Minor League Notes, June 26, 2010

Minor League Notes, June 26, 2010


**Royals prospect Tim Melville had a fair outing for High-A Wilmington yesterday, going six innings against Salem, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks, fanning five. On the season, he is now 2-8, 5.81 with a 67/34 K/BB in 74 innings, 72 hits allowed. He's not winning very often and the ERA is ugly, but his FIP is much better at 4.29. The scouting word on him is about the same as it was last year in the Midwest League; 90-93 MPH fastball, very promising curveball, still trying to figure out the changeup. His mechanics aren't always consistent, and he'll look like a world-beater for a few innings then lose the touch suddenly. Keep in mind that he's just 20, and if he'd gone to college at North Carolina, he'd still be considered a highly-promising choice for the 2011 draft. As you can see from the spring training video, he looks like a pitcher: great frame, good size, clean delivery when it is working right.

**Blue Jays shortstop prospect Tyler Pastornicky had a great game yesterday for High-A Dunedin, going 3-for-5 with a home run, driving in six teammates. On the season, he's at .268/.356/.404 with 32 walks, 40 strikeouts, and 18 steals in 24 attempts in 228 at-bats. A fifth round pick in 2008 out of high school in Florida, Pastornicky is a fundamentally sound "baseball rat" type. Speed is his best tool, but he works counts decently, doesn't strike out much, and is starting to show some gap power. I'm not sure what to make of his defense. Scouts consistently give him positive reviews, and he doesn't make many errors, but his range factors are just as consistently below average, granted minor league glove stats can be weird. I think he can be a good utility guy at least, and if his bat develops further he might get beyond that. If he'd gone to college at Florida State, he'd probably be better-known nationally than he actually is.