Daily Prospect Notes: 6/30/21

These are notes on prospects from Eric Longenhagen. Read previous installments here.

There were lots of notable performances in the minors last night, so I covered more players than usual and shortened up some of the notes. Additionally, the 2021 Futures Game rosters were announced today and they are freaking loaded. You can see the entire rosters and access players’ scouting reports on The Board’s seasonal tab. Thanks to Sean Dolinar for his speedy help in getting that up.

A.J. Puk, LHP, Oakland Athletics
Level & Affiliate: Triple-A Las Vegas Age: 26 Org Rank: 2 FV: 50
Line: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 4 K

Notes
Puk has now had two consecutive scoreless outings after he surrendered multiple runs in each of his previous six (!). When I saw him during the spring, his velo was only in the low-90s, well below the 96-99 range a fully healthy Puk would typically be operating in. Per Synergy, that velocity has returned to peak levels during the regular season. Today I noticed a change in Puk’s arm slot. This change occurred earlier this month. I don’t know if that velo rebound occurred in concert with this change, or if this is something Puk was instructed to do, or if it just began happening naturally. Regardless, this is still a lefty with big velo and a deep coffer of impact secondaries. If he can get right at some point this season, he can be an impact relief weapon for a team fighting for its division, and I still like Puk as a multi-inning reliever long-term.

Jose Ramos, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level & Affiliate: Complex Level Age: 20 Org Rank: 39 FV: 35+
Line: 2-for-5, HR, 2B

Notes
Ramos now has three homers in his first two ACL (Arizona Complex League) games after he hit a whopping 11 (according to a source) during Extended Spring Training. He has above-average power already and has shown an ability to square up fastballs, though the Reds fed him more breakers last night and he still found a way to do damage. He’s likely a corner outfield fit (in right field; he has a 70 arm) now that Ramos has really filled out and is no longer as speedy as my offseason report indicated. The Andy Pages report from a couple years ago read very similarly and now Pages is hitting lots of homers in full season ball, while striking out a lot.

Bryce Bonnin, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Level & Affiliate: Complex Level Age: 22 Org Rank: 19 FV: 40
Line: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 7 K

Notes
The rehabbing (likely) relief prospect was up to 98 last night and worked mostly with an upper-80s slider as his secondary weapon of choice.

Jose Miranda, INF, Minnesota Twins
Level & Affiliate: Triple-A Wichita Age: 23 Org Rank: 13 FV: 40+
Line: 3-for-6, 3 HR

Notes
I’ve moved Miranda back into the 40+ FV tier and wish I’d just stayed on him even after a glum 2020 in Puerto Rico. Yes, he’s a free-swinger and an unathletic, shift-enabled defender, but he has rare bat-to-ball skills and that’s the thing I care about most. He’s a piece, not an “every down” sort of player but one who provides enough with the bat to be in the lineup for most of the game on most days.

Yoelqui Cespedes, OF, Chicago White Sox
Level & Affiliate: Hi-A Winston Salem Age: 23 Org Rank: 25 FV: 35+
Line: 4-for-6, 3 2B

Notes
Cespedes has only been at an affiliate for about a week and a half but his peripherals there (28% strikeouts, 4% walks) are consistent with what my in-person looks from the spring indicated, which is that Cespedes has a an overly aggressive approach. He has big league physicality and power, and I know he’s headed to the Futures Game, but I remain skeptical of him as an actual prospect.

Jarren Duran, CF, Boston Red Sox
Level & Affiliate: Triple-A Worcester Age: 24 Org Rank: 3 FV: 50
Line: 2-for-5, 2 HR, BB

Notes
What is Boston waiting for here? I don’t think Duran is a slam dunk center fielder just because he’s fast, but I think he’d likely outproduce Danny Santana and Marwin Gonzalez right now. Every game counts in the AL East.

Jake Burger, 3B, Chicago White Sox
Level & Affiliate: Triple-A Charlotte Age: 25 Org Rank: 34 FV: 35+
Line: 4-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 BB

Notes
A rare “two guys from the same org” appearance in DPN was necessitated by Burger’s fantastic night. I did film analysis of Burger this morning, with a focus on his defense at second base. He hasn’t had a ton of opportunities there since he’s only played four games. He clearly has well-below average range but he can make routine plays and has been fine working around the second base bag turning tailor made double plays. Burger will also occasionally make spectacular, high-effort plays at third base but his footwork on defense is hampered by his lack of athleticism. When he can set himself and uncork a strong throw, his arm is above-average.

Offensively, he’s a bit of a free swinger and is especially apt to swing over top of breaking balls down and away from him, but the hit/power combination here is still going to allow for some kind of big league role. Burger’s story is one of incredible perseverance and he also seems like a funny, affable guy who you want in your clubhouse. The White Sox still have a glut of relatively positionless bats that puts a lot of pressure on the health of Leury García, the only player who provides real defensive flexibility on their roster. Teams should be primed to pilfer one from Chicago if injury befalls one of Chicago’s up-the-middle players forcing them to make a move, but I don’t know if Burger can be had at this point because he’s playing so well.

Noelvi Marte, SS, Seattle Mariners
Level & Affiliate: Low-A Modesto Age: 19 Org Rank: 4 FV: 55
Line: 3-for-6, 2 HR

Notes
There’s probably a Cal League hitting environment component to this, but Marte is hitting .300/.401/.533 as a teenage shortstop in full-season ball. He’s slightly outhitting Marco Luciano at the same level, at the same age, and Marte is a better defender. Expect him to climb into the 60 FV tier shortly.