Minor League Prospect Notes, May 17, 2012

Minor League Notes, May 17, 2012

**The San Diego Padres have promoted prospect Jedd Gyorko from Double-A San Antonio to Triple-A Tucson. Gyorko was hitting .262/.356/.431 in 130 at-bats for the Missions, with a 17/27 BB/K ratio in 34 games. He wasn't exactly turning the Texas League on fire, due in great part to a weird reverse platoon split: he's hitting .300/.381/.460 against right-handed pitchers, but only .133/.278/.333 in 30 at-bats against southpaws. That looks flukey to me; his BB/K against lefties is 6/7, so he wasn't having problems with the strike zone. On the other hand, his Double-A
numbers this year are virtually identical to last year: .786 OPS in '11, .786 in '12, so maybe this really is his true level of ability. His home/road splits aren't remarkable.

I think Gyorko has more hitting potential than the raw Double-A data indicates, but is more likely a solid hitter than any sort of star. He's split the season between second base and third base, and it remains to be seen where he fits with the glove in the long run.

**A year ago, South Carolina Gamecock outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was sidelined with a wrist injury and an unattractive set of college statistics. The Red Sox still drafted him in the supplemental first round on the strength of his tools and past track record, and they've been rewarded with a terrific season: .379/.497/.581 with 28 walks, 20 strikeouts, and 11 steals in 124 at-bats for High-A Salem. He looks a lot more like the player scouts saw in 2010 when he led his club to the College World Series championship, combining speed, power, patience, and impressive defense. He's made four errors this year, but scouts praise his instincts and arm strength in center field and his glove is one of his best assets. It will be interesting to see how aggressive Boston is about moving him up to Double-A.

**Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Jed Bradley was placed on the disabled list for High-A Brevard County with a groin strained. He was 4-3, 3.53 ERA with a 36/14 K/BB in 43 innings, 38 hits allowed, before going on the DL. Drafted in the first round last June out of Georgia Tech, Bradley has had some bouts with inconsistent command this spring, but in general has looked like a worthwhile first-rounder, showing a low-90s fastball to go with his slider and changeup. His groin was bothering him in spring training, and it is possible that it has been harassing him all along, resulting in the command wobbles.