EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

When Reading center fielder Greg Golson (Phillies) puts the ball in play, good things tend to happen. Heading into this season, Golson, the 21st overall pick in the 2004 draft, was hitting .348 on balls in play. This season, that figure is up to a lofty .386. Yesterday Golson mostly didn’t bother putting the ball in play, instead hitting two balls over the fence for home runs 11 and 12 of the season. The problem for Golson has always been getting the ball in play; he has 122 strikeouts and his OBP will always be hindered by his lack of plate discipline, as he has drawn just 28 walks in 412 plate appearances. But Golson’s plus-plus speed make him a weapon on the basepaths and even moreso in center field, where scouts laud his defense, so his value isn’t tied exclusively to his bat.

Prospect Nuggets

Keep an eye on New Britain right fielder David Winfree (Twins), a former third baseman turned first baseman turned outfielder. Winfree, who turned 23 earlier this month, went 2-for-4 with a home run, his 18th of the season. Winfree is now hitting .251/.317/.447 in 120 games, including .350/.407/.620 in 27 games since the EL all-star break. Winfree will likely never be a high OBP player, but he does have some pop that could carry him at higher levels … J.P. Arencibia (Blue Jays) went 2-for-4 with a double as New Hampshire’s DH … [...] Continue Reading »

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect of the Day

Former Arizona lefthander Brad Mills entered the season ranked 20th among Blue Jays prospects and should move up those rankings significantly, as he continued his strong season with another productive start for Double-A New Hampshire. Mills struck out nine in seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits and one walk, to improve to 2-1, 0.44 in four starts with the Fisher Cats, who beat Harrisburg 4-0. "He showed us early that he has plenty of stuff to pitch here," New Hampshire manager Gary Cathcart told the Manchester (N.H.) Union-Leader. "He’s got good deception and kind of herky-jerky motion, which makes his curveball and changeup effective. What I like most about him is his mound presence. For a kid just making his first trip up here (to Double-A), he’s aggressive, and he doesn’t get affected by anything around him."

For the season, which he began at low Class A Lansing, Mill is 12-4, 1.89 with 147 strikeouts and 46 walks allowed in 133 innings. The 23-year-old ranks third overall in the minors in ERA and fourth in strikeouts. [...] Continue Reading »

The Matt Wieters Express steamrolled through Trenton, while John Raynor flashed his wheels at West Tenn yesterday.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

After the Orioles selected him with the fifth overall pick in the draft last June, Matt Wieters waited until the Aug. 15 deadline to sign. It’s just about one year later, and there probably aren’t four better prospects in all of the minors than Wieters. Yesterday the Bowie catcher went 2-for-4 with a triple and a double, bringing his composite line between high class A and Double-A to .353/.453/.602 with 24 home runs, 72 walks and 68 strikeouts. Not bad for a guy who is also one of the best defensive catchers in the minors. [...] Continue Reading »

The Eastern League and the Southern League each had the day off yesterday, but over in the Texas League Kyle Blanks had a big night for the Missions.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

You won’t find too many prospects like San Antonio’s Kyle Blanks (Padres), a 6-foot-6, 270-pound (his listed weight) first baseman with an .860 OPS. Yesterday Blanks went 4-for-4 with four singles, bringing his season stats to .307/.387/.473 in 414 at-bats. Still just 21, Blanks has 14 home runs, 17 doubles and five triples. He shows a good feel for the strike zone and does have decent speed despite his mass.

Prospect Nuggets

San Antonio righthander Will Inman struck out seven and walked one, but he also allowed six runs, 10 hits and two home runs in five innings. The outing increased Inman’s ERA to 3.43 in 123 1/3 innings …  Relievers have a hard time making into the Double-A Dish, but Springfield righthander Fernando Salas stood out last night. The 22-year-old Futures Gamer from Mexico struck out five in two scoreless innings yesterday, bringing his K-BB mark to 88-15 in 64 2/3 innings out of the bullpen this season.

What To Watch For Today

The TL has the day off. 

EASTERN LEAGUE

Righthander Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals) pitches tonight for Harrisburg in the first game of a doubleheader at New Hampshire (Blue Jays).

