Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Durham Bulls 1

The PawSox jumped out quickly against the Bulls, loading the bases with no one out in the bottom of the first inning on a single, an error and a walk. Ryan Lavarnway hit a sacrifice fly to put Pawtucket on the board, but Alex Colome managed to escape without further damage. Pawtucket got another run in the second, as Jackie Bradley Jr drove in a run with a groundout. Durham got a run back in the top of the third, as Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch, and stole second. He moved to third on a base hit, and scored on an RBI single from Jason Bourgeois. A wild pitch put runners on second and third with two out, but Allen Webster struck out Wil Myers to preserve the PawSox lead. That lead was extended in the third. After Justin Henry led off the inning with a walk, he moved to second on a passed ball, and took third courtesy of a wild pitch. Lavarnway then hit a two run home run, putting Pawtucket ahead 4-1. Meanwhile, Webster was cruising through the Bulls, as he allowed only the one run on two hits in six innings, striking out nine batters. The Bulls managed to put runners on second and third with two out in the top of the seventh, but were unable to push across a run. They never mounted a threat after, as they fell to the PawSox 4-1. Colome took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks. Leslie Anderson was 2-4 with a stolen base in the loss.

Montgomery Biscuits 3, Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds) 2

Pensacola came out hitting, putting runners on first and second to start the game. Ryan LaMarre doubled in the first run of the game for the Wahoos, and was followed by an RBI single from Steve Selsky. Selsky tried to stretch the base hit into a double, but was thrown out at second, leaving a runner at third with one out. However, Merrill Kelly managed to escape further damage, holding Pensacola to the two runs. The Biscuits tied the game in the top of the third, as Sean O’Malley led off the inning by reaching on an error, and Kevin Kiermaier bunted for a base hit. After a force out, Mikie Mahtook tripled to drive in both runners and tied the game at 2-2. The game remained tied into the top of the eighth, when the Biscuits loaded the bases with no outs. After two strikeouts, Mark Thomas worked a walk, forcing home Mahtook with the go ahead run. Juan Sandoval worked the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season. Kelly had a solid start in his no decision, giving up two runs in 6.1 innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out five. Matt Nevarez earned the win in relief, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings. Mahtook was 1-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two walks in the win.

Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) 7, Charlotte Stone Crabs 4

Scoreless until the bottom of the third, the Stone Crabs put the first run on the board after Taylor Motter was hit by a pitch with one out. Jake Hager followed with a single, moving Motter to third, and he scored on a base hit by Drew Vettleson. Hager was thrown out trying to get to third on the hit, and the Stone Crabs were only able to get the one run. Jupiter took the lead in the top of the fourth, as they loaded the bases with no one out. Austin Nola followed with a two run single to put Jupiter ahead 2-1. Following an out, the Hammerheads loaded the bases again, but were unable to push another run across. The Stone Crabs tied the game in the bottom of the frame, as Curt Casili hit his first home run of the year. Jupiter loaded the bases with no outs again in the fifth, and took a 4-2 lead on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch. The Stone Crabs loaded the bases themselves in the bottom of the inning, and tied the game on a two run, two out double by Richie Shaffer. The Hammerheads took the lead in the top of the seventh. Austin Barnes was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a walk, and advanced to third on a fly out. Nola dropped down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Barnes with the go ahead run. The Hammerheads tacked on additional runs in the eighth and ninth, as they defeated the Stone Crabs 7-4. Lenny Linsky took the loss, allowing one run on a walk in two hitless innings, striking out three batters. Hager was 3-5 with a run scored.

Kane County Cougars (Cubs) 3, Bowling Green Hot Rods 1 (Game One  – Seven Innnings)

In the makeup game of last night’s postponed game, the Cougars defeated the Hot Rods 3-1. Bowling Green scored first, as Thomas Coyle led off the game with a walk, and stole second before scoring on an error. With one out, the Hot Rods had runners on first and third, but a caught stealing and a groundout ended the threat. The Cougars tied the game in the second, as Jeimer Candelario walked, and scored on a double off the bat of Rock Shoulders (a great baseball name, incidentally). The game remained tied into the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Marco Hernandez and Oliver Zapata hit back to back singles to put runners on first and third. Zapata was caught stealing second, but Hernandez scored on an error by Ryan Dunn. Kane County tacked on another run in the sixth on Bijan Rademacher‘s RBI double. The Hot Rods attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh, as Patrick Leonard doubled to lead off the inning, but he was stranded on second as the Cougars won the first game of the doubleheader. Reinaldo Lopez took the loss, giving up two runs, one earned, in five innings. He allowed four hits and three walks, while striking out three batters. Coyle was 1-2 with a run scored, a stolen base and a walk. Andrew Toles stole two bases for the Hot Rods.

