1. Brad Eldred, 1b, Pirates (Double-A Altoona)

On Tuesday, he homered. On Wednesday, he homered. On Thursday, he did not homer, but he had an excuse, as his team was off. Maybe he took some batting practice and homered or something -- I don't know. On Friday, he homered. On Saturday, he homered. On Sunday he homered, then on Monday, he homered . . . twice. On Tuesday, he was promoted to Triple-A. The end.

 

2. Matt Cain, rhp, Giants (Triple-A Fresno)

Took a no-hitter into the eighth in his last start, and has allowed just 10 hits on the season in 25 2/3 innings. Take into account that he's 20 and in the Pacific Coast League and he may be the best pitching prospect in baseball not named Felix.

 

3. Sean Gallagher, rhp, Cubs (Low Class A Peoria)

Fired six no-hit innings on Sunday, just 11 days after another six-inning, no-hit outing. In between those two starts, he allowed two hits in 6 1/3 shutout innings, striking out 10. His ERA in 29 innings: 0.00.

 

4. Howie Kendrick, 2b, Angels (High Class A Rancho Cucamonga)

Seemingly bored with only hitting .400 (.407 to be exact), Kendrick has now added power to his game, smacking four home runs last week to give him eight on the season. Now leads the minor leagues in hits (44), runs (33), and total bases (78).

 

5. Anibal Sanchez, rhp, Red Sox (High Class A Wilmington)

In five starts covering 26 innings, Sanchez has struck out a minor league-leading 44 batters while walking one. For the mathematically-challenged, that's a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 44/1. Want more ridiculousness? He's faced 54 righthanded batters so far this year, and 30 have whiffed.

 

6. Justin Verlander, rhp, Tigers (High Class A Lakeland)

Getting better with every start, last year's No. 2 overall pick struck out 12 last Thursday over seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits. Somebody could be looking at flights to Erie sooner than later.

 

7. Hayden Penn, rhp, Orioles (Double-A Bowie)

Tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts Friday night, giving him a Eastern League leading 40. If he gets a major league look this year, he'll be the first Oriole not of legal age to drink since Matt Riley in 1999. Hopefully, he'll work out a little better.

 

8. Chuck James, lhp, Braves (High Class A Myrtle Beach)

With more than twice as many strikeouts (41) than hits allowed (17) in 29 2/3 innings, James continues to roll. Ridiculous lefty vs. lefty stat update: they are now 1-for-36 (.028) against him.

 

9. Brandon Wood, ss, Angels (High Class A Rancho Cucamonga)

His 10 home runs put him behind only Brad Eldred (13) for the minor league lead, and just one off his 2004 total of 11, which he needed 125 games to reach. This is generally referred to as a major step forward.

 

10. Brian Bannister, rhp, Mets (Double-A Binghamton)

Failed to move to 5-0 in his fifth start by getting a no decision, but did lower his ERA on the season to 0.33 by going six innings without allowing an earned run. In fact, Blue Jays shortstop Raul Tablado's solo home run off Bannister on April 22 accounts for the only earned run Bannister has surrendered this year.

 

11. Billy Butler, 3b, Royals (High Class A High Desert)

Last year's first-round pick has a hit in 23 of 24 games this year, while averaging an RBI per game. Still hasn't tripled or stolen a base yet, but that's just nitpicking.

 

12. Matt Moses, 3b, Twins (High Class A Fort Myers)

Moses has recorded three or more hits five times in his last 12 games and leads the Florida State League with a .667 slugging percentage. With runners on base, he's even deadlier (19-for-42, .452).

 

13. Justin Huber, 1b, Royals (Double-A Wichita)

The Royals decided to let the former Met toss away the tools of ignorance in order to focus on hitting, and so far it looks like one heck of an idea, as the affable Aussie leads the Texas League in on-base percentage (.509) while placing third in slugging (.609). In his last 12 games, he has 23 hits and 15 RBIs.

 

14. J.D. Martin, rhp, Indians (Double-A Akron)

Ironic that he finally got a win in his worst start of the year on Saturday, allowing eight hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings. The season totals (1.40 ERA, 34 K, 4 BB) still shine brightly.

 

15. Matt Murton, of, Cubs (Double-A West Tenn)

A bit of an off week means Murton is now batting only .419 with a Southern League-leading .495 on-base percentage. Has played 23 games this year, with two or more hits in 15 of them.

 

16. Eddy Martinez-Esteve, of, Giants (High Class A San Jose)

Trying to end the long drought of Giants hitting prospects, Martinez-Esteve (or if you're cool, call him 'EME') has 24 RBIs in 23 games while hitting .455 with runners in scoring position.

