A ton of top prospects were in action Friday, but you have to go all the way down to the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League to find the top highlight of the night.
Dodgers lefthander Geison Aguasviva and 17-year-old righthander Luis Ferreras combined for a seven-inning no-hitter in the DSL club’s 2-0 win against the Devil Rays. Aguasviva, who turns 20 in August, struck out four and walked three over five shutout innings, lowering his ERA to 0.43 in with 20 strikeouts in 21 innings.
It was a tough day all around for DSL Devil Rays hitters, who managed just one hit in the nightcap against righthanders Carlos Frias and Jhan Lopez in the Dodgers’ 1-0 win. Frias, whose numbers improved to 2-0, 0.84 in 21 innings, allowed the lone hit and struck out four over 5 2/3 innings.

• Sticking with the Dodgers for a second, keep an eye on 19-year-old Rookie-level Gulf Coast League third baseman Pedro Baez. Signed out of Bani in the Dominican Republic by assistant general manager Logan White in March, the Dodgers brought Baez straight over to Vero Beach during spring training. That says a lot about the teenager’s tools, with plus raw power and good reactions and above-average arm strength on the corner. Baez went 3-for-5 with a run scored in the Dodgers’ 7-4 win against the Nationals in the complex league, and is now hitting .351 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs in just 32 at-bats. A rehabbing Garrett Mock wore it for the GCL Nats, allowing six runs on five hits—three of which left the yard—over just 1 2/3 innings. [...] Continue Reading »

With the minor league season past its midpoint, it’s time to start taking stock in accumulated statistics. This year, instead of presenting midseason classification all-star teams, we decided to mix it up and present leaders in important statistical categories.

Triple-A is up first in our survey of the four full-season levels. Stats are through games of June 28.

As usual, * signifies lefthanded batter/pitcher, and # is switch-hitter.

BATTERS

AVERAGE
Keppinger, Jeff, Louisville (IL), .358
# Tolbert, Matt, Rochester (IL), .348
* Schierholtz, Nate, Fresno (PCL), .347
* Fontenot, Mike, Iowa (PCL), .340
Barker, Sean, Colorado Springs (PCL), .335
* Watson, Brandon, Columbus (IL), .333
* Barton, Daric, Sacramento (PCL), .331
Evans, Terry, Salt Lake (PCL), .331
Francisco, Ben, Buffalo (IL), .329
Barmes, Clint, Colorado Springs (PCL), .328
* Gathright, Joey, Omaha (PCL), .328

Tolbert’s season is more remarkable considering he never hit better than .301 in a four-season career at Mississippi. [...] Continue Reading »

After enduring his first full season plagued by injuries at high Class A Wilmington, Jed Lowrie is still proving people wrong.

“He can play shortstop for me,” a scout from a National League club said. “I said that last year too. He shows range to both sides, and arm strength and athleticism to throw people out from deep in the hole. I just had questions about the bat, but that’s not really an issue anymore.” [...] Continue Reading »

It had to be over; Nick Blackburn saw the swing Jeremy Owens put on the ball, heard the sound off the bat.

After Thursday night’s 12-0 win over the host Durham Bulls, Blackburn said he was sure Owens’ sixth-inning shot to left field would stop his shutout string in its tracks. Blackburn has given up three runs in June, but none has been earned over 39 innings. Overall, his streak of not giving up an earned run has stretched over 41 1/3 innings.

With one out in the sixth and the score already 12-0, Blackburn was up in the count 1-and-2 and fired in another fastball, this one a four-seamer on the outer half. Owens was waiting for it and crushed it to left-center field. But at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the left-field “Blue Monster” fence stretches into left center, and in the power alley it’s 371 feet, with the combination of wall and alley making that the toughest part of the park to hit a home run. Owens’ shot caromed off the wall with a foot or two to spare, he was held to a double, and Blackburn got out of the inning with a pair of groundouts, his streak intact.