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Carolina (Marlins), 32-18, is 8-2 in its last 10 games and has a seven game lead over Tennessee (Cubs) in the Southern League North. Carolina is on the road today to take on West Tenn (Mariners).

It was a big day in the Southern League, where Aaron Thompson threw seven shutout innings, Tommy Hanson struck out 10 and Chris Valaika and Tyler Colvin feasted upon the other team’s pitching.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

It’s been a stellar season for Giants catcher Pablo Sandoval. After batting .359/.412/.597 in 273 at-bats in the high Class A California League, Sandoval has continued his hot hitting to go .339/.367/.556 in 171 at-bats with Doubel-A Connecticut. Yesterday was just another night for Sandoval, who went 3-for-3, drew a walk and hit his eighth home run since joining Double-A.

Prospect Nuggets

Jose Tabata (Pirates) made his Double-A debut for his new organization on Friday. The center fielder went 2-for-13 with Altoona, drew a walk, stole a base and struck out five times. Tabata turns 20 tomorrow … Reading center fielder Greg Golson (Phillies) went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two stolen bases, his 20th in 24 attempts … New Hampshire catcher J.P. Arencibia (Blue Jays) tied the game in the ninth inning with a pinch-hit home run, although the Fisher Cats would go on to lose the game in extra innings. Between New Hampshire and high Class A Dunedin, Arencibia now has more home runs (26) than walks (13) on the season. Amazing … Erie left fielder Wilkin Ramirez (Tigers) went 3-for-4 with a walk and his 19th home run with the SeaWolves.

[...] Continue Reading »

Gerardo Parra had a big game at Carolina, Nick Evans homered for Binghamton and Allen Craig kept on hitting well for Springfield in yesterday’s slate.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Mobile right fielder Gerardo Parra (Diamondbacks) hasn’t made a clean transition to Double-A since being promoted from high Class A Visalia. In 195 at-bats with Mobile, Parra is batting .256/.329/.364, but last night certainly helped his numbers. Parra went 3-for-4 with two triples at Carolina, giving him eight triples total in 2008.

Prospect Nuggets

Mississippi dropped center fielder Jordan Schafer (Braves) in the lineup, and Schafer responded by going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles … It’s only a matter of time before David Price (Rays) makes his way to the big leagues. Yesterday Price struck out seven and walked four in five shutout innings.

[...] Continue Reading »

Brandon Hicks and Lars Anderson are having success for their new Double-A teams, while Elvis Andrus and Julio Pimentel had big nights in the Texas League yesterday.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Brandon Hicks is a little bit like Brandon Wood Lite: lightning-quick bat speed, big-time power from shortstop and a batting average that probably won’t ever be higher than .260 without some luck thanks to plenty of strikeouts. Some teams are more willing than others to accept a player with that profile, but the Braves believed Hicks showed enough at high Class A Myrtle Beach to deserve a promotion to Double-A Mississippi despite a .232 batting average with the Pelicans (he still had a .328 OBP and slugged .478, a remarkable feat given his batting average and ballpark). Yesterday Hicks went 3-for-4 with a triple, a double and a walk. Through seven games with Mississippi, Hicks is 8-for-25 (.320/.414/.640) with a home run, a triple, three doubles and four walks. [...] Continue Reading »

The Texas League was off yesterday, but JP Arencibia, Travis Snider and Cameron Maybin provided firepower in the two other Double-A leagues yesterday.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

At some point, J.P. Arencibia’s (Blue Jays) lack of plate discipline is going to catch up to him. An .851 OPS with two walks in 43 games just isn’t sustainable, but so far it’s worked for the New Hampshire catcher. Yesterday Arencibia went 2-for-4 and hit a home run, his 11th with the Fisher Cats after hitting 13 for high Class A Dunedin. That raised Arencibia’s Double-A averages to .298/.307/.544, a line that sums up Arencibia’s skill set quite nicely.

