Minors: Classification Reports: Double A
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 »
Swing Change Helps Soto's Power Emerge
Aug. 25, 2011
A mechanical tweak has helped Neftali Soto's power emerge. [...] 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Triple-Digits Fastball Transforms Rubby De La Rosa's Career
May. 25, 2011
Rubby de la Rosa's blazing fastball helped his Dodgers career take off. [...] Continue Reading »
Middlebrooks Punted Football To Join Red Sox
May. 17, 2011
Will Middlebrooks passed on a chance to play football at Texas A&M to sign with the Red Sox out of high school. [...] Continue Reading »
Valdespin Emerges After Discipline Issues
Apr. 29, 2011
Jordany Valdespin dropped out of school in the fourth grade to pursue a career in baseball. After a series of discipline issues, he's now on the Mets' 40-man roster. [...] Continue Reading »
McNutt Blossoms Into Late-Round Steal For Cubs
Apr. 5, 2011
Cubs righthander Trey McNutt seems hard to miss given his size and stuff, yet he lasted until the 32nd round in the 2009 draft. Now he's the best pitching prospect in the organization. [...] Continue Reading »
Garcia Impresses Phillies With Strong Work Ethic
Sep. 13, 2010
Harold Garcia is making a name for himself at the plate. [...] Continue Reading »
Angels' Amarista Confirms Stature Isn't Everything
Aug. 24, 2010
Generously listed at 5-foot-8, second baseman Alexi Amarista has managed to stand out in the Angels farm system. [...] Continue Reading »
Gindl Grinds Through Learning Experience
Aug. 10, 2010
Since the day he was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, Caleb Gindl has been known as a "grinder," a player who goes out and competes hard every day, giving his all.
Never has that trait been tested more than this season. [...] Continue Reading »
Spring Lessons Launch Breakout For Laird
Jul. 27, 2010
Brandon Laird spent time learning from big leaguers in spring training, and those lessons have paid off for him this year in Double-A Trenton. [...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Orlando Working To Go From Brazil To Big Leagues
Jul. 15, 2010
There has never been a Brazilian big leaguer before, but Royals outfielder Paulo Orlando is trying to change that. [...] Continue Reading »
Discipline Helps Morris Turn Around His Career
Jun. 30, 2010
On Bryan Morris' official bio, Page 117 of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2010 media guide, one can find these two items that do anything but add up: Under the section labeled "OBTAINED," this 23-year-old righthander is listed as one of four players acquired in the trade that sent Jason Bay to the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers. Under "2009 SEASON," among other items, it reads, "Was on suspended list from Aug. 1-11 for 'unprofessional conduct.' " [...] Continue Reading »
Mariners' Liddi Grew Up With Baseball In Italy
Jun. 15, 2010
Third baseman Alex Liddi is building on his breakout '09 season with the Mariners. [...] Continue Reading »
Sanchez Keeps Leads Safe For Springfield
Jun. 2, 2010
In the past few years, the Double-A Springfield Cardinals have hardly had to worry about the ninth inning. Three lock-down closers have gone on to reach the big leagues, some with notable degrees of success.
These days, the job belongs to Eduardo Sanchez, a Venezuelan righthander whose mid-90s fastball and overwhelming curve have positioned him within striking distance and would appear ideal for an eighth-inning set-up role. [...] Continue Reading »
Blue Jays Score Big With Little Lefty Collins
May. 19, 2010
Blue Jays 5-foot-7 lefthander Tim Collins signed as a nondrafted free agent in 2007. Three years later, Collins is on the cusp of reaching Toronto's big league bullpen. [...] Continue Reading »
Astros Put Lyles In Rare Company With Double-A Assignment
Apr. 20, 2010
Opening the season as a 19-year-old with Double-A Corpus Christi, Jordan Lyles is in rare company. [...] Continue Reading »
Harrisburg Senators Hit Jackpot With New Park
Apr. 9, 2010
As Opening Day approaches, the Harrisburg Senators already have a season to remember. After years of planning, the Double-A franchise finally is unveiling a $45 million overhaul to a ballpark that opened in 1987, when pro baseball returned to City Island after a 35-year absence. [...] Continue Reading »
Retherford Excels After Slipping Through Draft
Sep. 8, 2009
After going undrafted out of Arizona State, C.J. Retherford could have taken an office job at a milling company in the Phoenix area. Instead he signed as a nondrafted free agent with the White Sox and is on the cusp of the big leagues. [...] Continue Reading »
Time Off Helps Drabek Turn Around His Career
Aug. 31, 2009
Surgery was a temporary setback for Kyle Drabek, who has returned to become the Phillies' top pitching prospect [...] Continue Reading »
Castro Reaffirms Astros' Faith In First Pro Season
Aug. 10, 2009
In the Astros' first draft with Ed Wade as general manager and Bobby Heck as scouting director, the organization used the 10th overall selection on Jason Castro, a catcher out of Stanford. They left the more expensive pick, slugger Justin Smoak, on the board, to the dismay of many Houstonians.
