Heath Rollins, Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

In a system desperate for quality arms, the Rays have to love Rollins’ story so far this year. An 11th round selection, 319th overall, Rollins is 6-0 with a 1.04 ERA through ten starts this year with the Columbus Catfish in the South Atlantic (Sally) League. Over 60 1/3 innings, Rollins has struck out 66 while walking just 14 and the opposition is hitting just .171 against him. All of those are very nice numbers indeed, but nowhere near the gaudiest. Try this – 38 innings without allowing an earned run. That’s right, 38 innings. Rollins allowed earned runs in his first start, his second start, and would not allow another one until his ninth start. Oh, and his last start was six scoreless innings. His control has also gotten better as the season has gone on, with just one walk in his last four starts, while at the same time he struck out 27. That’s domination. While the Rays would probably like to be cautious with their pitching prospects – too many young arms have paid the price already for Rays’ impatience in the past – the Rays will have to push Rollins further up the ladder at some point this year.

Brandon Hynick, Starting Pitcher, Colorado Rockies

Another pitcher from the 2006 draft, Hynick was selected in the eighth round, 228th overall, by the Rockies, and he spent last year in the Pioneer League, where he was named the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year after going 4-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 12 starts, striking out 70 while walking just eight in 64 innings. This year, Hynick in the High-A California League, pitching for the Modesto Nuts. Through ten starts, Hynick is 8-0 with a 1.43 ERA, striking out 51 while walking just seven through 69 innings. Opponents have hit just .204 against him so far this year. Hynick already has two complete games and has gone at least seven innings in six of his starts, including the last three. Oh, and you think Rollins’ 38 inning scoreless streak was impressive? Hynick did not allow an earned run until his 40th inning of the season. Hynick was roughed up in his second-to-last start, as he allowed six runs to San Jose, which are two more runs allowed than his previous eight starts. However, he bounced right back in his last start to hold the Visalia Oaks to one earned run in a complete game win, as he allowed just seven hits and no walks while striking out eight.

Cory Van Allen, Starting Pitcher, Washington Nationals

For a system in desperate need of pitching, they sure did not make pitching that could arrive in the majors quickly a priority in the 2006 draft, as the first three arms they selected were all high school kids. The fourth one though was Van Allen here, a lefthander out of Baylor. Van Allen spent last summer in Vermont – and really, who wouldn’t want to do that? – and he is pitching with the Hagerstown Suns in the Sally League this year. Van Allen’s control has been quite impressive, with 42 strikeouts and just four walks allowed in 43 2/3 innings, but he is simply too hittable at this point in his career, with a .302 batting average against. While he has just one walk allowed in his last two starts, he has also allowed 16 hits and eight earned runs in the ten innings, five each, over those two starts. Do not expect him up anytime soon, even with the urgent need for pitching at the higher levels in this system, although his control numbers at least make him someone to remember.

Caleb Stewart, Outfielder, New York Mets

I have yet to cover a hitter today, and I have never covered a guy named Caleb, so this is a perfect fit, killing two birds with one stone here. Stewart is hitting .340 on the season for the Double-A Binghamton Mets in the Eastern League with eight homers, 35 RBI, and 28 runs over 147 at-bats – decent numbers, but nothing really special. What does make him special is what he has done over the last ten games, hitting .462 with four homers, 15 RBI, and 15 runs. Not exactly a stud prospect, having been a 22nd-rounder in the 2004 draft, this is our little chance to show Stewart some love.

Carl Loadenthal, Outfielder, Atlanta Braves

A nondrafted free agent signed by the Braves in the summer of 2003, Loadenthal’s calling card is his speed, and he swiped 30 bags in 40 attempts last year while hitting .305 with eight homers and 52 RBI. This year, Loadenthal is leading the Double-A Southern League in stolen bases with 18. At the plate, Loadenthal is hitting .308 in 172 at-bats with 11 RBI and 23 runs, and he has yet to pick up a homer. Loadenthal walked almost as often as he struck out last year, and that has continued this year, as he has 23 strikeouts and 22 walks on the season. Unfortunately for Loadenthal, he is 25 and has yet to even sniff the air at the major league level. If he ever is going to, it is probably not going to happen in Atlanta, where they already have plenty of more talented outfield prospects to go to before him. Loadenthal is unfortunately yet another player that can run in the minors but really not do a whole lot else.

Josh Anderson, Outfielder, Houston Astros

Like Loadenthal, Anderson’s primary calling card is his speed. Unlike Loadenthal, Anderson is farther along in his team’s organizational ranks, as he is currently playing for Triple-A Round Rock in the Pacific Coast League after hitting .308 last year with 43 stolen bases, three homers, 50 RBI, and 83 runs last year for Double-A Corpus Christi. This year has been a struggle for Anderson as he is currently hitting just .261, and just .235 over his last ten games. During the rough stretch, Anderson has no homers, just four RBI and three runs, and only one stolen base. With Anderson’s speed, one would look for him to be a top of the rotation type of player, but he also has just one walk during this slump. Still 24, Anderson still has a little time to make it to the majors, but he will need to seriously start turning around his season if he is going to have any hope of a September cup of coffee in the bigs.

John Van Benschoten, Starting Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Van Banschoten’s career was derailed by injuries, and he is trying to turn things around in Triple-A with the Indianapolis Indians. The good news is his overall record, where he is 5-3 with a 2.56 ERA through ten starts. The bad is his control, as he has 36 strikeouts and 24 walks in 56 1/3 innings. Van Benschoten has allowed at least three walks in each of his last three starts and in five of his last six. He will need to get those walks under control before the Pirates bring him up to the majors, but they have to be anxious to see something out of their 2001 first rounder beyond just a handful of appearances back in 2004 before the injuries shut him down.

William Inman, Starting Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers

Yep, another Inman update – we’ll keep this up until the Brewers realize that he needs to be moved up to Double-A, as the Florida State League is a joke to him. Here are the numbers from Inman’s last start – six innings, three hits, one walk, one earned run, and 12 strikeouts. His current K/BB ratio is 77:15 over 59 2/3 innings. I think it’s save to move him up the ranks.

Have a question or comment for Mark? Send it to markhaverty@sportsgrumblings.com