“I knew it was gone as soon as he hit it–it was crushed. That’s out of most parks,” Blackburn said. “You have to have a little bit of luck.” [...] Continue Reading »

There are several players who will hate to see June turn into July. Nick Blackburn’s outstanding June wrapped up just as well as it started and Jeff Clement added his seventh home run of the month.
Triple-A

It’s been the year of the streaks. First it was Mitch Hilligoss’ 38-game hitting streak. Then it was Brandon Watson’s 43-game hitting streak. Now Rochester’s Nick Blackburn has extended his streak of not giving up an earned run to 41 1/3 innings as the RedWings shut out Durham. In five starts in June, Blackburn never allowed an earned run, but he did give up three unearned runs.  More to come on Blackburn soon. [...] Continue Reading »

White Sox farmhand Gio Gonzalez is one of four Birmingham Barons who will participate in the Southern League All-Star Game July 9 in Pearl, Miss. The 21-year-old lefthander leads the Southern League in strikeouts with 106 in 86 innings, and has walked 31 batters en route to a 2.93 ERA. The Southern League will announce the rosters for the North Division team July 2 and the starting lineup for the South Division the following day. [...] Continue Reading »

One day after the visiting International League announced it’s team, the Pacific Coast League today unveiled its roster for the 20th annual Triple-A all-star game. The contest takes place July 11—one night after the big league game—in Albuquerque.

The starting lineup, including two starting and two relief pitchers, were voted on by league managers and general managers, members of the media and online fan voting, with each of the three groups counting equally toward the final tally.

Dean Treanor of the hometown Isotopes will manage the PCL all-stars, with Las Vegas’ Ken Howell and Iowa’s Von Joshua serving as his coaches. Albuquerque trainer Steve Miller joins Treaner on the coaching staff. [...] Continue Reading »

A couple of top prospects who have had seasons to forget got a chance to shine on Wednesday. Larry Broadway had a big day for Columbus, while Trevor Crowe’s struggles in Akron took a day off.
Triple-A

Gregor Blanco and Brent Lillibridge swiped bases in the 10th inning to help set up Richmond’s 6-4 win over Louisville. Joey Votto homered in the loss for the Bats. [...] Continue Reading »

The International League announced its roster for the 20th annual Triple-A all-star game, the tenth pitting the IL against the Pacific Coast League. The contest takes place July 11—one night after the big league game—in Albuquerque.

The starting lineup, including two starting and two relief pitchers, were voted on by league managers and general managers, members of the media and online fan voting, with each of the three groups counting equally toward the final tally.

Ottawa’s John Russell will manage the International League squad, and Rochester’s Stan Cliburn and Buffalo’s Torey Lovullo will serve as coaches. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Darren London is trainer. [...] Continue Reading »

The Durham Bulls have lost three of their five Opening Day pitchers to the major leagues already, with J.P. Howell, Jason Hammel and Andy Sonnanstine joining the parent Devil Rays.

Two other Bulls made their case that they are ready in last night’s 7-4 victory against visiting Rochester. Starter Mitch Talbot went seven efficient innings and continues to improve the command of his fastball, which usually sits 89-91 mph but regularly touches 93. His slider/cutter has become a solid third offering, but when Talbot has needed to make a pitch in his last two starts, he has trusted his changeup. He retired the side in order four times in seven innings Monday night, but the Red Wings put up a pair of crooked numbers when Talbot missed up in the zone with his fastball. [...] Continue Reading »

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is putting together a scoreless streak, Rick Ankiel extended his home run lead and Jeremy Jeffress had his first rough outing of the season.
Triple-A

Rick Ankiel keeps on slugging. The former pitcher hit his Pacific Coast League-leading 21st home run of the season on Tuesday. [...] Continue Reading »

This week’s installment considers all transactions reported between June 16-22.

Last week’s transactions available here.

Draft picks are presented alphabetically by position here, but to see each team’s draft in chronological order, be sure to check out our Draft Database.

For even more detailed information, like scouting reports for most players in the top six rounds, check out the fully-searchable subscriber-only Advanced Draft Database.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Draft picks signed: RHP Josh Collmenter (15), RHP Ty Davis (22), RHP Josh Ellis (11), RHP Bryan Henry (12), RHP Sean Morgan (4), LHP Scott Maine (6), 2B Taylor Harbin (8), SS Mark Hallberg (9)
Released: RHP Jon Castellanos
Traded: 2B Danny Richar to White Sox for OF Aaron Cunningham
Placed on restricted list: LHP Clay Zavada, OF Dave Krynzel
Recalled: RHP Enrique Gonzalez, 2B Danny Richar
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Enrique Gonzalez
Outrighted off 40-man roster: RHP Mike Schultz
Placed on minor league disabled list: RHP Ivan Cedeno, RHP Brett Reynolds, 3B Ricardo Sosa
Placed on temporarily Inactive list: OF Evan Frey
Option transferred: RHP Max Scherzer (high Class A Visalia to Double-A Mobile) [...] Continue Reading »

Talk about a tough schedule.

