Archive for the ‘Minor League Report’ Category

The Minor League Report – Week 14

Posted by Todd Lammi on July 6th, 2010

Here is a look at the latest news and notes from around the minor leagues from a fantasy baseball perspective in the week 14 minor league report.

Kyle Drabek had been somewhat of a forgotten man down in Double-A for the Toronto Blue Jays until he threw a no-hitter the Fourth of July. With a 3.20 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 107 innings, it was thought he would have been moved up to Triple-A already this year. He has held opposing hitters to a .219 average but still has some work to do on his control with 45 walks on the season.

Making the move up to Triple-A last week was outfielder Lorenzo Cain of the Milwaukee Brewers. He was supposed to be reach this level in 2009 but suffered a hamstring injury along with torn knee ligaments that forced him to miss a good portion of the season. Instead of contending for a starting job this season for Milwaukee, he will have to wait until 2011 for his shot in center field. Cain is hitting .320 on the season with three home runs and 21 stolen bases in 253 at bats.

Desmond Jennings has been making up for lost time in Triple-A, hitting .353 for the month of June with 28 runs scored, 15 RBI and eight stolen bases. He is someone worth stashing for the second half of the season in a one-year league if your team is in need of stolen bases. Tampa Bay should be able to fond a place for him in the line up the second half of the year.

Freddie Freeman continues to plug away in Triple-A for the Atlanta Braves as he works toward getting ready to claim the first base job in 2011. Freeman is currently hitting .288 on the season with 10 home runs and 47 RBI. He has hit .375 over his last 10 games with four home runs and two stolen bases.

If there was ever someone in need of a promotion, look no further than third basemen Mike Moustakas down in Double-A for the Kansas City Royals. Moustakas is hitting .358 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI in only 63 games. With solid plate discipline as evidenced by his 15 walks and 39 strikeouts, there is nothing left for him to show at that level.

Outfielder Jerry Sands of the Los Angeles Dodgers was promoted to Double-A this past week after feasting on Single-A pitching. Sands hit .333 in 243 at bats with 18 home runs and 46 RBI to go with 14 stolen bases. A 25th round pick in the 2008 draft, Sands has started to come on strong after struggling in his first season when he hit just .205 in 46 games.

Also seeing a move up to Double-A was outfielder Brett Jackson of the Chicago Cubs. Jackson hit .316 in 263 at bats with six home runs and 38 RBI coupled with 12 stolen bases. A first round pick in the 2009 draft, Jackson will be appearing in the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 11.

Speaking of the Futures Game, a couple of changes to the rosters based on promotions and injuries, for the US Team, catcher Hank Conger will replace Tony Sanchez (injury) and pitcher Zack Wheeler will replace Andy Oliver who was recently promoted by the Detroit Tigers.

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The Minor League Report – Week 13

Posted by Todd Lammi on July 1st, 2010

With all of the promotions so far this season, arguably the current number one prospect in the minor leagues, Domonic Brown of the Philadelphia Phillies was promoted to Triple-A this past week. Brown hit .318 in 236 at bats with 15 home runs, 47 RBI and 12 stolen bases. He is definitely a top target for 2011 with Jason Werth a free agent.

Zachary Britton of the Baltimore Orioles in on his way up to Triple-A. Britton was 7-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 87 innings with 68 strikeouts. A third round pick in the 2006 draft, Britton has allowed only four home runs this year while holding opposing hitters to a .231 batting average.

Also moving up to Triple-A this week was Mike Minor of the Atlanta Braves. Minor finished Double-A with a 4.03 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 87 innings. With the depth of the Braves rotation, it looks like he might not have a chance this year but is a good candidate for the 2011 rotation.

Dynasty owners should be watching the transaction wire over the next month for the name Jarred Cosart. If the Philadelphia Phillies make a trade for a front line pitcher, Cosart figures to be at the center piece of a deal and could move quickly depending on what organization he goes to. Currently in Single-A, Cosart is 7-3 with a 3.79 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings.

Jordan Lyles continues to hold his own as a teenager in Double-A for the Houston Astros, posting a 6-5 mark with a 2.60 ERA to go along with 85 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings. He has surrendered seven home runs while opposing hitters are batting .246 against him.

Simon Castro continues to thrive in Double-A for the San Diego Padres, sitting with a 2.69 ERA in 80 1/3 innings with 71 strikeouts. He has allowed only 59 hits with four home runs and should be looking at a promotion in the near future.

Carlos Peguero of the Seattle Mariners might offer the team a power hitting outfielder solution in the near future assuming he can improve his plate discipline. Peguero is hitting .293 in Double-A with 15 home runs and 46 RBI with five stolen bases.

Trystan Magnuson could provide the Toronto Blue Jays with a closer option in the near future. A first round pick in the 2007 draft, Magnsuon was moved to the bullpen after struggling as a starter in his first season. Since then, he has been a much better pitcher in relief and currently has a 2.30 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 43 innings in Double-A.

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The Minor League Report – Week 12

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 23rd, 2010

If you are looking for a great showcase to get a look at some of the top talent in the minor leagues, check out the All-Star Futures Game on July 11th. The rosters were announced today, here is a look at the USA and the World teams.

