I'm not sure how many people are still interested, given that it's almost October now, but I like to be complete. I still hope to do players of the year and some final thoughts, but I'd better hurry, because the AFL season will start soon.
ROCHESTER
Position player: Chris Parmelee hit .333/.459/.707 in 99 at-bats. He hit nine homers for the month and walked 23 times. For the season, he hit .338/.457/.645 in 228 at-bats. Honorable mention: Wilkin Ramirez hit .350/.392/.573 in 117 at-bats. He hit eight homers for the month. For the season, he hit .276/.316/.451 in 370 at-bats.
Pitcher: Esmerling Vasquez went 4-1, 0.88, 0.98 WHIP with 31 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. For the season, he was 9-6, 2.78, 1.13 WHIP with 98 strikeouts in 100.1 innings. Honorable mention: Liam Hendriks went 2-1, 1.61, 0.89 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 28 innings. For the season, he was 9-3, 2.20, 0.98 WHIP with 82 strikeouts in 106.1 innings.
NEW BRITAIN
Position player: Oswaldo Arcia hit .333/.407/.600 in 120 at-bats. He hit eleven doubles, three triples, and five homers in the month. For the season, he hit .328/.398/.557 in 262 at-bats. Honorable mention: Chris Herrmann hit .374/.456/.495 in 99 at-bats. For the season, he hit .276/.350/.392 in 490 at-bats.
Pitcher: Luke French went 2-1, 2.45, 0.90 WHIP in 25.2 innings. For the season, he was 4-1, 2.10, 0.93 WHIP in 55.2 innings. Honorable mention: B. J. Hermsen went 3-1, 3.29, 1.30 WHIP in 38.1 innings. For the season, he was 11-6, 3.22, 1.22 WHIP in 139.2 innings.
FORT MYERS
Position player: Daniel Ortiz hit .349/.391/.512 in 86 at-bats. For the season, he hit .269/.313/.424 in 375 at-bats. Honorable mention: Daniel Santana hit .293/.344/.448 in 116 at-bats. For the season, he hit .286/.329/.410 in 507 at-bats.
Pitcher: A. J. Achter went 1-0, 0.69, 0.62 WHIP with 13 strikeouts in 13 innings. For the season, he went 2-1, 0.79 with 6 saves, 0.70 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 34 innings. Honorable mention: Ricky Bowen went 0-1, 1.69, 1.38 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in 16 innings. For the season, he went 4-6, 2.95, with 5 saves, a 1.39 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts in 76.1 innings.
BELOIT
Position player: Miguel Sano hit .301/.379/.640 with 8 homers and 13 walks in 103 at-bats. For the season, he hit .258/.373/.521 in 457 at-bats. Honorable mention: Kennys Vargas hit .320/.420/.508 with 5 homers and 21 walks in 122 at-bats. For the season, he hit .318/.419/.610 in 154 at-bats.
Pitcher: Taylor Rogers went 2-1, 2.15, 1.13 WHIP with 32 strikeouts in 29.1 innings. For the season, he went 2-2, 2.70, 1.35 WHIP in 33.1 innings. Honorable mention: Matt Tomshaw went 2-4, 2.38, 1.08 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 45.1 innings. For the season, he went 4-6, 3.02, 1.18 WHIP in 86.1 innings.
ELIZABETHTON
Position player: Jorge Polanco hit .324/.377/.563 in 71 at-bats. For the season, he hit .318/.388/.514 in 173 at-bats. Honorable mention: Max Kepler hit .312/.347/.527 in 93 at-bats. For the season, he hit .297/.387/.539 in 232 at-bats.
Pitcher: Tyler Duffey went 2-0, 0.00, 0.33 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 12 innings. For the season, he went 2-0. 1.42, 0.63 WHIP with 2 walks and 27 strikeouts in 19 innings. Honorable mention: Jose Berrios went 2-0, 1.29, 0.64 WHIP with 1 walk and 22 strikeouts in 14 innings. Those were his season numbers as well.
GCL TWINS
Position player: Bryan Santy hit .333/.371/.424 in 33 at-bats. For the season, he hit .296/.418/.389 in 54 at-bats. Honorable mention: Aderlin Mejia hit .271/.300/.417 in 48 at-bats. For the season, he hit .324/.370/.418 in 170 at-bats.
Pitcher: Kuo Hua Lo went 1-0, 0.00, 0.56 WHIP with thirteen strikeouts in 16 innings. For the season, he went 2-0, 1.13, 0.78 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. Honorable mention: Randy Rosario went 1-1, 0.53, 1.00 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings. For the season, he went 2-1, 1.64, 0.99 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.
DSL TWINS
Position player: Eddy Concepcion hit .308/.386/.462 in 39 at-bats. For the season, he hit .241/.331/.352 in 145 at-bats. Honorable mention: Engelb Vielma hit .296/.387/.333 in 27 at-bats. For the season, he hit .268/.354/.331 in 157 at-bats.
Pitcher: Junior Subero went 1-2, 0.95, 0.95 WHIP while walking 3 and striking out 22 in 19 innings. For the season, he went 5-3, 1.43, 0.94 WHIP while walking 9 and striking out 54 in 63 innings. Honorable mention: Miguel Gonzalez was 1-1, 1.80, 0.80 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 15 innings. For the season, he went 1-4, 2.01, 1.25 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.
Padre: Maybe a tough question, but I'll ask it anyway as you seem to have a finger on the pulse of the minors.
Does this list seem to be a pretty good reflection of what we can expect in the near future, or are these guys significant outliers for their teams/leagues?
Well, this is players of the month, not players of the year (which I still intend to do). As in the majors, anybody can have a hot month in the minors. Still, I'd say the guys on this list are fairly representative of the best players on their respective teams, with a few exceptions such as Adonis Pacheco.
As far as the future, I'll try to look at some of that when I do season-ending notes, which I hope will be next week. Remember, though, that I've never claimed any expertise as either a scout or an analyst. Even the people who do would have to admit that it's a pretty inexact science. There are all kinds of examples of "can't miss" prospects who missed. There are also guys that were given up on who turned out to be good players. That's especially true when you look at guys in the low minors. Some guys are great in Class A, but that's as good as it ever gets. Some guys struggle for a while, then eventually mature and/or figure some things out.
I don't know if I'll be able to answer your question--it's seems like right now I've basically taken three paragraphs to say "I don't know." The only thing I know for sure is that Chris Parmelee and Liam Hendriks have nothing to learn in Rochester. But we'll look at a few things and try to see where we are.
No one here claims any expertise* - we just write about our opinions based on what we see, hear, read and discuss and I appreciate your perspective on the farm system and it's players; I wouldn't know these names if not for your posts. Long way of say, "Thanks for the effort." Also, I'd say that your answer is more coherent than a simple "I don't know" in that it's based, at least in part, on these players' numbers for the month(s). I'll also say that I am looking forward to your season-ending notes.
*At least not with a straight face!
As in the majors (Matt Capps excepted), anybody can have a hot month in the minors.
FTFY. Might as well get back into the practice for the few days left he's still with us.
Some guys struggle for a while, then eventually mature and/or figure some things out.
Or have LASIK!