FanGraphs Prospect Stock Watch – 06/12/12

Bobby Borchering, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Current Level: A+
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 7th
Current Value: Holding Steady

Borchering (16th) and Matt Davidson (35th) were both selected prior to the second round of the 2009 amateur draft and both were drafted as third basemen. Davidson has thrived in pro ball and is already in double-A. On the other hand, Borchering’s approach at the plate has left something to be desired and has resulted in low walk rates and high strikeout rates and it has hampered his development. That remains true in 2012 but his results have been getting a little bit better with each month as he repeats high-A ball. Now an outfielder, Borchering is hitting for power (32 extra base hits in 64 games) but he may never hit for average unless he makes more adjustments and learns to identify and handle breaking balls. A switch-hitter, the 21-year-old doesn’t hit left-handers very well and focusing solely on swinging from the left side might help him improve a little bit quicker.

Adam Lind, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
Current Level: AAA
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: Ineligible
Current Value: Improving

Obviously no longer a prospect with parts of seven big league seasons under his belt, Lind has accepted his demotion to triple-A. Apparently out of shape, the first baseman has worked hard to get his conditioning to the level where it needs to be so he can compete at the big league level and he’s seeing results in the box scores too. Lind is currently hitting .416 in 22 games and just went deep twice on Monday night, giving him five home runs. With an OPS of 1.134 Lind could find himself back in the Majors sooner rather than later although he could be an attractive name at the July trade deadline (if the Blue Jays are willing to eat some of his salary). Toronto has a much cheaper option in rookie David Cooper currently providing league-average offense at first base.

Andrew Romine, SS, Los Angeles Angels
Current Level: AAA
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: NR
Current Value: Underrated

Romine has a low ceiling in terms of his offensive potential but he does quite a few things well. The son of a former big leaguer (Kevin Romine) and brother of a Yankees prospect (Austin Romine), this infielder has good baseball genes. He plays a solid middle infield, runs well and can handle the bat. He offers a left-handed swing off the bench, which makes him a solid pinch-hitter option. Romine, 26, is currently hitting for average (.296) and getting on base at a solid clip (.352 OBP). He’s racking up the steals, too, but his success rate of 75% is not the greatest. The infielder isn’t going to play everyday at the big league level but he should carve out a respectable MLB career. Los Angeles could also use a boost from its infield with veterans Maicer Izturis, Alberto Callaspo and Erick Aybar all providing well-below-league-average offense.

Marcell Ozuna, OF, Miami Marlins
Current Level: A+
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 3rd
Current Value: Looking Up

If you like grip-and-rip sluggers, Ozuna is your man. He had a breakout 2011 season in low-A ball when he slugged 23 home runs and he’s continued to flex his muscles at high-A ball in 2012. The Dominican Republic native is still hitting for power and already has 15 home runs so he could blow away his career-high in taters. Ozuna strikes out at a high clip – which is often the trade off for big-time power – but he also takes a few walks and steals a few bases so he’s not just a one-dimensional hitter. In the field he shows a cannon for an arm. He’s probably about two years away from reaching the Majors but the Marlins could end up with a very potent 1-2 punch with Giancarlo Stanton and Ozuna.

Mike Olt, 3B, Texas Rangers
Current Level: AA
2012 Top 15 Prospects Ranking: 9th
Current Value: Ready to Explode

Olt, 23, has already set a career high in home runs (19) despite appearing in just 59 games so far in 2012. The infielder is also getting on base at a high rate (13.8%) via the walk. He’s hitting for average and has a .395 clip in June and is probably ready for the triple-A challenge after posting a wRC+ of 178. Despite all the positives he does have some negative aspects to his game, as well. Olt strikes out a lot and currently has a 25.3% strikeout rate. He’s also a bit of a base clogger who has a tendency to ground into the double play. On defense, Olt is a plus defender with a strong arm but the presence of big leaguer Adrian Beltre could push him across the diamond to first base where he would in turn shove incumbent big leaguer Mitch Moreland to another club, perhaps for some pitching help.