INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE

PROSPECT OF THE DAY: David Robertson, rhp, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

The last time David Robertson gave up a home run, North Carolina had not been to the College World Series since 1989.

Then Robertson, pitching for Alabama in 2006, gave up a two-run, ninth-inning homer to Tar Heels first baseman Chad Flack, a game-changer that sent North Carolina to its first-ever super-regional victory. Robertson’s college career, as it turned out, was over; Flack will bat sixth tonight in a College World Series game against Louisiana State. The Yankees drafted Robertson as a 17th-round pick, as the eligible sophomore’s signability was thought to be in question. He started strong in the Cape Cod League and the Yankees signed him for a $200,000 bonus.

He has rewarded them since with a career ERA of 1.17, a rapid ascent to Triple-A (in just his second full season) and an impressive 180-54 strikeout-walk mark in 131 innings. Most impressively, Robertson has yet to give up a home run, a streak he continued Thursday with two scoreless innings in a 4-3 Scranton loss to Toledo.

PROSPECT NUGGETS

The new-look left side of Rochester’s infield produced in a 9-3 win against Indianapolis, with recently promoted shortstop Trevor Plouffe contributing a pair of hits and three runs in his best game at the level, while much-traveled Sergio Santos, playing third in deference to Plouffe, had four hits, including a double. Rochester banged out 14 hits in support of lefthander Brian Duensing, who went seven strong innings for the victory . . . Indianapolis’ Neil Walker has hit just .229 this season but extended his modest hitting streak to six games with a double and is slugging .534 in June . . . Durham’s Reid Brignac played his first career game at second base in deference to rehabbing big leaguer Ben Zobrist. He went 1-for-3 with two walks in the Bulls’ 8-6 loss to Norfolk.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

PROSPECT OF THE DAY: Michael Saunders, cf, Tacoma

Move over, Ichiro—wait, he already did. With Ichiro moving back to right field, Saunders have moved up to Triple-A, and while he’s not a prototypical center fielder, the 6-foot-4 Canadian certainly is hitting his way to the big leagues and could wind up playing next to Ichiro sooner than later, as the Mariners try to rebuild around the ruins of this season. Saunders hasn’t been hurt by playing in Las Vegas, certainly, as he has homered and has a double among his five hits in 10 at-bats. In his second Rainiers game Thursday, Saunders went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a home run off Tanyon Sturtze in an 8-1 victory. For the season, he’s batting a combined .297/.380/.500 with nine home runs.

PROSPECT NUGGETS

Terry Tiffee keeps on keepin’ on, racking up four more hits Thursday to continue his assault on .400. The Las Vegas veteran is hitting .412. Don’t look now, but his teammate, former uber-prospect Greg Miller, is starting to find himself a bit. The lefthander who was every bit the prospect Scott Kazmir and Cole Hamels were when they all pitched together in the 2003 Florida State League has been waylaid since then by repeated shoulder issues that have led to lost command. Miller still has an ugly full-season line with 32 walks and 35 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings, but his ERA has fallen below five at 4.93, and he’s slowly throwing more strikes. He threw 23 strikes out of 34 pitches last night and has thrown 59 percent strikes in May and June, after throwing just 51 percent in April . . . Finally healthy, hard-throwing righthander Kevin Jepsen has thrived this season, with the Angels pushing him to Triple-A for the first time. The 24-year-old struck out five Thursday but blew an 11th-inning lead by giving up a solo homer to Colorado Springs’ Joe Koshansky. He got the loss in the 12th when Jonathan Herrera singled, was sacrificed to second and scored on a wild pitch and subsequent throwing error by catcher Tim Duff. Jepsen’s five strikeouts in two innings gave him 44 in 39 2/3 innings overall.