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Minor League Roundup: Taijuan Walker, Anthony Rizzo and Others

By Ray Guilfoyle
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I said on Friday that this wouldn't be a regular piece, but I am off today and tomorrow with local schools closed for the holidays, so let's take a quick look at some of the top performances from Monday night's minor league slate:

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole looked good in his minor league debut, as he gave up a run on four hits and a 7-1 strikeout to walk ratio in his 4 innings of work. Cole apparently was lighting up radar guns last night. Check out this tweet from Baseball America's Jim Shonerd:

Just talked to Bradenton pitching coach Mike Steele -- said Gerrit Cole touched 100 mph twice last night, pitched at 94-97.

He is pitching for the Pirates High A affiliate and should make it to AA Altoona at some point this season.

Diamondbacks starter, and a member of my UBA keeper league team, Tyler Skaggs had a solid 2012 debut at AA Mobile last evening, as he gave up a run on 5 hits, striking out 7 and walking none in his 6 innings of work. He also induced 7 ground ball outs. I can see Skaggs getting a midseason callup, and will follow teammate Trevor Bauer to Arizona.

More Minor League Roundup after the jump:

Cubs first base prospect Anthony RIzzo went 3-3 with a walk, 2 HRs and 3 RBI last night as Iowa beat the Albuquerque Dukes 10-6 last evening. Rizzo now has 3 HRs in his last two games, and I see him manning first base for the Cubs by June/July timeframe.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 1-3 with a walk and an RBI last night. He is hitting .278-.350-.333 in the early going. Harper should be called up by June at the latest, but he will have to make sure he can adjust to offspeed pitches while in AAA before his callup.

Mariners pitching prospect Taijuan Walker made his first AA start last night and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, a walk and 8 strikeouts. Walker skipped the High A California League this season with the move to AA. He should be a mid-2013 call up.

Orioles shortstop prospect Manny Machado went 2-5 with a HR and 3 RBI last night, and is hitting .350-.381-.700 with 2 HRs and 4 RBI in the early going in 2012.

Rockies third base prospect Nolan Arenado may not be long for AA as he went 2-5 last night and is now hitting .500-.565-.650 with 5 RBI, but has yet to hit a home run.

Blue Jays catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud is struggling in his first week at AAA Las Vegas, as he is hitting just .067-.222-.067 in his 15 at bats, but has walked more than he has struck out thus far.

d'Arnaud's teammate Anthony Gose is also struggling in Las Vegas as he is hitting just .174-.240-.174 with a 3-2 strikeout to walk ratio and has been caught stealing in both of his steal attempts thus far.

BA's Jim Callis had this response when asked when Giants outfield prospect Gary Brown will be called up:

After the all-star break, if all goes well. : how long before Gary Brown is up?

I am not sure I agree with that, as the Giants already have too many outfielders, don't they?