Minor League Level Review (High-A): Matt Barnes Promoted, Joe Panik and Levi Michael Struggling

It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time to take a look at some of the top prospects and performers at the High-A level. The weather is starting to warm in many of these areas, and with it we may start to see improved offensive numbers as well. All statistics are for all games played by the prospect at the High-A level so far, through Monday's games.

Carolina League

Jackie Bradley (BOS) - .366/.488/.538, 26 R, 8 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 11 for 12 SB, 22 BB, 17 K

Bradley is really growing on me as a prospect, and I think we could be looking at another solid outfield prospect.

Xander Bogaerts (BOS) -.262/.333/.447, 9 R, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 2 for 3 SB, 10 BB, 19 K

Bogaerts is the youngest player in the Carolina League, and he may be struggling for the first time really. I'll be interested to see how he starts to play as the weather warms up.

Cody Buckel (TEX) - 3 W, 1.31 ERA, 34 1/3 IP, 19 H, 0 HR, 12 BB, 41 K

Buckel seems to me like a midseason promotion candidate, as he has been extremely dominant in the Carolina League thus far.

Matt Barnes (BOS) - 1 W, 1.50 ERA, 6 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 12 K

Barnes was promoted to the Carolina League after completely obliterating hitters at the Low-A level, and he may end up promoted again later in the season if he keeps up these types of performances.

Wilmer Font (TEX) - 0 W, 6.00 ERA, 12 IP, 9 H, 1 HR, 9 BB, 18 K

California League

Billy Hamilton (CIN) - .374/.447/.542, 26 R, 7 2B, 4 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 31 for 38 SB, 14 BB, 18 K

Hamilton just continues to steal bases left and right, and Kevin Goldstein stated that a scout he spoke to thought Hamilton could be playing in AA right now.

Cory Spangenberg (SD) - .273/.315/.364, 12 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, 12 RBI, 10 for 13 SB, 7 BB, 23 K

Miles Head (OAK) - .347/.380/.661, 24 R, 11 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 1 for 1 SB, 6 BB, 29 K

Joe Panik (SF) - .234/.346/.306, 13 R, 8 2B, 13 RBI, 1 for 2 SB, 18 BB, 14 K

I like seeing the excellent plate discipline thus far, but I'd really like to see the Giants' 1st round pick showing some more power.

Joc Pederson (LAD) - .265/.375/.353, 8 R, 2B, 3B, RBI, 3 for 4 SB, 5 BB, 7 K

Rymer Liriano (SD) - .219/.313/.333, 12 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 7 for 11 SB, 8 BB, 31 K

Andrew Chafin (ARI) - 2 W, 3.03 ERA, 32 2/3 IP, 25 H, 3 HR, 10 BB, 46 K

Chafin is leading the Cal League in strikeouts so far, and is just another pitching prospect for the Diamondbacks at this point. As if they didn't have enough of them.

Tyler Matzek (COL) - W, 3.58 ERA, 27 2/3 IP, 23 H, HR, 24 BB, 36 K

David Holmberg (ARI) - 3 W, 2.68 ERA, 37 IP, 31 H, 3 HR, 8 BB, 41 K

Zach Lee (LAD) - 2 W, 4.58 ERA, 37 1/3 IP, 38 H, 7 HR, 6 BB, 37 K

The home run rate seems to me like it is really unlucky, and his ERA should normalize to be a better reflection of his strikeouts and walks.

Donn Roach (LAA/SD) - 6 W, 1.93 ERA, 46 2/3 IP, 38 H, HR, 4 BB, 35 K

One of the prospects sent to the Padres for reliever Ernesto Frieri, Roach has been excellent thus far in High-A, and I could see him moved to AA in short order.

Florida State League

Nick Castellanos (DET) - .421/.469/.596, 17 R, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 2 for 3 SB, 11 BB, 20 K

I wrote about Castellanos last week, and all he continues to do is crush the pitchers of the FSL. I think if he stays above .375 for the season, he could end up promoted within the next month or so.

Levi Michael (MIN) - .222/.333/.303, 16 R, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 1 for 1 SB, 16 BB, 21 K

Not exactly the performance that the Twins were hoping for out of their top draft pick from last season, but it is an aggressive assignment and I think he will pick it up as the season wears on.

Cory Vaughn (NYM) - .262/.347/.542, 19 R, 6 2B, 8 HR, 19 RBI, 2 for 2 SB, 10 BB, 27 K

Vaughn is leading the FSL in home runs, and is definitely someone to watch as the season progresses. He hasn't been on a lot of top prospect lists, but I could see him moving up them quickly if he keeps showing this power potential.

Matt Szczur (CHC) - 2.56/.353/.355, 28 R, 8 2B, 2 3B, 7 RBI, 16 for 20 SB, 15 BB, 21 K

Gerrit Cole (PIT) - W, 3.54 ERA, 28 IP, 20 H, 3 HR, 10 BB, 34 K

Jed Bradley (MIL) - 3 W, 3.34 ERA, 35 IP, 30 H, 2 HR, 8 BB, 32 K

Carlos Martinez (STL) - 2 W, 2.17 ERA, 29 IP, 21 H, 0 HR, 9 BB, 30 K

The biggest concern I had with Martinez coming into the season was the walk rate, but so far he has been solid in that category.