USA

Pitchers:

Zach Britton – BAL – AA
Jarred Cosart – PHI – A
Christian Friedrich – COL – AA
Jeremy Hellickson – TB – AAA
Dan Hudson – CHW – AAA
Jordan Lyles – HOU – AA
Shelby Miller – STL – A
Mike Minor – ATL – AA
Andy Oliver – DET – AA
Tanner Scheppers – TEX – AAA

Catchers:

Austin Romine – NYY – AA
Tony Sanchez – PIT – High A

Infielders:

Lonnie Chisenhall – CLE – AA
Drew Cumberland – SD – High A
Danny Espinosa – WAS – AA
Dee Gordon – LAD – AA
Grant Green – OAK – High A
Eric Hosmer – KC – High A
Logan Morrison – FLA – AAA
Mike Moustakas – KC – AA

Outfielders:

Domonic Brown – PHI – AA
Brett Jackson – CHC – High A
Desmond Jennings – TB – AAA
Ben Revere – MIN – AA
Mike Trout – LAA – A

WORLD

Pitchers:

Henderson Alvarez – TOR – High A
Simon Castro – SD – AA
Jeurys Familia – NYM – High A
Liam Hendriks – MIN – High A
Trystan Magnuson – TOR – AA
Hector Noesi – NYY – AA
Stolmy Pimentel – BOS – High A
Eduardo Sanchez – STL – AA
Julio Teheran – ATL – High A
Phillippe Valiquette – CIN – AAA

Catchers:

Chun-Hsiu Chen – CLE – A
Wilin Rosario – COL – AA

Infielders:

Yonder Alonso – CIN – AAA
Pedro Baez – LAD – High A
Pedro Ciriaco – ARI – AAA
Luis Jimenez – LAA – High A
Brett Lawrie – MIL – AA
Hak-Ju Lee – CHC – A
Alex Liddi – SEA – AA
Osvaldo Martinez – FLA – AA

Outfielders:

Gorkys Hernandez – PIT – AA
Carlos Peguero – SEA – AA
Francisco Peguero – SF – A+
Eury Perez – WAS – A
Wilkin – DET – AAA

The top pitching prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization, Michael Pineda was promoted to Triple-A this week. Pineda was 8-1 in Double-A with a 2.22 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 78 strikeouts in 77 innings. If Cliff Lee is traded next month, Pineda could possibly see some time in the Mariners rotation this year.

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The Minor League Report – Week 11

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 16th, 2010

Pedro Alvarez became the latest top prospect in the minor leagues to be promoted when he was recalled by the Pittsburgh Pirates today. Alvarez started at third base and hit 6th, going o-for 2 with a walk and a strikeout against the Chicago White Sox. Alvarez was hitting .277 in Triple-A with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in 242 at bats. As much talk as there was about him learning to hit southpaws, he was hitting .323 against them in 62 at bats.

His number one issue that he will encounter in the major leagues will be his plate discipline and his strikeouts rate. His strikeout rate of 28% is somewhat high so his average will likely fluctuate some from year-to-year based on luck, but he will be a solid producer in home runs and RBI for years to come.

With the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox closing in on the Tampa Bay Rays and Wade Davis struggling, there is a good chance we will see Jeremy Hellickson some time in the second half. Hellickson is 8-2 in Triple-A with a 2.42 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 84 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings. He has worked scoreless outings in four of his last seven starts and has allowed only three home runs on the season.

With Jake Peavy struggling with injuries for the Chicago White Sox, Dan Hudson may be getting a call up soon to fill a role in the rotation. He has continued his strong run from May into June, where in three starts this month he has a 2.00 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 18 innings while holding hitters to a .175 batting average.

Third basemen Dayan Viciedo of the Chicago White Sox still has some work to do on his plate discipline before he is ready for a promotion to the major leagues. Viciedo is hitting .288 with 13 home runs and 31 RBI in 233 at bats to go along with only eight walks and 52 strikeouts.

First basemen Chris Carter of the Oakland A’s has struggled for most of the year with hi batting average, which currently stands at .249. In 233 at bats, Carter has 15 home runs and 47 RBI. Like most young power hitters, he needs to work on making contact as a 30% strikeout rate is going to make it hard to maintain a good batting average in the major leagues.

Jay Jackson of the Chicago Cubs started the season in the rotation in Triple-A, switched to relief for a short time as the club got him ready in case they needed bullpen help, but he has now gone back into the rotation. For the season, Jackson has a 2.90 ERA with a .98 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings.

If the San Diego Padres trade Heath Bell at some point, Triple-A closer Ernesto Frieri could be in the mix for saves down the line. Frieri moved to closer in 2010 after being in the starting rotation  in 2009 and part of 2008. Frieri has a 2.00 ERA and a .93 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 27 innings while holding hitters to a .122 average.

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The Minor League Report – Week 10

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 9th, 2010

For fantasy baseball owners that have been holding onto minor league players on their reserve in order to get a mid-season boost to their teams, their patience is about to pay off. This week marked the debut of Stephen Strasburg and Mike Stanton on Tuesday with Brad Lincoln and Jose Tabata getting called up today by Pittsburgh and pitcher Jake Arrieta expected to arrive tomorrow to start against the New York Yankees.

Lincoln was 6-2 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in 68 1/3 innings with 55 strikeouts. It has been a long journey to the major leagues for Lincoln who was the fourth overall pick in the 2006 draft and then missed the entire 2007 season following Tommy John surgery in April of that year. Lincoln got the start against Cincinnati on Wednesday night and allowed five runs on six innings with three strikeouts.

Jose Tabata was also promoted today and started in left field and hit lead off for Pittsburgh, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Tabata was hitting .308 in 224 at bats with three home runs, 19 RBI and 25 stolen bases. He has already stolen more bases so far this year than in any other season in the minor leagues with a high of 22 occurring back in 2005. He show far has not shown the ability to hit for power, but if your team is in need of stolen bases, he could be a good addition to your fantasy baseball team.

The one name missing from the list of Pittsburgh promotions was third basemen Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez started off slow in April and has been working to improve his plate discipline and performance against left-handed pitching. He was much better in May with a .294 batting average and six home runs and 30 RBI in 102 at bats. He is hitting .417 over his last 10 games and I would expect to see him promoted by the end of the month.

