Can Luke Hughes keep up his power numbers?
|
Before we get in to the names to know this week, there is one promotion of note involving a stud prospect – Nick Adenhart has made his major league debut. In Focus has more on this, but his first outing did not exactly go well. He might not be here to stick this time, but he will be back.
23-year-old Australian slugger Luke Hughes is ripping it up right now in the Double-A Eastern League, leading the league in home runs (9) and OPS (1.138). Along with those numbers, Hughes has a .378 batting average, seven doubles, two triples, 20 RBI, and 28 runs scored in 119 at-bats. While not exactly a speedster, Hughes knows when to and when not to run, and he has swiped successfully four bases in four attempts. He is hot, but is he for real? He is repeating in the league, and that is always a surefire way to see overly inflated numbers. Also, he has never hit more than nine home runs at any level in a season, so his total now is already a high-water mark.
Add another pitcher from the Orioles to the must-watch list. Jason Berken is putting together one of the most impressive strikeout-to-walk ratios in the minors so far this season, as he has struck out 32 and walked only three in 32 2/3 innings. Overall, through six starts, Berken is 2-2 with a 2.48 ERA, and he is holding the opposition to a .248 batting average. The 24-year-old Berken is on track to hit the majors at some point this season.
In our weekly look at what Matt LaPorta is doing, because it seems absurd at this point that he is still in Double-A. Already having an excellent season, LaPorta has been a tear over the last ten games, hitting .421 with five home runs, fifteen RBI, and sixteen runs scored. Overall for the season, LaPorta is hitting .333 with nine home runs, 32 RBI, and 27 runs scored. LaPorta has struck out only 19 times in 102 at-bats while also drawing 15 walks, giving him an on base percentage of .431. While the Brewers do not want to rush him, at this point leaving him in Double-A just seems silly.
Daryl Thompson was roughed up bad in his last start – he allowed a run. Yes, in the world Daryl Thompson inhabits right now, that is getting roughed up. Through six starts, the Reds’ Double-A pitching phenom is 2-1 with a 0.72 ERA. Over 37 1/3 innings, Thompson has struck out 42 and walked only five, with a batting average against of only .194. While Thompson has been around for a while now, having been in the 2003 draft class of the Montreal Expos – their last draft as the Expos – Thompson is still only 22 years old. Acquired in the trade sending Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to the Nationals, Thompson might just redeem that trade after all for the Reds.
On April 23, Edward Cegarra threw a walk. It was his first. It was his last. No, he is not a reliever. Over six appearances, five as a starter (with his one relief outing being a four inning outing), Cegarra has pitched 34 innings, struck out 37 and walked just one. The 19-year-old from Venezuela is currently 1-2 with a 2.12 ERA with opponents hitting .213 against him. While some of his success has to do with his returning to the Midwest League, that does not explain how he simply is not throwing any walks. This level of control is simply unreal.
While not as spectacular, Anthony Carter has allowed all of four walks in his 33 innings in the South Atlantic League, while striking out 37 in 33 innings. The White Sox drafted Carter in the 26th round of the 2005, and this is his first time in a full-season league. The now-22-year-old Carter is currently 3-0 with a 1.36 ERA, and opposing batters are hitting only .181. In his last two starts, Carter has allowed seven hits, no walks, no runs, and he has struck out 12 in ten innings.
Want a power hitting shortstop? Check out the Reds’ Chris Valaika, who is currently hitting .383 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 128 at-bats. He has been red hot over his last ten, with a .489 batting average, four home runs, fourteen RBI, and nine runs in 45 at-bats. The 2006 third round selection of the Reds, Valaika was impressive in the Midwest League last year before struggling in 57 games in the Florida State League, hence his return to open this year. He should not be there for much longer.
The Giants’ Ben Snyder is coming off his best start of the season, a six-inning shutout on May 1 in High Desert. Snyder allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out ten. Overall, Snyder is 3-0 with a 1.02 ERA in six starts in the California League, with 33 strikeouts and four walks in 35 1/3 innings, with the opposition held to a .192 batting average. Only one of those hits has left the yard. Snyder is coming off an impressive season in the South Atlantic League in 2007, where he was 16-5 with a 2.09 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 145:32.
That wraps up our prospect spotlight for this week – next week, more names and news you need to know from the minors!
