As we tumble past the the first milepost of each season — the one-third mark Memorial Day signals — the rush of prospects making their way to The Show continues.
Toronto has been struggling with third base for so long it is hard to remember the last time the Jays had a warm and consistent body to man their hot corner. So why, after a season of Edwin Encarnacion (.248-1-10), Jayson Nix (.200-3-10), and Mike McCoy (.213-1-2) is Brett Lawrie still languishing in the minors?
The first round pick of the Brewers in 2008, Lawrie hit .284-8-63 over 148 games in the Milwaukee organization before being traded to Toronto this past offseason for Shaun Marcum.
All the 21-year-old has done since is hit .354-15-49 at Class AAA Las Vegas, with 19 doubles and four triples — meaning 37 of his 71 hits have gone for extra bases. And, even with 18 walks to 40 strikeouts Lawrie has an OBP of .413. All that is good for a 1.090 OPS. Oh yes, Lawrie also has 11 steals.
Earlier this week, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos indicated that Lawrie was "close" to being called up. But that was before he was hit on the wrist Tuesday night and had to leave the game. It appears he only suffered a bruise, but that could postpone a debut that many observers expected to come on Friday.
After an impressive performance Tuesday night by Houston's Jordan Lyles in his first major league start, prospect watchers can now turn their attention to another top minor league pitcher from the NL Central -- right-hander Shelby Miller of the St. Louis Cardinals.
At 6-3, 195 pounds, the 20-year-old first-round pick from 2009 has that prototypical pitcher size, and Miller has used that to shoot through the Cardinals system. In his first full season, he was 7-5, 3.62 over 104 2/3 innings at Class A Quad Cities. Miller also struck out 140 while walking just 33.
Miller started this season at High-A Palm Beach, where he's put up a 2-3 record, with a 2.89 ERA over nine starts and 53 innings. He's struck out 81 and walked only 20 ... so in over 160 minor league innings, he has an eye-popping 223 strikeouts.
Those are numbers more than worthy of note, and St. Louis acknowledged it this week by promoting their young gunslinger to Class-AA Springfield. He could be a dark horse candidate for the Cardinals 2012 rotation.
Finally, we usually try to keep fantasy owners updated on the up-and-coming prospects in the minors, but sometimes a resurrection project can be the next big thing.
Although he has had more chances than we can imagine, you might do well to keep an eye on Wily Mo Pena, the ex-sensation several times over who is now a 29-year-old slugging it out for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Class AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.
Pena was signed as a 17-year old in 1999, and the young slugger pretty much forced himself to the majors as a contract consideration before he was really ready.
The results are a journeyman's career, veering from New York to Cincinnati to Boston to Washington to San Diego and now Arizona, and over that history managed just .253-77-225, and an OBP of just .307 (106 walks to 520 strikeouts) as a major leaguer.
At Reno this season Pena has been deadly, hitting .361 with a PCL-leading 17 home runs and 49 RBI (tying him with Lawrie for second behind Anthony Rizzo's 60). Pena has also racked up a league-leading .742 slugging percentage which, with a .438 on-base average, gives him a ridiculous OPS of 1.178.
Pena did push himself to the big leagues before his time, but he can clearly hit. The Diamondbacks might do well to give him a shot at first base (where Pena has 54 minor league games).
Toronto has been struggling with third base for so long it is hard to remember the last time the Jays had a warm and consistent body to man their hot corner. So why, after a season of Edwin Encarnacion (.248-1-10), Jayson Nix (.200-3-10), and Mike McCoy (.213-1-2) is Brett Lawrie still languishing in the minors?
The first round pick of the Brewers in 2008, Lawrie hit .284-8-63 over 148 games in the Milwaukee organization before being traded to Toronto this past offseason for Shaun Marcum.
All the 21-year-old has done since is hit .354-15-49 at Class AAA Las Vegas, with 19 doubles and four triples — meaning 37 of his 71 hits have gone for extra bases. And, even with 18 walks to 40 strikeouts Lawrie has an OBP of .413. All that is good for a 1.090 OPS. Oh yes, Lawrie also has 11 steals.
Earlier this week, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos indicated that Lawrie was "close" to being called up. But that was before he was hit on the wrist Tuesday night and had to leave the game. It appears he only suffered a bruise, but that could postpone a debut that many observers expected to come on Friday.
After an impressive performance Tuesday night by Houston's Jordan Lyles in his first major league start, prospect watchers can now turn their attention to another top minor league pitcher from the NL Central -- right-hander Shelby Miller of the St. Louis Cardinals.
At 6-3, 195 pounds, the 20-year-old first-round pick from 2009 has that prototypical pitcher size, and Miller has used that to shoot through the Cardinals system. In his first full season, he was 7-5, 3.62 over 104 2/3 innings at Class A Quad Cities. Miller also struck out 140 while walking just 33.
Miller started this season at High-A Palm Beach, where he's put up a 2-3 record, with a 2.89 ERA over nine starts and 53 innings. He's struck out 81 and walked only 20 ... so in over 160 minor league innings, he has an eye-popping 223 strikeouts.
Finally, we usually try to keep fantasy owners updated on the up-and-coming prospects in the minors, but sometimes a resurrection project can be the next big thing.
Although he has had more chances than we can imagine, you might do well to keep an eye on Wily Mo Pena, the ex-sensation several times over who is now a 29-year-old slugging it out for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Class AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.
Pena was signed as a 17-year old in 1999, and the young slugger pretty much forced himself to the majors as a contract consideration before he was really ready.
The results are a journeyman's career, veering from New York to Cincinnati to Boston to Washington to San Diego and now Arizona, and over that history managed just .253-77-225, and an OBP of just .307 (106 walks to 520 strikeouts) as a major leaguer.
At Reno this season Pena has been deadly, hitting .361 with a PCL-leading 17 home runs and 49 RBI (tying him with Lawrie for second behind Anthony Rizzo's 60). Pena has also racked up a league-leading .742 slugging percentage which, with a .438 on-base average, gives him a ridiculous OPS of 1.178.
Pena did push himself to the big leagues before his time, but he can clearly hit. The Diamondbacks might do well to give him a shot at first base (where Pena has 54 minor league games).