It looks like the Minnesota Twins might have a Denard Span clone in Double-A in the form of Ben Revere. Revere is hitting .303 with one home run, 16 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 208 at bats. A first round pick in 2007, Revere has hit over .300 at four different levels while stealing over 40 bases in both 2008 and 2009.

Outfielder Ryan Kalish was promoted to Triple-A by the Boston Red Sox after hitting .293 with eight home runs, 29 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 150 at bats. Even more impressive was his plate discipline with 28 walks against only 21 strikeouts at the age of 22.

Pitcher Michael Pineda of the Seattle Mariners is off to a great start in Double-A with a 2.10 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 64 1/3 innings with 70 strikeouts. He still has some work to do against left-handed hitters who are hitting .286 against him compared to right-handed batters hitting only .161 before he moves up to the next level.

Second basemen Reese Havens has New York Met fans dreaming about about an infield of David Wright, Jose Reyes, Havens and Ike Davis around the diamond in 2011. Havens, a first-round pick in the 2008 draft is hitting .344 since being promoted to Double-A with six home runs and 12 RBI in 61 at bats.

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The Minor League Report – Week 9

Posted by Todd Lammi on June 2nd, 2010

Hopefully if you have been reading previous articles, you have been rostering select minor league players to your reserve spots on your fantasy baseball team in preparation of June when we should start seeing more call ups from the minor leagues.  While you should know almost all of the names on the list below, in case you have been busy this summer, here is a look at the next wave of players that should be coming up.

1) Stephen Strasburg (WAS) – not much to say about him as he as lived up to the hype. Is expected to get his first major league start on June 8th. It looks like the Washington Nationals are going to limit him to around 100 innings or so in the minor leagues. The only number that is potentially impacted is his win total. For example, if he were to theoretically throw 11 complete games, then he hits the mark and is done in August. If he say averages 6 innings per start, then he would get roughly 16 starts the rest of the way which would give him a chance for five additional wins. His minor league numbers to date show a 1.43 ERA with a .79 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings with a .157 batting average against.

2) Carlos Santana (CLE) – There has been very little chatter out of Cleveland as to when Santana may be recalled but with only Lou Marson in front of him, it should be any day now. Santana is hitting .316 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI in 51 games. He has also walked 42 times and struck out 34 which is pretty incredible for a switch-hitting 24-year-old. On top of that, he has also stolen six bases without being caught.

3) Mike Stanton (FLO) – it seems like every day there is news on when Stanton is coming to the major leagues. While the power is legit, there are still questions I have with a strikeout rate of 28% in Double-A. Jumping Triple-A to the majors gives me concern for his batting average, but not his power numbers. He is not going to steal any bases so home runs and RBI is what he is bringing to the table. Stanton is currently hitting .300 with 20 home runs and 50 RBI in 49 games.

4) Aroldis Chapman (CIN) – Chapman has run off three solid starts in a row after struggling in mid-May. He now sports a 3.42 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP with 60 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. His control and pitch counts are what is keeping him in the minor leagues and with the Cincinnati Reds rotation pitching decent and the team winning there is no need to rush him despite the talent he possesses. I think with another few starts like his last three in succession though would make it easier for the team to promote him with some momentum.

5) Madison Bumgarner (SF) – it looked like Bumgarner was getting close to a call up but the San Francisco Giants have stuck with Todd Wellemeyer as the 5th starter and he has come up with two solid starts in a row. Bumgarner is pitching tonight in Triple-A and has run off 25 1/3 scoreless innings. His season numbers stand at a 2.04 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings. With Brian Sabean taking forever to promote Buster Posey and his love of veteran players, Bumgarner might be down on the farm a little longer than he should be.

6) Jake Arrieta (BAL) – there are many holes in the Baltimore rotation so he could be called up at any point this season. He has a 1.91 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP to go along with 60 strikeouts in 66 innings. He has improved his control in his last three starts with two walks per start so he is getting closer to getting the call up. He has also held opposing hitters to a .183 batting average so far this season.

7) Brett Wallace (TOR) – with Lyle Overbay starting to hit a little bit and the Blue Jays banging out home runs every night, there has not been much of a swell of support for Wallace despite his performance in Triple-A. Wallace is hitting .282 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI  in 209 at bats. He still needs a little bit of work on his plate discipline, but he could be called up at anytime and up some decent numbers for your team.

8) Desmond Jennings (TB) – Jennings may have been higher on the list had he not suffered through several injuries to start the season. As it is, with Tampa Bay rolling and the versatility of so many players on the major league team, it is easier to give him more at bats in Triple-A and let him get in a groove which he has yet to find so far this season. Jennings is hitting .248 with 12 stolen bases in 101 at bats.

9) Dan Hudson (CHW) – every time it seems like Freddy Garcia is on the verge of getting bounced from the rotation, he goes out and throws a gem, leaving Hudson to work more in Triple-A. Outside of a bad April, Hudson has turned it around with a solid May, going 4-0 with a 2.43 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, including 44 strikeouts in 37 innings.

10) Tanner Scheppers (TEX) – not sure how much of a fantasy impact he will have as a set up pitcher, but with all of the volatility we have seen this season at the closer position, you can never go wrong with a power arm in the bullpen. Scheppers has pitched in relief at two levels this year and has a 1.00 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 27 innings. He could serve a set up role for the Texas Rangers the second half of the season.

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The Minor League Report – Week 8

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 25th, 2010

Baltimore announced that starting pitcher Chris Tillman will replace David Hernandez in the bullpen starting on Saturday against Toronto. I was hoping to see Jake Arrieta get a shot at the spot, but it looks like Tillman will have the first crack at it. Tillman had a 3.12 ERA in Triple-A with a 1.16 WHIP ratio and 47 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings. His batting average against was higher tan what you would like to see for a Triple-A starter at .250.

