This week’s installment of “Knocking Down The Door” includes the first player to repeat on the list, a slugging first baseman who is unlikely to break into the Majors with his current organization and a pitcher who could find himself in the starting rotation of a playoff contender two years after being purchased from an Independent League team.
Austin Hedges, C, San Diego Padres (Triple-A El Paso)
How do you make the “Knocking Down The Door” list after going 11-for-20 with five homers to earn last week’s honors? You go 14-for-29 with five more homers. Yes, Austin Hedges really did this. He ended up with 12 homers over a 14-start period.
Keep in mind that this is a guy known for his defense. Phrases like “he’d be valuable if he hit .220 with 10 homers because his defense is that good” are common when referring to the 23-year-old Hedges.
Still, this latest barrage of homers probably doesn’t affect his ETA much, if at all. As soon as general manager A.J. Preller gets a trade offer to his liking for Derek Norris, who has an OPS right around .800 over the past two months with nine doubles and ten home runs over, the “Austin Hedges” era will commence. Norris had a minor injury scare behind the plate last night when his elbow was hit by Brandon Drury’s swing, but Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweeted that x-rays were negative and Norris is day-to-day.
Joe Jimenez, RP, Detroit Tigers (Double-A Erie)
The Tigers finally have a reliable closer to shut down opponents in the 9th inning. Francisco Rodriguez is still getting the job done at 34 years of age with 23 saves in 25 chances. Finding a strong group of setup men to bridge the gap to him is a work in progress, however.
So can a 21-year-old who has pitched a total of 13 innings above A-ball be the solution?
Joe Jimenez is the rare prospect to be recognized as a “Future Closer” early in his career while still in the low minors. The Tigers have been patient with him, but as he gets closer to the majors, he’s becoming difficult to ignore.
The hard-throwing right-hander has completely dominated in 31 innings between Double-A and High-A, allowing just one earned run, 12 hits and nine walks while striking out 54 batters.
Jimenez might have the perfect mentor in Rodriguez, who debuted as a 20-year-old with the Angels late in the 2002 season and was an integral part of their World Series run as the setup man to Troy Percival. If the Tigers are to make a run at a playoff spot, they’ll likely need their own version of young “K-Rod”. Jimenez will need a cool nickname, though.
Jake Thompson, SP, Philadelphia Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley)
Shortly after Zach Eflin got the call to the Majors last month, I named his former Triple-A rotation-mate Ben Lively as a pitcher who was “Knocking Down The Door” and also mentioned Jake Thompson as a deserving candidate. Since, Lively has not been as effective. The 22-year-old Thompson, however, continues to roll.
In his last six starts, Thompson has averaged over seven innings per start while posting an 0.85 ERA with 10 walks and 24 strikeouts. He should get a chance at some point in 2016 as the Phillies try to limit innings for their young starters. A big league promotion could also happen as soon as general manager Matt Klentak finds a taker for Jeremy Hellickson, who has boosted his trade value with what has probably been his best season since he was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2011.
Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A Iowa)
We’ve known for years that the Cubs were flush with position player prospects. Many of them have reached the Majors, even if not as regulars at one position due to their defensive versatility. Javier Baez has played all over the infield. Willson Contreras is seeing time in left field in addition to his work behind the plate. Addison Russell had to play second base when he first arrived. Kris Bryant’s versatility has also allowed manager Joe Maddon to find at-bats for his young hitters.
This won’t be the case with Dan Vogelbach, though. He is limited to first base and blocked by Anthony Rizzo, who is also limited to first base.
When the 23-year-old Vogelbach, who has a .303/.416/.542 slash line in 80 games, finally beats down the door to the big leagues, he’ll likely be wearing a different uniform. With his stock on the rise, there should be plenty of teams asking about the left-handed hitting slugger in July.
Aaron Wilkerson, SP, Boston Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket)
Coming into the 2016 season, I wouldn’t have placed Aaron Wilkerson any higher than 11th or 12th on the team’s starting pitching depth chart. And yet, we’re not even to the All-Star break and Sean O’Sullivan is part of their current four-man rotation and Wilkerson is probably next in line for a call-up.
