Minor League RamblingsFor the week of :
May 24, 2004

Weekly HOT - COLD Report
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Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

 

Who's Hot and Who's Cold
May 25,  2004

This week's HOT - COLD report will give the "cold" players a break and focus strictly on a baker's dozen of "hot" performers who have yet to make our weekly list.

HOT 

  1. Joe Borchard, OF - Chicago White Sox (Charlotte AAA International League) - One of our former COLD guys turned it up this week. The switch-hitter homered three times in one game, including two long bombs in the ninth inning. Borchard is now hitting .275/.333/.503, with eight homers in 149 ABs. He's also becoming a little more selective at the plate, a skill that can only help him get back to the big leagues.
  2. John Van Benschoten, SP – Pittsburgh (Nashville, AAA Pacific Coast League) – Another player who's been a recent COLD list occupant has turned around his season with four consecutive strong starts. He still has yet to record a victory this year and his ERA hovers just over the 5.00 mark, but JVB is on the right track.
  3. Xavier Nady, OF/1B – San Diego (Portland, AAA Pacific Coast League) – Nady is making a strong case to get back into a big league uniform with a good week that boosted his offensive numbers to .356/.429/.529.
  4. Gavin Floyd, SP – Philadelphia (Reading, AA Eastern League) – Philly's top pitching prospect took a no-hitter through eight innings this week, but didn't get a chance to finish the no-no. After eight starts, the 21-year-old right-hander is 2-2 with a 1.76 ERA. I'm sure we'd all like to see better command (31/16 K/BB rate), but it's been a good growth season for the former first round choice.
  5. Nathan Schierholtz, 3B - San Francisco (Hagerstown, A South Atlantic League) - The left-handed hitting second year pro continues to overachieve. He took a three-game homer streak into the week, and is now hitting .324/.364/.430, with 12 homeruns in 173 ABs. Keep an eye on this one.
  6. Shawn Riggans, C – Tampa Bay (Bakersfield, A California League) – He's not a highly ranked prospect, but the right-handed hitting Riggans is raking in Bakersfield (.383/.450/.570). He's drawn 13 walks in 109 ABs.
  7. John Danks, P - Texas (Clinton, A Midwest League) - This teenaged southpaw is one of the more advanced pitchers for his age. Working both as a starter and out of the bullpen for the Rangers' Clinton, Iowa affiliate, Danks has a sharp 46/7 K/BB ratio in 34 IPs, with an ERA of 1.59.
  8. Joey Gathright, OF - Montgomery (Montgomery, AA Southern League) - One of the fastest men in baseball had a 5 for 5 game this week, helping to get his numbers up to .364/.423/.434. He's got 10 stolen bases in 30 games. If Gathright would put the ball in play just a little more often (29 strikeouts so far), he'd be making a run for .400.
  9. Matt Cain, SP - San Francisco (San Jose, A California League) - The Giants' 2002 #1 pick is making up for an injury-plagued 2003 season. His performance in the High A Cal League is especially impressive considering his relative lack of pro experience. Cain is 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA, and has fanned 54 in 48.2 IPs.
  10. Erick Almonte, 2B - Colorado (Colorado Springs, AAA Pacific Coast League) - The former Yankee can't be too far away from a call-up to Coors Field. He's hitting .339/.435/.619, with nine homeruns in 118 ABs. Almonte has never been known for his plate discipline, so the 24/20 K/BB ratio is a nice sign.
  11. Bobby Brownlie, SP - Chicago Cubs (West Tennessee, AA Southern League) - Former first rounder Brownlie had a strong outing this week, giving up three hits and one run in seven innings. He's now 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA.
  12. Jeff Baker, 3B - Colorado (Visalia, A California League) - The Rockies' premier hitting prospect went on a tear in the last week, batting around .500. He's now hitting .326/.422/.500.
  13. Blaine Boyer, SP - Atlanta (Myrtle Beach, A Carolina League) - This week's "hot" Atlanta pitching prospect pitched 8.1 scoreless innings in his most recent start. The right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA.

 

COLD 

Back next week!

--- Bill Mitchell
 

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