Arrieta on the other hand at the same level has a 1.86 ERA to go along with a 1.14 WHIP ratio and 55 strikeouts in 63 innings. He is holding hitters to a measly .181 batting average which is almost 70 points lower than that of Tillman. He still needs to harness his control as evidenced by his 4.6 walks per nine innings. He has worked scoreless outings in four of his 10 starts so far this season.

Jeremy Hellickson continues to carve up Triple-A hitters and sits ready for a call up to Tampa Bay. Hellickson tossed a one-hit gem on Monday with eight shutout innings and five strikeouts. He has a 2.79 ERA after 10 starts with a 1.22 WHIP ratio and 60 strikeouts in 58 innings. He has allowed more than three runs in only one start so far this year.

If you break down the numbers of Daniel Hudson in Triple-A it has been really a tale of two different months. He was bombed in April to the tune of a 9.37 ERA with six home runs allowed in 16 1/3 innings. He has completely righted the ship in May and gotten back on track with a 1.97 ERA in five starts with 41 strikeouts in 32 innings. The man ahead of him in the major leagues, Freddy Garcia has been inconsistent with a 5.68 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. With the Chicago White Sox struggling and possible changes around the corner, Hudson should be seeing his ticket punched to the majors early this summer.

Desmond Jennings has returned to action in Triple-A after missing time the first part of the season with various injuries. He has not shown much power in three weeks of at bats, but his speed has been on display. Jennings is hitting .260 with no home runs, five RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Mike Moustakas is punishing Double-A pitching and could be looking at a bump up to Triple-A very shortly. Moustakas is hitting .390 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI with 17 walks against only 18 strikeouts in 118 at bats. He could finally be the long term solution the Kansas City Royals are looking for at third base.

Lars Anderson was promoted to Triple-A several weeks ago by the Boston Red Sox and has slowed down at the plate after a scorching start at Double-A. Anderson is hitting .243 in 70 at bats in Triple-A with two home runs and nine RBI. His overall numbers have him with a .295 average, seven home runs and 25 RBI on the season.

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The Minor League Report – Week 7

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 18th, 2010

There is good news for San Francisco Giants fans as Madison Bumgarner seems to have right his ship in Triple-A. After reports of a drop in velocity in spring training and in the regular season, it was determined that the loss of speed was not an injury but mechanical issues with his delivery. With the appropriate changes made and the addition of a cutter, Bumgarner has been back on track. His overall numbers have rebounded from his first two Triple-A starts in which he allowed 11 runs in seven innings. After eight starts, Bumgarner now has a 3.64 ERA and has racked up 32 strikeouts in 42 innings, including eight in his last start. With 5th starter Todd Wellemeyer sporting a 5.25 ERA and 1,42 WHIP, it is only a matter of time before Bumgarner is in the major leagues if can string together another few successful starts in the minors.

If you are in a one year league and you still are carrying Aroldis Chapman on reserve, it is getting toward crunch time for how much longer you can carry him. I dropped him in my 15-team mixed league this past weekend in order to grab another starter. Chapman has been hit hard in two of his last three starts, allowing 15 runs in 14 innings. Yes, he does throw hard and can rack up strikeouts, but his lack of control (21 walks in 35 innings) means he won’t be lasting too long in games if he was called up to the major leagues.

Jay Jackson looked like he was going to be first in line in Triple-A to fill a spot in the Chicago Cubs rotation. Instead, with relief pitching hard to come by and the failure of the Carlos Zambrano experiment, Jackson has been shifted to the bullpen which kills his value for 2010 if he remains in that role.

Kyle Gibson of the Minnesota Twins was promoted to Double-A last week and sparkled in his debut, tossing 7 1/3 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. Gibson was the Twins first round pick in 2009 and has a 1.60 ERA through eight starts with 50 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings.

Yonder Alonso was promoted to Triple-A by the Cincinnati Reds despite having less than stellar stats in AA. Alonso was hitting .267 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 101 at bats. Alonso has seen time at first base and in the outfield since he is blocked in the major leagues by Joey Votto.

Kyle Drabek continues to chug along in Double-A with five wins and a 3.06 ERA after eight starts. Drabek has struck out 45 in 47 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .236 batting average.

For those of you in deep dynasty leagues, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels has lived up to his top prospect billing after being a first round pick in 2009. In Single-A, Trout is hitting .372 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 20 stolen bases.

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The Minor League Report – week 6

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 11th, 2010

In week 5, there were several more prospects recalled from the minor leagues, including Starlin Castro of the Chicago Cubs and Michael Saunders by the Seattle Mariners. Some of the promotions from Double-A to Triple-A included Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen (WAS) as well as Andrew Cashner (CHC).

Cashner, with a 2.75 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 36 innings could be facing a similar fate as Jeremy Hellickson of the Tampa Bay Rays. Each pitcher has been dominating in the minor leagues, but with no spots currently open in the major league rotation, there is a very good chance that when they are recalled to the big leagues, they will each be working in relief roles.

I have created a Minor League Tracker spreadsheet that shows all of the year-to-date stats for players that I highlighted in my team-by-team Triple-A minor league reports so you can easily keep an eye on possible players to target on the waiver wire in future weeks.

I have added additional columns that list the rank of the player in the overall top 100 by Baseball America and by Keith Law of ESPN as well as added the major league team names, plus included all Triple-A and Double-A hitters and pitchers that qualify to be among the league leaders so there is a ton of information you can now filter through.

