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)
As OMDQ was kind enough to inform us, Matt LaPorta’s star has continued to rise. The former Brewers prospect was swapped to the Cleveland organization as the key to the C.C. Sabathia trade, which pretty much guaranteed that, barring a catastrophe, we’d be seeing him in the majors this season. Matt hit .333 with 5 homers in 75 triple-A at bats, and the call came. I’m very glad I got a chance to see him play in a double-A Akron Aeros uniform last season, because he’s unlikely to be nearly as accessible now that he’s in the show. Congrats, Matt!
That leaves a gap in our meter, which I’ve chosen to fill with a young A-ball phenom by the name of Mauricio Robles. The Venezuelan import pitches in the Detroit organization for the West Michigan Whitecaps. If you wonder why I chose him, just look at the dude’s walk/strikeout ratio. Cha. Ching.
The Mets’ Fernando Martinez has shaken off a slow April with a red-hot start to May. He’s hitting .542 with two home runs over the first four games he’s played this month. Reading’s Antonio Bastardo continues to yo-yo between the starting lineup and the bullpen, but his most recent start led to a 6.75 ERA and a loss, so relief might be his strong suit. Where there’s (Justin) Smoak, there’s fire. Sorry, had to be done. Red Sox prospect Che-Hsuan Lin had a long six-game hitless streak recently, but is starting to come back, having hit .667 over the past two games in Salem.
And, finally, look at the official photo of Ian Gac here on the right. I thought the poor guy had some rare syndrome that caused him to look like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but I finally realized that he was unfortunately placed in front of some sort of logo on the wall that made him look like his earlobes hung down to his shoulders. The uniform line through the cinder blocks eventually tipped me off to the reality of the situation. I’m sure if gills and flippers helped a guy break out of a hitting slump, Ian would seriously consider getting a little genetic modification done.
The top level. These prospects are in AAA in the prime of their youth, waiting for the call that will change their lives.
Andrew McCutchen, CF – Indianapolis Indians (Pirates): .261 AVG – 18 R – 1 HR – 6 RBI – 6 BB – 4 SB – .466 SLG – .774 OPS
Wade Davis, RHP – Durham Bulls (Rays): 5 Games – 3W – 0L – 3.09 ERA – 14 BB – 17 K
Kila Kaaihue, 1B – Omaha Royals – .224 – 16 R – 3 HR – 11 RBI – 24 BB – 0 SB – .448 SLG – .867 OPS
Mat Gamel, 3B – Nashville Sounds (Brewers): .385 AVG – 18 R – 7 HR – 27 RBI – 15 BB – 0 SB – .756 SLG – 1.231 OPS
Alcides Escobar, SS – Nashville Sounds (Brewers): .269 – 15 R – 2 HR – 7 RBI – 6 BB – 11 SB – .387 SLG – .707 OPS
Carlos Carrasco, RHP – Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies): 5 Starts – 0 W – 2 L – 4.50 ERA – 4 BB – 31 K
Ramiro Pena, SS – Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees: .313 – 2 R – 0 HR – 4 RBI – 3 BB – 1 SB – .344 SLG – .715 OPS
Matt Wieters, C – Norfolk Tides (Orioles): .270 AVG – 7 R – 1 HR – 6 RBI – 11 BB – 0 SB – .365 SLG – .738 OPS
Fernando Martinez, CF – Buffalo Bisons (Mets): .287 AVG – 9 R – 3 HR – 13 RBI – 5 BB – 0 SB – .529 SLG – .859 OPS
Daniel Bard, RHP – Pawtucket Red Sox (Red Sox): 9 Games – 1W – 0L – 4 SV – 1.32 ERA – 4 BB – 23 K
Austin Jackson, OF – Scranton Wilkes-Barre (Yankees): .389 – 17 R – 0 HR – 12 RBI – 9 BB – 7 SB – .486 SLG – .950 OPS
These guys also have the potential to skip straight to the majors, but may get promoted to AAA first.
Antonio Bastardo, LHP – Reading Phillies (Phillies): 6 Games – 2 Starts – 1 W – 1 L – 2 SV – 2.20 ERA – 3 BB – 15 K
Lars Anderson, 1B – Portland SeaDogs (Red Sox): .277 AVG – 11 R – 2 HR – 14 RBI – 7 BB – 0 SB – .434 SLG – .763 OPS
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP – Tulsa Drillers (Rockies): 5 Starts – 2 W – 3 L – 4.15 ERA – 9 BB – 19 K
Carlos Santana, C – Akron Aeros (Indians): .250 AVG – 16 R – 6 HR – 19 RBI – 18 BB – 0 SB – .574 SLG – .978 OPS
Justin Smoak, 1B – Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers): .358 AVG – 12 R – 4 HR – 16 RBI – 18 BB – 0 SB – .580 SLG – 1.055 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): .200 AVG – 4 R – 1 HR – 11 RBI – 5 BB – 0 SB – .308 SLG – .561 OPS
Mike Moustakas, SS – Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals): .275 AVG – 18 R – 4 HR – 18 RBI – 6 BB – 1 SB – .500 SLG – .822 OPS
Madison Bumgarner, LHP – San Jose Giants (Giants): 4 Starts – 3 W – 0 L – 1.40 ERA – 3 BB – 19 K
Pedro Alvarez, 3B – Lynchburg Hillcats (Pirates): .212 AVG – 13 R – 5 HR – 21 RBI – 16 BB – 0 SB – .412 SLG – .739 OPS
Che-Hsuan Lin, OF – Salem Red Sox: .176 AVG – 9 R – 0 HR – 5 RBI – 8 BB – 3 SB – .221 SLG – .486 OPS
Josh Vitters, 3B – Peoria Chiefs (Cubs): .316 AVG – 10 R – 1 HR – 8 RBI – 2 BB – 0 SB – .421 SLG – .775 OPS
Shooter Hunt, RHP – Beloit Snappers (Twins): 5 Start – 0 W – 1 L – 10.43 ERA – 29 BB – 14 K
Collin Cowgill, OF – Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks): .310 AVG – 21 R – 4 HR – 18 RBI – 12 BB – 3 SB – .583 SLG – .993 OPS
Mauricio Robles, P – West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers): 5 Starts – 2 W – 1 L – 3.04 ERA – 9 BB – 40 K
NCAA: Only used if a prospect in college shows really, truly, immensely, hugely inescapable potential.
Stephen Strasburg, RHP – San Diego State: 10 Starts – 10W – 0L – 1.38 ERA – 15 BB – 147 K
Visit SDSU’s Strasburg Central for more.
Prospects chosen from Diamond Cutter’s Top 25, Baseball America, and our trademark irrational sense of whimsy.
Man, now that Michael Phelps is out of the water and into the record books, these Olympics just seem to be flying by, don’t they? It feels like baseball just started a couple of days ago…now we’re nearing the end of preliminary play and getting ready to move on to the medal rounds. By Saturday, it’ll be all over.
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