2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Advice & Analysis
The Fantasy Fix's AAA Farm Report 08/08/2010
 Juan Francisco, 3B Cincinnati AAA Line - .283, 15 HR, 45 RBI Francisco missed 31 games between May-June due to an emergency appendectomy. Since his return he's hit .298 with 22 runs, 11 doubles, 11 HR and 26 RBI. In ten games since the ASB he's batting .317 with seven HR and 15 RBI. He's up there to swing the bat, not draw walks (12 BB, .322 OBP). But his .566 SLG% is outstanding. Francisco has been in the Reds system since 2006, and has crushed the ball at every level. He was also named Dominican League MVP this winter, leading the league in HR (11) and RBI (42). Defense at third is not his strength, but it suits his lack of mobility. He will likely move to first base in another organization. Freddie Freeman, 1B Atlanta AAA Line - .295, 14 HR, 63 RBI After a slow start to his inaugural AAA campaign, Freeman is rapidly picking up the pace. He hit .333 in July with six HR and 22 RBI. His strikeout totals are a bit bloated with 39 in his last 51 games, but not a major concern. He's already well surpassed his power totals from AA in 2009 (eight & 58). He's a double machine with 33, 27 and 24 the last three seasons respectively. With Jason Heyward in the bigs, Freeman is the prized offensive jewel of the Braves system. Troy Glaus' is already hitting the pine, so it will be Freeman’s job to lose in 2011. He hit .333 in spring training with seven RBI. Ivan DeJesus, 2B LA Dodgers AAA Line - .297, 5 HR, 43 RBI DeJesus missed nearly the entire 2009 season with a broken leg. It was an extremely unfortunate injury coming off the heels of a terrific 2008 season in AA where he hit .324 with seven HR, 58 RBI, 16 stolen bases and a .419 OBP. He's slowly worked his way back into game shape batting .333 since June 1st. But the speed element has all but disappeared, attempting only five SB and swiping four. He's done exceptional work with RISP, hitting .375 and knocking in 37 of his 43 runs. DeJesus is not blessed with potent home run pop, but he's been a consistent doubles man. With five full minor league seasons under his belt, DeJesus deserves to showcase his talents. Newly acquired Ryan Theriot is arbitration eligible through 2012. Craig Kimbrel, RH RP Atlanta AAA Line - 2-1, 13 SV, 57 K The power-armed reliever left a strong impression during his eight game stint with the big club. He struck out 15 batters in 8 1/3 innings, allowing only four hits and one run. The problem was he also walked ten batters, unable to command any offerings consistently. He's picked up right where he left off in the International League. In 13 July innings, he's K'd 17 and issued 15 BB. Of his nine hits allowed, two have been long balls (first HR's allowed all season). All of his splits are scary good, including a 1.71 GO/AO ratio and .158 BAA. There's little doubt that Kimbrel has the stuff to assume the Braves closer sooner rather than later. However, his BB totals are unacceptable for a late inning reliever. Until he shows the ability to throw strikes, he'll either be in AAA or middle relief. Michael Bowden, RH SP Boston AAA Line - 6-3, 3.67 ERA, 67 K Bowden's statistics tell two very different stories. First the good: in 95 2/3 innings of work he's allowed just 74 hits (.216 BAA) and walks about three batters per nine. The ugly: His GO/AO ratio is 0.34 and he doesn't miss bats, striking out 67, or one every 1.4 innings. Usually it would be safe to say there's a fair bit of luck on his side, but his minor league numbers have been consistent over the years. Poor GO/AO and low BAA. He hasn't finished with a ground ball rate over 1.00 since 2006. It's hard to figure how, but he's making it work. The deception in his pitching motion must play a role. He hides the ball well and has a funky delivery, perhaps giving him the margin for error he needs to succeed. Bowden's minor league success has yet to carry over to the major league level, in 16 innings in '09, he pitched to a 9.56 ERA and .333 BAA. Jeanmar Gomez, RH SP Cleveland AAA Line - 8-8, 5.20 ERA, 78 K The 22-year old Gomez pitched 7 innings of zero earned run ball in his ML debut on July 18th, but it was a spot start only. He's been sharp as a tack in two AAA starts since, appearing to have turned the metaphorical corner. He's pitched a combined 15 innings of 13 hit, three ER ball. In addition, he's struck out 11 and walked just one. Coming from a guy who has allowed 129 hits in 116 innings and on the year, that’s quite a change of fortune. Confidence can take you a long way, and his victory over the Tigers has immediately boosted his mound efficiency and productivity. With Jake Westbrook just dealt and the Indians in youth mode, Gomez will be given a second go around (5 IP 2 ER on 8/11). *stats as of 8/2/10 Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Look for Adam's weekly insight into A, AA, & AAA ball. Excited for any of these guys to get the callup? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Juan Francisco, Freddie Freeman, Ivan DeJesus, Craig Kimbrel, Michael Bowden, Jeanmar Gomez, Jason Heyward, Troy Glaus, Ryan Theriot, Jake Westbrook, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds Add Comment  Marc Krauss Player notes from Advanced Class A & A Ball - From the seasoned arm of Randall Delgado to the slumping bat of Derek Norris. POSITION PLAYERS: Marc Krauss, OF Arizona Advanced A Line -- .326, 17 HR, 66 RBI The former Ohio University standout has been on an offensive tear. In 24 games since the minor league ASB he's batting .423 (44 for 104) with 20 runs, ten HR and 28 RBI. He's raised his BA 39 points in that stretch. However, as his BA continues to rise, his walks are on a steep decline. Since June 1st, his BB:K ratio is an ugly 11:42. Krauss is hitting .330 with RISP and .339 in 121 AB against LHP. Rated amongst the top prospects in the Diamondbacks organization, his bat is not far off. Lack of agility in the OF could hold him back. Francisco Peguero, OF San Francisco Advanced A Line -- .300, 4 HR, 46 RBI The 22-year old Peguero was selected to play in the Futures Game during All Star Weekend (1-2). He's followed up a strong 2009 campaign (.353 between NOR & SAL) with an impressive 2010 in the CAL. In his 5th minor league season, he's already matched his high water mark for RBI in a season with 46, and shattered his previous highs in triples (11) and stolen bases (33). Peguero is not exactly a picture of patience at the plate, drawing just eight BB in '09 and 12 in 77 games in '10. He's batting .359 in 92 AB since the break with 15 RBI. He can rake and he can run, but can he get on base enough to be a top of the order fixture. Derek Norris, C Washington Advanced A Line -- .230, 5 HR, 26 RBI After a .317 May, Norris' average has taken a monumental nosedive. He hit .220 in June, and through 14 July games is hitting a putrid .175. Worse yet, the power he displayed in 2009 in the SAL with 23 HR and 30 doubles has disappeared. He's slugging .370 with five HR and eight doubles in 2010. However, as disconcerting as those figures may be, he's maintained his tremendous batting eye and plate discipline. Norris has drawn 47 BB against 46 K, and amazingly is sporting a .407 OBP. With his refined approach, it's hard to imagine that this is more than a blip on the radar — but his fast track progress will be halted some. Nick Franklin, SS Seattle A Ball Line -- .289, 17 HR, 43 RBI In his first full season of pro ball, Franklin is showing the full repertoire. Not projected as a power stick, the switch-hitting shortstop is slugging .528 with 36 XBH. He's also flashing speed his six triples and 18 stolen bases. Not too shabby for a player scouts describe as "lacking tools". He accepted just two free passes in 63 AB between the Rookie League and NOR in '09, but his OBP is on the improve. He's already drawn eight walks in 13 July games, matching his high for any month. The Mariners have two other top prospects at SS (Gabriel Noriega and Carlos Triunfel), which means a move to 2B could be in the cards. Henry Rodriguez, 2B Cincinnati A Ball Line — .288, 9 HR, 55 RBI Weighing in at 160 pounds, Rodriguez had compiled five HR and 69 RBI in three prior minor league seasons. Through 86 games in 2010, he's already jacked nine bombs and driven in 55 runs. He's also ripped 28 doubles, obliterating his previous career high of 14. This upgrade in pop has really come from out of nowhere. The switch- hitting Rodriguez is definitely more comfortable from the left side, hitting .305 with seven HR, 23 doubles and 42 RBI. He's batting .233 from the right side, but has struck out only five times in 86 AB. Rodriguez has swiped 17 bags in 23 attempts. Only 20 years of age, he could make for a very interesting fantasy package as he continues to develop. PITCHERS: Randall Delgado, RH SP Atlanta Advanced A Line -- 4-6, 2.85 ERA, 111 K What do you know? Another young arm in the lower ranks of the Braves system. In his fourth minor league season, Delgado is a polished 20. He's surrendered 85 knocks in 110 1/3 innings, with opposing batters hitting a meager .213 against him. Right-handed hitters are below the Mendoza line at .198. His command has been sharp, issuing only 31 BB. Even in the face of massive strikeout numbers (2nd in the CAL), he continues to throw ground balls at a proficient rate with a 1.41 GO/AO. Delgado features a sinking fastball in the low 90's, a "now you see it, now you don't" change-up and 12-6 curveball. Somewhat limited ceiling, but on the fast track. Brad Hand, LH SP Florida Advanced A Line -- 5-5, 3.19 ERA, 97 K Hand has gone through phases of absolute domination this season. He's thrown two complete game shutouts, and posted a 1.14 ERA in five June starts. But in his other 11 GS, he's been touched up a bit. He's allowed 101 hits in 98 2/3 innings, with lefties hitting a too comfortable .258 against him. Command has been a bugaboo at lower levels, and that continues to be the case in the FSL where he's walked 34 batters. His fastball is not overpowering (sits at 93) but he has a live arm action and sneaky gas up in the zone. Hand's secondary offerings need work. Nick Barnese, RH SP Tampa Bay Advanced A Line -- 7-4, 2.83 ERA, 87 K Barnese has been one tough cookie to square up. In 74 2/3 innings in the SAL last season he allowed just 56 hits, and in 98 2/3 innings this season he's allowed 91 base knocks. LHH are hitting .206 against him. He's been nearly impossible to take out of the park, yielding a ludicrous seven HR in 275 2/3 minor league innings. His GO/AO ratios have been stellar (2.09, 1.32, 1.44, 1.27) but he's still giving up his fair share of fly outs—just not with authority. His control has been excellent, issuing 20 walks (under two per nine innings). His out pitch is a slurve with good late break. From all accounts, Barnese is a bulldog on the mound. Jarred Cosart, RH SP Philadelphia A Ball Line -- 7-3, 3.79 ERA, 77 K A 38th round pick in the 2008 amateur draft out of HS as a two-way player. Cosart has been downright filthy on the mound. In 71 1/3 innings he's allowed only 60 hits and struck out 77. He's holding opposing hitters to a .224 BA. He's been a ground ball machine with a 1.93 GO/AO ratio and a staggering 