Double-A Akron manager Tim Bogar’s club is currently on an 11-day road trip. At the end of those 11 days, Bogar will hop on a plane in Bowie, Md., and fly to San Francisco to participate in his second straight Futures Game.

After those two days, which turn into three with the travel back to the east coast, Bogar will fly to Norwich, Conn., for the Eastern League all-star game on July 11 before finally meeting up back with his team in Altoona, Pa.–for another four-game series on the road.
“I’m basically on a 20-day road trip right now,” Bogar said. “With all the fast food that’s likely to be involved I might wind up looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man before it’s over.

“But having the opportunity to go to the Futures Game is an honor any year, and going to any all-star game is always a lot of fun and a great opportunity. The travel this year is just a little haywire.”

By Michael Point

Nashville pitcher Manny Parra, making only his second start at the Triple-A level, didn’t have a win to his credit when the game began Monday night. He had a perfect game to call his own when it ended.

The 24-year old left-hander retired every Express batter that came to the plate. It was 27 up and 27 down as he threw the first no-hitter in Dell Diamond history. Nashville picked up a 3-0 win in the process but the “no hits, no runs, no errors” final line was the biggest story of the game. [...] Continue Reading »

Manny Parra was perfect, Eric Hurley has landed in Triple-A and there was an Adam Miller sighting on a busy day around the minors.Triple-A

Manny Parra was considered one of the better pitching prospects around before a shoulder injured derailed his career in 2005. It’s taken two years, but Parra is showing every sign that he’s recovered from the shoulder surgery. He went 7-3, 2.68 for Double-A Huntsville with more than a strikeout an inning, then added an emphatic exclamation point in his second start after being promoted to Triple-A Nashville. Parra threw only the eighth perfect game in Pacific Coast League history as he dominated Round Rock to the tune of 11 strikeouts in nine innings. [...] Continue Reading »

Greensboro Grasshoppers personnel are upbeat before games in the press box, with good reason. After all, the ‘Hoppers finished second in the Northern Division of the low Class A South Atlantic League. Second baseman Chris Coghlan, a supplemental first round pick of the Marlins in 2006 from Mississippi, was hitting over .300, helping him earn a spot in the league’s all-star game and on the Futures Game roster.It didn’t take long for a Futures Game jinx to set in. Coghlan went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the first game after the rosters were announced, as the Augusta GreenJackets pitching simply shut everyone down. Two days later, Greensboro’s best starter, lefty Graham Taylor, got tagged for three runs on two homers in the first inning. [...] Continue Reading »

Craig Brazell is making a run at a 40 home run season, Jose Guzman flirted with a no-hitter and Edwar Ramirez is continuing to strike out nearly two batters an inning.

Triple-A

At this point, it would appear only a promotion would keep Craig Brazell from finishing the season with the minor league home run lead. And with a pair of home runs on Sunday in a doubleheader, Brazell now has 28 home runs for the season, seven more than anyone else. [...] Continue Reading »

Low Class A Lake County righthander Carlton Smith has been silencing bats in his last two starts for the Captains, but Sunday was a day the 21-year-old will never forget.

Smith, who took a no-hitter into the fourth inning in his last start against West Virginia on June 16, did the bulk of the work at home against Delmarva as three Captains arms combined for a no-hitter in Lake County’s 2-0 win against the Shorebirds. [...] Continue Reading »

With the Class A all-star games behind us and the short-season leagues beginning play, baseball’s midseason is officially here. For many top prospects it also means a promotion.

Following are the most notable prospect callups:

• The Diamondbacks’ top three picks from the 2006 draft all received promotions: college righthanders Max Scherzer and Brooks Brown move to Double-A Mobile, while high school lefty Brett Anderson heads to high Class A Visalia. [...] Continue Reading »

It’s not often that a pitcher hits a home run, but Mark Holliman might not even remember it. Holliman’s two-run home run was overshadowed as he no hit the Huntsville Stars in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday.

Holliman’s bid for a perfect game ended with a walk in the second, but that was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect evening. The no-hitter ended a four-game losing streak for Holliman as he lowered his ERA to 2.49. [...] Continue Reading »