Hitters:

Outfielder Michael Stanton (FLA) continues to lead the way with 15 home runs and 33 RBI through 28 games, although he is striking out in 31% of his at bats. Management is on record that Stanton will be up some time this summer, but if he jumps past Triple-A right to the major leagues, I think he is going to struggle to hit for average with his high ratio of strikeouts.

Third basemen Mike Moustakas (KC) is off to a great start in Double-A, hitting .392 with six home runs and 21 RBI, with only nine strikeouts in 74 at bats.

For all the hype that Carlos Santana (CLE) gets and rightfully so, Buster Posey (SF) is matching him stat for stat in Triple-A. Santana is hitting .314 with five home runs and 25 RBI compared to Posey at .345 with five home runs and 21 RBI.

Pitchers:

Martin Perez (TEX) has a 2.45 ERA in six starts with 29 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings to go along with a 1.44 ERA.

Simon Castro of the San Diego Padres has been holding his own on Double-A with a 2.10 ERA and 1.02 WHIP ratio. Castro has struck out 26 in 34 1/3 innings.

Jordan Lyles (HOU) has been superb in Double-A with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 35 innings with 31 strikeouts. I would expect to see him promoted to Triple-A by the middle of this summer.

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The Minor League Report – Week 4

Posted by Todd Lammi on May 4th, 2010

The call ups continued last week as Wilson Ramos was promoted by the Minnesota Twins from the minor leagues in week 4. Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg received a promotion to Triple-A and while Mike Stanton has been going nuts at the plate, the Florida Marlins are keeping him at Double-A for now.

Stanton is hitting .360 on the season with 13 home runs and 29 RBI, despite striking out in 29% of his at bats. His slugging percentage is currently .884 with an OPS of 1.388 thanks to 25 walks drawn. It is only a matter of time before he is patrolling the outfield for the Marlins.

I have created a Minor League Tracker spreadsheet that shows all of the year-to-date stats for players that I highlighted in my team-by-team Triple-A minor league reports so you can easily keep an eye on possible players to target on the waiver wire in future weeks.

Hitters:

With A.J. Pierzynski struggling at catcher for the Chicago White Sox, keep an eye on Tyler Flowers in Triple-A. Flowers is hitting .284 with four home runs and 21 RBI on the season.

Outfielder Jose Tabata (Pitt.) has shown little power in 2010, but is hitting .340 with 10 RBI and 12 stolen bases. He should become a permanent fixture in the Pirates line up the second half of the season.

Ryan Strieby (Det.) and Desmond Jennings (TB) have both been out of action the past week due to injuries.

Pitchers:

Jeremy Hellickson (TB) carries a 5-0 record in Triple-A with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. With the way the Tampa Bay Rays rotation is going, Hellickson might end up pitching the second half of the season in relief barring an injury to a starter like David Price did in 2008.

Jay Jackson (Cubs) has a 1.50 ERA through six starts with a .90 WHIP ratio. Jackson has struck out 20 in 29 innings while allowing only seven walks.

Jake Arrieta (Balt.) has slowed down a little bit in his last two starts, walking nine in 11 innings with seven strikeouts. Despite those two games, he is still holding opposing hitters to a .165 batting average on the season with a 1.50 ERA.

The Toronto Blue Jays have more young pitchers on the way with Kyle Drabek in Double-A and Brad Mills in Triple-A coming up through the system. Mills has struck out at least six hitters in each of his five starts this season and now has 38 punchouts in 29 2/3 innings on the season to go along with his 3.03 ERA.

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The Minor League Report – week 3

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 26th, 2010

We saw two players get promoted that were part of the minor league report in week 2 with Justin Smoak getting recalled by the Texas Rangers and most recently Eric Young Jr. getting promoted by the Colorado Rockies.

2010 looks like it might be turning into the year of the first basemen with Ike Davis and Justin Smoak already promoted and Brett Wallace, Freddie Freeman and Chris Carter (Oak.) looming as potential call ups later this season.

I have created a Minor League Tracker spreadsheet that shows all of the year-to-date stats for players that I highlighted in my team-by-team Triple-A minor league reports so you can easily keep an eye on possible players to target on the waiver wire in future weeks.

Since we took a look at some of the top players from Triple-A last week, here is a view of some of the top prospects in Double-A.

Hitters:

Shortstop Starlin Castro (Cubs) is making it look easy at the plate in Double-A, hitting .382 with one home run, 15 RBI and four stolen bases. With as well as he played in spring training, it will only be a matter of time until he is up in Triple-A.

Outfielder Domonic Brown (Phi.) is hitting .325 with a home run and five RBI with one stolen base for the Reading Phillies. There is not much chance he sees time with the Phillies this season barring injury, but he should have a shot to open 2011 in the outfield with Jason Werth a free agent after this season.

Outfielder Mike Stanton (Fla.) is hitting .311 for the Jacksonville Suns with six home runs and 13 RBI. While he is still striking out a fair amount with 17 whiffs in 61 at bats, his plate discipline has come a long way in the last two years. Stanton has 16 walks through 16 games and an on base percentage of .462.

First basemen Lars Anderson (Bos.) is trying to regain his top prospect status, after a disappointing season at Double-A last year, a level he is now repeating. Anderson is hitting .328 with five home runs and 16 RBI through 58 at bats.

Shortstop Dee Gordon (LAD) of the Chattanooga Lookouts is hitting .354 with one home run and four RBI to go along with four stolen bases.

Third basemen Lonnie Chisenhall (Clev.) of the Akron Aeros is off to a good start average wise, hitting .358, but with no home runs and five RBI.

It has been a slow go so far for Dustin Ackley (Sea.), the second pick of the 2009 draft. Ackley is hitting just .153 in 59 at bats with two RBI and stolen bases. The only bright spot has been his plate discipline with nine walks against 10 strikeouts.

