Future Rookies: Carp, Blanks Promoted to the Show

Welcome back to another Future Rookies, where we’re graduating a few more quality prospects to the bigs. Mike Carp has been called up to Seattle after compiling a slash line of .299/.412/.517 in 211 ABs at Triple-A Tacoma. He’s shown great plate discipline in the minors the last two years, and he’s carried that to the majors, with two walks, a hit, and an HBP in his first six plate appearances. Kyle Blanks has been called to San Diego, to presumably play some DH in the interleague set while seeing some time in LF and 1B. Blanks had been on a tear in his last ten games at Triple-A Portland, hitting .424 with a HR and 7 RBIs in 33 ABs.

 
Featured Add – Hitter

 
Justin Smoak, 1B, TEX, Age 22, Double-A

	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2008 NCAA	235	63	23	72	1	57	28	.383	.505	.757	1.262
2008 A	56	9	3	6	0	5	10	.304	.355	.518	.873
2009 AA	151	28	6	25	0	32	30	.325	.444	.503	.947

Smoak has been on the minor-league disabled list with an oblique injury but was on fire prior to suffering the strain. One of the top prospects in last year’s draft, it surprised draftniks everywhere when he slipped out of the top ten. Texas pounced on the South Carolina slugger, and he’s making the team look mighty smart for doing so. His recent injury quelled my hopes of seeing him play when the Frisco team came through San Antonio, but he’s currently on a rehab assignment in the Arizona League. He blasted two HRs and a triple in his first three ABs back. With Texas in the thick of the AL West, they’ll be tempted to call on Smoak to provide an offensive boost, particularly if Chris Davis continues to struggle or if Hank Blalock has to take the well-trodden path to the DL. Owned in virtually all dynasty leagues, he’s one player that normal redraft league owners should pounce on whenever he gets called to the bigs.

 
Hitter Performance Review (as of 6/21/09)

 

		AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Matt LaPorta	AAA	162	32	8	25	0	15	25	.302	.374	.525	.898
Last 10	AAA	35	4	1	3	0	2	6	.308
Gaby Sanchez	AAA	146	28	7	27	3	16	26	.322	.387	.500	.887
Last 10	AAA	40	4	2	7	2	3	9	.300
Alcides Escobar	AAA	285	53	3	24	27	17	47	.295	.340	.418	.757
Last 10	AAA	38	7	0	3	3	3	7	.211
Kila Ka’aihue	AAA	221	45	10	31	0	56	50	.267	.411	.493	.905
Last 10	AAA	32	7	2	5	0	5	6	.188
Brett Wallace	AAA	131	9	3	9	0	9	29	.260	.313	.359	.671
Last 10	AAA	34	2	1	3	0	3	5	.353
Jesus Montero	AA	50	3	0	4	0	6	5	.300	.375	.340	.715
Last 10	AA	36	0	0	3	0	3	3	.333
Carlos Santana	AA	200	45	10	45	0	50	32	.270	.411	.510	.921
Last 10	AA	30	6	0	5	0	10	5	.200
Josh Vitters	A	250	39	13	42	3	7	37	.308	.346	.520	.866
Last 10	A	40	4	0	5	0	1	5	.225

 
Featured Add – Pitcher

 
Scott Elbert, SP, LAD, Age 23, Triple-A

	IP	ERA	WHIP	HR	BB	K
2008 AA	41.1	2.40	1.02	2	20	46
2009 AA	62.1	3.90	1.42	5	30	87

FBC columnist Matthew Robertson has this to say about Elbert: “He’s a talented lefty with dynamite stuff, as his fastball has been creeping back to the mid-to-high 90s, which he was at before surgery. In 57.1 IP, he’s struck out 77 guys to go along with 25 walks. In his last four outings, he’s struck out nine or more batters in each. This guy was once considered the best pitcher in the organization over Billingsley, and as he continues to regain his starting form, he’s again living up to the hype. Forget the short reliever your saw briefly in the majors, you might be looking at the next Cole Hamels. Keeper league and dynasty leagues need to add this guy if possible.”

Now seems like the perfect time to add Elbert to our watch list, as he’s been called up to Triple-A Albuquerque. Elbert’s Achilles’ heel has always been walks, so it will be interesting to see how be battles those control problems at this higher level. We’ll also have to watch out for arm fatigue, as he only threw 47.1 innings last year. Still, the strikeout potential is massive enough that he definitely needs to be owned in dynasty leagues.

 
Pitcher Performance Review (as of 6/21/09)

 

		IP	ERA	WHIP	HR	BB	K
Michael Bowden	AAA	66.1	3.26	1.19	6	25	43
June 19	AAA	1.0	54.00	8.00	1	3	1
Chris Tillman	AAA	60.0	2.55	1.17	4	18	67
June 18	AAA	6.0	4.50	1.00	1	2	4
Carlos Carrasco	AAA	79.2	5.20	1.36	8	22	77
June 20	AAA	7.0	1.29	1.00	0	2	5
Jake Arrieta	AAA	10.2	5.06	1.03	1	2	13
June 17	AAA	4.2	9.64	1.93	0	2	7
Jeanmar Gomez	AA	57.0	3.00	0.95	2	9	48
June 17	AA	6.0	4.50	1.67	1	2	5
Brian Matusz	AA	6.0	0.00	0.67	0	1	10
June 17	AA	6.0	0.00	0.67	0	1	10
Jarrod Parker	AA	42.1	3.19	1.61	0	20	46
DL	AA	–	–	–	–	–	–
Junichi Tazawa	AA	77.0	2.92	1.16	7	25	71
June 20	AA	5.1	0.00	1.13	0	4	5
Jeremy Hellickson	AA	30.0	2.10	0.93	1	8	36
DL	AA	–	–	–	–	–	–

 
That’s all I have for today. Remember to send your queries into fbcmailbag@gmail.com, and I’ll see you again next week!

 
R.J. White (or daullaz) has been actively involved in fantasy sports for over 14 years, making him an addict at this point. He loves writing, the Atlanta Braves, music, the Buffalo Bills, theatre, the Philadelphia Eagles, his family, and the number 42, though not in that order.
 

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