BaseballHQ.com

June 21
No call-ups today.

June 20

Tyler Thornburg (RHP, MIL)
The Brewers have recalled the 23-year-old from Double-A and he’ll make his major league debut with a start on Tuesday, June 19. Thornburg was a 3^rd round selection in the ’10 draft and he has a short, athletic frame that generates good velocity. He possesses a maximum-effort delivery that some say might eventually lead him to the bullpen, but he’s experienced success as a starter thus far. Thornburg has a solid arsenal, highlighted by his 89-95 mph fastball and power curveball. He can register strikeouts with either pitch and his future role may be determined by the development of his change-up. He does a nice job of repeating the arm speed on his offspeed pitch, but he needs to find consistency with its movement. Thornburg has improved his fastball command in ’12, though he tends to elevate his curveball at times. He has a career 2.64 ERA, 3.6 Ctl, and 10.3 Dom in the minors.
STATS: Huntsville (AA) – 13 gs, 8-1 3.00 ERA, 75 IP, 3.0 Cmd, 2.9 Ctl, 8.5 Dom, 6 HR, .212 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Starter
POTENTIAL: #3 starter
RATING: 8B

Chris Archer (RHP, TAM)
The 23-year-old will be promoted to the big leagues in order to make his major league debut with a start on Wednesday, June 20. Archer is in his third organization—he was selected by the Indians in the ’06 draft before being traded to the Cubs in December ’08 and then to Tampa Bay in January ’11. He has outstanding upside predicated on his quick arm that generates a plus fastball and an incredible slider. His natural stuff ranks among the tops in the minors, but command and control problems have let him and his team down. Archer has a 90-97 mph fastball that features plenty of late movement and his plus slider is difficult to hit. He has achieved a high strikeout rate because of his dominant offerings, though his change-up needs to be enhanced in order to be an effective big league starter. Archer tends to rely on his slider too much and he could benefit by establishing his fastball early in the count. With his tall, athletic build, he could be a breakout candidate if he can iron out his mechanical inconsistencies. He has a career 3.89 ERA, 5.2 Ctl, and 9.0 Dom.
STATS: Durham (AAA) – 14 gs, 4-8 4.81 ERA, 76.2 IP, 2.0 Cmd, 5.3 Ctl, 10.6 Dom, 4 HR, .233 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Starter
POTENTIAL: #2 starter
RATING: 9E

June 19
No call-ups today.

June 18

Dallas Keuchel (LHP, HOU)
The Astros recalled the 24-year-old to make his major league debut with a spot start on June 17. Keuchel has flown under the radar since he was selected in the 7^th round of the ’09 draft. He has a career 3.85 ERA, 1.9 Ctl, and 6.0 Dom. He won’t blow his 83-90 mph fastball by anybody nor will he elicit swings and misses with his average secondary stuff. However, he is an extreme groundball pitcher who succeeds by pitch movement and command. Keuchel’s fastball features plenty of late sink and his change-up exhibits nasty movement as well. He also uses a slow curveball that is hittable, but he throws it for strikes. With a fresh, durable arm, he pitches deep into games and has been injury-free throughout his career. Keuchel has a very low strikeout rate and has limited upside because of his lack of plus stuff. He’s been hittable and that likely won’t change in the Majors. The key is for him to continue to command his offerings.
STATS: Oklahoma City (AAA) – 13 gs, 5-4 4.26 ERA, 80.1 IP, 3.0 Cmd, 1.7 Ctl, 5.2 Dom, 5 HR, .278 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Spot starter
POTENTIAL: #4-5 starter
RATING: 7E

Todd Redmond (RHP, ATL)
The Braves recalled the 27-year-old after placing Brandon Beachy on the disabled list. Redmond is tall and strong and has been used as a starter for his minor league career. He was originally drafted by the Pirates before his trade to Atlanta in March ’08. He has spent the last four seasons in Triple-A. Redmond possesses good command of fringe-average offerings. He pitches off his 86-91 mph fastball that he spots to all four quadrants of the strike zone. Additionally, he offers a decent curveball and change-up that he can throw for strikes. Redmond has a clean delivery with a solid release point, but he has been a flyball pitcher throughout his career. He’s allowed his fair share of HR and he’ll need to stay on top of his breaking ball in order to lessen the impact going forward. Redmond has posted a minimal strikeout rate in his career and he has often struggled to retire left-handed hitters. He has a career 3.54 ERA, 2.3 Ctl, and 7.3 Dom.
STATS: Gwinnett (AAA) – 13 gs, 6-4 3.20 ERA, 76 IP, 3.5 Cmd, 2.3 Ctl, 7.9 Dom, 7 HR, .253 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Middle reliever
POTENTIAL: #5 starter / Middle reliever
RATING: 6D

June 17
No call-ups today.
 

