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)
Justin Masterson, RHP, Portland (AA) to Boston (MLB)
Jeff Samardzija, RHP, Tennessee (AA) to Iowa (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, Ashevills (A) to Modesto (Advanced A)
Josh Vitters, 3B, Boise (Short A) to Peoria (A)
Not a huge amount of movement this week. In the “What’s a guy gotta do?” category, we have Nelson Cruz, tearin’ it UP in Oklahoma, but being completely ignored by the droopy Rangers. Wonder why they don’t win much? Catchers Luke Montz and Matt Wieters are showing pop all over the place, but haven’t budged a rung yet. Jhoulys Chacin is closing in on one-damn-hundred strikeouts in A-is-for-Asheville, and seems to be destined to stay there for a while.
OMDQ informs me that one of my guys, De La Cruz, has been sent back to the Marlins, so I’m adding in Matt Tuiasosopo. This is one of those “irrational sense of whimsy” picks, made simply because his father was an NFL defensive lineman, his brother Marques made the pros as a backup QB for the Raiders and Jets, and his brother Zach is an NFL fullback. Full props to Matt for being the black sheep of the family.
Breaking news! Jeff Samardzija is up in triple-A, despite a poor BB/K ratio. Guess the Cubs see something they like. Or else the Notre Dame Mafia is greasing the wheels. I don’t know.
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): .283 – 45R – 8HR – 31RBI – 21SB – 33BB – .423 SLG – .786 OPS
Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B – Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners): .252 – 38R – 4HR – 32 RBI – 21BB – 1SB – .387 SLG – .719 OPS
Joe Koshansky, 1B – Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies): .297 – 49R – 18HR – 33BB – 76RBI – 1SB – .616 SLG – .989 OPS
Colby Rasmus, LF – Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals): .249 – 49R – 11HR – 35RBI – 10SB – 45BB – .411 SLG – .761 OPS
Nelson Cruz, RF – Oklahoma Redhawks (Rangers): .357 – 67R – 23HR – 67RBI – 17SB – 45BB – .714 SLG – 1.172 OPS
Jeff Samardzija, RHP – Iowa Cubs (Cubs): 1GS – 0W – 1L – 4.50 – 2BB – 5K
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): .284 – 35R – 17HR – 47RBI – 50BB – 3SB – .567 SLG – .998 OPS
Austin Jackson, OF – Trenton Thunder (Yankees): .280 – 45R – 7HR – 45RBI – 40BB – 12SB – .439 SLG – .805 OPS
Jacob McGee, LHP – Montgomery Biscuits (Rays): 15GS – 6W – 4L – 3.94 ERA – 37BB – 65K
Cameron Maybin, CF – Carolina Mudcats (Marlins): .270 – 51R – 12HR – 35RBI – 39BB – 14SB – .485 SLG – .849 OPS
Wade Davis, RHP – Montgomery Biscuits (Rays): 16GS – 7W – 5L – 3.96 ERA – 38BB – 62K
Elvis Andrus, SS – Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers): .277 – 40R – 1HR – 29RBI – 17BB – 24SB – .335 SLG – .669 OPS
Luke Montz, C – Harrisburg Senators (Nationals): .304 – 30R – 14HR – 53RBI – 29BB – 0SB – .578 SLG – .966 OPS
Travis Snider, RF – New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays): .273 – 36R – 10HR – 42RBI – 28BB – 0SB – .463 SLG – .823 OPS
Antonio Bastardo, LHP (injured) – Reading Phillies (Phillies): 9GS – 2W – 3L – 3.11 ERA – 29BB – 39K
Matt Wieters, C – Bowie Baysox (Orioles): reset stats with promotion
Matt LaPorta, CF – Huntsville Stars (Brewers): .294 – 50R – 19HR – 59RBI – 39BB – 1SB – .603 SLG – 1.011 OPS
Mat Gamel, 3B – Huntsville Stars (Brewers): .371 – 65R – 15HR – 66RBI – 33BB – 5SB – .632 SLG – 1.064 OPS
David Price, LHP – Montgomery Biscuits (Rays): Reset stats with promotion
Fernando Martinez, CF (on rehab assignment) – Binghamton Mets (Mets): .400 – 0R – 0HR – 0RBI – 0SB – .400 SLG – .900 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): reset stats following promotion.
Lars Anderson, 1B – Lancaster JetHawks (Red Sox): .304 – 40R – 8HR – 37RBI – 35BB – 0SB – .479 SLG – .871 OPS
Jhoulys Chacin, RHP – Modesto Nuts (Rockies): Reset stats with promotion
Rick Porcello, RHP – Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit): 14GS – 3W – 6L – 2.96 ERA – 20BB – 44K
Mike Moustakas, SS – Burlington Bees (Royals): .239 – 36R – 10HR – 37RBI – 18BB – 4SB – .401 SLG – .694 OPS
Prospects chosen from Diamond Cutter’s Top 25, Baseball America, and my own irrational sense of whimsy.