Prospect Nuggets

Hitting behind Snider in the Fisher Cats lineup, right fielder Travis Snider went 2-for-4 with a double, putting his numbers at  .262/.357/.461 in 362 Double-A at-bats … Altoona second baseman Shelby Ford had a three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a triple and a double … He’s not a prospect any more, but Harrisburg righthander Bobbie Brownlie had a great line: eight strikeouts and one walk in five innings, but he allowed five runs and six hits, four of which were home runs.

[...] Continue Reading »

Gaby Sanchez followed up yesterday’s multi-homer game with another multi-homer game, Chris Tillman and Tommy Hanson each recorded double-digit strikeouts and Austin Jackson had a four-hit game in yesterday’s Double-A games.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

One day after hitting two home runs and not winning the Prospect Of The Day, Carolina first baseman Gaby Sanchez (Marlins) had another two-homer game, and this time there was no Tyler Colvin to stand in his way. Sanchez’s two blasts gives him 16 home runs on the season, and the walk he drew gives him more walks (58) than strikeouts (56).

Prospect Nuggets

Carolina center fielder Cameron Maybin reached base four times by going 2-for-3 with two walks and stealing his 18th base of the season. Maybin, 21, is now batting .268/.365/.455 in 321 at-bats … Huntsville shortstop Alcides Escobar (Brewers), 21, went 2-fo-3 with his eighth home run, a walk and his 28th stole base. The smooth-fielding shortstop is now at .335/.368/.443 in 454 at-bats … Mississippi righthander Tommy Hanson (Braves) struck out 10, walked one and allowed just two runs in six innings to lower his Double-A ERA to 3.66 in 76 1/3 innings. [...] Continue Reading »

David Hernandez turned in a solid outing for Bowie, Aaron Cunningham reached base three times and Gaby Sanchez and Tyler Colvin nearly matched each other’s explosive night at the plate from opposite dugouts.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Carolina first baseman Gaby Sanchez (Marlins) had an outstanding day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double, a walk, four runs scored and six RBIs against Tennessee. Not bad, right? All that earned him was a runner-up nod in the SL’s Prospect Of The Day. Tennessee left fielder Tyler Colvin (Cubs) also went 3-for-5, also hit two home runs, also had six RBIs, but added a triple and three runs scored.

Prospect Nuggets

Huntsville speedy center fielder Lorenzo Cain (Brewers) collected four hits (including a double) in five at-bats last night and stole a base … Lefthander Aaron Poreda (White Sox) had one of his best starts for Birmingham as he struck out seven and didn’t issue a walk in seven shutout innings … West Tenn righthander Gaby Hernandez (Mariners) made his first start for his new organization since Seattle acquired him from the Marlins for Arthur Rhodes. Hernandez, who had been Carolina prior to the trade, proved to be quite hittable as he allowed five runs and 11 hits in six innings while striking out just two … Righthander Jeremy Hellickson (Rays) had another solid outing for Montgomery, posting a 6-2 K-BB mark in six innings of two-run ball.

[...] Continue Reading »

Been a late night/morning, so let’s crank out today’s trading deadline Double-A dish.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Travis Snider is really, really good. The New Hampshire (Blue Jays) right fielder went 3-for-4 yesterday with a home run (his 17th) and a double (his 20th), putting the 20-year-old at .266/.356/.474 in 342 at-bats with the Fisher Cats.

Prospect Nuggets

Matt Wieters (Orioles) is also really, really good. Wieters continues to prove that even Double-A pitching is no match for him, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of doubles to raise his slash stats to .359/.459/.621 in 103 at-bats with Bowie … Danny Murphy (Mets) has been Binghamton’s utility man this year, and scouts believe he will hit enough to big leaguer. Murphy went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double yesterday and played second base.

[...] Continue Reading »

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters continued his assault on all types of minor league pitching, Rays righthander Jeremy Hellickson had an excellent outing and Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus continued to flash his outstanding potential in yesterday’s Double-A games.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Minor League Player of the Year? Matt Wieters (Orioles) is looking like a pretty good candidate right now. After proving that the high Class A Carolina League was no challenge for him, Wieters is showing that Double-A pitchers don’t have a clue how to stop him either. Yesterday Wieters went 4-for-5 with a double and a home run, his sixth in 100 at-bats with Bowie. With more walks (18) than strikeouts (16), Wieters is now batting .350/.449/.600 in Double-A.

