James McOwen is a guy who has been on our radar since way back in 2009, when he put together a California League record 45-game hitting streak while playing for Seattle’s affiliate in High Desert. This earned him a permanent spot in our ever-evolving pantheon of favorite players, so when I saw he had been released by the Mariners at the end of spring training and picked up by the Long Island Ducks, I...
In an effort to milk this list as much as possible, I made a post that has all 100 prospects in just one list with their Opening Day assignments. At the bottom, I have a handful of stats that show the distribution of the top 100 by organization, position and classification. 1. Bryce Harper, OF, Washington- Syracuse (AAA, International) 2. Matt Moore, LHP, Tampa Bay- Tampa Bay (MLB, AL) 3. Mike Trout, OF, Anaheim-...
No, not that Cassel. This is not an NFL news site. (Not yet, anyway.) The Cassel in question is actually Justin, the seventh round pick of the Chicago White Sox in the 2006 draft. Justin, of course, is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Matt* and former MLB pitcher Jack**. The Atlantic League’s Somerset Patriots (“the Five-Time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots” as they like to be called) announced on Tuesday that they have...
Welcome to Bus Leagues Express. Every morning, you’ll be able to stop here for a quick summary of the previous day’s minor league action, what’s to come, and interesting links the staff wants to share. While you’re eating cereal getting ready for the day, you can check out the notable stories from each league and some of the top performers at the plate and on the mound. Since this is the first day of...
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...
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...
Last week, I saw a story about how the Southern League’s new team, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, had capped season ticket sales after early demand for them soared through the roof. I emailed Mike about it, wondering if he might have some insight into the situation there. He didn’t have anything firm, just some ideas, but ultimately suggested I call up the team and talk to them about it. So I did. Blue Wahoos...
Our second international free agent was profiled in Prospect A-Z yesterday with Nippon Ham righty Yu Darvish. The Rangers won the posting auction for exclusive negotiating rights with him, and it seems likely that a deal will get done at the end of the negotiating window. They’re a team in need of pitching after losing Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson in free agency in consecutive years, and Darvish has the potential to be a...
I hope everyone had a good holiday. Last week, Prospect A-Z wrapped up with Tyler Skaggs, the lefty Arizona received from Anaheim in the Dan Haren trade during the 2010 season. Skaggs has emerged as a very good pitching prospect and has advanced through the minors quickly. Just three years after he was drafted by the Angels, Skaggs could make his ML debut sometime in 2012. He was a part of a rotation at...
Prospect A-Z returned to the Rangers organization with lefty starter Robbie Ross. He’s one of a few upper minors starters the Rangers have left after trading Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland to the Padres at the deadline, but it’s still a deep system, especially in the lower levels. Ross has the potential to start, but with a solid major league rotation and an organization with a lot of pitcher depth, he could do very...
2012 05 14 Scranton Wilks Barre/ Empire State Yankees vs Pawtucket Red Sox
