There’s some mild panic around the Rays because LHP David Price allowed three runs, including two homers, and walked four in three innings Sunday for Triple-A Durham. Price is 1-2 with an oh, my! ERA of 3.71 after four starts. Don’t think for a minute that diminishes his status as a prospect. Might delay his recall for a few weeks – or it might not, if someone is hurt or if RHP Andy Sonnanstine doesn’t begin pitching better.
Movin’ on up is Diamondbacks RHP prospect Jarrod Parker. He’ll be advancing from high Class A Visalia to Double-A Mobile to make his first start for the BayBears Saturday. He was 1-0 with an 0.95 ERA at Visalia.
The minors’ first complete-game no-hitter came this morning and early afternoon when RHP Evan Anundsen of Brevard County (Brewers organization) in the high Class A Florida State League won at Daytona Beach (Cubs) 1-0. Anundsen struck out 10, walked one and faced three batters over the minimum in the game that began at 10:30 a.m.
Driving in the game’s only run was Manatees SS Caleb Gindl. He was the FSL Player of the Week last week, when he batted .522 (12-for-23) with two homers, 11 RBI and a stolen base.
Occasionally, the Players of the Week and Pitchers of the Week in the various minor leagues give us insights into players who are moving up or down in their quest to reach the majors. Here are some examples from last week.
In the Reds organization, RHP Homer Bailey has been considered a failed prospect. Sometimes those players become the best prospects for fantasy purposes because so many other owners have been burner by earlier hype. Think of Phil Hughes, for example. Anyway, Bailey was the Triple-A International League Pitcher of the Week for Louisville. He went 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 18:6 strikeout/walk ratio. Those are overpowering numbers, but the K/W ratio is encouraging.
A currently hyped rookie lived up to his promise last week in the International League. Indians OF prospect Matt LaPorta batted .520 (13-for-25) with two homers and six runs batted in for Columbus.
I saw Cardinals C prospect Steven Hill play twice earlier this season, once as an outfielder. I wasn’t especially impressed with anything he did, but noted that he was the cleanup batter for Double-A Springfield. I also noted that it wasn’t a very impressive lineup. At least Hill broke loose last week. The Texas League Player of the Week batted .571 (12-for-21) with four homers, nine RBI and eight runs.
One of the pitchers he was batting against was Rangers LHP prospect Kasey Kiker. In that game, Hill was 1-for-3 with an infield hit and a walk against Kiker and 1-for-4 overall.
Kiker pitched much better the second time I saw him. Enough better that he was the Texas League Pitcher of the Week based just on that one performance Tuesday, April 21. Mixing speeds masterfully against Arkansas, the Angels’ Double-A affiliate, Kiker allowed only one hit and two walks in seven innings but received no decision in a 13-inning 1-0 game. The only hit was Travelers 2B Nate Sutton’s single to left field with two out in the sixth. On the other side, Arkansas RHP Jordan Walden had his best appearance this season, with a pitching line of 760026. (You read that as 7 innings, 6 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts.)
As the season goes along, I’ll be telling you more about my own observations of minor league players.
The Yankees recalled RHP Phil Hughes from Triple-A Scranton to start tonight’s game. To see what I think about his chances for success, go to his updated Scouting Report on the fantasybaseballscout.com web site.
Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez could begin playing in minor league games this week. A likely scenario would have him playing for high Class A Tampa. He threw in the outfield Monday, and could take live batting practice today for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right hip.
His teammate, RHP Chien-ming Wang, also threw in the outfield and ran sprints as part of his injury rehab for weak muscles in his hips.
It was a big day for throwing in the outfield. Braves LHP Tom Glavine (shoulder injury) made 70-foot throws. It’s still not clear whether he’ll be able to pitch in the majors again.
Glavine’s teammate, C Brian McCann, spent most of the day with an eye specialist trying different contact lenses that could eliminate the blurred vision in his left eye. McCann is scheduled to begin an injury-rehab assignment at high Class A Myrtle Beach.
Brewers CF prospect Lorenzo Cain suffered an injury to his left knee Thursday, and could miss much of this season. The injury, which happened when he was diving to make a catch in a game at Carolina, could be a torn medial collateral ligament. He was playing for Double-A Huntsville in the Southern League.
Mets 1B Carlos Delgado didn’t play Monday because he injured his right hip sliding into a triple. Serves him right for hitting one of his rare triples.
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