Pablo Sandoval is starting to answer some of the questions about his Cal League performance, a pack of Fisher Cats performed well, Allen Craig kept his hitting streaks going and there’s a huge pitching prospect duel in the Texas League tonight.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Pablo Sandoval didn’t rank among the Giants’ top 30 prospects entering the season, but he should rank prominently in the 2009 version of the Prospect Handbook. After batting .359/.412/.597 in 273 at-bats with high Class A San Jose in the California League, Sandoval earned a promotion to Connecticut. There’s always skepticism of a guy putting up those kinds of enormous numbers in the hitter-friendly Cal League, but through 24 games in the Eastern League, Sandoval is batting .343/.368/.578 in 102 at-bats. That includes yesterday’s outburst, as Sandoval went 3-for-7 with a home run, a double and six RBIs, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

Prospect Nuggets

Reading catcher and 2008 Olympian Lou Marson (Phillies) went 2-for-4 with a walk, bringing the 22-year-old’s season line to .322/.438/.432 with 62 walks and 64 strikeouts … New Hampshire (Blue Jays) second baseman Scott Campbell reached base five times, drawing three walks and hitting a double and a single, while his Fisher Cats teammate Travis Snider went 1-for-3 with two walks and his 17th double. Fisher Cats lefty Brett Cecil had success on the mound, posting a 6-0 K-BB mark in 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run. But perhaps the most noteworthy accomplishment of the night for the Fisher Cats came when J.P. Arencibia drew a walk, his first walk in 30 games with New Hampshire. Without the luxury of a minor league Retrosheet, we don’t know how many times it’s taken a player that long to draw his first walk, but it’s nonetheless an impressive streak.

What To Watch For Today
It should be a prospect matchup in New Britain (Twins), where Rock Cats righthander Anthony Swarzak goes against Phillies righthander Carlos Carrasco.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

A pair of rainouts cut into the competition for POTD honors, but Tennessee catcher Welington Castillo (Cubs) made his mark with a 3-for-5 night in which he clubbed his eighth double in 29 Double-A games. Castillo was far from dominant early in the season with high Class A Daytona, where he batted .273/.299/.339 in 121 at-bats. Nevertheless, the Cubs promoted Castillo, still just 21, to Double-A. In his 29 games with the Smokies, Castillo has been one of the league’s most valuable players, hitting .343/.420/.545 in 99 at-bats while playing the game’s most challenging defensive position.

Prospect Nuggets

Trying to return from labrum surgery is an incredible challenge for a pitcher, as Jacksonville lefthander Scott Elbert (Dodgers) is finding out. Elbert came on in relief last night, but didn’t record an out. Elbert allowed three hits and a walk, getting charged with four runs, though only two were earned … The Marlins demoted righthander Gaby Hernandez from Triple-A Albuquerque to Carolina. The results have been mixed since Hernandez’s demotion, but file yesterday’s outing in the positive column. Hernandez held a strong Huntsville (Brewers) lineup to two runs in six innings, punching out six with no walks.

What To Watch For Today

Righthander Tommy Hanson (Braves) pitches tonight for Mississippi at Birmingham.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

It was only singles yesterday for Springfield third baseman Allen Craig (Cardinals), but Craig went 3-for-4 on the night. For Craig, that’s six straight games with a hit; five straight multi-hit games; and four straight games with at least three hits. Hello, Hot Sheet.

Prospect Nuggets

Tulsa center fielder Dexter Fowler (Rockies) hit a pair of singles, drew a walk and stole his 18th base of the season … San Antonio first baseman Kyle Blanks (Padres) hit a home run, his 11th of the season, bringing his season line to an impressive .314/.397/.488 in 344 at-bats for the 21-year-old … Trevor Cahill (Athletics) issued four walks and allowed three runs in five innings, but none of the runs were earned and he struck out six.

What To Watch For Today

The pitching prospect matchup of the night is in Midland, where Rock Hounds lefty Brett Anderson pitches against Frisco righthander Neftali Feliz (Rangers).