Pitchers:

Kyle Drabek (Tor.) has a 3.80 ERA through four starts with 20 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. Drabek has allowed two home runs and is holding hitters to a .228 average.

Jordan Lyles (Hous.) of the Corpus Christi Hooks has a 2.30 ERA after three starts with 16 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings. I expect the Houston Astros to be aggressive in promoting him so he should see Triple-A by the second half of the season.

Andrew Cashner (Cubs) has struck out 29 hitters in 24 1/3 innings and has an ERA of 3.33 after four starts, while holding opposing batters to a .188 average. After striking out 10 in each of his first two starts, Cashner has come back to earth a little bit.

Chris Withrow (LAD) has gotten off to a slow start, with a 9.00 ERA after four starts with hitters knocking him around at a .303 clip and three home runs allowed.

Christian Friedrich (Col.) has struck out 16 in 16 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.81 after three starts. Friedrich has found the going a little tougher in Double-A after striking out 159 in 119 2/3 innings.

Future closer Drew Storen (Was.) has three saves and a 1.23 ERA in 7 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts. Despite being overshadowed by teammate Stephen Strasburg, Storen could have some value as well later this year if the Nationals deal Matt Capps

Read More »

The Minor League Report – Week 2

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 19th, 2010

We have seen two minor league top prospects get promoted in the past week with Justin Maxwell getting recalled by the Washington Nationals and first basemen Ike Davis getting the call up from the New York Mets today and starting at first base. Davis went 2-for-4 in his major league debut with an RBI and should see the majority of starts at 1B until Daniel Murphy returns.

I have created a Minor League Tracker spreadsheet that shows all of the year-to-date stats for players that I highlighted in my team-by-team Triple-A minor league reports so you can easily keep an eye on possible players to target on the waiver wire in future weeks.

Here is a look at some of the top hitters and pitchers through week 2 in Triple-A. I have color coded them green (good start) and red (bad start) so you can quickly glance through to get an update on how your player may be doing.

Hitters:

Catcher Carlos Santana (Clev.) looks like he is ready now, although I am sure the Indians will hold off on promoting him for awhile. Santana is hitting .375 with four home runs and 14 RBI.

First basemen Brett Wallace (Tor.) is off to a good start hitting .289 with four home runs and five RBI. With Lyle Overbay hitting only .115, Wallace may not be that far away from making an impact.

First basemen Justin Smoak (Tex.) has to be making Chris Davis owners a little nervous, as Smoak is hitting .342 with two home runs and five RBI, but more importantly 11 walks against only five strikeouts. Davis is currently hitting .222 with one RBI and is already being platooned with Ryan Garko so he might have another three weeks or so to turn it around or risk being sent down.

Third basemen Pedro Alvarez (Pitt.) has some work to do with his batting average but is showing power, with four home runs and 11 RBI. With Jeff Clement hitting .103 and Andy LaRoche hitting .222, it is only a matter of time before Alvarez appears.

Second basemen Eric Young Jr. (Col.) has gotten off to a slow start, hitting .083 with no RBI or stolen bases so far this year.

Third basemen Josh Bell (Balt.) has found Triple-A pitching difficult so far, hitting .186 with 15 strikeouts in 43 at bats.

Pitchers:

Jeremy Hellickson (Tampa) has been dealing in his three starts with a 1.42 ERA and a .79 WHIP, He has struck out 21 hitters in 19 innings. With Tampa Bay off to a great start and all of the pitchers throwing well, he won’t be up for awhile barring injury despite his talent.

Brad Mills (Tor.) racked up nine strikeouts in each of his first two starts, compiling a .79 ERA and .88 WHIP ratio.

Jake Arrieta (Balt.) in what seems like a long line of good young Baltimore pitching has started the year with 12 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.

Something has to be wrong with Madison Bumgarner (SF). After his drop of velocity in spring combined with his first two starts at Triple-A, 21 hits allowed in seven innings and 11 earned runs, maybe he is hiding an injury.

Trevor Reckling (LAA) has been having some control problems leading to a 6.28 ERA and 1.95 WHIP. Reckling has walked 10 in 14 1/3 innings while allowing 18 hits.

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The Minor League Report – New York Yankees Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 17th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the Triple-A affiliate for the New York Yankees.

The key name to note on the roster is catcher Jesus Montero. It is tough to project him at catcher in keeper leagues with him being 6-4 and close to 225 pounds already at age 20. With Posada signed for 2011 and a buyout option on Nick Johnson, it is not unrealistic to think that Montero opens the season at designated hitter for the Yankees in 2011. It may be hard to believe a 21-year-old turning into a DH already, but with a bat that has been compared to Manny Ramirez, Frank Thomas or other top power hitters in their prime, his stick will get him on the field somewhere next season.

Top pitching prospect Zach McAllister starts the year at Triple-A after compiling a 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in Double-A last season. A good control pitcher with the ability to throw strikes, McAllister projects as a back end of the rotation start with the ability to eat up innings.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Montero (1), McAllister (5)
Keith Law: Montero (1), McAllister (3)
John Sickels: Montero (1), McAllister (4), Melancon (6)

Here is a look at 2010 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees roster by position:

Catchers:

Jesus Montero
Chad Moeller
P.J. Pilittere

Infielders:

1B Juan Miranda
2B Reegie Corona
SS Eduardo Nunez
3B Kevin Russo
Matthew Cusick
Robby Hammock
Jorge Vazquez

Outfielders:

LF Colin Curtis
CF Greg Golson
RF David Winfree
Chad Huffman

Designated Hitter:

Jon Weber

Starting Pitchers:

Zach McAllister
Ivan Nova
Romulo Sanchez
Dustin Moseley
Jason Hirsh

Relief Pitchers:

Jonathan Albaladejo
Kei Igawa
Boone Logan
Mark Melancon
Royce Ring
Amaury Sanit
Zack Segovia
Kevin Wheelan

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The Minor League Report – Seattle Mariners Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 15th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate for the Seattle Mariners.

