Minor League Barometer: Risers & Fallers

This has been a season unlike any other in terms of prospect promotions, and the recent ascension of Bo Bichette to the big leagues did little to quell the excitement.  However, two injured phenoms with high upside could also be joining the fray soon.  A.J. Puk is nearly back from Tommy John surgery, and with it will come plenty of strikeouts.  Though Puk will likely only be a bullpen add in 2019, the Athletics have struggled at the back end of their pen (only the Mets have blown more saves this season) - so the 6-foot-7 southpaw could end up being a quick fix.  The same can be said for Jesus Luzardo, who is scheduled to return for the A's at the end of August.  Another lefty who has undergone Tommy John surgery, Luzardo actually suffered a shoulder issue that limited him to just 19.1 innings this season.  The Athletics are currently leading the second Wild Card slot, but it is extremely tight as the Rays and Red Sox lurk closely behind.  Both Puk and Luzardo could provide boosts down the stretch, without having to make a trade.

Let's take a look at some other players on the move in this week's Minor League Barometer.

UPGRADE

Simeon Woods Richardson, P, TOR – Woods Richardson went to the Blue Jays along with Anthony Kay in exchange for Marcus Stroman on Monday.  The 18-year-old had been dealing at Low-A prior to the trade.  In his previous 10 starts over 47 innings, Woods Richardson had compiled a 2.49 ERA and 58:10 K:BB.  He boasts three pitches, pounds the strike zone and usually keeps the ball down.  At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he also has room to fill out and mature even more from a physical standpoint.  The Blue Jays possess plenty of blossoming young hitting talent, but the minors pitching depth has been far more suspect.  The additions of Woods Richardson and Kay - along with first-round pick Alek Manoah and the comebacks from injury of Nate Pearson and Eric Pardinho - suddenly give the Blue Jays some promise in this department.

Luis Campusano, C, SD – Campusano was the first catcher selected in the 2017 draft, and the 20-year-old has rewarded the Padres with a banner 2019 campaign by hitting .322/.390/.508 with 11 home runs and 60 RBI in 86 games at High-A.  Though certainly the hitter-friendly confines of the California League have helped, he has tallied almost as many walks (38) as strikeouts (45) showing exceptional strike zone judgment along with the ability to handle the bat.  The Padres farm system is loaded with talent, so it is easy to overlook a player like Campusano.  However, an argument can be made he is among the top-10 catching prospects in all of baseball.

Oneil Cruz, SS/3B, PIT – With apologies to fellow Pirates farmhand Mason Martin and his 28 home runs this season, Cruz is the player with the truly tantalizing power stroke in this system.  The 6-foot-6 prospect missed a chunk of the season due to a fractured foot, but he has been raking since his return.  Cruz slashed /.301/.345/.515 with seven home runs, 16 RBI and seven stolen bases in 35 games at High-A.  That has resulted in a quick promotion to Double-A for the 20-year old.  Cruz is expected to get even stronger as he gets older, a scary thought for the opposition.  His ascension comes with the same caveat as with all extremely tall hitters: there are only so many Aaron Judges in the world.  That being said, Cruz has the physical tools to succeed - and the results are showing on the field in 2019.

Spencer Howard, P, PHI – Howard has only made 10 starts this season due to a shoulder injury, but he appears to be quickly be making up for lost time.  He notched three-straight scoreless outings earlier in July, parlaying that dynamite stretch into a promotion to Double-A.  Though Howard only lasted 4.2 innings during his first start at that level, he only allowed one run and did not walk a batter while striking out 10.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Of the 14 outs recorded, 10 were via the K.  On the season, Howard has posted a 1.80 ERA and 66:9 K:BB in 45 innings across four different levels with opposing batters hitting a putrid .174 against.  The 23-year old righty's stock is on the rise, and he should be considered among the top-15 or 20 pitching prospects in baseball at the moment.

CHECK STATUS

Sean Murphy, C, OAK – Murphy evokes some very different projections, depending on who you ask.  Some see him as a future everyday starting catcher in the big leagues, while others do not think any of his tools are more than mediocre, including power or the ability to hit for average.  Murphy has also been unable to stay healthy during his brief professional career - including this year - as he missed more than two months due to a torn meniscus.  However, he has gone on a tear of late at Triple-A by notching a three-homer game Saturday and then following that up with another homer in his next start Sunday.  Murphy has now smashed six home runs and 18 RBI in 22 games since returning from injury, and has brought his slash line up to .319/.422/.640.  The sample size is small, so it remains to be seen if he can keep up his production and also stay on the field.  At least his power-packed weekend certainly has turned some heads.

