Minors: Classification Reports

After Trades, Sebastian Valle Is Clearly Phillies' Catcher Of The Future
Sep. 12, 2011
After trading away Lou Marson and Travis d'Arnaud, Sebastian Valle is the Phillies' top remaining catcher of the future. [...] Continue Reading »

Yankees' Mason Williams Stands Out In Star-Studded Crowd
Sep. 12, 2011
The Staten Island Yankees roster is packed with notable prospects. Lefthander Evan DeLuca and righthander Bryan Mitchell, both drafted in 2009, received large overslot bonuses for their services. The Yankees' top two picks in 2010, Cito Culver and Angelo Gumbs, currently comprise the middle infield for the Baby Bombers. Yet no one's star has shined brighter than that of Mason Williams, who has made a name for himself this season roaming center field in Richmond County Bank Park. [...] Continue Reading »

Strikeouts Pile Up For Giants' Surkamp
Sep. 6, 2011
Eric Surkamp spent two months knifing through hitters in the Eastern League when Giants vice president and resident pitching guru Dick Tidrow paid him a visit at Double-A Richmond. [...] Continue Reading »

Rangers' Profar Proves Wise, And Talented, Beyond Years
Sep. 6, 2011
If nothing else, Jurickson Profar is a quick study. Take his first at-bat at this year's Futures Game in Phoenix as a shining example. [...] Continue Reading »

Brewers' Peralta Refines Pitchability In High Minors
Sep. 2, 2011
The Brewers retain club control of the five pitchers who comprise their current rotation through 2012. What that means for top pitching prospect Wily Peralta remains to be seen, but in 11 starts in July and August, he went 6-1, 1.76 with 75 strikeouts in 72 innings. [...] Continue Reading »

Third Pitch The Charm For Padres' Sampson
Aug. 30, 2011
Much has been made of the Padres' recent trade deadline acquisitions of Robbie Erlin and Jon Wieland to go with the offseason pickup of Casey Kelly from the Red Sox. But the best pitcher in the organization this year may be Fort Wayne righthander Keyvius Sampson. [...] Continue Reading »

Blue Jays's Nicolino Is On The Fast Track
Aug. 29, 2011
Justin Nicolino quickly played his way out of the Northwest League. [...] Continue Reading »

Swing Change Helps Soto's Power Emerge
Aug. 25, 2011
A mechanical tweak has helped Neftali Soto's power emerge. [...] Continue Reading »

Fuentes' Offense Is Trying To Catch Up To His Glove
Aug. 23, 2011
Reymond Fuentes' offense is trying to catch up to his speed and defense. [...] Continue Reading »

Yankees Push Banuelos To Finish Strong At Triple-A
Aug. 18, 2011
Manny Banuelos throws three quality pitches, but the Yankees are more excited by the 20-year-old lefty's desire to learn. [...] Continue Reading »

Giants' Chuckie Jones Still Trying To Get Started
Aug. 17, 2011
Giants outfielder Chuckie Jones is trying to get back into a groove. [...] Continue Reading »

Barrett Loux Happy To Get Chance To Prove He's Healthy
Aug. 17, 2011
Last summer, all righthander Barret Loux could do was watch, as his dream of playing professional baseball crumbled in front of him. [...] Continue Reading »

Familiarity Breeds Success For Young Lugnuts
Aug. 11, 2011
By all accounts, minor league clubhouses aren't breeding grounds for friendships or a hotbed for camaraderie. But this year's Lansing Lugnuts have found a way to make and maintain close relationships, citing chemistry as the reason for their success. [...] Continue Reading »

Angels' Garrett Richards Notable For Durability And Velocity
Aug. 9, 2011
Garrett Richards has always had a great fastball, but better secondary pitches and an emphasis on durability has paid off for the Angels' prospect. [...] Continue Reading »

Lavarnway Wants To Be Known As A Catcher, Too
Aug. 5, 2011
Triple-A Pawtucket's Ryan Lavarnway has sold observers on his bat; now the Red Sox farmhand wants to convince them he can catch at the big league level. [...] Continue Reading »