Prospect Nuggets

Wieters’ teammate, 24-year-old right fielder Nolan Reimold, went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk to get to .289/.362/.498 in 402 at-bats … New Hampshire left fielder Travis Snider (Blue Jays) and catcher J.P. Arencibia each went 2-for-5 with a double … Akron shortstop Josh Rodriguez (Indians) went a clean 3-for-3 with a double and a walk … Portland center fielder Josh Reddick (Red Sox) hit his first Double-A home run since his promotion from high Class A Lancaster, finishing 2-for-5 with a walk.

What To Watch For Today

One of the few Nationals prospects enjoying a successful season is Harrisburg righthander Jordan Zimmermann, who pitches at home tonight against Reading.

[...] Continue Reading »

There were plenty of fireworks in Double-A yesterday, including a game-winning homer from Wes Hodges, a gem by David Price and Mark Trumbo making his Double-A debut in style.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Yesterday was quite the day for Akron third baseman Wes Hodges (Indians), who had a great game at the plate and came through in a clutch situation. Hodges went 3-for-5 with two doubles, giving him 21 double on the season. Hodges also hit a walk-off home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the ninth to give the Aeros an 8-7 win against Erie. On the season, Hodges is now batting .301/.373/.464 through 103 games.

Prospect Nuggets

Harrisburg (Nationals) roughed up Reading righthander Carlos Carrasco (Phillies) for six runs in 5 2/3 innings. Carrasco did strike out seven batters, but he also walked four and allowed five hits, two of which were home runs … Bowie righthander Brad Bergesen won’t blow hitters away with strikeout stuff, but the 22-year-old throws a two-seamer with good sink that has helped keep his ERA down at 2.68 in 117 1/3 innings with a groundball-friendly 1.55-to-1 groundout-to-air out ratio with Bowie. Yesterday was Bergesen’s best game of the year: a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts, no walks, one hit by pitch and six hits.

[...] Continue Reading »

The best Double-A action yesterday was in the Texas League, where Aaron Cunningham, Dexter Fowler and Kila Ka’aihue all had big games.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

The Athletics have improved their farm system substantially in the past season, adding top prospects like Brett Anderson, Adrian Cardenas, Gio Gonzalez and Michel Inoa. Of course, a team should improve its farm system dramatically when it trades the contracts of Dan Haren, Nick Swisher and Joe Blanton. One of the players the A’s added in the last year was outfielder Aaron Cunningham, who came to Oakland along with Anderson in the deal that sent Haren to the Diamondbacks. While it’s easy to get lost in the system the A’s have now, Cunningham made plenty of noise yesterday for Midland, going 4-for-6 with two home runs and a double, giving him 11 homers on the season. Cunningham, who is now batting .315/.384/.500 in 308 at-bats while splitting time between center and left field, last had a multi-homer game in 2006 while playing for low Class A Kannapolis as a White Sox farmhand. [...] Continue Reading »

Athletics righthander James Simmons showed his pinpoint accuracy, Phillies shortstop Jason Donald reached base four times and Mets lefty Jon Niese shut down Erie in yesterday’s Double-A action.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

The Athletics love players who command the strike zone, and that’s what Midland righthander James Simmons does as well as anyone. Simmons struck out eight and walked just one against Frisco yesterday in eight innings. Simmons allowed three runs, though none of them was earned. Simmons left after throwing 104 pitches, 77 of which were strikes.

Prospect Nuggets

Rockies center fielder Dexter Fowler continued with his knack for getting on base, going 2-for-4 with a walk … It’s been a difficult season for Springfield righthander Adam Ottavino, but the Cardinals farmhand dealt last night: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO.

What To Watch For Today

Frisco’s (Rangers) offense will try to rebound against San Antonio (Padres).

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

It’s been a tremendous year for shortstop Jason Donald (Phillies), who will soon leave Reading to join Team USA for its Olympic run. Yesterday Donald went 2-for-4, drew two walks and hit his fourth triple of the season.