6.25 ratio against LHH. He's exhibited terrific command of the strike zone, walking just 16. As you can see, it's difficult to find a weakness in the stats... so how is his ERA 3.79? Quite simply, he hasn't learned how to work his way out of trouble. The opposition is hitting .314 against him with RISP. His curveball and change-up are well-seasoned offerings to go along with a low 90's heater. Cosart is currently on the DL with an elbow strain. Matt Hobgood, RH SP Baltimore A Ball Line -- 3-7, 4.68 ERA, 48 K The number five overall selection in the 2009 draft, Hobgood is an absolute ox at 6'4 245. He throws a four-seam fastball that boars in on RHH and a two-seamer that runs away from LHH. His 2.00 GO/AO ratio is very encouraging. He's given up 72 hits in 75 innings and only five long balls. With that said, his control has been shaky with 34 walks, and he doesn't miss bats (48 K). His curveball is touted as a devastating breaker, but hasn't acted as one, yet. Before O's fans hit the panic switch, he won't turn 20 until August. Notable Promotions to AA: Eric Hosmer 1B-KC, Drew Cumberland SS-SD, Alexi Amarista 2B-LAA, J.D. Martinez OF-HOU, Michael Main SP-SF, Chris Dwyer SP-KC, Chris Archer SP-CHC. ... And the Whiff: Everett Williams (SD) and Max Stassi (OAK) are on earth shattering strikeout paces in the Midwest League. Williams has K'd 94 times in 65 games (253 AB) and Stassi 98 times in 73 games (282 AB). Article by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's excellent fantasy insight and analysis. We'd love to hear your thoughts on A and Advanced A Ball. We'd love to hear your thoughts on A and Advanced A ball. Hit us up on Twitter. Twitter.com/thefantasyfix Tags: MiLB, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Blog, The Fantasy Fix, Featured Blog, Minor League Baseball, A, AA, AAA, The Farm Report MLB, NL, AL, Marc Krauss, Arizona Diamondbacks, Francisco Peguero, San Francisco Giants, Derek Norris, Washington Nationals, Nick Franklin, Seattle Mariners, Henry Rodriguez, Cincinnati Reds, Randall Delgado, Atlanta Braves, Brad Hand, Florida Marlins, Nick Barnese, Tampa Bay Rays, Jarred Cosart, Philadelphia Phillies, Matt Hobgood, Baltimore Orioles, Eric Hosmer, Drew Cumberland, Alexi Amarista, J.D. Martinez, Michael Main, Chris Dwyer, Chris Archer, Everett Williams, Max Stassi  Chris Marrero Let The Fantasy Fix take you on a trip through AA's Eastern, Southern and Texas Leagues... including the no-hit arm of Kyle Drabek and the toiling of $ grabber Aaron Crow. Also a look at Chris Marrero... Adam Dunn's possible replacement if he gets traded. BATTERS Chris Marrero, 1B Washington Nationals AA Line – .289, 11 HR, 43 RBI The Nationals 2006 first round pick is slowly working his way through the system, playing in 356 games at the AA level over parts of 4 seasons. While Marrero is lauded for his incredible power, he hit .359 in June with 27 singles, ten doubles and three HR. His recognition of the strike zone is still a work in progress (25:65 BB to K), but he should fall well short of his 115 K in '09. Marrero was shifted from the OF to 1B as a result of well below average foot speed (despite a strong arm). If the Nats have plans to move Dunn at the deadline, the 22 year old could be next in line. Matt Dominguez, 3B Florida Marlins AA Line – .239, 9 HR, 41 RBI The 20 year-old Dominguez is still adjusting to Southern League ball. He hit .186 in 31 games at the end of '09, and is stuck at .239 this season. He shows a willingness to work counts and draw walks, but it's not helping his BA. He finished June at .262, his strongest month, but drew a season low (for a month) six base on balls. He drew 13 BB in 20 April games, but hit just .239. Go figure... Dominguez should grow into a doubles machine, compiling 32 in '09 and 20 thus far in '10. A right hander hitter, his .211 BA against LHP is puzzling. Carlos Triunfel, SS Seattle Mariners AA Line – .280, 5 HR, 30 RBI Triunfel broke his leg last April, forcing him to miss almost the entire 2009 campaign. Following the injury, his speed and/or willingness to run has vanished. He stole 30 bags in A ball in '08, and has attempted only eight SB in '10, being caught in six of them. Triunfel is a free swinger, walking 11 times (hasn't drawn a BB in his last ten games) and K'ing only 36. He's crushed LHP to the tune of .320 in 103 AB. He’s displayed some decent pop for a shortstop, slugging.406 with 20 2B and eight HR in 2008, and has five bombs so far this year. The Mariners have a black hole at SS on the major league level, but Triunfel is only 20 and still working his way back from a serious injury. Austin Romine, C New York Yankees AA Line – .285, 6 HR, 44 RBI The other Yankees catcher, Romine took the Eastern League by storm, batting .354 in April and .305 in May. June was a reality check, as he hit just .227 for the month. Nevertheless, despite his struggles with the stick, he still drew 16 BB, scored 15 runs and knocked in 12. He's already drawn more walks in 2010 than he did in any of his first three minor league stops. Romine is another strong gap hitter, with 24 doubles in '09, 28 in '09 and 21 thus far in 2010. He flashed some speed in '09 with 11 SB in 16 attempts, but has stolen just one base in one attempt this season. The Yankees love his glove behind the plate, so he should be on the fast track. Posada is a free agent in 2012, and at 38 should be subjected to DH duties in the near future. James Darnell, 3B San Diego Padres AA Line – .226, 4 HR, 13 RBI Darnell started 2010 in the Midwest League (A) where he hit .360 with a HR and eight RBI in seven games. Coming off the heels of a .311 20 HR 81 RBI season in '09, he was quickly promoted to AA. The Texas League has not been as kind to the former SC Gamecock. Darnell is hitting .226 overall, .211 against RHP and .222 with RISP. He also missed significant time with a finger injury. He's struck out 31 times in 43 games, but his plate discipline is improving. In 12 June games, he drew seven BB against six K. The line drive hitter has crushed the ball at every level, there's no reason to think he won't make the necessary adjustments here. But at 23, the clock is ticking. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF New York Mets AA Line – .286, 12 HR, 44 RBI When Nieuwenhuis puts bat on ball, good things usually happen. He has 22 doubles, 12 homers and a .505 SLG%. In 72 at bats with RISP he's batting .333 with 36 of his 46 RBI. A left handed hitter, he's hitting .303 in 66 AB against LHP. Unfortunately, contact is not made enough. He has 70 K in 68 games this season, and had a 6:31 BB to K ratio in the month of May. Nieuwenhuis stole 17 bases in '09 and has 12 in 2010. He missed the second half of June with a strained shoulder. PITCHERS Kyle Drabek, RH SP Toronto Blue Jays AA Line – 8-8, 3.20 ERA, 80 K The second marquee prospect in the Roy Halladay deal, Drabek threw a no-hitter on July 4th, recording 13 outs via ground ball and walking only two. He's been tough to square up all season. He's allowed 86 hits in 107 innings of work, and opposing batters are hitting .219 against him. His GO/AO ratio is 1.53, and 2.36 against LHH. However, the base on ball has cost him. He's walked 45, many of which have crossed the plate. Despite a BAA of .223 in June, he went winless in 5 starts, in large part the result of his 16 BB in 30 1/3. The Blue Jays have a strong stable of young arms, but he's not far off from harnessing his stuff. Casey Kelly, RH SP Boston Red Sox AA Line – 1-3, 5.05 ERA, 55 K Drafted out of high school as a SS, Kelly is now an esteemed pitching prospect. In his first minor league season on the hill in '09, accumulating 17 starts between A & AA, he pitched to a 2.08 ERA, yielding only 65 hits in 95 innings. Just as impressive, he issued only 16 BB. He's already walked 25 in 2010 in 62 1/3 innings, and he's getting hit hard. Kelly's allowed 78 hits in 62 1/3, and opposing hitters are roughing him up the tune of a .307 BAA. On a positive note, he's still inducing ground balls at a significant rate (1.33). His stuff is not overpowering, but at 20 years of age he's extremely polished on the mound. Jordan Lyles, RH SP Houston Astros AA Line – 6-5, 2.60 ERA, 85 K Lyles' strikeouts are down from A ball (167 in 144 2/3) as expected, but his K:BB ratio of 85 to 22 is excellent. He uses his two-seam fastball adroitly against LHH, holding them to a .227 BA. Despite his low ground ball rate and a tendency to pitch up in the zone, he's allowed only seven HR (one every 13 innings). As Lyles continues to move up the ranks, he will need to be more proficient with his location and keep balls out of the air. He's a quick riser, but needs seasoning on his secondary offerings. Aaron Crow, RH SP Kansas City Royals AA Line – 5-6, 6.11 ERA, 63 K Crow was originally drafted by the Nationals at #9 overall in '08, but did not sign. He throws hard sinking fastballs in the low to mid 90's. He's been a ground ball machine in his first season of pro ball, with a 3.08 GO/AO ratio. On the opposite end of the spectrum, he's walked 44 in 91 1/3 innings and struck out just 63. All batters are hitting .292 against him, and left handed batters are hitting .335. He finished June with an 8.72 ERA in 5 starts. Crow played independent ball in '09, but has clearly fallen behind the curve. Christian Friedrich, LH SP Colorado Rockies AA Line – 1-5, 5.34 ERA, 57 K The Rockies first round pick in 2008, Friedrich is having no fun in the Texas League. He's allowed 72 hits in 64 innings, working to a 0.88 GO/AO ratio and LHH are hitting .342 against him. This after mowing through A ball in '09 with a 2.41 ERA and 159 K in 119 2/3 innings. Friedrich possesses a low 90's fastball, 12-6 curve and hard, cutter-like slider. The changeup is a new offering for him. NOTES Michael Pineda, SP Seattle Mariners – Pineda was promoted to AAA after an 8-1 mark and 2.22 ERA in the Southern League. In three starts since his promotion, he's 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA, struck out 26 in 19 innings, and his BAA is .164. He's flown under the radar big time. Mike Montgomery, SP Kansas City Royals – Montgomery has been shut down since June 15th with elbow soreness. Apparently it's just a precautionary measure and he should be fine. He's 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA between two AA stops in 2010, and is a high ceiling left-handed arm. We'd love to hear your thoughts on AA Ball. Leave a comment at the top or reply to us on twitter! Article by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's excellent fantasy insight and analysis. Tags: MiLB, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Blog, The Fantasy Fix, Featured Blog, Minor League Baseball, A, AA, AAA, The Farm Report MLB, NL, AL, Chris Marrero, Washington Nationals, Matt Dominguez, Florida Marlins, Carlos Triunfel, Seattle Mariners, Austin Romine, New York Yankees, James Darnell, San Diego Padres, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, New York Mets, Kyle Drabek, Toronto Blue Jays, Casey Kelly, Boston Red Sox, Jordan Lyles, Houston Astros, Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals, Christian Friedrich, Colorado Rockies  Chris Carter Surveying the AAA ranks in the International