Star Performer:
Yoan Alcantara, OF (AZL Padres) – Alcantara went on a complete tear to end the season. Although he missed a few games after being hit by a pitch, Alcantara lit up AZL pitching in August to the tune of a .377/.415/.766 slash line that included two doubles, five triples and six home runs. He came to the Padres in 2009 as an international free agent, signing for a $135,000 bonus. Alcantara is a good athlete who runs well and projects to play above average defense. As evident by his four walks and 25 strikeouts in 50 games his approach lacks must polish, but the Padres are very high on Alcantara’s offensive ceiling if he is able to learn how to work counts and compete against more advanced pitching.
Rock Steady:
Cory Spangenberg, 2B (Low-A Fort Wayne) – After being last week’s Star Performer, Spangenberg did little this week to diminish his growing prospect status and finished August very strong. If you are looking for a yellow light to shine on some aspect of his game the 14 strikeouts in 10 games are a sure sign of growing pains. One aspect that may have been underrated in pre-draft scouting reports about Spangenberg is his base stealing ability. Through 68 professional games he has stolen 24 bases, including seven in a row.
Casey McElroy, Middle INF (Short Season Eugene Emeralds) – McElroy was a late addition to the Emeralds roster after gaining a mid-August promotion. In his 17 games with the EMs, McElroy is hitting .313 with six doubles and two home runs. He is a polished college hitter who fell to the Padres in the 11th round of this year’s draft with many teams nervous about his 5’8” frame.
Jeudy Valdez, SS (High-A Lake Elsinore) – .327/.383/.522 in 29 August games leaves him with little left to prove this season in the California League. With Beemer Weems possibly fixed at shortstop again next year in San Antonio Valdez may be moved to another position as his glove still leaves much to be desired.
Tommy Medica, 1B (High-A Lake Elsinore) – Giving some credit where it is due, Medica is having a great season offensively: .292/.408/.486. While he may not have the tools to project as an everyday player on a contending team, Medica is showing that there is life in his bat.
Keyvius Sampson, RHP (Low-A Fort Wayne) – Before giving up six runs in Wednesday’s start, Sampson was primed to finish up an astonishing two month run that would have seen him pitch about 50 innings while allowing just six earned runs, about 30 hits and striking out over 60 batters. Unfortunately the South Bend team that he had dominated just six days earlier would not be overmatched again, knocking Sampson out of the game after just 2.1 innings. (more…)
