Before I get to the AFL action, here is Fangraphs Marc Hulet on Astros outfield prospect Jay Austin:
Austin’s game is built around speed and he nabbed 53 bags in ’10. To take true advantage of his speed at the MLB level, he’ll need to improve upon his ’10 OBP of .314 and walk rate of 6.6%. After posting a .326 wOBA in the league in 2010 as a teenager, Austin could return in 2011 – at least for the first two or three months. Keep tabs on this prospect as a 2011 breakout candidate.
Austin's SBs would make him a valuable fantasy hitter should he have the breakout season in 2011 that Hulet feels is a possibility. He hit 10 HRs in 2010 in the California League, so he has a little bit of pop, even though he hit them in a hitter-friendly league.
Now let's get to the AFL action:
Andrew Lambo, PIT-1-3. HR, 4 RBI
Zack Cox, STL-2-4, RBI, BB, K
Eric Farris, MIL-1-3, 2 BB
Brandon Wood, LAA-0-3, RS
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, NYM-2-4, 2 RS, HR, 2 RBI
Jeremy Jeffress, MIL-H, 2 BB, 4 ER
Michael Burgess, WAS-2-4, 2 RS, HR, 2 RBI
Cory Harrilchak, ATL-1-5, 3 RBI
Austin Romine, NYY-1-4, RS
Jerry Sands, LAD-1-2, RS, RBI, 2 BB
Kyle Skipworth, FLA-1-4, RS, RBI
Ben Revere, MIN-2-4, 2 RS, BB, SB
Leslie Anderson, TB-2-5, RS, 2 RBI
Dustin Ackley, SEA-2-3, RS, BB, SB
Fangraph's Bryan Smith had this to say about Astros pitching prospect Jordan Lyles:
I believe in Jordan Lyles, because I believe a change-up might be the best second option a prospect can have, and Lyles has one of the best. He’s also a potential innings eater and a guy with fastball command. Give me those three things, and it’s really easy to plot a path toward 3 WAR, and not impossible to project a season or two around 6 WAR.
Lyles should be one of the top ranked pitching prospects in baseball in 2011, and is one to watch for a late May-early June call-up in 2011.