[...] Continue Reading »

The of the best pitching prospects in baseball showed why they are held in such high regard, Carlos Carrasco impressed an opposing manager and Brandon Allen continued to destroy Southern League pitching since his recent promotion.

TEXAS LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Dan Haren is pitching well for the Diamondbacks, but trading Haren may end up bringing back plenty in return for Oakland. Lefthander Brett Anderson, one of the players the Athletics netted in return for Haren, has emerged as one of the game’s best prospects with his advanced command and three quality pitches. Yesterday Anderson had eight strikeouts and two walks in seven innings for Midland, limiting Frisco to three runs (two earned). Through five starts with Midland since his promotion from high Class A Stockton, Anderson now has a 29-8 K-BB ratio and a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings. [...] Continue Reading »

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.

[...] Continue Reading »

It was another big night for Fisher Cats prospects, while Cardinals third baseman Allen Craig continued to put up big numbers for Springfield.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

At 5-foot-11, 245 pounds, New Hampshire right fielder Travis Snider (Blue Jays) isn’t the fastest runner. But when he has a game like the one he had yesterday, speed is irrelevant. Snider drew four walks yesterday against Trenton and slugged a home run, giving the 20-year-old Snider 15 home runs on the season for the Fisher Cats.

Prospect Nuggets

Second baseman Scott Campbell, Snider’s New Hampshire teammate, has been on a torrid streak since playing in the EL all-star game. After blasting two homers on Sunday, Campbell followed that up yesterday by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two walks … Connecticut catcher Pablo Sandoval (Giants) is adjusting well to Double-A. Sandoval went 2-for-4 with a double yesterday, raising his Double-A slash stats to .337/.364/.547 in 95 at-bats … New Britain righthander Jeff Manship (Twins) held Reading to two runs (one earned) in six innings, striking out four with just one walk.

[...] Continue Reading »

Scott Campbell and J.P. Arencibia launched balls out of the park in New Hampshire, while Allen Craig and Aaron Cunningham had big nights in the Texas League.

EASTERN LEAGUE

Prospect Of The Day

Less than a week after Travis Snider put on a show for the hometown fans in Manchester at the Eastern League All-Star game, his Fisher Cats teammates continued to launch balls out of their home park. Yesterday it was second baseman Scott Campbell (2-for-5 with two home runs) and catcher J.P. Arencibia (2-for-3 with two home runs as the DH) doing the damage and sharing EL Prospect Of The Day honors. Campbell, 23, is now batting .333/.422/.474 in 321 at-bats, while the 22-year-old Arencibia is at .306/.304/.568 in 111 at-bats (yeah, that’s right—no walks) with the Fisher Cats since his promotion from high Class A Dunedin.

Prospect Nuggets

Harrisburg righthander Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals) struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and just one walk … Bowie righthander Chris Tillman (Orioles) got roughed up at Reading. The 20-year-old surrendered four runs (three earned) in four innings, walked four and struck out three … Reading shortstop and 2008 Olympian Jason Donald (Phillies) did some of the damage against Tillman. Donald, 23, finished 3-for-5 with a walk, though he did commit his 17th error.

What To Watch For Today

Portland lefthander Kris Johnson (Red Sox) takes the ball tonight at home against Connecticut (Giants).

[...] Continue Reading »

Eastern League

Prospect of the Day

Trenton center fielder Austin Jackson (Yankees) stepped to the plate five times on Thursday and reached base all five times. Two singles, two doubles and a walk improved his numbers to .290/.368/.444. He also scored twice and knocked in a run. An eighth-round draft pick out of high school in 2005, Jackson is the best athlete in the Yankees system. After slow progress in his first couple years as a professional, Jackson gained some momentum last year and began to move through the system.

Prospect Nuggets

Two Binghamton prospects had a good day at the plate. Third baseman Emmanuel Garcia and second baseman Danny Murphy (Mets) each had multi-hit games that included a double. . . Bowie right fielder Nolan Reimold (Orioles) went yard for the 16th time this season. He was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. . . New Hampshire lefthander Brett Cecil (Blue Jays) pitched three innings Thursday. He gave up a run on five hits, but struck out seven. [...] Continue Reading »