And while Smoak has worked his way up to Triple-A in the Rangers' organization, Castro is making Wade's and Heck's first addition to a depleted system look like a solid one.
[...] Continue Reading »
Matusz Breezes Way To Double-A
Jul. 28, 2009
The Orioles are building their farm system with pitching prospects, and lefthander Brian Matusz could end up being the best of the bunch. [...] Continue Reading »
Kiker Conditioned For Major Leagues
Jul. 15, 2009
Not everything has gone easily for Frisco lefthander Kasey Kiker. But Kiker's first Double-A Texas League all-star game was, by all accounts, a breeze. [...] Continue Reading »
Southern League Schooling
Jul. 2, 2009
Chris Heisey never thought he'd get a chance to play pro ball. But in 2006, instead of moving onto a career in teaching, Heisey was selected in the 17th round of the draft. Now, in 2009, he's leading the Southern League in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. [...] Continue Reading »
Powerful Taylor Looks Like Steal Of 2007 Draft
Jun. 23, 2009
Michael Taylor has made an impression everywhere he has played since signing with the Phillies as a fifth-round pick in 2007. [...] Continue Reading »
Indians Expect Rondon To Flourish In Any Role
Jun. 2, 2009
The Indians briefly toyed with the idea of putting Hector Rondon in the bullpen, but the 21-year-old righthander is back in the starting rotation with Double-A Akron. [...] 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 »
Swing Change Helps Soto's Power Emerge
Aug. 25, 2011
A mechanical tweak has helped Neftali Soto's power emerge. [...] 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Triple-Digits Fastball Transforms Rubby De La Rosa's Career
May. 25, 2011
Rubby de la Rosa's blazing fastball helped his Dodgers career take off. [...] Continue Reading »
Middlebrooks Punted Football To Join Red Sox
May. 17, 2011
Will Middlebrooks passed on a chance to play football at Texas A&M to sign with the Red Sox out of high school. [...] Continue Reading »
Valdespin Emerges After Discipline Issues
Apr. 29, 2011
Jordany Valdespin dropped out of school in the fourth grade to pursue a career in baseball. After a series of discipline issues, he's now on the Mets' 40-man roster. [...] Continue Reading »
McNutt Blossoms Into Late-Round Steal For Cubs
Apr. 5, 2011
Cubs righthander Trey McNutt seems hard to miss given his size and stuff, yet he lasted until the 32nd round in the 2009 draft. Now he's the best pitching prospect in the organization. [...] Continue Reading »
Garcia Impresses Phillies With Strong Work Ethic
Sep. 13, 2010
Harold Garcia is making a name for himself at the plate. [...] Continue Reading »
Angels' Amarista Confirms Stature Isn't Everything
Aug. 24, 2010
Generously listed at 5-foot-8, second baseman Alexi Amarista has managed to stand out in the Angels farm system. [...] Continue Reading »
Gindl Grinds Through Learning Experience
Aug. 10, 2010
Since the day he was selected in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, Caleb Gindl has been known as a "grinder," a player who goes out and competes hard every day, giving his all.
