Jordan Zimmermann is getting closer to a return the the majors with each start. Although pitch-count / innings limited, he has shown excellent command and appears to be ready to make a good comeback from Tommy John surgery in 2011. While we don't know how many innings he will be able to pitch next year, we do know that returning from such a procedure and producing at a high level is very doable. Josh Johnson is probably at the top of the list of recent successes after having TJ surgery. Expect late August or early September to get a glimpse of Mr. Zimmermann. If he can come back to be in the 8-9 K/9 range, he will team up quite nicely with Stephen Strasburg to head up Washington's rotation of the future.
Derek Holland will get another stab at the majors after rehabbing for a bit - he had some sore shoulder troubles before the all-star break and needed some rest and rehab. He will start on Wednesday for Texas. He owns a sub-2.00 ERA on the year in the minors so he has the goods - as with any player, health is paramount to capitalizing on the big league opportunities.
We will see tonight if Bryce Harper, James Taillion, and Manny Machado sign with Washington, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore respectively. With so many millions of dollars on the table, I don't see any of them walking away unless there is a severe aversion to playing with one of those teams. I think Harper can get moved through the system quickly next year while Taillion and Machado take a more traditional ride through the minors starting in A-ball next season. Harper could start at A+ ball or even AA - although its really tough to believe since he is only 17. One thing going for Harper is that he has shown he already can hit with a wood bat - and by hit, I mean mash the heck out of the ball. Kid has skills - if he had the attitude of Mike Stanton or Jason Heyward, I would be touting him as the next great thing - until he gets his attitude in check I think he won't quite maximize his potential. Time will tell.
Statistics after the jump:
Thanks to minorleaguesplits.com for the daily statistics from Sunday.
| MiLB Top Pitching Prospects | Prospects: Pitch Bat | Performers: Pitch Bat | Pro Debuts | Org Recaps |
| Pitcher | Team | IP | H | R | ER | W | K | HR | ERA | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman, Aroldis | Louisville (CIN - AAA) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.74 | ||
| James, Chad | Greensboro (FLO - A) | 6.0 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5.32 | (L, 3-9) | Game Score: 20 |
| Knapp, Jason | AZL Indians (CLE - RK) | 4.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.46 | (L, 0-2) | Game Score: 61 |
| Melville, Timothy | Wilmington (KAN - A+) | 3.0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.65 | Game Score: 37 | |
| Tillman, Christopher | Norfolk (BAL - AAA) | 6.0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3.51 | (W, 10-7) | Game Score: 46 |
| Withrow, Christopher | Chattanooga (LAD - AA) | 4.7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6.08 | Game Score: 28 |
| MiLB Top Batting Prospects | Prospects: Pitch Bat | Performers: Pitch Bat | Pro Debuts | Org Recaps |
| Batter | Team | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | W | K | E | AVG | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ackley, Dustin | Tacoma (SEA - AAA) | 2B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .283 | |
| Allen, Brandon | Reno (ARI - AAA) | LF-1B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .270 | 2B, HR |
| Alonso, Yonder | Louisville (CIN - AAA) | 1B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .295 | |
| Anderson, Lars | Pawtucket (BOS - AAA) | 1B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .247 | |
| Beckham, Timothy | Charlotte (TAM - A+) | SS | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .251 | 2B |
| Burgess, Michael | Potomac (WAS - A+) | RF | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .262 | |
| Cardenas, Adrian | Sacramento (OAK - AAA) | 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .241 | |
| Chisenhall, Lonnie | Akron (CLE - AA) | 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .273 | 2B |
| Danks, Jordan | Charlotte (CHW - AAA) | CF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .249 | |
| Decker, Jaff | Lake Elsinore (SDP - A+) | LF | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .258 | 2 HR |
| Batter | Team | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | W | K | E | AVG | Notes |
| Dominguez, Matt | Jacksonville (FLO - AA) | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .251 | |
| Flores, Wilmer | St. Lucie (NYM - A+) | SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .296 | 2B, GDP |
| Forsythe, Logan | San Antonio (SDP - AA) | 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .264 | 2B, SB |
| Frazier, Todd | Louisville (CIN - AAA) | DH | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .252 | |
| Freeman, Frederick | Gwinnett (ATL - AAA) | 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .311 | |
| Fuentes, Reymond | Greenville (BOS - A) | CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .281 | 2B, SB |
| Strange-Gordon, Devaris | Chattanooga (LAD - AA) | SS | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .285 | 4 SB |
| Green, Grant | Stockton (OAK - A+) | SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .313 | 2B |
| Grichuk, Randal | Cedar Rapids (LAA - A) | RF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .238 | 3B, SB |
| Hosmer, Eric | NW Arkansas (KAN - AA) | 1B | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .300 | 2B |
| Batter | Team | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | W | K | E | AVG | Notes |
| Jackson, Brett | Tennessee (CHC - AA) | CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .291 | |
| Jennings, Desmond | Durham (TAM - AAA) | CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .290 | |
| Jones, Daryl | Springfield (ST. - AA) | LF-CF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .240 | |
| Lambo, Andrew | Altoona (PIT - AA) | LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .346 | |
| Lawrie, Brett | Huntsville (MIL - AA) | 2B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .291 | 2 2B |
| Lawrie, Brett | Huntsville (MIL - AA) | 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .291 | 2B |
| Montero, Jesus | Scranton/WB (NYY - AAA) | C | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .285 | |
| Moustakas, Mike | Omaha (KAN - AAA) | 3B | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .265 | 2B |
| Norris, Derek | Potomac (WAS - A+) | PH-DH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .221 | |
| Reddick, Josh | Pawtucket (BOS - AAA) | CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .249 | |
| Batter | Team | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | W | K | E | AVG | Notes |
| Salome, Angel | Brevard County (MIL - A+) | DH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .264 | |
| Salome, Angel | Brevard County (MIL - A+) | DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .266 | GDP |
| Smoak, Justin | Tacoma (SEA - AAA) | 1B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .243 | |
| Snyder, Brandon | Norfolk (BAL - AAA) | 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .264 | 2B |
| Taylor, Michael | Sacramento (OAK - AAA) | RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .264 | CS |
| Triunfel, Carlos | West Tenn (SEA - AA) | 2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .263 | |
| Triunfel, Carlos | West Tenn (SEA - AA) | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .261 | |
| Trout, Mike | Rancho Cucamonga (LAA - A+) | CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .297 | 2B |
| Weeks, Jemile | Midland (OAK - AA) | 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .280 |