Article:Down on the Farm: Minor League Prospect Updates

As you've all probably heard by now, the Cincinnati Reds finally broke down and ended the Corey Patterson experiment by recalling the Minor League's top prospect, outfielder Jay Bruce. Bruce made his ML debut yesterday with three hits and two walks, reaching base five times in Cincinnati's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He followed up his debut game by going 1-3 tonite with two more walks as the Reds again pounded the Pirates.

Some of the top prospects for each team are already in the Major Leagues, Joba Chamberlain in New York, Nick Blackburn in Minnesota and Evan Longoria in Tampa to name a few. Some others, such as Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox are on the disabled list and even one, the Braves Jordan Schafer, a victim of the Minor League drug policy.

There are others who will spend the entire season in the minor leagues, irregardless of how they perform. Some, like the Cardinals Colby Rasmus, are struggling, others, like Matt Wieters of the Orioles, are experiencing their first full seasons of professional ball, an adjustment to which goes far beyond what happens on the field. And there are some guys, like Felix Pie, who are former prospects trying to regain their former status, and others, like Oakland's Tom Everidge, who are trying to prove to people they can play, even though they've never been considered a prospect.

Wieters, for example, is hitting .351 in High Class A, with 12 homers. Also in Class A is outfielder Josh Reddick of the Boston Red Sox, who is currently at .328. Felix Pie, the Cubs' opening day centerfielder, is in Triple A Iowa and struggling big-time, at .114. Two other struggling prospects, the Marlins Cameron Maybin and the Royals Mike Moustakas, appear to be showing signs of life. Maybin on Monday hit his seventh homer of the year and chipped in with his 11th and 12th stolen bases and has raised his average to .249. Moustakas, after a dreadful start, has his average up to .250 and hit his first professional grand slam on Monday as well.

The Milwaukee Brewers have hot hitting third baseman Mat Gamel at Double A Huntsville, he's hitting .374. After a slow start, top prospect Matt LaPorta finally got hot, with his average topping out at .316 two weeks ago. He is currently at .291, mired in a 9-42 slump.

The Yankees Jose Tabata is at .236, fellow outfield prospect Austin Jackson, a teammate at Double A Trenton, is hitting .285. Former Oakland regular Travis Buckis hitting .333 in Triple A, with Mariners top prospect Jeff Clement at .382 with nine homers.

Two minor league players had three homer games on Monday, Oakland's Double A first baseman Tom Everidge was 4-6 with four runs scored and ten ribbies to go with his three long-balls, and New York Mets Double A thirdbaseman Danny Murphy having a 3-4 day with four runs, and five RBI. There was also a cycle turned in on Monday, by the Giants Nate Schierholtz.

On the pitching side of things, the Orioles Jake Arrietta is having a ridiculous season in Class A. He's 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 65 innings. A rumor on the vine has the Orioles considering giving Arrieta a call, even though he hasn't pitched above Class A. Francisco Liriano got hammered again, giving up six runs in six and two thirds innings, raising his ERA to 4.61. Two Tampa prospects, Jake McGee in Double A, and Jeff Niemann in Triple A, won their respective starts on Monday, McGee's record is 5-2, Niemann is currently posting a 1.71 ERA.

And in closing, we'll look at a couple of Brewers, Jeremy Jeffress and, yes, this isn't a misprint, Jeff Weaver. Weaver pitched six innings on Monday, allowing eight hits and nine runs, although "only" five were earned. He is 1-3 now with a 6.69 ERA and has allowed eight homers in only 35 innings. And this wasn't even the worst outing. Jeffress, recently reinstated from his own Drug Progam enforced vacation, allowed eleven hits and nine earned runs in just four and two thirds innings, although he somehow managed to strike out seven. His ERA is a not too impressive 10.22, and this pitching in Class A.

Not to worry Brewers fans, Julian Tavarez is on his way.

Kelsdad provides the Minor League Prospect Reports exclusively for ArmchairGM]]