Joe Benson has already changed teams twice this year, but his latest promotion only put him back where he started.

Benson began the year with Double-A New Britain, but after 33 games the Twins sent the 22-year-old outfielder down to high Class A Fort Myers in mid-May. It's not that Benson was overmatched—he was hitting .219/.346/.419 at the time of his demotion, but it was only one month into the season, though his strikeouts were a touch high.

After clobbering Florida State League pitching for the last month, Benson returned to New Britain yesterday for a doubleheader and went 4-for-8 with a home run and a double. Benson's progression through the system has been deliberate—he was a second-round pick out of high school four years ago—but scouts still see the outstanding athleticism and tools that could lead to a breakout year at any time.

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Madison Bumgarner returned to the mound for Triple-A Fresno with six workmanlike innings against Portland. Bumgarner missed his previous start when he was suspended by the Pacific Coast League for three games after he was ejected from Fresno's June 7 game with Sacramento for arguing with an umpire and then hurling the baseball into the outfield.

"Madison's an emotional guy," Fresno manager Steve Decker told the Fresno Bee. "That's what makes him good. He pitches with passion and you want competitors like that. … It can't be out of control, though."

Bumgarner wasn't in top form on Tuesday, but the Giants lefthander was able to get through six innings allowing only one run, winning his seventh straight decision and improving to 7-1, 3.12 in 75 innings. He's 7-0, 1.99 since his disastrous first two starts of the year in which he gave up a combined 11 earned runs in seven innings. [...] Continue Reading »

Even though we were all watching the 2009 draft show just over a year ago, that draft class is already staking a claim as one to remember.

No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg is living up to the very sizable expectations in the big leagues. Reds' first-round pick Mike Leake skipped the minors to go straight from Arizona State to the big leagues. He's not only succeeding, he's been the Reds' most consistent starter. And later first-round picks Mike Trout and Nick Franklin have had exceptional first-halfs in the Midwest League. [...] Continue Reading »

The draft is an all-consuming event at Baseball America. But after a week of all-draft, all-the-time, the Daily Dish returns with a look at what happened this past weekend. If there was a theme this weekend, it was redemption, as a number of prospects who have gotten off to less-than-spectacular starts to the season starred.

Desmond Jennings, cf, Rays:  By pedigree and preseason ranking, the Rays center fielder is one of the top prospects in the minors (seven of our preseason Top 10 Prospects are now in the big leagues). But for much of this season he hasn't played like it. Injuries wiped out almost all of April and Jennings hit only .247/.326/.325 in May.

But now that June is here, Jennings is reminding everyone why he's a key part of the Rays' future. Jennings hit his second and third triples of the year over the weekend. Over the past week for Triple-A Durham, he's 14-for-26 with four doubles, three triples and nine runs scored. And when it comes to stealing bases, Jennings is still almost impossible to nab–he's 14-for-15 this year. [...] Continue Reading »

At this time of year, we're talking draft, college baseball, international signings, minor league prospects . . . just about everything but indy ball.

But at Baseball America, independent baseball is never far from J.J. Cooper's mind, and our managing editor has a pretty solid track record when it comes to indy ball guys getting to the big leagues. Suffice it to say that when an indy baller gets signed by a pro club, J.J. always feels a little tinge of pride, whether it's Justin Christian or Edwar Ramirez, or Mike Benacka, or Daniel Nava.

SoxProspects.com and WEEI.com are reporting Nava is getting called up to the majors. In 2007, Nava was the No. 1 prospect on J.J.'s  2007 indy ball top 10. Here's the full top 10 link and the report J.J. wrote back then: [...] Continue Reading »

This time: June 2-7

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Released: LHP Keny Sosa, C Jorge Corniel
Placed on suspended list: RHP Billy Spottiswood, C Chris Davis
Placed on 7-day DL: C Sean Coughlin
Reinstated from DL: 2B Gerson Montilla

Atlanta Braves
Released: C Daniel Elorriaga-Matra, 1B Gerardo Avila, 2B Elys Blanco
Recalled: RHP Craig Kimbrel
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Brett Butts, RHP Ty'Relle Harris, OF Willie Cabrera
Reinstated from DL: RHP Mike Broadway, OF Concepcion Rodriguez

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If you read Baseball America, you've been watching Stephen Strasburg's career develop since he ranked No. 1 (subscribers only) on the New England Collegiate Baseball League Top 10 Summer League prospects back in 2007 and was projected as the Mountain West's best pitcher (subscriber only) heading into his sophomore season. Before his junior season began we explained why he went undrafted as a high school senior and why that was a necessary step in his development. By the end of his junior year, he was any easy choice as our 2009 College Player of the Year (his biggest competition was current fellow big-league rookie Mike Leake) and he ranked No. 2 on this year's Top 100 Prospects list (behind Atlanta's Jason Heyward).