and Pacific Coast Leagues – from the power bat of Chris Carter to the newly minted relief arm of Aroldis Champman. Plus the New York Yankees phenom, Jesus Montero, is starting to heating up! POSITION PLAYERS Chris Carter, 1B Oakland AAA Line – .237, 15 HR, 54 RBI There is no questioning the pop in his bat. Carter hit 39 HR in A ball in '08 and hit 28 HR between AA and AAA last season. He's displayed good patience at the plate, drawing 42 walks (85 in '09). The strikeouts, albeit, are alarming. He K'd 133 times last season, and has already whiffed 91 times in 76 games this year. When behind in the count he's hitting .151 with 40 K's, which means he's quite pitchable. I for one have had enough of Jack Cust, and would love to see Carter get a shot with the big club. Yonder Alonso, 1B Cincinnati AAA Line – .230, 3 HR, 21 RBI The 2008 #7 overall selection has struggled with his promotion to the International League. After posting a 19:16 BB to K ratio in 31 AA games, his current 10:33 ratio is a complete reversal. A LHH, he's struck out 26 times against RHP, and only seven times in 55 AB against LHP. He's sporting a .272 OBP in 45 games. Alonso is not flashing power either, with six combined HR's between the two levels (76 games). He's slugging .328 in AAA. Unless he's a trade piece, it's difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel with Votto in his path. Jesus Montero, C NY Yankees AAA Line – .251, 6 HR, 31 RBI It took a while, but Montero is starting to mash. To put things in perspective: he had three homers and 21 RBI in the season's first two months -- he has three HR and 8 RBI in his last nie games. Eight of his 17 doubles have come in the month of June. Standing at 6'4, and with stalwart defender Austin Romine also in the system, Montero seems destined for a position change. Josh Bell, 3B Baltimore AAA Line – .260, 8 HR 38 RBI Another power bat with too many K's in it. The switch hitting Bell averages a strikeout per game on the season, and has K'd 14 times in his last 10. This is not startling news, as he struck out 98 times in two AA stops last season. However, the precipitous drop in walks is worrisome. He's drawn only 18 BB in 72 games, as opposed to 61 BB in '09. On a positive note, Bell has shown enhanced focus in RISP situations, hit .304 and driving in 30 of his 38 runs. The O's certainly have no use for Tejada, maybe he'll find his opportunity by default. Allen Craig, OF St. Louis AAA Line – .306, 9 HR, 55 RBI After a strong showing in spring training, the 25 year old Craig broke camp with the big club. Unfortunately, his stay was short lived as he collected just one base hit in 18 AB. He's been tearing up the PCL since. In 27 June games, he's batting .336 with 11 doubles, seven HR and an eye popping 35 RBI. His June OPS is 1.044, and he has 14 RBI in his last ten games. Craig is hitting .366 in 71 AB with RISP. He can flat out rake, but there's simply no room for him in a stacked Cardinal OF. Michael Taylor, OF Oakland AAA Line – .249, 3 HR, 38 RBI Taylor was the centerpiece of the Roy Halladay deal for Toronto, and then sent to Oakland for Brett Wallace. At 6'6 260, he's an absolute mammoth of a man, but possesses incredible athletic gifts. Not many people his size can run and play the outfield. He stole 15 bases in '08, 21 in '09 and eight thus far in 2010. He's a real threat to leg out a triple as well. The A's are still waiting on his power at the AAA level (.378 SLG %). Taylor is hitting .343 with RISP. At 24, he's still raw with a definite learning curve – but the skills are there. Brandon Allen, 1B Arizona AAA Line – .259, 8 HR, 33 RBI Allen is showing great plate discipline, drawing nearly as many walks (41) as he has hits (43). Despite his average, his OBP is .411. His previous high for BB in a minor league season is 60 in AA '08. In his 100 AB stint with the Diamondbacks last September, Allen hit .202 with four HR, and 12:40 BB to K ratio. He has a long swing and not a particularly swift bat. He will likely always struggle to make contact at the higher level. But when he does connect, it can go a long way. If the D'backs deal LaRoche, he'll play 1B. PITCHERS Aroldis Chapman, SP/RP Cincinnati AAA Line – 5-5, 4.06 ERA, 81 K The Reds have made the decision to use Chapman out of the bullpen for the remainder of 2010. However, the plan is still to groom him as a starter in the future. On the season Chapman has 81 K's in 68 2/3 innings, but with those strikeouts also come 41 BB. LHH are hitting .241 against him. After producing a 1.29 ERA in four April starts, he pitched to a 5.47 ERA in May and 5.09 thus far in June. Daniel Hudson, SP Chicago White Sox AAA Line – 10-3, 3.83 ERA, 97 K Hudson has put up stunning K:BB ratios at every minor league stop. 90:22 in Rookie ball, 166:34 between A, AA and AAA in '09, and 97 to 27 this season. Hudson's fastball is in the low-mid 90's with good location and his trademark pitch is his changeup. Hudson made two big league starts last season, compiling 11 IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 8 K's and an ugly nine walks. With the resurgence of Freddy Garcia (sort of), I suppose he'll have to wait for his time. Tanner Scheppers, RP/SP Texas AAA Line – 1-0, 2.86 ERA, 39 K After 11 innings of 3 hit 1 run ball as a reliever in AA (.079 BAA), the Rangers are now trying to stretch Scheppers out in AAA. He's yet to throw more than four innings in any of his four starts. In 15 2/3 IP he's allowed 14 hits, 7 ER, K'd 12 and walked four. Scheppers is a power pitcher with a mid 90's fastball and a hard breaking curve, but lacks a 3rd pitch. He's suffered with