I saw a press release the other day in which the Dayton Dragons noted that they led the minor leagues in stolen bases last season, or something to that effect. My first thought: “Okay, yeah, but how much of that was Billy Hamilton-related?” Hamilton, of course, stole 103 bases last season, the first player to reach triple digits since Chris Morris swiped 111 for the Peoria Chiefs in 2001. So the logical next step...
A few days ago, Brian wrote this post about the release of Mariners farmhand Jamie McOwen. As it said, he’s well known for his Cal League record 45 game hitting streak in 2009. An injury derailed his career, and he never got back on track once he returned. Not to take anything away from his accomplishment, but High Desert has a well-known, well-deserved reputation as a hitter’s paradise. The light air and high winds...
Hitting thirty homeruns in a single minor league season is not an exceptionally rare feat. It has been accomplished hundreds of times over the past century or so*, including 21 in 2011 and 14 in 2010. Only two players hit 30 or more homeruns in both 2010 and 2011, however: Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt (35 for High-A Visalia in 2010 and 30 for Double-A Mobile in 2011) and Washington’s Tyler Moore (31 for both High-A...
Back in 2009, minor league baseball fans were treated to one of the most impressive streaks in recent memory when Mariners prospect Jamie McOwen hit safely in 45 straight games for the High Desert Mavericks, Seattle’s Class A Advanced affiliate in the California League. During the streak, which spanned nearly two full months (from May 10 to July 8), McOwen hit .398 with fourteen extra base hits, 34 RBI, and 28 runs scored as...
If you’re one of those people who likes prospects as I am, one of the fun things that you start looking for are the next sort of players. The next great ace, the next tools player that turns into skills, and all that. But the thing that interests me more than anything, is when a non-prospect turns into a prospect. And last year? One of the great emergences you might not have heard of...
By the time you read this I should be on my way to exotic Afghanistan. But I thought this was a great video and I thought it was definitely worth sharing here. Hopefully I’ll be able to post periodically during the season, but if not I think this video of wounded veterans working out with the Nationals at their spring complex in Viera, Florida (coincidentally, the town I grew up in) was a great...
As the Rays have grown in prominence in the AL East, their blogosphere has also vastly grown in size and expertise. Only a few years ago, there were but a hand full of Rays blogs. Now there are quite a few covering all aspects of the Rays organization, from the big league club to the low minors. One of these new Rays blogs is Rays Digest.com, edited by John Gregg. Since starting Rays Digest,...
Last year while writing for MiLB.com, I had a chance to talk with one of the Mets most highly regarded pitching prospects, right-hander Matt Harvey. At the time, Harvey was hurling for the St. Lucie Mets. Today, Harvey is pitching to possible make the Mets Triple-A club in Buffalo or he could start the season in Double-A Binghamton. MetsBlog writer Michael Barron caught up with Harvey a few days ago and talked to him...
Besides seeing the future of Major League Baseball, and besides the game’s casualness and coziness, one of best things about baseball in the Bus Leagues is promotions. Every year there are some great promotions throughout the Minors, from cannon-shot stuntmen to actors masquerading as former Mexican legends and of course dozens, if hundreds, of culinary exhibitions. Although I won’t be attending any minor league games this year, there are a several promotions I would...
Prospect A-Z continued its farewell week with Padres outfielder Yoan Alcantara. His career is in flux right now because of an identity fraud scandal that was exposed this offseason. A scout and trainer bribed a contracted investigator working for Major League Baseball to check Alcantara’s background, and this allowed him to pass and receive his signing bonus. At his age with his performance in the AZL, he looked like a really good prospect, but...
2012 05 14 Scranton Wilks Barre/ Empire State Yankees vs Pawtucket Red Sox