The key name to note on the roster is corner outfielder Michael Saunders. He is only a Milton Bradley tantrum away from having some value this season in the major leagues. Got 122 at bats in the majors last season and struggled with his plate discipline, walking six times and whiffing in 40 at bats. He has some speed but ran more his first few seasons in the minor leagues when he stole 20+ two seasons. Since then his high was 12 in 2008. Turns 24 in November and needs to be make the adjustments at the plate in his second go round in Triple-A.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Saunders (2), Halman (8)
Keith Law: Saunders (3)
John Sickels: Saunders (2)

Here is a look at 2010 Tacoma Rainiers roster by position:

Catchers:

Eliezer Alfonzo
Josh Bard

Infielders:

1B Mike Carp
2B Chris Woodward
SS Josh Wilson
3B Matt Mangini
Travis Denker
Brad Nelson

Outfielders:

CF Ezequiel Carrera
LF Michael Saunders
RF Greg Halman
Ryan Langerhans

Designated Hitter:

Tommy Everidge

Starting Pitchers:

Luke French
David Pauley
Andrew Baldwin
Chris Seddon
Steven Shell

Relief Pitchers:

Steve Bray
Chad Cordero
Mike Koplove
Luis Munoz
Garrett Olson
Levale Speigner

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The Minor League Report – Oakland A’s Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 15th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate for the Oakland A’s.

The key name to note on the roster is first basemen Chris Carter. The big guy can mash and with Oakland in serious need of power, it is only a matter of time until he is in the major leagues. As with most A’s hitters, he can draw a walk, getting on base via free pass 85 times last year. Carter has a minor league batting average of .290 and has hit 92 home runs over the last three years.

It will be interesting to follow the careers of Brett Wallace and Michael Taylor since they were traded even up for each other. Not too often you will see top prospects traded for each other like that. Taylor cuts an imposing figure at the plate at 6-6 and 250 pounds, but despite his frame, he has not generated a ton of power in the minor leagues yet. Taylor hit a career-high 20 home runs last year with 21 stolen bases. He has a minor league average of .312 in his career. The A’s will be getting two huge upgrades in the line up the second half of the season with the arrival of Carter and Taylor.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Carter (1), Taylor (2)
Keith Law: Taylor (1), Carter (2)
John Sickels: Carter (1), Taylor (2), Donaldson (9)

Here is a look at 2010 Sacramento River Cats roster by position:

Catchers:

Josh Donaldson
Landon Powell

Infielders:

1B Chris Carter
2B Eric Sogard
SS Steve Tolleson
3B Dallas McPherson
Tyler Ladendorf

Outfielders:

LF Corey Wimberly
CF Matt Carson
RF Michael Taylor
Jai Miller
Corey Brown

Designated Hitter:

Jack Cust

Starting Pitchers:

Vin Mazzaro
Graham Godfrey
Clay Mortensen
Kyle Middleton
Lenny DiNardo

Relief Pitchers:

Michael Benacka
Cedrick Bowers
Sam Demel
Fernando Hernandez
Jon Hunton
Brad Kilby
Marcus McBeth
Henry Rodriguez

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The Minor League Report – Minnesota Twins Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 15th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate for the Minnesota Twins.

The key name to note on the roster is catcher Wilson Ramos. If you are a Twins fan, enjoy him this year because the recent contract that Joe Mauer signed leaves him with no place to play. Originally I thought he might be packaged in a trade for Heath Bell but not with Jon Rauch off to a great start.  I would think there is a chance he could be moved at the trade deadline if the Twins are in the playoff race.  Ramos has shown he can rake despite not being interested in drawing any walks at the plate. In 211 plate appearances last season, he only drew six walks. He has a minor league batting average of .294 and a bright future ahead of him, already in Triple-A at the age of 22.

Danny Valencia should be ready to take over at 3B sometime this season, although it seems like the Twins are in no hurry to rush him. After spending half the year in Triple-A last year, he should be ready for major league pitching by the All-Star break .Valencia has a .299 minor league average and hit 14 home runs in 487 at bats last year over two levels.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Ramos (2), Valencia (6)
Keith Law: Ramos (2)
John Sickels: Ramos (4), Valencia (8)

Here is a look at 2010 Rochester Red Wings roster by position:

Catchers:

Wilson Ramos
Allan de San Miguel

Infielders:

1B Brock Peterson
2B Luke Hughes
SS Trevor Plouffe
3B Danny Valencia
Justin Huber
Matt Macri

Outfielders:

LF Jacque Jones
CF Matt Tolbert
RF Brian Dinkelman
Dustin Martin
Jason Repko
Brandon Roberts

Designated Hitter:

Erik Lis

Starting Pitchers:

Anthony Swarzak
Glen Perkins
Jeff Manship
Yoslan Herrera
Mike Maroth

Relief Pitchers:

Rob Delaney
Matt Fox
Tim Lahey
Jose Lugo
Ryan Mullins
Anthony Slama
Kyle Waldrop

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The Minor League Report – Kansas City Royals Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 15th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Omaha Royals, the Triple-A affiliate for the Kansas City Royals.