Kane County Cougars 4, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2 (Game Two – Eleven Innings)

In the nightcap, the Cougars scored first. With runners on first and third with two outs, Dylan Floro attempted to pick off the runner at first, but threw the ball away. Oliver Zapata scored, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. They extended that lead in the fifth, as back to back walks to open the frame put runners on first and second. An error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases, and a one out walk to Dan Vogelback forced in a run. Floro escaped further trouble by getting Rock Shoulders to ground into an inning ending double play. In the top of the sixth, back to back singles put runners on first and second to open the frame. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. Andrew Toles singled, driving in the first run of the game for the Hot Rods, and was followed by an RBI single by Luke Maile. A two out walk loaded the bases, but the Hot Rods were unable to push another run across. The game remained tied into the bottom of the eleventh, when Shoulders hit a two out, two run walkoff home run to give the Cougars a sweep of the doubleheader. Jordan Harrison took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in two innings of work. Floro piched five innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and five walks, while striking out three. Maile was 2-5 with an RBI, but he also made a costly error that helped lead to the second run for the Cougars.

Pawtucket Red Sox 10, Durham Bulls 1

The Bulls caught the PawSox in time for Alfredo Aceves‘ first minor league start after he was demoted earlier in the week. Despite his major league struggles, he performed well last night. Pawtucket got on the board against Alex Torres in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with two outs. Ryan Lavarnway singled to drive in the first run of the game, and was followed by a two-run double by Bryce Brentz. The Bulls loaded the bases with two out in the top of the fourth, but were unable to push a run across. The Sox got another run in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of some sloppy play. Jackie Bradley Jr singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and went to third on a passed ball before coming in to score on a sacrifice fly. After two more runs scored in the sixth to give the PawSox a 6-0 lead, Durham finally got on the board in the top of the eighth when Chris Gimenez drove in Wil Myers. However, Pawtucket scored four more in the bottom of the inning, sealing a 10-1 victory. Torres took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks in five innings of work. Myers and Rich Thompson each had two hits in the loss.

Montgomery Biscuits 6, Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds) 1

Scoreless through the first three innings, the Biscuits finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Mikie Mahtook walked, and was followed by a base hit from Cameron Seitzer. Todd Glaesmann homered, driving in the first runs of the game and put the Biscuits on top 3-0. Montgomery extended the lead in the next inning, as Mahtook hit a two-run home run with two outs. Shawn O’Malley drove home another run in the top of the sixth, and the Biscuits had an opportunity to further extend the lead after a base hit by Kevin Kiermaier, but Mayo Acosta was thrown out at home to end the inning. Meanwhile, Matt Buschmann was cruising along, holding Pensacola scoreless until the seventh inning when Brodie Green drove in a run with a two out single. Buschmann pitched an excellent game, allowing just that one run on five hits and a walk, striking out eight in his eight innings of work. Kiermaier and O’Malley each had two hits in the victory.

Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) 10, Charlotte Stone Crabs 6

The Stone Crabs have had issues allowing big innings, and last night’s game was no exception. Jupiter jumped out quickly on starter Parker Markel, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Three consecutive singles to open the game led to the first run, and the second scored on a double play with the bases loaded. Charlotte came back in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs highlighted by a Richie Shaffer two run double. Markel settled in, allowing only one hit over the next two innings, and appeared to have righted himself. Unfortunately, that hope vanished in the fourth, when the Hammerheads scored seven runs, sending twelve batters to the plate. Back to back singles opened the inning, with a run scoring on a two-base error by Drew Vettleson. Ryan Goetz doubled to drive in the second run, and came around to score on a triple by Isaac Galloway. After a walk, Markel was pulled in favor of Bruedlin Suero, but he did not fare much better. Jeff Mathis and Ryan Fisher greeted him with back to back RBI singles before Suero could record an out. After two more runs scored, Suero was finally able to end the inning, but the damage had been done. Charlotte got two more runs back in the bottom of the fifth, as Vettleson had an RBI double and scored on a groundout, but they were unable to come all the way back in the 10-6 loss. Markel was roughed up, taking the defeat as he allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks in 3.1 innings of work. He fell to 0-4 on the year, with a 9.91 ERA, as he has struggled mightily to start the season. Steven Tinoco, Jake Hager, and Vettleson each had two hits in the loss.

