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Minor League Notes: Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers prospects staying hot

By Brody Hilgenkamp

Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; World infielder Yoan Moncada hits a single in the fourth inning during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; World infielder Yoan Moncada hits a single in the fourth inning during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

This week’s minor league notes column provides updates on prospects featured earlier in the season, including prospects in the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox organizations.

Teoscar Hernandez, an outfielder in the Houston Astros organization, has been overshadowed by shortstop Alex Bregman’s rise through the minors. Most players have. Bregman is playing in Triple-A even though he’s barely a year removed from being drafted. He pummeled the Double-A Texas League for 62 games and he thrived under the bright lights at the All-Star Futures Game.

Hernandez has been far more anonymous during his minor league career. He is the Astros’ No. 23 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and signed for just $20,000 in 2011. He spent parts of three seasons in Double-A before earning his own promotion to Triple-A on June 30.

Even though Hernandez’s climb up the minor league ladder has been slow, he’s shown the ability to adapt and raise his playing level. In fact, given time, he’s proven to be an above average hitter at (almost) every level of the minors.

  • In the Dominican Summer League in 2011, he hit .274 with a .360 on-base percentage and .487 slugging percentage, good for a 141 weighted runs created plus (wRC+).
  • At the Midwest League in 2013, he slashed .271/.328/.435 with 13 home runs for a 114 wRC+.
  • In 2014, in 96 games in the California League, he slashed .294/.376/.550 for a 137 wRC+.
  • After struggling to a .233/.282/.381 line in Double-A from the end of 2014 through the 2015 season, Hernandez rebounded with a .305/.384/.437 line to start this season, which put his wRC+ at 137.

He hasn’t slowed down since jumping to Triple-A, as he’s hit .375/.405/.725 in 10 games. He’s hit two home runs since the promotion.

How he plays once games resume after the All-Star break is up in the air. Entering the 2016 season, Hernandez’s batting average on balls in play was .325; in 2016 his BABIP is .364. He struck out in 24.4 percent of plate appearances entering 2016, but his strikeout rate this season is 16.5 percent. If he keeps it down, he should continue to see success.

In this week’s minor league notes, we check in on how prospects are progressing since we first highlighted them. On to Triple-A! (All stats entering Tuesday.)

Next: Triple-A

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