By Chris Kline and Matt Meyers
April 24, 2006

We're implementing the Prospect Hot Sheet every Monday from now on, and trying to shuffle as many names as possible to encapsulate the best of the best over a week-by-week basis. We also want to throw out some special props to Astros outfielder Charlton Jimerson, who is hitting .295/.313/.590 in 78 at-bats at Triple-A Round Rock. We've always been 'Chewdini' fans, and even though he's whiffed 31 times, at least he's swinging it better than he ever has . . . with four homers and 46 total bases for the Express.

And remember, this is not a rewrite of our Top 100 prospects list. This is simply a snapshot of which prospects are currently riding the biggest hot streaks.

If you have any comments, feel free to e-mail Chris Kline or Matt Meyers with your kudos or complaints.

1. Radhames Liz, rhp, Orioles (High Class A Frederick)

One word: cruising. We can't wait until the O's extend Liz's pitch count as the season wears on . . . another start, another 11 K's in five innings. Overall, that's 33 K's and just five walks in 15 innings.

2. Lastings Milledge, of, Mets (Triple-A Norfolk)

Maybe it's the four multi-hit games over his last eight, maybe it's the five extra-base hits, maybe it's the nine walks, but Milledge is proving himself after just a half-season in Double-A.

3. Adam Jones, of, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma)

Coming to life . . . after switching positions (from SS to CF), Jones wowed scouts in the Arizona Fall League with his arm strength in the center of the diamond. Now he's starting to do it with his bat, hitting five bombs last week. He's still struggling against lefties, however, batting .100 (1-for-10) against them.

4. Adam Lind, of, Blue Jays (Double-A New Hampshire)

Power surge, Part II . . . Lind has gone deep in four of his last six games and now has six on the season. He's also hitting for average as well: After hitting just .192 through seven games, Lind has upped his average to .311.

5. Nick Adenhardt, rhp, Angels (Low Class A Cedar Rapids)

Too bad for North Carolina . . . Adenhardt, who committed to UNC before signing with the Angels in the 14th round last year for $710,000, is dominating the Midwest League. The 19-year-old has reeled off three straight wins, has a 24-5 strikeout-walk ratio, and opposing hitters are batting just .165 against him.

6. Matt Kemp, of, Dodgers (Double-A Jacksonville)

More power . . . Kemp found his power stroke this week, ripping three homers, driving in 10 and hitting at a .379 clip. He's also been proving himself able in center field after primarily playing the corner spots last year and strictly right field during the Arizona Fall League.

7. Philip Hughes, rhp, Yankees (High Class A Tampa)

Ridiculous secondary numbers . . . Hughes is off to his best start as a pro with the biggest number being his 24-1 strikeout-walk ratio. He's been uber-efficient with his pitches lately as well, working into the sixth and seventh innings over his last two outings.

8. Kurt Suzuki, c, Athletics (Double-A Midland)

And now he's hitting, too . . . Known as primarily a catch-and-throw guy at Cal State Fullerton, Suzuki is also getting it done with his bat, hitting .364/.478/.509 in 55 at-bats overall. But his skills behind the plate deserve the most notice--Suzuki is throwing out would-be basestealers at a 67 percent clip (8-for-12).

9. Stephen Drew, ss, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Tucson)

Looks like he cares . . . Scouts tend to question Stephen Drew's desire at times, but he had a huge week with a pair of homers and has upped his average from .188 on April 13 to .306. He's currently riding a seven-game hit streak, four of which have been multi-hit games.

10. J.R. Towles, c, Astros (Low Class A Lexington)

Repeating low Class A, and he's 22, but Towles is also leading the minors in hitting at a .474 clip. His defense has also been solid, throwing out 45 percent of runners (5-for-11).

Billy Butler, of, Royals (Double-A Wichita): Five multi-hit games last week

Justin Christian, of, Yankees (Double-A Trenton): minors-best 13-for-13 steals on the season

Ambiorix Concepcion, of, Mets (High Class A St. Lucie): Seven doubles last week

Nelson Cruz, of, Brewers (Triple-A Nashville): Three homers helped raise average to .319

Sean Gallagher, rhp, Cubs (High Class A Dayton): 1 ER in 19 IP, 22 K's, 2 BB

Matt Garza, rhp, Twins (High Class A Fort Myers): 27 K's in his 18 IP

Alex Gordon, 3b, Royals (Double-A Wichita): 11 XBH and five steals to start career

Casey Janssen, rhp, Blue Jays (Triple-A Syracuse): 10 scoreless IP last week; pulled early for possible MLB callup

Chuck Lofgren, lhp, Indians (High Class A Kinston): 3-0; yet to allow more than two runs in a start

Andrew McCutcheon, of, Pirates (Low Class A Hickory): 13-for-28 last week

Jonathan Sanchez, lhp, Giants (Double-A Connecticut): 1 ER, 23 K's in 16 IP after jumping high A

Tony Sipp, lhp, Indians (Double-A Akron): not missing a beat (2-0, 2.25) as a starter

Troy Tulowitzki, ss, Rockies (Double-A Colorado): Three multi-hit games last week

Brandon Wood, ss, Angels (Double-A Arkansas): Seven multi-hit games; 26 K's in 69 ABs though

Ben Zobrist, ss, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi): 11-for-26 on the week after 5-hit weekend

Jake Stevens, rhp, Braves (High Class A Myrtle Beach)

And Braves fans thought righthander Anthony Lerew (with an 11.74 ERA in 15 innings at Triple-A Richmond) was struggling . . . Tied for the minor league lead in losses (0-4), Stevens' secondary numbers are also poor, as he's carrying a 12-15 strikeout-walk ratio with 20 hits allowed in just 16 innings.

Tim Battle, of, Yankees (High Class A Tampa)

Peaking at .094 . . . It doesn't get much worse than Battle so far this season, whose average has dipped to .080 with 22 whiffs in 50 at-bats.

Wes Bankston, 3b, Devil Rays (Double-A Montgomery)

The experiment . . . GM Andrew Friedman called Bankston's move from first to third an "experiment with nothing but upside either way," but this couldn't possibly be what the Rays envisioned--11 errors in 14 games at the hot corner.

Mark Rogers, rhp, Brewers (High Class A Brevard County)

Secondary numbers decent, overall numbers, bad . . . Rogers allowed six runs on eight hits over just 4 1/3 innings in his last start and is now 0-1, 9.88 and has allowed 23 hits in 14 innings. He does have 20 strikeouts, though.

Pick your Marlin: Brad McCann, 1b or J.T. Restko, of (High Class A Jupiter)

McCann started off slow last year, but tore up the low Class A South Atlantic League the rest of the way. But he's had trouble getting out of the gate again this season, hitting just .167 with 16 strikeouts in 66 at-bats. He's especially struggling against lefthanders, hitting .091. Restko is a near mirror image, hitting .170 with 15 strikeouts in 47 at-bats.

Mike Stodolka, 1b, Royals (High Class A High Desert)

A first-round pick as a pitcher in 2000, Stodolka struggled on the mound, going 20-39, 4.93 in 492 innings over six seasons. He never pitched above Double-A, so the Royals converted him to a corner infielder and have gotten big results so far. Stodolka is leading the Cal League in hitting at a .419 clip and 13 of his 18 hits have been for extra bases, leading to a hefty .791 on-base percentage.

Mark Lowe, rhp, Mariners (High Class A Inland Empire)

The Mariners system is thin on pitching prospects, meaning Lowe could move quickly. He's been using his mid-90s fastball to dominate out of a middle relief role with the 66ers, allowing one run over 16 innings while striking out 26.