By now everyone is caught up in the Strasburg hype, including us. So  when Strasburg dominated in his big league debut, J.J. Cooper and John Manuel had to talk about it for a special edition of the Baseball America Podcast.

In the podcast, Cooper and Manuel discuss what makes a pitch an "80" on the scouting scale, what this means for baseball in D.C. and why we shouldn't focus too much on projecting where Strasburg will go from here.

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Glenn Ezell is stepping down from his job as the Tigers' director of player development.

"I am proud of the players we have developed over the past few years that have formed the foundation for the future success of the Detroit Tigers," Ezell said in a statement in a Tigers press release. "I am moving on now in other directions."

Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila will assume Ezell's responsibilities temporarily.

"The Detroit Tigers thank Glenn Ezell for all the work he has done leading our player development staff over the past few years," said GM Dave Dombrowski. "He represented the organization well in every fashion and he always did so with dignity. The organization wishes him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."

Rangers outfielder Engel Beltre is among seven players suspended for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl.

Beltre received a five-game suspension, California League president Charlie Blaney confirmed this afternoon, as an instigator in the fight that followed his walk-off home run in high Class A Bakersfield's victory over visiting Visalia on Monday. Beltre, whose suspension begins tonight, had words for Visalia players during his home run trot—which ended when the fight broke out as he rounded third base.

Beltre denied any wrongdoing in a local television station report following the game. "That's baseball," he told Bakersfield's ABC-23 affiliate. Blaze manager Bill Haselman concurred: "I don't think Beltre did anything wrong except hit a home run that made them mad."

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When you hit a walk-off home run, it's usually best to celebrate after you cross home plate.

Unless, apparently, you are Rangers high Class A Bakersfield center fielder Engel Beltre. After connecting for a game-winning home run on Tuesday at home against Visalia (Diamondbacks), Beltre decided that simply rounding the bases wasn't enough for him.

I won't spoil the video for you, but something tells me Beltre won't be getting any Christmas cards this year from anyone on the Visalia roster.

If you're looking for a prospect with serious helium, meet Nolan Arenado.

Arenado, the Rockies' second-round pick last year, began the year in extended spring training, but since he joined low Class A Asheville two weeks ago, the 19-year-old third baseman has shown why his bat is so highly regarded.

Arenado has a hit in 11 of his 12 games and is batting .380/.414/.560 with as many walks (five) as strikeouts. Sure, he's benefiting from a hitter-friendly environment in Asheville, so the power numbers will probably come down, but Arenado's hitting is no mirage. He's a balanced hitter with barrel awareness and an excellent approach at the plate, with power that could come down the line. If he keeps this up, he just might be the Rockies' best position prospect by the end of the year. A shortstop in high school, Arenado has made a smooth transition to third, where he's projected as an above-average defender.

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One of the best available international arms might be bringing his high-90s fastball to St. Louis, which agreed to terms with Dominican righthander Carlos Matias for $1.5 million.

The Cardinals have Matias under contract and under reserve, but he still has to clear a few hurdles before his bonus will be paid. Matias had previously agreed to a $160,000 deal with the Red Sox but he did not pass his investigation with Major League Baseball, which suspended him for one year in March 2009. Matias still has to have his age and identity cleared by MLB and receive his visa from the U.S. consulate for the deal to be completed and to receive his bonus.

Matias has presented himself to teams as an 18-year-old with a Sept. 2, 1991 date of birth. If Matias can get his visa to come to the United States, the suspension might have turned out to be a positive for him, as his prospect stock soared when he added velocity.

At 6 feet, 165 pounds, Matias has a loose delivery and an electric fastball that can sit in the mid-90s and routinely hits 97-99 mph, according to several scouts from other organizations. Between the velocity and cutting action on his fastball, it is a true 80 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale, already one of the best fastballs at any level of baseball.

"He has outstanding control," said Moises Rodriguez, the Cardinals director of international operations. "People tend to get excited when you see velo in the high-90s, but he's throwing upper-90s with excellent control."

Matias' secondary pitches have received mixed reviews, but he throws an average mid-80s changeup with good arm speed and sink as well as a 78-80 mph curveball that flashes late break.