shoulder problems in the past. Josh Lindblom, SP LA Dodgers AAA Line – 2-1, 6.25 ERA, 49 K Lindblom made a powerful impression during spring training, but his first half of 2010 has been rocky to say the least. In 10 games as a starter, opposing batters are hitting .349. He's given up an unfathomable 80 hits in 51 innings. His GO/AO ratio is 0.84. His last 6 appearances have come in relief, where he's been far more effective. He's allowed six hits and one run in eight relief innings. The Dodgers view him as a starter, but priority numero uno is getting him straightened out. Brandon Erbe, SP Baltimore AAA Line – 0-10, 5.73 ERA, 50 K Consistency has been a problem for Erbe in his young career, but he's been consistently awful in 2010. For a pitcher with his 'stuff' to go 0-10 is hard to believe, but the numbers don't lie. He's given up 86 hits in 70 2/3 innings and his BAA is .294. He's had difficulty getting the ball down in the zone, and thus has given up 11 HR and his GO/AO ratio is 0.75. Now for some good news, he's only allowed three ER in his last ten innings of work... I'll go out on a limb and say he gets a W before the All-Star break. Anthony Slama, RP Minnesota AAA Line – 14 Saves, 1.42 ERA, 49 K The 26 year old Slama is a proven closer at the minor league level. He finished with 14 saves in '07, 25 in '08 and 29 in '09. His strikeout figures have been off the charts, K'ing 110 in 71 innings in '08 and 112 in 81 innings in '09. However, command has been problematic. He walked 40 in '09 and 21 in 44 1/3 innings to this point in 2010. Opposing batters are hitting a rather ludicrous .122 off him this year. If he can harness his control, he'll be in the show-- but likely in middle relief. NOTES Alex Presley, OF Pittsburgh – The diminutive Presley hit .350 in the Eastern League before his call up to AAA. In just his third game with Indianapolis, he hit for the cycle, going five for six with a HR. An eighth round pick in 2006, Presley has never been classified as a major prospect (likely because of his size), but he's making serious waves now. Aaron Poreda, SP San Diego – The 6'6 lefty reliever was promoted to AAA after posting a 2.52 ERA and 1.50 GO/AO ratio in AA. It should be noted that despite those impressive numbers, he did walk 26 batters in 25 innings. In 11 1/3 innings in the PCL he's given up three hits and yet to allow a run. But once again, the seven walks are holding him back. Written by Adam Ganeles for The Fantasy Fix. Check back weekly for Adam's awesome insight on MLB and MiLB Fantasy Baseball! We'd love to hear your thoughts on AAA ball. Hit us up on Twitter. Twitter.com/thefantasyfix Tags: MiLB, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Blog, The Fantasy Fix, Featured Blog, Minor League Baseball, A, AA, AAA, The Farm Report MLB, NL, AL, Yonder Alonso, Chris Carter, Jesus Montero, Josh Bell, Allen Craig, Michael Taylor, Brandon Allen, Daniel Hudson, Tanner Scheppers, Josh Lindblom, Brandon Erbe, Aroldis Chapman, Anthony Slama, Alex Presley, Aaron Poreda, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees  Grant Green Player reports from Advanced A & A ball. Deep keeper and dynasty owners circle these names. POSITION PLAYERS Grant Green, SS Oakland Advanced A Line – .320, 5 HR, 30 RBI The A's 2009 first round pick has not disappointed in his first full season of pro ball. A .359 career hitter at USC, his quick adjustments at the plate have been impressive. Lefties are not getting him out, collecting 33 knocks in 76 AB (.434). He's slugging .466 with 18 doubles and three triples. He is red hot in June hitting .381 with three HR and 11 RBI. Grant will turn 23 in September, but his ceiling is still quite high. A quick advance through the ranks seems likely. Engel Beltre, CF Texas Advanced A Line – .326, 5 HR, 32 RBI After hitting .227 in the California League in '09, Beltre has restructured his approach this season. He's raised his BA nearly 100 points and his K rate is way down. He's struck out 29 times in 233 AB (1 per 8 AB). Last year he went down on strikes every 4.6 AB. After hitting .233 in April, he's responded with a .347 May and .436 June. His SB total is down, with 7 swipes in 13 attempts. Perhaps it's finally starting to click for the talented outfielder. Anthony Gose, OF Philadelphia Advanced A Line – .268, 2 HR, 13 RBI Gose has the potential to absolutely wreck a game with his speed. He stole 76 bags in '09 and has 24 this year. His caught stealing totals are alarming, however, being thrown out 19 times in '10. He also has 10 triples. His 72 strikeouts in 272 AB need to be cut down. Gose is still very raw at the plate, but he's shown a willingness to work counts and a take a free pass (23). With his incredible athletic gifts, it's difficult to put a ceiling on this 19 year old. Eric Hosmer, 1B Kansas City Advanced A Line – .356, 3 HR, 42 RBI Hosmer underwent LASIK surgery in the off-season and the 2008 #3 pick has come back a new hitter in '10. He's raised his BA 115 points from the .241 he posted last year. His BB:K ratio is an outstanding 33 to 27. Last season that ratio was 53 to 90, at the exact same level. While he's only connected on 3 dingers, he's still slugging .529, with 24 doubles and 6 triples. The LHH Hosmer is hitting .376 in 93 AB versus LHP, including an 11:10 BB to K ratio. Unlike last season, he's seeing the ball scary well. He's too classy to remain at this level. Brett Jackson, CF Chicago Cubs Advanced A Line – .298, 4 HR, 33 RBI Jackson has begun to light it up. He's batting .333 in June with 2 HR and 17 RBI, and over his last ten he's at .400 with 2 HR and 14 RBI. On the season