Bus Leagues Express: July 10

Top stories

MiLB honors Player of the Week recipients: Every Monday, Minor League Baseball recognizes each league’s Player of the Week winner. This week’s honorees included Jonathan Singleton in the Texas League. He capped off his strong week with a great performance at the Futures Game. This week also included Chris Serritella in the New York-Penn League who homered in three consecutive games. Other recipients include Nate McLouth (IL), Andrew Brown (PCL), Brad Glenn (EL), Hunter Morris (SL), Yazy Arbelo (Cal), Aaron Baker (Car), Daniel Ortiz (FSL), Yorman Rodriguez (MWL), Steven Souza Jr. (SAL), Patrick Kivlehan (NWL), Felix Marte (APP) and Ben Waldrip (PIO).

MiLB honors Pitcher of the Week recipients: Every Monday, Minor League Baseball recognizes each league’s Pitcher of the Week winner. This week’s honorees included Brian Matusz who threw a complete game shutout fresh off another demotion from Baltimore. This week also included Wily Peralta in the PCL. He’s had a rough season so far, but he hasn’t allowed an earned run in June. Other recipients include Justin Fitzgerald (EL), Sean Gilmartin (SL), Donn Roach (TL), Josh Bowman (Cal), Cody Martin (car), Adam Morgan (FSL), Angel Baez (MWL), John Brebbia (SAL), Juri Perez (NYPL), Brandon Alger (NWL), Colin Rodgers (APP) and Clayton Schulz (PIO).

Moniker Madness is back: For the 6th straight year, MiLB.com hosts Moniker Madness, a 64 entry field of the best names in minor league baseball. Seth Schwindenhammer and Rowdy Hardy include past winners, and there are plenty of great candidates again this season. Rougned Odor returns for his second season as a #1 seed after losing to Schwindenhammer in the semi-finals last year, and the other top seeds are Caleb Bushyhead, Duke von Schamann and Forrest Snow. Rock Shoulders comes in at a #4 seed, but since he’s listed with his full name, Roderick, his chances may not be as good.

Phelps dominates in tuneup: The Yankees optioned David Phelps to Trenton to get some work in during the All-Star break, and he made a great case to return to their rotation. In what could be his best career outing, Phelps struck out a career high 11 in 6.2 scoreless innings. He allowed the only hit for Portland in the game, a 3-0 win for Trenton. Danny Farquhar finished the game with 2.1 perfect innings. Phelps was inserted into the rotation once C.C. Sabathia and Andy Pettitte were placed on the DL, and after spending the season in the bullpen, they slid Phelps in to make two starts before the break. It will likely come down to Phelps or Freddy Garcia to remain in the rotation when Sabathia is back.

Gausman posturing? A bombshell hit Twitter during the home run derby when it was reported that Kevin Gausman would return to LSU for his junior season. It would behoove the Orioles to sign the #4 pick in the draft, and this indicates that perhaps negotiations aren’t going as well as anticipated. The recommended value for that pick is $4.2 million, and the Orioles can offer over $4.6 million without losing a draft pick. As a sophomore, he has more leverage than typical college picks.

Almora signs with Cubs: The counterpoint to the report that Gausman is definitely back to LSU is definitely Albert Almora. He signed for $3.9 million yesterday, $650,000 higher than the recommended value. Almora had previously been adamant that he was going to attend Miami for three years, but not surprisingly it proved to just be posturing. Almora has one of the best hit tools in the draft, and he’s an athletic, very good defender in center field.

On tap today

MiLB.TV schedule

Eastern League hits All-Star break, Reading hosts home run derby

Southern League takes a day off

High-A takes a day off

Midwest League takes a day off

Short season takes a day off

Most rookie leagues take a day off

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