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| Since returning to Triple-A Omaha Butler is hitting just .231 |
Well, one more watch ends – the Yovani Gallardo watch, that is. The Brewers have made the call down to Triple-A Indianapolis, and he will be available out of the bullpen this weekend if needed. If he does not pitch in relief this weekend, though, he could be the starter on Monday. Gallardo had made 13 starts for Triple-A Nashville before his call-up and he posted a mark of 8-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Over 77 2/3 innings, Gallardo struck out 110 while walking just 28, and opposing batters hit just .189 against him. The one issue with Gallardo has been his ability to go deep into the game, and in his last four starts he has pitched past the sixth inning just once and had been removed before completing six twice. The high pitch counts that come with his ridiculous strikeout numbers of course were a part of that, and he will need to learn how to pitch rather than hurl the ball across the plate and hope they miss.
Now, some buzzworthy minor leaguers for this week that are actually still in the minor leagues…
Ian Stewart, Third Base, Colorado Rockies – Entering this season, it looked like Garrett Atkins had finally proven that he was ready to be the regular everyday Major League third baseman, and Ian Stewart had played so poorly in 2006 that he was not going to be a challenge at all. So much has changed in just a short time. While Atkins closed out the series with the Red Sox big, going 3-for-5 with a grand slam, he has largely been a disappointment this year, with a .242 batting average, five homers, and 28 RBI. Meanwhile, in Triple-A, Stewart is hitting .306 with nine homers, 38 RBI, and 43 runs in 229 at-bats. He has been especially hot over the last ten games, hitting .310 with six homers, 13 RBI, and 10 runs. While the Rockies are not likely to make a change soon, Stewart is clearly looking once again like the third baseman of the future, and Atkins is looking more like trade bait or a role player.
Jay Bruce, Outfield, Cincinnati Reds – The top offensive prospect in the Reds’ system, Bruce is currently with Sarasota in the Florida State League, where he is hitting .324 with 10 homers, 47 RBI, and 45 runs in 256 at-bats. Showing signs of additional power in the future as he continues to develop, Bruce has 26 doubles on the season, ten in his last ten games. Bruce is still at least a couple of years away, and he did just barely turn 20, but he is one to keep a close eye on.
Billy Butler, Outfield/Designated Hitter, Kansas City Royals – If Butler’s plan was to go down to Triple-A, crush the ball, and show the Royals that sending him back to the minors was a great mistake, he is failing at that. In his last ten games with the Omaha Royals, Butler is hitting just .231, although he does at least have three homers in the span. His patience is still there, with as many walks as he has strikeouts, but he is going to need to turn that average around significantly before the Royals want to bring him back.
Andrew McCutchen, Outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates – There had been the concern that the Pirates were pushing McCutchen too quickly, and the 20-year-old’s performance in April backed that up, as he hit just .189 for the month, but he has started to turn things around since then, hitting .230 and May and .314 so far in June. McCutchen will be fine, and there is no reason to believe that he will not be challenging for a starting position in Spring Training in 2008.
Chase Headley, Third Base, San Diego Padres – A second-round selection of the Padres in the 2005 draft, Headley had a solid but unspectacular season in the California League last year, hitting .291 with 12 homers, 73 RBI, and 79 runs. This year though has been far from unspectacular though, as he is hitting .357 with 13 homers, 42 RBI, and 45 runs in 227 at-bats in the Double-A Texas League. Over the last ten games, Headley has been on fire, hitting .457 with five homers, nine RBI, and eight runs. If he keeps this up, he is going to make the Josh Barfield for Kevin Kouzmanoff trade look even sillier than it already does, as this could have been their long-term answer at the hot corner without giving up their stud young second baseman.
Manny Parra, Starting Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers – With Gallardo up in the bigs, Parra becomes the next stud pitcher in the Brewers system to be on the watch for. Parra is currently ripping it up for the Huntsville Stars in the Double-A Southern League, as he is 7-3 with a 2.68 ERA. Over 80 2/3 innings, Parra has struck out 81 while walking 26, and opposing batters are hitting .234 against him. The 24-year-old Parra could see himself in the majors this year, coming out of pen and making a spot start or two, but he is not in the same class as Gallardo or Will Inman, making his long-term value, at least in this system, limited.
Have a question or comment for Mark? Email him at markhaverty@sportsgrumblings.com