Devin Sweet, P, SEA – Sweet wasn't even drafted coming out of North Carolina Central last year, but has shown what a polished collegiate product can do in the lower levels of the minors.  He has registered a 3.04 ERA and 112:19 K:BB in 91.2 innings at Low-A West Virginia.  Sweet also uses an excellent changeup, which has befuddled young, inexperienced hitters at this level.  Though he started off in the bullpen, he has moved to the starting rotation - with his last outing arguably the best of his season.  Sweet tossed a complete game, scattering four hits and failing to walk a single batter while fanning 12.  The Mariners may have found a hidden gem, though we'll have to see how he performs at the higher levels to get a better indication of his future prospects.

Lewin Diaz, 1B, MIA – The Marlins received Diaz in the Sergio Romo deal, though it also cost them starting pitcher Chris Vallimont, who had improved his outlook this season before being dealt to the Twins.  Still, Miami allegedly targeted Diaz due to the combination of low strikeouts and high hard-hit rate.  Between High-A and Double-A, he is batting .291/.332/.547 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI in 91 games.  Diaz does not walk a ton, but he also does not strike out a lot as referenced above with only 65 whiffs through those 91 contests.  After a dismal 2018 campaign, he has clearly reversed his fortunes.  Add in the complete dearth of options for the Marlins at first base, and Diaz could be the first baseman of the future if he continues to shine.

Jeremy Pena, SS, HOU – As if the Astros needed another hitting prospect, Pena has been a pleasant surprise with the bat in 2019.  Drafted during the third round in 2018, he was considered a glove-first shortstop with speed.  Pena has racked up 20 thefts in 92 games between Low-A and High-A, but that's not the real story here.  The son of former big leaguer Geronimo Pena slashed .293/.389/.421 with five home runs and 41 RBI in 66 games at Low-A.  Since being promoted to High-A, he has looked even better by hitting a robust .343/.377/.556 with two home runs and 11 RBI over 26 contests.  Pena is showing a bit more power than expected, but it is the high average that is demanding attention.  It remains to be seen if this can last; but if so, Pena could vault up the prospect charts.

DOWNGRADE

Jazz Chisholm, SS, ARI – Unfortunately, Chisholm's fortunes have never really changed this season, as his slow start has turned into an overall rather abysmal campaign for Double-A Jackson by slashing just .203/.303/.428 on the season.  He has fallen further over the last 10 games, batting just .171 with 13 strikeouts.  Strikeouts remain a concern, as Chisholm is on pace to "beat" last year's mark of 149 punch outs in 112 games.  He has registered 18 home runs and 13 stolen bases, so the toolsy shortstop would be intriguing even if he raised his average just 20 or 30 points.  Still, an average hovering around the Mendoza line has knocked Chisholm's stock down a few pegs this season and has been passed in the system by the likes of Kristian Robinson, Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll.

Kyle Isbel, OF, KC – Isbel's speed will be his calling card, but he also has the ability to hit double-digit home runs.  A third-round selection in 2018, he excelled at two stops following the draft.  However, 2019 has been a different animal as Isbel initially missed a large chunk of time due to a wrist injury.  Since his return to High-A, he has struggled by batting a mere .125 with 10 strikeouts while not stealing a base nor hitting a home run over his last 10 games.  It is unclear whether these recent struggles are related to the wrist ailment.  The recent cold spell has dragged Isbel's overall stat line to .237/.287/.441 in 25 games.  Certainly the sample size is small, but it's clear 2019 has not gone as planned.

Jesus Sanchez, OF, TB – Sanchez is just 21, already at Triple-A and owns an exceptional skill set.  That being said, the normally cautious Rays organization may have bumped him up to Triple-A just a bit too soon.  Sanchez's numbers at Double-A weren't bad, per se, but he wasn't tearing the cover off the ball.  His lack of patience has been evident since being promoted, with 20 strikeouts in 17 games and just five walks.  Sanchez is batting just .213/.269/.328 over that stretch with just one homer and zero steals.  He has looked even worse over the last 10 games, hitting just .176 with 11 strikeouts.  Sanchez never batted below .300 at any level prior to entering Double-A in 2018, so he may be hitting a wall in his development.  That is not to say he cannot overcome these struggles, or that he cannot eventually become a superstar.  It only means that for now, Sanchez may need a bit more seasoning.

Mario Feliciano, C, MIL – Feliciano is still tied for the lead in the Carolina League in home runs with 15, but he has not hit one out of the park in his last 10 games.  During that time period, the 20-year-old backstop is hitting just .237 while striking out 11 times.  The red flag here is that in terms of patience at the dish, his statistics seem to be getting worse as he matures.  Feliciano has posted 119 strikeouts as compared to just 25 walks in 98 games at High-A.  He is a lifetime .252 hitter in the minors, and this is essentially a repeat of High-A where he hit just .205 in 42 games last year.  The bump in power numbers is worth noting; however, prior to this season the most home runs Feliciano ever hit in a single campaign was four.  The Brewers hope he has simply turned the corner, although the peripheral numbers could indicate issues remain as he continues to climb the ladder.