he's sporting a .471 SLG% with 16 doubles and 7 triples. After drawing 31 BB in '09, he's already up to 42 in '10. His OBP is a robust .408. Jackson has good wheels as well, swiping 12 in 18 tries. Mike Trout, CF LA Angels Class A Line – .370, 6 HR, 35 RBI Trout is putting up video game type numbers. He's slugging .553 with 15 doubles and 7 triples. His OBP is .449 with a 33:39 BB to K ratio. He's hit at least .355 in every month. This after hitting .352 between Rookie ball and A ball last season. He's on absolute tear. And his prowess doesn't end with the bat, he's stolen 34 bases (6 CS) in 66 games. Trout has 21 hits in 50 AB (.420) with RISP. What else does he have to prove in the Midwest League? Aaron Hicks, CF Minnesota Class A Line – .256, 5 HR, 22 RBI The unanimous top prospect in A ball. Hicks possesses all the tools scouts drool over, including a 93-95 MPH fastball, but he chose the route of the position player. The switch hitter is blessed with excellent patience and a feel for the strike zone. He drew 41 BB in 251 AB in '09 and 48 in 238 AB thus far in '10. So despite his pedestrian average, his OBP is .378. He's still a work in progress with the stick, thus his relatively low production numbers. Hicks is unpolished on the base paths as well, being CS 8 times against 6 SB. Patience is a virtue.. Wilmer Flores, SS New York Mets Class A Line – .278, 7 HR, 44 RBI At only 19 years of age, Flores is in his third season in the Mets system. His plate discipline is much improved. After recording a 22:72 BB to K ratio in 2009, he's already drawn 23 walks in 2010. He's flashing more power as he continues to grow into his 6'3 frame. He's driven in 44 runs in 66 games, compared to 36 in 125 games last season. William Myers, C Kansas City Class A Line – .287, 10 HR, 43 RBI Myers is slugging .502 (16 doubles) and has drawn 45 walks for a .408 OBP. Seven of his ten HR have come with runners on base, and he's batting .361 with RISP. His OPS is 1.083 in June and 1.118 over his last ten games. Myers provides speed at the catcher position with 9 thefts. PITCHERS Aaron Miller, SP LA Dodgers Advanced A Line – 2-4, 2.77 ERA, 75 K On the same minor league club with arms Ethan Martin and Nathan Eovaldi, Miller is taking center stage. In 74 2/3 innings he's allowed merely 53 hits and opponents are hitting .201 against him. A left handed pitcher, he's held RHH hitters to a .190 mark. Command a bit shaky, issuing 35 free passes. Walked six in five innings on June 9th. He features a fastball that cuts in on right handers and a sharp slider. Terrific athlete, was projected as an OF out of High School. Julio Teheran, SP Atlanta Advanced A Line – 3-1, 1.38 ERA, 49 K The 19-year old Teheran has absolutely blown away the SAL and Carolina Leagues. In 78 1/3 combined innings he's allowed just 11 ER. In 39 innings in '10, he's given up 31 hits, walked seven and struck out 49. He's pitching to a 1.38 ERA, and has surrendered one run or less in four of six GS. In his last start, on June 16th, he went seven innings allowing two hits, two BB and striking out 12. Fragility and stamina have been concerns with his 150 pound frame. The ball explodes out of his hand, topping out at 98 MPH. Matt Moore, SP Tampa Bay Advanced A Line – 3-7, 5.13 ERA, 98 K Moore is having an interesting 2010 campaign. He's given up 69 hits in 73 2/3 innings, and struck out a staggering 98 batters. The problem is he's lost seven games and his ERA is over five. Why? Look no further then the base on ball. Moore has walked 40 batters, or one batter every 1.8 innings. Success is difficult to come by when you're constantly in the stretch. Moore walked 70 in 123 innings in '09, so this is not foreign territory. If he wants to move up the chain, he needs to start throwing strikes. Shelby Miller, SP St. Louis Class A Line – 1-3, 4.79 ERA, 56 K The Cards 2009 first round selection has four potentially plus pitches, but he needs refinement. When Miller makes mistakes they're getting hit (44 hits in 41 1/3), but when he makes his pitches A ball hitters won't get a sniff (56 K). His 1.37 GO/AO ratio and two HR allowed are encouraging. His 15 BB (one every 2.7 innings) is not. Right handed batters are hitting Miller at a .290 clip. Tyler Matzek, SP Colorado Class A Line – 0-0, 2.28 ERA, 27 K The Rockies 11th overall pick in 2009 has made a powerful impression in his first five professional starts. In 23 2/3 innings, the left hander has given up 17 hits and opposing batters are hitting .207 against him (LHH .150). His fastball sits in the mid 90's. He's been touted for his pitching intelligence at a young age and should be a quick riser. Matzek's command has been shaky early on (16 BB). Kyle Heckathorn, SP Milwaukee Class A Line – 5-4, 2.34 ERA, 55 K After a rough 6.04 ERA in six Pioneer League starts in '09, Heckathorn has been dazzling this season. In nine GS, he's worked to a 2.19 ERA in 53 1/3 innings, allowing 44 hits and walking just 11. The 6'6 right hander is holding lefties to a .188 average, and all batters to a .216 mark. His GO/AO ratio is a spectacular 2.59 as a starter thanks to a good sinking fastball. NOTES Jason Kipnis, 2B Cleveland – Kipnis was promoted to AA after posting a .300, 6 HR, 31 RBI line at the Advanced A Carolina League. He’s hitting .355 with a 1.090 OPS in eight games. Tyler Chatwood, SP LA Angels – Chatwood recorded an 8-3 mark with a 1.77 ERA in 13 California League starts. His GO/AO ratio was 2.93. In his first AA start he was bombed for eight hits and six runs in 2 2/3 innings. Arodys Vizcaino, SP Atlanta – The 19 year old from the Dominican Republic was promoted from the