Red Sox's Brandon Jacobs Finds A Home On The Diamond
Aug. 2, 2011
These days, Brandon Jacobs is one of the leading hitters in the low Class A South Atlantic League. Yet there was a time not so long ago when baseball wasn't Jacobs' main sport. Or his second sport. [...] Continue Reading »

Health In Check, Chiang Breaks Out For Red Sox
Jul. 27, 2011
After learning to manage both his health and his plate appearances, Red Sox outfielder Chih-Hsieh Chiang is having a breakout season for Double-A Portland. [...] Continue Reading »

Hitting Looks Like Right Decision For Kaleb Cowart
Jul. 26, 2011
Kaleb Cowart is reassuring the Angels that they made the right decision by making him a hitter instead of a pitcher. [...] Continue Reading »

Modesto's Chad Bettis Finds Success In New Role
Jul. 26, 2011
In the annual all-star showdown between the California and Carolina leagues, Modesto righthander Chad Bettis entered the game in the ninth inning and faced just two batters. Even in that brief appearance, however, he managed to record a strikeout, something he has made a habit out of this season. [...] Continue Reading »

Mature Manner Heralds Mike Montgomery's Turnaround
Jul. 21, 2011
Royals lefty Mike Montgomery's season turned around when he stopped trying to 'out-stuff' Triple-A batters. [...] Continue Reading »

Despite Small Stature, Altuve Grows On Astros
Jul. 14, 2011
When Jose Altuve arrived in the California League last summer, he roamed about the Lancaster clubhouse like an excited young boy. Some thought he was, standing at 5-foot-7.

It was then clarified he was the Astros' high class A affiliate's new second baseman, fresh off a late-season promotion from low Class A. [...] Continue Reading »

Triple-A All-Star Notes On Robinson, Brown, Milone
Jul. 14, 2011
Bubba Brown caught up with three Triple-A all-stars who are enjoying breakout seasons. [...] Continue Reading »

Mesoraco Rewards Reds With Late Development
Jul. 11, 2011
The Reds' Devin Mesoraco continues to learn the finer points of catching as he slugs Triple-A pitching.
[...] Continue Reading »

Brewers' Miller Tries To Put It All Together
Jul. 8, 2011
With a last name synonymous with Milwaukee, Matt Miller felt right at home as he took in the moment and soaked up all the sights and sounds at Miller Park before his team took on Peoria at the big league park on June 29. Miller was, indeed, living the high life. [...] Continue Reading »

Late Start Doesn't Slow Down Nationals' Solis
Jun. 29, 2011
Sammy Solis' supposed first full professional season didn't start until May 30 with Hagerstown. Still, the 2010 second-round pick of the Nationals wasn't wasting any time. [...] Continue Reading »

Slimmer Kyle Blanks Aspires To Roam Petco's Pastures
Jun. 23, 2011
Kyle Blanks returned from Tommy John surgery this season eager to prove he fits in left field for the Padres. [...] Continue Reading »

Indians Reap Rewards From Focus On Taiwan
Jun. 20, 2011
A pair of prospects with Double-A Akron reflect the Indians' commitment to scouting Taiwan and other areas of the Pacific Rim. [...] Continue Reading »

International Emphasis Pays Off For Mariners
Jun. 17, 2011
Vicente Campos, Phillips Castillo and Esteilon Peguero are just a few of the new wave of international prospects ready to make their U.S. debuts for the Mariners this summer. [...] Continue Reading »

Angels' Tillman Getting Chance To Shine
Jun. 10, 2011
Daniel Tillman never imagined he would have a shot at being drafted while playing Division II baseball. He really had no reason to think it was possible. [...] Continue Reading »

Indy Outfielder Presley May Be Pirates' Buried Treasure
Jun. 9, 2011
A career .313 hitter at the Triple-A level, Alex Presley has improved his secondary skills, such as power, defense and basestealing efficiency, with Indianapolis this season. [...] Continue Reading »