It’s not uncommon for a team to be dipping so deep into its pitching depth given the rash of pitcher injuries throughout the league, but that’s not the case with the Red Sox. Aside from Brian Johnson, who had been sidelined until recently while undergoing treatment for anxiety, the Sox just have a lot of guys who have pitched themselves out of an opportunity. Clay Buchholz has been moved to the bullpen twice. Joe Kelly, who is on the Triple-A disabled list, is expected to return as a reliever in the second half. Eduardo Rodriguez was ineffective in the Majors. Henry Owens has been inconsistent in Triple-A. And so on.
This Wilkerson guy, though, has been a rock. In 92.1 innings between Triple-A and Double-A, the 27-year-old has allowed just 69 hits with 25 walks and 102 strikeouts. He’s allowed two earned runs or less in 12 of his 16 starts. In 10 of those 12, he’s allowed one run or less.
There is a possibility that the Red Sox could start the secondnd half with O’Sullivan, knuckleballer Steven Wright and Wilkerson, who went undrafted out of college in 2011 and was purchased from an Independent League in 2014, in their starting rotation behind David Price and Rick Porcello. Baseball is so predictable.
“Knocking Down the Door” is a weekly feature that identifies minor leaguers who are making a case for a big league promotion.
@Jason what are the chances Vogelbach goes before the deadline?
I get that Vogel has been really good the last two yrs or so but what is his true value? He was a mid 20s prospect in the Cubs preseason rankings and is truly limited to 1B. Any chance LAA could nab him for Shoemaker or maybe a pen arm like Huston Street?
And what’s adequate for Chapman? If say something like Candelrio, Vogelbach, and Ho-Tseng???
Jen-Ho is the first name. Tseng is the last name. No, that’s not enough for Miller.
Jen-Ho is the first name. Tseng is the last name. No, that’s not enough for Chapman.
Chapman is only under contract for the rest of the season. He is a free agent after this season. Candelario, Vogelbach, Tseng is too much for Chapman, if you look at what the Reds got in return over the winter. I would be fine with Vogelbach, Tseng or Blackburn, and some other upper level hitter like Zagunis or Hanneman
I get that. They’re gonna get a top tier prospect or just hold onto him for the QO compensation draft pick. You can add Chapman for that top tier prospect and a throw in. Miller can be had by adding that top tier prospect to this package or similar.
The Cubs would not trade for Chapman, if the Yankees do ask for one of their top prospects like Torres or Contreras, but I do think someone like McKinney or Cease with another prospect in the Cubs top 20 (like Vogelbach) will be enough to get Chapman.
The Reds return over the winter has absolutely nothing to do with what the Yankess could/should get for him. They shipped Chapman out of town because they didn’t want to deal with his potential legal issues.
Contreras isn’t in the prospect discussion after the debut he’s had. I don’t think he’ll be going anywhere for anyone. I’ve stated in previous posts that Torres would go anywhere without involving a SP in return. I could see the possibility of a larger deal for both Miller and Chapman that would include Torres, but it’s not likely.
I disagree. That is an overpay for Chapman who is only a rental
Too much due to Chapman being a rental. Remove one of Candy and Vogelbomb. For Miller….. Your in the ball park
Removing Dan Vogelbach from a trade package reduces the overall value of that package by about 0.01%
Which organization do you work for? Just curious cause if you believe that Vogelbach has a 0.01% trade value then you clearly should be removed from your position. His value to a AL team is a lot more then a NL for sure but the kids a flat out good hitter and should be a OBP machine.
The kid’s gonna get eaten up by big league velocity inside and sliders off the outside edge.
And yes, I was being hyperbolic. But the average Cubs fan/poster has Vogelbach’s trade value pegged way too high.
Disgruntledreader has no clue on player values if he thinks Vogelbach is worthless. He is far from that. A big nice lefty power hitter has plenty of value
Not quantity it’s quality and that is not enough quality to get Chapman. I keep hearing 2 month rental but you can keep saying that till your convinced it’s true because when post season starts nothing else matters and you need the guns to win it all. Lefty closers like Chapman are generational talents and if you can get him for s chance to win a World Series your giving up more quality then Vogelbach or Candelario plus a fringe prospect. I would think you start with Ian Happ and Candelario and add a fringe prospect or you start with Gallo and add fri ge prospect. I don’t thin Yanks are liking for 3 average one or two dimensional prospects for Chapman when they can get a first round pick for him in a very deep draft.