The only name of interest is outfielder David Lough, an 11th round pick in the 2007 draft. Lough was promoted to Triple-A this season after spending parts of 2009 at High-A and Double-A. He has a .299 minor league batting average while showing a little power and a little speed. He hit a combined  14 home runs with 19 steals in 458 at bats last season.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Lough (10)
Keith Law:
John Sickels: Lough (9)

Here is a look at 2010 Omaha Royals roster by position:

Catchers:

Edwin Bellorin
Cody Clark

Infielders:

1B Kila Ka’aihue
2B Irving Falu
SS Mike Aviles
3B Wilson Betemit
Marc Maddox
Ed Lucas

Outfielders:

LF Buck Coats
CF David Lough
RF Jordan Parraz
Scott Thorman
Josh Duarte

Starting Pitchers:

Gaby Hernandez
Phillip Humber
Bryan Bullington
Bruce Chen
Brad Thompson

Relief Pitchers:

Matt Herges
Greg Holland
Anthony Lerew
Victor Marte
Carlos Rosa
Josh Rupe
Blake Wood

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The Minor League Report – Detroit Tigers Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 15th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Toledo Mud Hens, the Triple-A affiliate for the Detroit Tigers.

The top rated prospect Daniel Schlereth really has little value from a fantasy baseball standpoint with Jose Valverde signed through 2011 with a 2012 team option and Ryan Perry waiting in the wings as closer.

With Miguel Cabrera locked in at first base, Ryan Strieby has been moved to the outfield in 2010. Strieby has show big-time power in the minor leagues, hitting 29 home runs in 2008 and 19 in 294 at bats last season. He should be ready to help in 2011.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Schlereth (5)
Keith Law: Schlereth (6), Strieby (7)
John Sickels: Schlereth (5), Strieby (7), Wells (9)

Here is a look at 2010 Toledo Mud Hens roster by position:

Catchers:

Robinson Diaz
Mike Rabelo

Infielders:

1B Jeff Larish
2B Will Rhymes
SS Brent Dlugach
3B Danny Worth
Maxwell Leon

Outfielders:

LF Ryan Strieby
CF Casper Wells
RF Brennan Boesch
Clete Thomas
Jeff Frazier

Starting Pitchers:

Armando Galarraga
Ruddy Lugo
Phil Dumatrait
Alfredo Figaro
Enrique Gonzalez

Relief Pitchers:

Scott Drucker
Casey Fien
Josh Rainwater
Jay Sborz
Daniel Schlereth
Jason Waddell
Robbie Weinhardt
Steven Wright

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The Minor League Report – Cleveland Indians Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 15th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate for the Cleveland Indians.

The key name to note on the roster is catcher Carlos Santana. By next March, I would expect for him to be drafted in fantasy baseball leagues around the same time Matt Wieters is. With a .287 minor league average and more walks than strikeouts (288 to 283) he is the number one minor league catcher in baseball. He hit 23 home runs last year in double-A with 97 RBI and has already jacked four out in 2010. He will likely be up for good come June 1.

Another name to keep an eye on is starting pitcher Hector Rondon. Pitching at two levels in 2009, Rondon compiled a 3.38 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Having just turned 22 in February, he looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Carlos Carrasco is another starting pitcher to keep an eye on after coming over from Philadelphia last season in the Cliff Lee trade. He still needs to do some work on his control with a minor league walk rate per nine of 3.5 and an ERA of 4.08.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Santana (1), Rondon (7), Carrasco (8)
Keith Law: Santana (1), Rondon (3)
John Sickels: Santana (1), Rondon (5), Carrasco (7)

Here is a look at 2010 Columbus Clippers roster by position:

Catchers:

Carlos Santana
Damaso Espino

Infielders:

1B Wes Hodges
2B Jason Donald
SS Brian Bixler
3B Brian Buscher
Anderson Hernandez
Russell Branyan

Outfielders:

LF Shelley Duncan
CF Trevor Crowe
RF Chris Giminez
Jose Constanza
Brian Horwitz

Starting Pitchers:

Carlos Carrasco
Hector Rondon
Scott Lewis
Jeanmar Gomez
Yohan Pino

Relief Pitchers:

Hector Ambriz
Mike Gosling
Frank Hermann
Saul Rivera
Carlton Smith
Jess Todd
Josh Tomlin
Steven Wright

Read More »

The Minor League Report – Boston Red Sox Triple-A Roster

Posted by Todd Lammi on April 15th, 2010

Here is the minor league report for the 2010 Pawtucket Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate for the Boston Red Sox.

The key name to note on the roster is outfielder Josh Reddick. Reddick has a career minor league average of .291 and has shown the potential to hit 20-25 home runs a year. With all of the outfield spots locked up in Boston next year, he might have to serve a year in waiting behind Mike Cameron and J.D. Drew in the major leagues next season which is not a bad thing. Reddick has struggled each of the last two seasons when he has been promoted so it might take him a year or two to adjust to to the major leagues once he arrives.

Junichi Tazawa was high on prospect lists but is facing Tommy John surgery and will miss all of the 2010 season.

How they rank:

Baseball America: Reddick (3), Tazawa (6)
Keith Law: Tazawa (3)
John Sickels: Reddick (4), Bowden (5), Tazawa (6)

Here is a look at 2010 Pawtucket Red Sox roster by position:

Catchers:

Mark Wagner
Dusty Brown

Infielders:

1B Aaron Bates
2B Kevin Frandsen
SS Angel Sanchez
3B Jorge Jimenez
Tug Hulett
Ryan Khoury

Outfielders:

LF Daniel Nava
CF Josh Reddick
RF Darnell McDonald
Bubba Bell

Starting Pitchers:

Boof Bonser
Adam Mills
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Fabio Castro
Michael Bowden

Relief Pitchers:

Randor Bierd
Fernando Cabrera
Alan Embree
Kris Johnson
Robert Manuel
Joe Nelson
Chad Paronto
Ramon A. Ramirez
Dustin Richardson

Read More »
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