Minor League Daily Update: Tuesday 4/27/2010

Domonic Brown only played 3 games as he hurt his hand in batting practice.  After he missed 3 games, he came back and played well hitting a HR and working the plate in getting on base at a .455 clip.  Brett Wallace had an excellent week in the power department smashing 3 HR.  Logan Morrison had a collision at 1B last week and was placed on the DL by the Marlins.  He is scheduled to have an MRI this week.

Jose Tabata is quietly having an excellent start to 2010.  Already, he has swiped 8 bags and is flashing a bit of power.  Not long ago I had considered him in the same class as Fernando Martinez – since then Martinez has had a bit more success (and less controversy – age and domestic questions for Tabata last year).  Tabata is working on erasing those red flags and he could find himself getting a little time in Pittsburgh later this year if he can continue this hot streak.

Another player who was disappointing in 2009 is Eric Hosmer.  Hosmer was a big bat out of high school but struggled across two levels of A-ball last year.  At the end of the year he got lasik surgery and it seems to have cured what was ailing him.  Currently Hosmer is batting .446 for the year, has a couple of homers and stole 3 bases thus far.  He was rated an 80 on the 20-80 power scale by some out of high school so I think he will hit more homers as the year goes on but a high batting average will bring lots of good things, including a promotion to AA at the end of the year maybe? If he keeps this up, I don’t see why not.

Lonnie Chisenhall, Dee Gordon, and Tyler Flowers all played well this week.  Gordon, the speedster of the group, only has 3 SB so far – I had him ranked up there with Starlin Castro so he will be turning it on anytime now in the speed department.  Gordon doesn’t have the power that Castro does, but really runs well.

Christian Friedrich and Jacob Turner are both on the 7-day DL with arm issues.  I would be more concerned with Friedrich as it seems to be his elbow that is causing some problems.  Turner’s forearm caused him to visit the DL and I would think caution should be used so the elbow isn’t affected by a lingering or not fully healed forearm.  Turner is a power pitcher that should be brought along slowly – give him as much time as necessary to fully heal.

Casey Kelly continues to be on a strict pitch count yet is pitching very well and has compiled a 1.08 ERA so far this year.  Jake Arrieta threw a gem this week striking out 11 in 7 innings of work.  Arrieta know has 32Ks (vs. 10BB) in 25 IP.  More impressive is that he has allowed on 1ER which has lead to a 0.36 ERA so far.  Not far behind is the performance to start the year of Nick Hagadone.  He pitched two times this past week and had a stellar 12K : 5BB ratio with only allowing 1ER.  That lone earned run represents the only one allowed thus far in 2010 for Hagadone over 16 IP.

Trevor Reckling, Shelby Miller, and Martin Perez all pitched well this week.  Shelby Miller now has 21K’s in 11 IP.  Quite nice.  Reckling has 12K’s and 14BB so far this year – not a good ratio for any pitcher at any level.  The only big stinker of the group belonged to Tim Alderson with 5ER in 4.2 IP.  He now has 5 K’s for the season spanning 16 innings (5BB given up also). 

Also, in case you haven’t heard – Mike Stanton is good.  Over his past two games he is 7 for 8 with 5 HR and 11RBI.  Stanton is batting over .300 with 9HR and 16RBI so far this young season.  He is a premier talent that will be pushing Florida to let him get a shot.