Because players do not need to wait to have their contracts approved by MLB to begin playing in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, according to Rodriguez, Matias is currently on the Cardinals' DSL roster. In his one appearance, Matias allowed one run in three innings, walked none and struck out six of the 12 batters he faced.

This time: May 26-June 1

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: OF Byron Wiley
Reinstated from DL: RHP Ryan Cook, C Errol Hollinger, 1B Brandon Allen, OF Dan Kaczrowski

Atlanta Braves
Signed: OF Antoan Richardson (Schaumburg (Northern))
Released: 3B Shayne Moody
Reinstated from DL: 3B Shayne Moody

Richardson attended spring training with the Braves but didn't make the final cut. He signed on with Schaumburg, where he appeared in four games, going 6-for-16 (.375) with a double and a pair of walks. Richardson is the rare player to be drafted four times—once out of high school in ’01, once out of junior college the next year (both times by the Orioles) and then twice out of Vanderbilt in ’04 and ’05 by the D'backs and Giants. [...] Continue Reading »

What was already a good start to the 2010 season for the Royals' farm system just got better.

Lefthander Danny Duffy, who had left the team and returned home during spring training, has decided to return to pro baseball. He has reported to the Royals' facilities in Arizona where the team is currently holding extended spring games.

Duffy is 19-10, 2.49 in three pro seasons and was rated as the organization's No. 8 prospect before the season began. While Duffy does not have the pure velocity to match fellow Royals' lefthanders Chris Dwyer and Mike Montgomery, his feel for pitching and solid stuff has been successful everywhere he's pitched. He was projected to go to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to start the season, but for now he'll be working out in extended spring training as he rounds back into pitching shape.

Mike Stanton knows when to put on a show. The Marlins' 20-year-old slugger was going through a home run drought—by his standards—having gone deep only once over his last eight games heading into last night. Along come Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations, and assistant general manager Dan Jennings to pay Double-A Jacksonville a visit, and Stanton finds his power stroke once again.

Stanton promptly homered to the opposite field in his first at-bat, then added a second long ball in the fifth that was estimated to travel 480 feet, clearing the street outside the stadium. He finished the night 2-for-3 with a walk, pushing his numbers for the year up to .307/.436/.722 in 176 at-bats and his minor league-leading home run total to 20. As for whether this means a promotion is coming up soon …

[...] Continue Reading »

Even when he doesn't pitch, Stephen Strasburg makes headlines in the baseball world. The Nationals announced yesterday that the phenom will make his big league debut on Tuesday, June 8, at home against the Pirates. This means that his final Triple-A start will occur on Thursday, when his Syracuse club visits Buffalo for an afternoon contest.

Strasburg allowed three runs in five innings to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his May 29 start, including a home run to veteran catcher Rene Rivera, who had recently been signed from the Atlantic League. For Syracuse, Strasburg has gone 3-1, 1.27 in five starts, while striking out 33 and walking six in 28 1/3 innings.

Top Performers Of Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-31

RHP Todd Redmond • Triple-A Gwinnett (Braves)
It had not been the best of years for Redmond prior to his May 28 start, in which he threw a nine-inning no-hitter at Louisville. Not only had the 25-year-old started slowly, going 3-5, 5.70 through nine turns, but the Braves had removed him from the 40-man roster in March. But even in no-hitting the Bats, Redmond did it the hard way—he recorded just three strikeouts. He also walked two batters in the sixth inning but retired Corky Miller on a pick-off at second base to keep his batters faced total at 28, only one over the minimum. [...] Continue Reading »

Dominican shortstop Esteilon Peguero is one of the top prospects this year eligible to sign when the international signing period begins on July 2. Subscribers have access to more information about Peguero, but if you just want to see video of Peguero, there are three after the jump.

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Edwin Moreno of the Dominican Republic is one of the top outfielders from the 2010 class of players eligible to sign during the July 2 international signing period. You can read more about Moreno if you are a Baseball America subscriber, but our video of Moreno are available to everyone.

[...] Continue Reading »

Ariel Ogando, a 16-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic, is one of the top prospects on the international market eligible to sign on July 2 when the international signing period opens. While subscribers can learn more about Ogando, Baseball America's video of Ogando is free.

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Dominican 16-year-old outfielder Vicmal de la Cruz should be one of the top prospects from Latin America to sign after the international signing period begins on July 2. Baseball America subscribers have access to additional scouting information on de la Cruz, but our video of de la Cruz is available to all.

[...] Continue Reading »