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Another quick one with a high threshold for inclusion. I'll have details on my live look at Taijuan Walker (Mariners) and Hayden Simpson (Cubs) later in the day.

  • Dustin Ackley, 2B, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 0-for-2, 3 BB, R, SB. 13 walks in last ten games but just seven hits leads to weird season-line of .211/.353/.325; with a career batting average of .257 can we stop acting like his some sort of guaranteed .300 hitter in the big leagues?
  • Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants (Triple-A Fresno): 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, K. Pushing for another look; .462/.560/.744 in 12 games.
  • Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley): 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB. He'll be back soon, and deservedly so.
  • Matt Bush, RHP, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Nine strikeouts over 4.1 innings in last three appearances; Can miss bats, but futures will come down to control.
  • Paul Clemens, RHP, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Under-the-radar arm getting high marks from scouts for his pitchability and tenacity; 2.08 ERA in six starts.
  • Doug Davis, RHP, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Exceptionally sharp in first start of season; still could be solid back-end starter in the end.
  • Corey Dickerson, OF, Rockies (Low-A Asheville): 4-for-4, 2 2B, 2 HR (5), 3 R, 2 RBI. Big, athletic sleeper raises OPS 164 points in one night; up to .299/.365/.584.
  • Derek Dietrich, SS, Rays (Low-A Bowling Green): 2-for-4, HR (5), 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 K. Has some of the best numbers in the Midwest League at .319/.373/.625, but doesn't really belong at this level.
  • Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile): 2-for-5, HR (10), R, 2RBI, 2 K. First home run in ten games; still at .337/.487/.730 overall.
  • Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 1-for-3, HR (7), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB. 21-for-45 (.467) with seven doubles and six home runs in his last 13 games; .357/.455/.702 line could make him the youngest player at High-A soon.
  • Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays (Triple-A Durham): 3-for-5, 2B, R, RBI, K. On-base 14 times in last six games and up to .288/.405/.433; the whole Sam Fuld thing was adorable while it lasted; Jennings makes the team better right now.
  • Junior Lake, SS, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 3-for-5, 3B, HR (2), 2 R, 3 RBI, K. Always had plenty of tools, but any excitement over .311/.312/.491 line is tempered by 106 at-bats and zero walks.
  • Manny Machado, SS, Orioles (Low-A Delmarva): 0-for-0, BB. Left game with knee injury; getting checked out today.
  • Deck McGuire, RHP, Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Best start as pro and career high in Ks; 2.93 ERA but disturbing fly ball tendencies are worrisome once he leaves the Florida State League.
  • Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays (Low-A Lansing): 2-for-4, HR (4), R, 3 RBI, K, SB. Up to .344/.434/.563 and this is starting to look more and more like a real breakout.
  • Tyler Matzek, LHP, Rockies (High-A Modesto): 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 2 K. Going back to old mechanics has not led to expected turnaround; be concerned here.
  • Mike Minor, LHP, Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 6 K. Doing something like this every time out; no room at the inn in Atlanta.
  • Kyle Seager, 2B, Mariners (Double-A Jackson): 2-for-2, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB, CS. Six double in last four games and .337/.385/.485 overall; kid can really hit, other tools just OK.
  • Tyler Townsend, 1B, Orioles (High-A Frederick): 2-for-4, HR (5), R, 3 RBI, K, CS. 14-for-30 in last seven games and .348/.375/.652 overall; definitely can hit, but has to as a bat-only prospect.
  • Dayan Viciedo, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): Easy to forget he's only 22; 10-for-21 in last five games and .286/.315/.467 overall.
  • Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Braves (High-A Lynchburg): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Return from back spasms; plan was one inning only.
  • Tim Wheeler, OF, Rockies (Double-A Tulsa): 2-for-2, 2 2B, R, 2 BB, SB. Former first-round pick has solid tools across the board and is rebounding well from disappointing 2010 season; .292/.373/.615 in 25 games.
  • Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (Low-A Greensboro): 3-for-3, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB. Hitting .340 in his last 12 games and .273/.360/.432 overall.

