Jesus Montero, the Yankees' catcher of the future.

Another week, another Monday – a depressing thought, I know. We here at SG though do not think of Mondays as a bad thing, but as a good thing, as it brings another look at life down on the farm.

The top catching prospect in the Yankees’ organization, Jesus Montero, has started out the season in the Low-A South Atlantic League, but he might not stay there for long the way he is hitting right now. In ten games, Montero is hitting .349 with two home runs, ten RBI, and ten runs scored. This is the 19-year-old catcher’s first exposure to full season baseball, so the Yankees are in no rush to push him along – look for him to be on track to debut in the majors in the next decade.

Also having a hot start in Charleston is third baseman Justin Snyder. A 21st round pick from the 2007 draft, Snyder had an impressive debut in the New York/Penn League after signing, hitting .335 with five home runs, 40 RBI, 68 runs scored, 10 stolen bases (albeit in 20 attempts), and, hinting at more power, 20 doubles. This year, Snyder has 16 hits in his first 36 at-bats, good for a .444 batting average, with one home run, seven RBI, eight runs, two stolen bases (in two attempts), and four doubles. Want some plate discipline in your prospects? Okay – how about more walks than strikeouts both last year and so far this year. Snyder is someone we will be keeping an eye on.

One last South Atlantic League name to know is pitcher Dellin Betances, also with the Yankees. Betances is 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA, with opposing batters hitting only .152 against him. In 10 1/3 innings, Betances has 16 strikeouts, although he did walk six in his second outing – not exactly great control, but he is one of the better arms in the system and should settle down in his next start.

Switching over to the Midwest League, the league leader in strikeouts so far is Jeremy Hefner. A fifth-round selection by the Padres in the 2007 draft out of Oral Roberts, Hefner is 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA in three appearances, two as a starter. In 12 1/3 innings, Hefner has allowed seven hits, three walks, and one earned run, and he has struck out 17. The now 22-year-old Hefner should not stay in the Midwest League for too long, and we would be shocked if he does not finish the season at least in High-A.

Nicholas Additon put up some impressive control numbers in the Appy League last year, with 61 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 52 2/3 innings, and he has continued to build upon that early on this season in the Midwest League. In two appearances, Additon has pitched nine innings, allowing four hits, one walk, and one earned run, and he has struck out 15.

Last year was an impressive one for Antonio Bastardo in the South Atlantic League, as he was 9-0 with a 1.87 ERA and a 98:42 K/BB ratio over 91 2/3 innings. Opposing batters hit only .189 against Bastardo. This year, Bastardo has moved up to the Florida State League, and he continues to impress. In two starts, Bastardo is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA, and he has allowed ten hits and five walks while striking out 17. The 22-year-old Bastardo should find his way up to Double-A at some point this season and he should be on your radar now.

Jeremy Hellickson is just one of the many pitching names in the Rays’ organization that you should be watching this year. How has his Florida State League debut gone so far? Two starts, a 1-0 record, a 1.64 ERA, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10:1 in 11 innings. If not for the presence of Jake McGee, Wade Davis, and David Price, Hellickson would be generating a lot more hype – he will soon enough, though.

Marlins’ first baseman Logan Morrison did not hit for average last year in the Sally League, hitting just .267, but he certainly hit for power, with 24 home runs, 22 doubles, and 86 RBI. This year, now up in the Florida State League, Morrison is hitting for both power and average early on. Through the first nine games, Morrison is hitting .371 with two home runs, two doubles, three runs scored, and seven RBI. Strikeouts had been an issue for Morrison last year, but he has just two strikeouts, along with two walks, in his first 35 at-bats.

Tommy Hanson kicked off the 2008 season in style – five no-hit innings with one walk and thirteen strikeouts. His second outing was not as impressive – what could be? – but it was still pretty darned good, as he allowed just one hit, and still no runs, while walking two and striking out seven in six innings. Overall, in 11 innings, Hanson has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 20:3 with a batting average against of .030. Hanson does not turn even turn 22 until the end of August, and he should be in at least Double-A by then. Hanson should compete for a spot in the rotation as soon as next spring.

One last player to check out this week – Baltimore’s Matt Wieters, the catcher of tomorrow in Camden that is trying to prove that tomorrow there literally means tomorrow. In eight games with the Frederick Keys so far, Wieters is hitting .524 in 21 at-bats with three home runs, one double, one stolen base, seven RBI, and eight runs scored. He has also walked seven times while striking out just twice, giving him an on-base percentage over .600.

That wraps up this week on the farm – next week, we will return to the higher levels, checking back in on the action in Double-A and Triple-A.