 

17. Conor Jackson, 1b, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Tucson)

With 18 hits and 11 walks in his last 10 games, Jackson is now hitting .395/.481/.593 with just four strikeouts in 86 at-bats.

 

18. Jeremy Hermida, of, Marlins (Double-A Carolina)

The Marlins No. 1 prospect hit game-tying home runs in the eighth and the ninth innings last Tuesday--and with eight on the season is already just two off his career-high.

 

19. Cody Haerther, of, Cardinals (High Class A Palm Beach)

His 0-for-3 performance last night ended an 11-game hitting streak in which the 2002 sixth-round pick hit .500 (21-for-42) with three doubles, three triples and three home runs.

 

20. Gio Gonzalez, lhp, White Sox (Low Class A Kannapolis)

What do you do when the incumbent No. 1 goes on the DL? You don't panic, as it's just a strained muscle in his side and he's expected to be back this week.

 

 

 

Special Mention Category

Danny Ardoin, c, Rockies (Triple-A Colorado Springs)

A fifth-round pick by the Athletics in 1995, Ardoin reached the majors with the Twins in 2000, batting .125 (4-for-32) in a brief 15-game stint. He returned to the majors in six games for the Rangers last year, once again batting .125 (1-for-8). Signed by the Rockies in the offseason, the 30-year-old backstop is taking advantage of the friendly confines of Colorado Springs, batting .390-5-15 in 19 games. His .831 slugging trails only that crazy Brad Eldred guy (.869) for the overall minor league lead.

 

 

In The Team Photo

 

Dallas Braden, lhp, Athletics (High Class A Stockton)

Brent Clevlen, of, Tigers (High Class A Lakeland)

Sam Deduno, rhp, Rockies (Low Class A Asheville)

Jeff Fiorentino, of, Orioles (High Class A Frederick)

Juan Francia, 2b, Tigers (High Class A Lakeland)

Tyrell Godwin, of, Nationals (Triple-A New Orleans)

Matt Harrison, lhp, Braves (Low Class A Rome)

Felix Hernandez, rhp, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma)

Rich Hill, lhp, Cubs (Double-A West Tenn)

Jason Hirsh, rhp, Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi)

Fabian Jimenez, lhp, Padres (Low Class A Fort Wayne)

Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3b, Indians (High Class A Kinston)

Andy LaRoche, 3b, Dodgers (High Class A Vero Beach)

Brandon McCarthy, rhp, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte)

Fernando Nieve, rhp, Astros, (Double-A Corpus Christi)

Ricky Nolasco, rhp, Cubs (Double-A West Tenn)

Eric Patterson, 2b, Cubs (Low Class A Peoria)

Rafael Perez, lhp, Indians (High Class A Kinston)

Felix Pie, of, Cubs (Double-A West Tenn)

Carlos Quentin, of, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Tucson)

Marcus Sanders, 2b, Giants (Low Class A Augusta)

Ervin Santana, rhp, Angels (Double-A Arkansas)

Sean Thompson, lhp, Padres (High Class A Lake Elsinore)

Chuck Tiffany, lhp, Dodgers (High Class A Vero Beach)

Jason Vargas, lhp, Marlins (Low Class A Greensboro)

Walter Young, gigantor, Orioles (Triple-A Ottawa)

 

first, Brad Eldred is amazing and second :lol to gigantor

16. Eddy Martinez-Esteve, of, Giants (High Class A San Jose)

Trying to end the long drought of Giants hitting prospects, Martinez-Esteve (or if you're cool, call him 'EME') has 24 RBIs in 23 games while hitting .455 with runners in scoring position.

 

17. Conor Jackson, 1b, Diamondbacks (Triple-A Tucson)

With 18 hits and 11 walks in his last 10 games, Jackson is now hitting .395/.481/.593 with just four strikeouts in 86 at-bats.

 

:cheers

Jason vargas is "in the picture"

 

these guys make me laugh

Jason vargas is "in the picture"

 

these guys make me laugh

763656[/snapback]

he's been great but so far its only Low-A and honestly he should be able to pitch very well at that level given where he was drafted combined with his college experience.

 

will be interesting to see how he does as he moves up the ladder.

Jason vargas is "in the picture"

 

these guys make me laugh

763656[/snapback]

he's been great but so far its only Low-A and honestly he should be able to pitch very well at that level given where he was drafted combined with his college experience.

 

will be interesting to see how he does as he moves up the ladder.

763683[/snapback]

he's been absolutely ridiculous

 

he should have success at that level, but what he has done has been immensly impressive