Start with Happ or Gallo. LOL
I agree Chapman can take you to a title. I’d like to see the Yanks try and wiggle out of Ellsbury or Headley in a Chapman deal. “You get Chapman and this baggage …”
It’s all about supply and demand. When the trade deadline rolls around, there’s always somebody willing to comically overpay for rentals, especially an elite arm like Chapman.
I’m not saying that I think that the Cubs should give up that kind of package for 2 months of Chapman, I’m saying that somebody will.
ETA that with the 2 wild card system, there are a lot more teams that consider themselves to be fringe contenders come the trade deadline, which puts the sellers in the catbird seat.
That’s the expectation, but not the reality in the NL this year… There are a half-dozen teams that are actively seeking the top draft pick.
Given that the Padres have already lost one trade candidate to the DL after initial x-rays came back negative, the “scare” won’t become minor for most around the Padres until Norris has been back in the lineup for a few days.
Well, unlike Jay, they don’t HAVE to trade him this season
Not sure why Wilkerson hasn’t seen at least one spot start so far. Unless the Sox want to keep him in AAA so they can have someone that hasn’t disappointed them yet. I mean he may not be able to handle ML pitching, but if they don’t figure that out at least they can pretend they have one more option they haven’t tried yet.
Bodies they can throw out there in Wilkerson, Haley and for those Sox fans who probably missed it today? Brandon Workman made his 1st rehab start in the GCL and went 2 IP.
His last half of a season was awful and due to a partially torn UCL, finally went down for good ST 2015. Getting him back would be a super bonus and something not counted on by much of anyone not Sox related come August.
Yeah, crazy that Wilkerson hasn’t got more interest. Putting up a career MiLB BAA of .205 and a 1.05 whip with his 9.45 K/9. The guy put in 135 IP last year with great numbers and the experts totally whiffed on this guy.
Thanks for the article. I added this guy to my fantasy prospect roster and he’s going to be a solid keeper.
As a 26 year old at levels from rookie ball to AA. I hope you’re in the deepest fantasy league ever, or your team must be pretty bad.
“[Y]our team must be pretty bad.” Insult the guy instead of having the common sense to know that talent can come from anywhere at any time. How old was Joey Bats when he turned his career around? Kid just got to the minors and has put up solid numbers. Give him a chance rather than assume he’ll flame out because he’s 26.
Wilkerson just got traded to the Brewers too
Braves would be a good trade candidate for Norris as they are looking for a controllable C with the ability to hit. Norris doesn’t become a free agent until 2019, and while he is arbitration eligible, they may be able to hammer out a four year agreement within budget.
I am down for that as a Braves fan
Should be noted in the article that Hedge’s hot streak coincides with going to the PCL. Obviously it’s a nice power surge for him, but it should be taken lightly when you look at the context.
It’s also coming off of hamate surgery, which usually saps power for some time, in May. He came back about two weeks faster than anticipated and then started this barrage.
The thing about Vogelbach is that when you’re skill set is limited to hitting only, you have to be really good at it; like vintage Adam Dunn good. And while Vogelbach’s continues to impress with the bat, he’s still yet to exhibit that kind of monster power.
Why? I’m pretty sure billy butler carved out a pretty nice career without ever having anywhere close to elite power.
Chapman as a rental would only be worth one or two prospects but maybe higher prospects
The quantity of prospects does not matter at all.
I think Vogs gets a bum rap. Hes not a game changer by any means but I think he has value to any team with an open dh/1b. So he can’t play anywhere on the field, not alot of players can. I think people concentrate so much on what he can’t do that they don’t really see what he can do. I don’t see why people don’t think he will hit at the pro level when hes been a good on base guy at every stop, he has decent power not great but decent. I know he’s not headlining any deal but if I’m an AL team I’m asking for him as a secondary piece just for the potential