Bowling Green Hot Rods v Kane County Cougars (Cubs) – postponed

Due to rain, the game between the Hot Rods and the Cougars was postponed last night. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader later on today, with the first game starting at 4:00 CST.

Left Field

Cody Rogers, who turned 24 in September, is not exactly at his high point as prospect right now after a tough 2012 followed by a 50-game suspension for next season after he refused to undergo a drug test. The struggle of a season and the need to take whatever we he took may have gone hand and hand. In any event, Rogers, who was a 7th round pick by the Rays back in 2009, did not have the type 2012 he was hoping for, managing just a .244/.312/.343 line with 12 doubles, 6 triples, 4 homers, 38 RBI, 22 of 26 stolen bases, and 99 strikeouts against 30 walks in 112 games and 413 plate appearances. Rogers, if he can overcome this suspension, is an athletic 6’2″, 175 outfielder with some interesting tools. Rogers shows above-average speed that allows him to steal bases and profile in both center and left field (he differed to Ty Morrison, Kevin Kiermaier, and Mikie Mahtook and played primarily left field), and he also flashes of nice raw power (he had 11 triples and 12 homers in 2011). However, Rogers three potential above-average tools are counteracted by a series of issues: below average patience and pitch recognition, a swing that gets too long as he sells out for power, struggles pitching up the ball versus left-handed pitching, and defensively he has a below-average arm. Before the suspension it was unlikely things were ever going to come together, and now that’s even more the case. Rogers has enough tools that the Rays will wait on him for now, but the suspension takes his prospect stock, which was already down after a poor season, down another notch.

Steven Tinoco, who will turn 24 in April, was a 34th round pick in 2010 out of Cal State Long Beach, Evan Longoria‘s alma mater, and played a super-utility role for the Stone Crabs in 2012. Tinoco had a halfway-decent season, posting a .281/.318/.323 line with 8 doubles, 1 homer, 27 RBI, 3 of 4 stolen bases, and 24 strikeouts against 16 walks in 83 games and 324 plate appearances while playing first base, second base, third base, left field, right field, and pitcher. In his three professional seasons, Tinoco hit just 1 homer each year, but his batting average stayed very stable as well and actually went up a bit, going from .274 to .277 to .281 the past three years. Tinoco is 6’0″, 200 and played first base in college, but he’s a contact oriented hitter who has never shown any power. According to Minor League Central, 57.9% of Tinoco’s batted balls were groundballs, the highest ratio in the Florida State League minimum 200 plate appearances, and that’s especially alarming considering he isn’t fast. Tinoco didn’t strike out at all but his patience was very poor as well as he walked in just 4.9% of his plate appearances, and his indiscriminate approach prevented him from hitting the ball with any authority. If Tinoco is going anywhere as a professional baseball player, that has to change. Defensively, Tinoco has a strong arm and halfway-decent range and is a good defensive first baseman and left fielder who can fake all the other positions. He wasn’t so successful off the mound, allowing a 6.75 ERA in 3 relief appearances and 4 innings pitched, striking out 1 and walking 1 as well. Tinoco is a utility player at best and doesn’t seem to have a great chance of getting there, but it’s great to see him trying every possible avenue to help the team and keep his career going.

Kiermaier will never be a power hitter but did show improved gap power in the Arizona Fall League. (Credit: Flickr user chrishwish)