Never has that trait been tested more than this season. [...] Continue Reading »
Spring Lessons Launch Breakout For Laird
Jul. 27, 2010
Brandon Laird spent time learning from big leaguers in spring training, and those lessons have paid off for him this year in Double-A Trenton. [...] Continue Reading »
Royals' Orlando Working To Go From Brazil To Big Leagues
Jul. 15, 2010
There has never been a Brazilian big leaguer before, but Royals outfielder Paulo Orlando is trying to change that. [...] Continue Reading »
Discipline Helps Morris Turn Around His Career
Jun. 30, 2010
On Bryan Morris' official bio, Page 117 of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2010 media guide, one can find these two items that do anything but add up: Under the section labeled "OBTAINED," this 23-year-old righthander is listed as one of four players acquired in the trade that sent Jason Bay to the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers. Under "2009 SEASON," among other items, it reads, "Was on suspended list from Aug. 1-11 for 'unprofessional conduct.' " [...] Continue Reading »
Mariners' Liddi Grew Up With Baseball In Italy
Jun. 15, 2010
Third baseman Alex Liddi is building on his breakout '09 season with the Mariners. [...] Continue Reading »
Sanchez Keeps Leads Safe For Springfield
Jun. 2, 2010
In the past few years, the Double-A Springfield Cardinals have hardly had to worry about the ninth inning. Three lock-down closers have gone on to reach the big leagues, some with notable degrees of success.
These days, the job belongs to Eduardo Sanchez, a Venezuelan righthander whose mid-90s fastball and overwhelming curve have positioned him within striking distance and would appear ideal for an eighth-inning set-up role. [...] Continue Reading »
Blue Jays Score Big With Little Lefty Collins
May. 19, 2010
Blue Jays 5-foot-7 lefthander Tim Collins signed as a nondrafted free agent in 2007. Three years later, Collins is on the cusp of reaching Toronto's big league bullpen. [...] Continue Reading »
Astros Put Lyles In Rare Company With Double-A Assignment
Apr. 20, 2010
Opening the season as a 19-year-old with Double-A Corpus Christi, Jordan Lyles is in rare company. [...] Continue Reading »
Harrisburg Senators Hit Jackpot With New Park
Apr. 9, 2010
As Opening Day approaches, the Harrisburg Senators already have a season to remember. After years of planning, the Double-A franchise finally is unveiling a $45 million overhaul to a ballpark that opened in 1987, when pro baseball returned to City Island after a 35-year absence. [...] Continue Reading »
Retherford Excels After Slipping Through Draft
Sep. 8, 2009
After going undrafted out of Arizona State, C.J. Retherford could have taken an office job at a milling company in the Phoenix area. Instead he signed as a nondrafted free agent with the White Sox and is on the cusp of the big leagues. [...] Continue Reading »
Time Off Helps Drabek Turn Around His Career
Aug. 31, 2009
Surgery was a temporary setback for Kyle Drabek, who has returned to become the Phillies' top pitching prospect [...] Continue Reading »
Castro Reaffirms Astros' Faith In First Pro Season
Aug. 10, 2009
In the Astros' first draft with Ed Wade as general manager and Bobby Heck as scouting director, the organization used the 10th overall selection on Jason Castro, a catcher out of Stanford. They left the more expensive pick, slugger Justin Smoak, on the board, to the dismay of many Houstonians.
And while Smoak has worked his way up to Triple-A in the Rangers' organization, Castro is making Wade's and Heck's first addition to a depleted system look like a solid one.
[...] Continue Reading »
Matusz Breezes Way To Double-A
Jul. 28, 2009
The Orioles are building their farm system with pitching prospects, and lefthander Brian Matusz could end up being the best of the bunch. [...] Continue Reading »
Kiker Conditioned For Major Leagues
Jul. 15, 2009
Not everything has gone easily for Frisco lefthander Kasey Kiker. But Kiker's first Double-A Texas League all-star game was, by all accounts, a breeze. [...] Continue Reading »
Southern League Schooling
Jul. 2, 2009
Chris Heisey never thought he'd get a chance to play pro ball. But in 2006, instead of moving onto a career in teaching, Heisey was selected in the 17th round of the draft. Now, in 2009, he's leading the Southern League in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. [...] Continue Reading »
Powerful Taylor Looks Like Steal Of 2007 Draft
Jun. 23, 2009
Michael Taylor has made an impression everywhere he has played since signing with the Phillies as a fifth-round pick in 2007. [...] Continue Reading »
Indians Expect Rondon To Flourish In Any Role
Jun. 2, 2009
The Indians briefly toyed with the idea of putting Hector Rondon in the bullpen, but the 21-year-old righthander is back in the starting rotation with Double-A Akron. [...] Continue Reading »
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