Here is a recap of how each of the top 2011 draft prospects did this past week. Click on their names to go to their tracker pages.
Rendon went 3-for-12 this past week, with five walks and two stolen bases. On the season he has now walked in 30% of his plate appearances. So far in the month of April, Rendon has a .379 average and a .640 on-base percentage in 29 at-bats. His biggest issue has been a lack of power, with a .448 slugging percentage. Only two of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases. The most amazing thing is that he almost has as many walks this month (21) as at-bats (29).
Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle has a story about Rendon’s struggles this year.
Cole had his worst start of the year, allowing five runs on ten hits in eight innings, with no walks and eleven strikeouts. Most of the damage came early, with all five runs occurring in the first five innings. Cole stayed on for three more innings, and ended up throwing 122 pitches. My biggest concern with Cole is the potential for high pitch counts, and this is a prime example.
OTHER PROSPECTS
-Matt Purke allowed one run on four hits in four innings, with three walks and five strikeouts. It was announced today that he will be out indefinitely with soreness in his throwing shoulder, and will visit Dr. James Andrews. That’s never a good thing. Shoulder injuries are career killers for pitchers. Perhaps another reason to exercise caution over taking a college pitcher first overall.
-Catching up on a few 2008 Pirates’ draft picks who went un-signed and are draft eligible this year:
Zach Wilson, 3B, Arizona State: Drafted in the 26th round in 2008, and is the 37th best prospect in the draft this year. Wilson is hitting for a .286/.342/.436 line in 133 at-bats, which is up from his .264/.326/.413 line in 121 at-bats at the start of last week.
Drew Gagnon, LHP, Long Beach State: Drafted in the 10th round in 2008, and is the 49th best prospect in the draft this year. Gagnon bounced back from his worst start of the year last week, throwing eight shutout innings, allowing one hit, four walks, and striking out ten. He threw 115 pitches.
-Catching up on an un-signed prep pitchers from the 2010 draft:
Austin Kubitza, 7th Round, Rice: Kubitza threw 6.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts.