Centerfield

Kevin Kiermaier, who will turn 23 in April, was the Rays’ 31st round pick in 2010 but has been great since the moment he entered the Rays system and the type of player that the Rays can’t get enough of. Kiermaier had a pair of stints on the disabled list but was excellent when healthy, starting the season with the Stone Crabs and finishing the season at Triple-A before tearing up the Arizona Fall League. In the regular season, Kiermaier managed a .260/.363/.359 line with 7 doubles, 6 triples, 13 RBI, 10 of 14 stolen bases, and 41 strikeouts versus 29 walks in 63 games and 230 plate appearances, 212 of which came with Charlotte. In the Arizona Fall League working to make up for some of the lost time, Kiermaier posted a .348/.444/.493 line with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 7 RBI, 7 of 7 stolen bases, and a 12-12 strikeout to walk ratio in 23 games and 82 plate appearances. Kiermaier, an athletic 6’1″, 200, doesn’t feature great power but does just about everything else well. He has well above-average speed that allows him to swipe a few bases, play a great centerfield, and possibly most importantly, beat out a lot of groundballs and bunts. He’ll never be anywhere near a home run power, but he has shown of flashes of gap power and showcased that in the Arizona Fall League, albeit in a very small sample. Kiermaier swings and misses a little too often for a player without much power, but his plate discipline is excellent and he does everything he can to get on base. Kiermaier is also a left-handed hitter with a very little platoon split, hitting .348 against both righties and lefties in the Arizona Fall League (although the OPS difference was .966 versus .879) and was actually a touch better against lefties on the regular season (.743 OPS against .699). Defensively, Kiermaier combines his great range in centerfield with an above-average arm and is a strong defender at all three outfield positions. The Rays named him their organizational Defensive Player of the Year despite all the time he missed, and you can’t blame them. Kiermaier fits the fourth outfielder profile to a T as long as his injury problems are behind him, and he could appear in that type of a role for the Rays before long, maybe as soon as next September. Kiermaier filled in at Triple-A at the end of the season and went 3 for 12, and he could skip over Double-A and start the season back there with a strong showing in spring training.

Right Field

Mikie Mahtook, who turned 23 at the end of November, was the second of the Rays’ 10 first and supplemental round picks in the 2011 MLB Draft, and he was supposed to spend just a short time with the Stone Crabs before moving up to Double-A, Triple-A, and maybe even the big leagues by the end of the season. Instead, Mahtook was in Charlotte until late July and then struggled after his promotion to Double-A. In 131 games and 555 plate appearances between Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery, Mahtook posted a .277/.342/.415 line with 25 doubles, 8 triples, 9 homers, 62 RBI, 23 of 32 stolen bases, and 102 strikeouts versus 40 walks. Mahtook was really not that bad, but what stands out immediately, especially for a hitter considered to be advanced, was his strikeout to walk ratio. Mahtook, who fits the same physical profile as Kiermaier at 6’1″, 200, stood out before the draft as a 5-tool talent, featuring quick and compact swing, solid power, above-average speed, good range defensively, and an average arm, and he also made his mark at LSU for his passion every time he took the field. We saw all of Mahtook’s abilities come into play, but a lack of patience and bizarre struggles versus left-handed pitching. Mahtook didn’t strike out an awful lot in 2012, whiffing at an 18.4% clip, but he walked at only a 7.2% mark in 2012 and that not only limited his defense but the quality of his contact as well as he hit a lot of balls weakly in the air. Why did it happen? His pitch recognition is fine, but he was overaggressive and didn’t do a good job finding pitches to drive, perhaps as a result of the pressure on him to perform. Mahtook is known as an emotional player, and he may have been too hard on himself after a rough April. Mahtook walked more than he struck out in his last year at LSU, so the hope is that he can relax and get his plate discipline on track to help him get on base more and hit for additional power. More strange was Mahtook’s platoon split in 2012. Mahtook hit to a nice .292/.367/.451 line against righties but just .253/.302/.354 against lefties, proving better in every regard against same-side pitchers. His strikeout to walk ratio, though, was slightly better versus lefties, 2.27 to 1 compared to 2.6 to 1 (lower is better), so that’s hopefully a sign of things to come. While he had his share of struggles offensively, Mahtook did play fine defense, playing primarily right field with a fair amount of time in centerfield and combining for 13 outfield assists between the two positions. Mikie Mahtook failed to live up to the expectations set for him in 2012, but the Rays still really like his abilities and hope that with a full year of pro ball under his belt he’s primed for a breakout 2013 as he starts the season back at Double-A.

Just among the outfielders we discussed today, we could be looking at an outfield starter and fourth outfielder type that could make an impact in Tampa Bay over the next two years. Kiermaier and Mahtook both passed were promoted from Charlotte to higher levels over the course of the season, and a productive year next year could mean a trip to the big leagues in September. Everyone has kinks to work out in their games, but their abilities are real and the Rays know that they could be major pieces of future teams.

For more of our thoughts on the Rays’ prospects at every level of the minors, check out our Minor League Affiliates Analysis page here at RCG.