There was plenty of buzz in minor league news last week with three top prospects getting promoted to Triple-A. Trevor Bauer, the third player picked in the 2011 Amateur Draft, was promoted by the Arizona Diamondbacks to Triple-A and allowed one run in eight innings with 11 strikeouts in his first start there. Between two levels, he now has a 1.60 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings. The Diamondbacks rotation will be full once Daniel Hudson returns from the disabled list, so Joe Saunders will likely get bumped / traded once Bauer is ready which is probably going to be sometime in July.
The Kansas City Royals elevated two of their top prospects to AAA with outfielder Wil Myers and starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi moving up. Myers is hitting .342 for the season with 13 home runs and 32 RBI in 149 at bats with four stolen bases. With it becoming harder for fantasy owners to find 20+ home run power hitters, Myers should be a reserve target if you have room on the bench. Odorizzi made his Triple-A debut last wee, going 6 2/3 innings with three runs allowed and four strikeouts. For the season, he has a 3.43 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings. While the Royals lack good pitching at the major league level, Odorizzi will not be rushed and should see 8-10 starts in AAA before being considered for a call up.
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Travis d’Arnaud has been heating up at the plate in Triple-A with five home runs and 10 RBI in his last 10 games. For the season d’Arnaud is batting .294 with seven home runs and 21 RBI. Voted the best defensive catcher in the Eastern League in 2011, he figures to see playing time the second half of the season in Toronto.
The Seattle Mariners recently promoted relief pitcher Stephen Pryor to Triple-A. A 5th round pick in the 2010 draft, Pryor has eight saves this season with a 0.75 ERA in 24 innings with 36 strikeouts. Ranked number nine by MLB.com in the Seattle organization before the season started, Pryor should soon get a look with the major league team.
While I hesitate to put much stock in pitchers in Class A ball, when they are putting up whiffle ball type stats however, it pays to take notice. Dylan Bundy, the 4th overall pick in the 2011 draft for the Baltimore Orioles, has worked 30 scoreless innings to start the season with only five hits and two walks allowed with 40 strikeouts. Being a high school pitcher, his road to the major leagues might be a year or two longer, but he is someone to keep an eye on in dynasty formats.
