Pedro Alvarez became the latest top prospect in the minor leagues to be promoted when he was recalled by the Pittsburgh Pirates today. Alvarez started at third base and hit 6th, going o-for 2 with a walk and a strikeout against the Chicago White Sox. Alvarez was hitting .277 in Triple-A with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in 242 at bats. As much talk as there was about him learning to hit southpaws, he was hitting .323 against them in 62 at bats.
His number one issue that he will encounter in the major leagues will be his plate discipline and his strikeouts rate. His strikeout rate of 28% is somewhat high so his average will likely fluctuate some from year-to-year based on luck, but he will be a solid producer in home runs and RBI for years to come.
With the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox closing in on the Tampa Bay Rays and Wade Davis struggling, there is a good chance we will see Jeremy Hellickson some time in the second half. Hellickson is 8-2 in Triple-A with a 2.42 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 84 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings. He has worked scoreless outings in four of his last seven starts and has allowed only three home runs on the season.
With Jake Peavy struggling with injuries for the Chicago White Sox, Dan Hudson may be getting a call up soon to fill a role in the rotation. He has continued his strong run from May into June, where in three starts this month he has a 2.00 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 18 innings while holding hitters to a .175 batting average.
Third basemen Dayan Viciedo of the Chicago White Sox still has some work to do on his plate discipline before he is ready for a promotion to the major leagues. Viciedo is hitting .288 with 13 home runs and 31 RBI in 233 at bats to go along with only eight walks and 52 strikeouts.
First basemen Chris Carter of the Oakland A’s has struggled for most of the year with hi batting average, which currently stands at .249. In 233 at bats, Carter has 15 home runs and 47 RBI. Like most young power hitters, he needs to work on making contact as a 30% strikeout rate is going to make it hard to maintain a good batting average in the major leagues.
Jay Jackson of the Chicago Cubs started the season in the rotation in Triple-A, switched to relief for a short time as the club got him ready in case they needed bullpen help, but he has now gone back into the rotation. For the season, Jackson has a 2.90 ERA with a .98 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings.
If the San Diego Padres trade Heath Bell at some point, Triple-A closer Ernesto Frieri could be in the mix for saves down the line. Frieri moved to closer in 2010 after being in the starting rotation in 2009 and part of 2008. Frieri has a 2.00 ERA and a .93 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 27 innings while holding hitters to a .122 average.
