPS
Lars Anderson, 1B – Lancaster JetHawks (Red Sox): .304 – 45R – 8HR – 37RBI – 41BB – 0SB – .474 SLG – .877 OPS
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP – Modesto Nuts (Rockies): 1GS – 1W – 0L – 0.00 ERA – 1BB – 8K
Rick Porcello, RHP – Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit): 15GS – 4W – 6L – 2.73 ERA – 20BB – 46K
Mike Moustakas, SS – Burlington Bees (Royals): .242 – 39R – 12HR – 41RBI – 21BB – 4SB – .414 SLG – .712 OPS
Prospects chosen from Diamond Cutter’s Top 25, Baseball America, and my own irrational sense of whimsy.
The Northwest Indiana Times reported that our old Z-Meter chum Jeff Samardzija – former Notre Dame football star and a short-term Bus Leaguer before his callup to the Cubs last year – has shored up his standing with the team by appearing in the Mexican Fall League.
Bus Leagues Baseball 
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