Thank you for reading

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batts40
5/06
I've said it before, but this is something I look forward to every day, and it never disappoints. Thanks for the good work, Kevin.
kgoldstein
5/06
Glad you think so.
sam19041
5/06
Totally agree.

Kevin, Zack Cozart has had a little hot streak. Has he turned the corner and does he have a role in CIN before Billy Hamilton?
rgmoore68
5/06
I thought Harper might take a few more lumps than this in full season ball. How does his timetable compare to some of the Latin guys that came up young, like Cabrera and Andruw Jones?
kgoldstein
5/06
Always thought he'd be up before 21, could be light on that.
hisownfool
5/06
Forgive me if you already know this but his absurdly hot streak coincides with his getting properly fitted for contact lenses. He wore them for a while in high school but stopped because they bothered him. Now, he says, he ses the ball better than he ever has.
holgado
5/06
Frightening to think he did what he did in JuCo with something less than 20/20!
timber
5/06
Yes, we can quit saying that about Ackley. But I never felt the hype in the first place.
georgeforeman03
5/06
Do the Braves have any prospects that aren't SPs or SSs?

Not that I'm complaining. :-)
kgoldstein
5/06
Funny thing is, the answer might be no.
gilgamesh
5/06
Along those lines, what do you think Salcedo's destination is then (presuming he is starting MLB calibre)?
kgoldstein
5/06
I do like him, and think he's a 3B.
garethbluejays2
5/06
Exactly how long does it take to read and digest every box score in the Minors? And how many hours sleep do you get each night?
GregLowder
5/06
I can tell you it takes me a solid hour to click through them all and that's not writing down any notes, not researching many players during the process ("Oh, player XYZ when 3 for 5 with 2 homers tonight, what are his splits on the year?"), and know about 12.2% of the players that Kevin knows. I'm guessing it takes him at least 2 hours.

Another question to KG: do you go by league: AAA, then AA, then A+ etc or do you search out specific games or specific teams?
kgoldstein
5/06
I go through every box score, and I have some access to things, that unfortunately, you don't. Basically I have every box score per league on a single page, so it's just 10 clicks.
mdangelfan
5/07
I have access to something similar. All something I set up myself, for free. It involves downloading gameday data. Joe Adler's book Baseball Hacks is an incredible resource.
kgoldstein
5/06
I sleep from like 2-3 to 10 or so.
tcfatone
5/06
No love for Eric Young Jr.? The guy gets two hits a game, walks a bunch and is still buried.
SGreenwell
5/06
He's a fringe 2B prospect who is mashing in a park that anyone with a pulse normally mashes in.
tcfatone
5/06
Except:

Eric Young Jr. 2011 Road Games: .391 AVG, 1.115 OPS
kgoldstein
5/06
I guess I'm not sure what I'd write, other than "We know what this is."
tcfatone
5/06
Over/Under on Harper's first big league AB. September 2012? June 2013?
wilk75
5/07
June 2013 sounds about right.
batts40
5/07
I'll take the under.
tcfatone
5/06
Teheran gets the start Saturday vs. the Phils.
moehk21
5/06
Hey Kevin, thanks for your work everyday.

I was wondering what you think the problem is with Billy Hamilton? Shouldn't he be able to "Juan Pierre" hit his way to a .280+ average? Is this an aberration or did he change something about the way he hits? I hope last year's .318 wasn't a fluke. Additionally if his OBP is at .300 how in the WORLD does the guy have 21 steals (4 CS) in 25 games? If he hit .300 that means he'd steal over one a game right?
kgoldstein
5/06
He still has a lot of adjustments to make, no question about it. As for the 21 SB, so often in the box score he's getting on first and then stealing second AND third. It's kind of funny.
gobraves123
5/07
Kevin, not that you need more prospects to write about, but I'd love a comment on Mauro Gomez of the Braves when you get a chance. He's leading the International League in hitting now that Scott Sizemore has been promoted, and slugging .644. And he homered again tonight.

He's been to six-year free agency and back, but he's still just 25. Are we looking at a prospect, or the next Barbaro Canizares?