June 16

Justin Grimm (RHP, TEX)
The Rangers will recall the 23-year-old from Double-A to make his major league debut on Saturday, May 16. He could see an additional start next week as well. Grimm is a sleeper prospect who enjoyed a solid ’11 season after cleaning up his delivery and command. He was drafted in the 5^th round in ’10 and has worked hard to harness his arm strength and making his delivery more consistent and smooth. Grimm has an 88-96 mph fastball that exhibits late, sinking life and his hard curveball is an excellent complement. The main improvement this season has been the development of his change-up. He confidently throws it for strikes and it has become at least an average offering. He has also cut down on his walks and is thriving with better fastball command. Grimm is tall and athletic, but he doesn’t use his height well and he still often rushes his delivery. His ideal frame oozes projection and he could eventually work his way to the back end of the bullpen if starting doesn’t work out. He has a career 2.85 ERA, 2.6 Ctl, and 8.0 Dom.
STATS: Frisco (AA) – 13 gs, 8-3 1.87 ERA, 77 IP, 4.8 Cmd, 1.6 Ctl, 7.8 Dom, 3 HR, .228 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Spot starter
POTENTIAL: #3-4 starter
RATING: 7B

Justin Christian (OF, SF)
The Giants placed Aubrey Huff on the disabled list and recalled Christian, a 32-year-old outfielder from Triple-A. The right-handed hitter has posted solid numbers across the board the past few seasons, but his age works against him in prospect circles. He’s been in the majors before—87 AB between the Yankees (’08) and San Francisco (’11). Christian has no above average tools other than his speed. He makes excellent contact with a short, quick stroke and can hit for BA as a result. He’s developed some pop in his game, but he still is more of a slash-and-run type of player. Christian makes such easy contact that he doesn’t draw many walks, but he has outstanding speed and creates havoc on base. He’s not a particularly strong defender, though he has average range. His below average arm works best in LF, but he’s played mostly CF in ’12. Christian has a career line of .292/.357/.433 with a high of 14 HR in ’11 and 68 SB in ’06.
STATS: Fresno (AAA) – 250 AB, .364/.432/.540, 19 2b, 7 HR, 1.00 Eye, 10 SB
CURRENT ROLE: Reserve outfielder
POTENTIAL: Reserve outfielder
RATING: 5B

Scott Cousins (OF, MIA)
The 27-year-old is back in the majors—he’s hit .202 with 1 HR in 89 AB across ’10 and ’11 with Miami. Cousins missed the second half of ’11 after injuring his back and he’s come back strong in ’12. The left-handed hitter has impressive tools across the board and could add value in a reserve role. He is a terrific athlete with moderate power and good speed. He’s a natural hitter, but his pitch selectivity is below average and he expands the strike zone by swinging at breaking balls out of the zone. Cousins runs very well and is a good baserunner. His speed translates to above average range at all three outfield positions and his strong arm is an asset. Despite his textbook swing, he’s never broken out in any particular offensive category. Cousins could hit for a higher BA if he became more patient and he has the bat speed to hit for additional pop. The tools and requisite skills are there, but he hasn’t taken advantage of opportunities. He is a career .278/.339/.452 hitter in the minors with a high of 18 HR in ’07.
STATS: New Orleans (AAA) – 195 AB, .292/.355/.472, 10 2b, 7 HR, 0.40 Eye, 12 SB
CURRENT ROLE: Backup outfielder
POTENTIAL: Fourth outfielder
RATING: 6B

Leonys Martin (OF, TEX)
With Josh Hamilton out of the lineup due to a virus, the Rangers promoted the 24-year-old Martin from Triple-A. The left-handed hitter recently returned to game action after missing over a month due to thumb surgery. He is a quick and athletic outfielder who reached the majors in ’11 after signing out of Cuba in May of that same year. Martin has many exemplary tools, particularly speed and defense. He is a natural hitter who possesses a quick, level swing and the ability to hit balls hard to the gaps. He offers moderate power potential, but he’d likely have to tweak his swing mechanics to take advantage of his strength. Martin has above average speed which enhances his baserunning and outfield play, though he’ll need work with stealing bases. He brings a sound approach to the plate and generally makes good contact. Martin plays excellent CF defense by exhibiting above average range and a plus arm. His upside is dictated upon his power development. He has a career line of .309/.377/.457 in the minors.
STATS: Round Rock (AAA) – 129 AB, .341/.411/.543, 9 2b, 5 HR, 0.65 Eye, 7 SB
CURRENT ROLE: Starting CF until Josh Hamilton returns
POTENTIAL: Starting CF
RATING: 8C

June 15

Lester Oliveros (RHP, MIN)
The Twins bolstered their bullpen by recalling the 24-year-old from Triple-A. Oliveros was acquired from Detroit in August ’11 and pitched 21.1 innings between the Tigers and Twins that season (4.64 ERA). The athletic and strong reliever pitches aggressively with a plus 90-96 mph fastball. He’ll mix in a slider and change-up, though both aren’t consistent. The change-up has its moments where it fools hitters, but he doesn’t use it often. Oliveros’ slider can be potent, but he rarely commands it. Effort in his delivery has kept him in the bullpen for his entire career and his role isn’t likely to change. His spotty control and command need attention or middle relief will likely be his permanent role. He has closing experience in the minors and has shown the ability at times to dismantle hitters, but he needs to put the entire package together. He has a career 3.15 ERA, 3.8 Ctl, and 11.0 Dom.
STATS: Rochester (AAA) – 12 g, 1-1 4.08 ERA, 17.2 IP, 4.4 Cmd, 2.6 Ctl, 11.2 Dom, 1 HR, .250 oppBA
New Britain (AA) – 13 g, 1-1 1.42 ERA, 19 IP, 2.3 Cmd, 3.3 Ctl, 7.6 Dom, 0 HR, .164 oppBA
CURRENT ROLE: Middle reliever
POTENTIAL: Setup reliever
RATING: 7C

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