How soon will Alan Horne be in the Bronx?

The minor league season is underway, so we finally have some real, meaningful numbers to play with!

Okay, not completely meaningful, as so much is blown out of proportion considering that this is the beginning of the year, making big stats bigger and small stats more painful. Still, there is something to be said for getting off to a good start…

With that in mind, our first good starter is Tigers’ prospect Jeff Larish. Larish is currently in Triple-A Toledo, and he is crushing the ball so far. Through four games, Larish is hitting .313 with three runs, seven RBI, and three home runs through his first four games. While Carlos Guillen currently blocks him in the majors, Guillen has never proven to be incredibly durable, giving Larish some window of opportunity for a debut this season.

Staying in the International League, Josh Anderson is out to prove the Braves wrong by demoting him. Anderson already has five hits in his first thirteen at-bats, and he has stolen two bases. Like Larish, Anderson’s obstacle in the majors – Mark Kotsay – is simply not durable, and Anderson is going to make a case for himself when that window opens. Next time around, he should stick – at the very least, Anderson should be an above-average fourth outfielder, and has the potential to stick around like a Dave Roberts, as a speedy outfielder that occasionally is a starter.

Homer Bailey made his first start back in the minors, and it was a mixed bag. On the positive side of things, Bailey allowed just five hits, one walk, and one earned run in seven innings. The negative, however, is that he only struck out two. Bailey is going to need to get back in strikeout mode before the Reds bring him back. Considering how well Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez are pitching, there is no rush.

Alan Horne, the top pitching prospect still in the minors for the Yankees, made his Triple-A debut, and he won after allowing five hits, two walks, and two earned runs in six innings, and he struck out six. The Mike Mussina situation is getting uglier by the day, and the Yankees are hesitant to move Joba Chamberlain from the pen where he has been so dominant – Horne could be up sooner than expected.

Heading down to Double-A, Greg Golson probably stole a base while I was typing his name. Through four games, Golson is 5-for-18, good for a .278 batting average, with five stolen bases. The downside here is that he has struck out four times while not drawing a walk, and he is coming off a season that saw him rack up 173 strikeouts and walk only 23 times. Golson is going to need to learn significantly more patience at the plate if he is going to be in the majors someday.

Daniel McCutchen spent most of 2007 in High-A, but he finished the season in Double-A with seven strong starts. He returns there to open up the 2008 season, and he looked very good in his first outing. In five shutout innings, McCutchen allowed three hits and three walks, and he struck out seven. With the plethora of quality young arms already in the system, the Yankees will not rush McCutchen, as there is simply no need, so he is likely to remain in Trenton for much of the season, but he is someone to watch with 2009 in mind.

Cameron Maybin has returned to the minors and is playing like a man possessed. Through four games, Maybin has 14 total bases, having gone 6-for-13 with a triple, two homers, four RBI, three runs, and four walks. That gives Maybin a .462 batting average, .588 OBP, and 1.077 SLG. Maybin will not be in the Southern League for long at all.

Speaking of those that will not be hanging around the Southern League for much longer, Rays stud pitcher Jake McGee lit up the Chattanooga Lookouts in his first outing. While the Lookouts were able to manage three hits and a run off McGee, he also surrendered no free bags and struck out seven. McGee will make his major league debut at some point this year.

A name to watch down in the Double-A Texas League is Astros’ prospect Bud Norris, pitching for the Corpus Christi Hooks. Norris struck out 119 in 102 2/3 minor league innings last year, and the 23-year-old Norris is making his Double-A debut this season. In his first outing, Norris pitched five scoreless innings, holding the Tulsa Drillers to five hits and one walk while striking out eight. Strikeout numbers like that will get you noticed quickly…

Do not get too excited yet about Jon Still’s amazing start in High-A, where he has four home runs in his first four games. Lancaster is a launching pad, so it would be a disappointment if he were not putting up power numbers. Maybe not four homers though…

The Athletics loaded the Stockton Ports with the bounties from the trades Billy Beane made this offseason. Brett Anderson impressed in his first start for the organization, as he pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six in the win. Anderson will not stay in High-A for long. Fautino de los Santos was not as fortunate in his first outing, as he allowed two runs in his debut, earning him a loss, but five hits, one walk, and two earned runs in six innings is far from a poor outing, and he too struck out six. Not to be shown up by the newcomers, Trevor Cahill showed why the Athletics love him by dominating in his first outing, as he tossed seven scoreless against the Modesto Nuts, holding the Nuts to only two hits while striking out four and walking none. This trio is going to be quite impressive when they finally arrive – this is your next Athletics “big three.”

That wraps up the Farm Report for this week. Next week, more fun with numbers as we run through the latest with the best and brightest of baseball’s minors.