SAL, where he went 9-3 with a 2.34 ERA, to Advanced A ball. In two starts since the step up in competition, he’s lasted 8 2/3 combined innings, allowing 13 hits, six ER, striking out seven and walking three. Written by Adam Ganeles for The Fantasy Fix. Check back weekly for Adam's awesome insight on MLB and MiLB Fantasy Baseball! We'd love to hear your thoughts on A ball. Hit us up on Twitter. Twitter.com/thefantasyfix Tags: Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Sports Blog, The Fantasy Fix, A Ball, Minor Leagues, The Farm Report, Grant Green, Engel Beltre, Anthony Gose, Eric Hosmer, Brett Jackson, Mike Trout, Aaron Hicks, Wilmer Flores, William Myers, Aaron Miller, Julio Teheran, Matt Moore, Shelby Miller, Tyler Matzek, Kyle Heckathorn, Jason Kipnis, Tyler Chatwood, Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics  Simon Castro Key player notes from AA's Eastern, Southern and Texas Leagues. Who's moving on up and who's failing to distinguish themselves? POSITION PLAYERS Domonic Brown, OF Philadelphia AA Line - .313, 10 HR 37 RBI The 6'5 phenom has all the tools. In his first full season of Eastern League ball, Brown is making mince meat of opposing pitching. His power stroke continues to develop, with 27 XBH and a .562 SLG %. He's shown his patience and plate discipline drawing 25 BB in 201 plate appearances. He stole 23 bases between A & AA in 2009, and has swiped 10 bags in 15 attempts in 2010. Left handed pitching has not altered his approach, hitting them to the tune of .314 in 51 AB. On almost any other team, especially one with question marks in the outfield, he'd already be in the show. Don't count on the Phillies replacing Raul Ibanez any time soon. Dee Gordon, SS LA Dodgers AA Line - .283, 2 HR, 18 RBI Speed, speed and more speed. After stealing 73 bases in the Midwest League (A) last season, Gordon hasn't lost stride in '10. He's already notched 25 SB in 58 games, but has been caught ten times. On the downside, he's not drawing enough walks for a leadoff man, just 12 (.329 OBP). With his wheels, any BB can turn into a triple. Weighing in at only 150 pounds, there's not much pop there yet, but he has knocked in seven runs in his last 10 games. Gordon, a LHH, is batting just .185 in 81 at bats against LHP. Overall, he's slowed down considerably since a .345 April. Brett Lawrie, 2B Milwaukee AA Line - .285, 5 HR, 32 RBI #16 pick in 2008 has been a gap hitting machine. In addition to his five jacks, Lawrie has 15 doubles and nine triples. He had 18 doubles and six triples in all of 2009 (424 AB). He's raising his level as the summer heats up, hitting .362 in June with 17 knocks in his last ten games. In 66 at bats with RISP, he's hitting .333. If his triples total is any indication, he likes to run — 12 stolen bases as well. Lawrie's 16:49 BB to K ratio against RHP is worrisome. Josh Vitters, 3B Chicago Cubs AA Line - .229, 1 HR, 10 RBI The promotion to AA has not been particularly kind to 2007's #3 overall selection. Vitters hit .291 in 110 AB in the Florida State League, but has hit a meager .229 in 96 AB in the Southern League. He's drawn three walks and is slugging .302. Patience has been a major obstacle for Vitters, failing to crack the 13 walk plateau in his first three minor league seasons. Looking at it from that perspective, his combined BB total of 11 is actually encouraging. Seven of his 22 hits at AA have come with RISP (.304). Dustin Ackley, OF Seattle AA Line - .251, 1 HR, 19 RBI Ackley's stat line may not blow your socks off, but after hitting .147 during April in his first month of pro ball, his numbers are on the incline. He hit .303 in May and .344 in the first half of June. His eye at the plate has been remarkable. His walk total of 43 almost matches his hit total of 49. So despite his struggles, he has not lost the plot or pressed the issue. Ackley will make an ideal number two hitter, but don't expect big HR totals. 13 of his hits are doubles, using both gaps to his advantage. Mike Moustakas, 3B Kansas City AA Line - .339, 14 HR, 54 RBI Moustakas has been a dynamic run producer in the Texas League. He's averaging 1.2 RBI per game, thanks in large part to a .429 BA with RISP (24 hits in 56 AB). 11 of his 14 jacks have come with runners on base. His freakish numbers don't end there. He has a .416 OBP and .678 SLG %. Yes, that's a 1.094 OPS. After a .393 May, he's at a pedestrian .250 in June. Still, in 12 June games he's brought in 13 runs. Despite his relative domination, Moustakas will not see major league action in 2010. Logan Forsythe, 3B San Diego AA Line - .274, 1 HR, 12 RBI Another BB machine. In 28 games and 95 plate appearances, Forsythe has walked 24 times. Much like Ackley, his BB total almost matches his hit total of 26. This is not foreign territory for Forsythe, who drew 102 walks between A & AA in '09. He missed almost the entire month of May with a broken hand, and is still working to get his stroke back. Forsythe is a definite call up option for the Padres, who could sorely use his polished bat. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B Cleveland AA Line - .292, 5 HR, 23 RBI After hitting 22 HR with 92 RBI in combined action last season, Chisenhall has found his power stroke in '10. He hit just a single homer with nine RBI in his first 126 AB, but has quickly jacked four homers and knocked in 14 in 42 June at bats. His double total of three is weak. PITCHERS Tim Alderson, SP Pittsburgh AA Line - 5-2, 4.29 ERA, 40 K The performance of the 6'6 right hander was underwhelming in 2009, and the same can be said thus far in 2010. He closed '09 with a 10-3 mark, but allowed 146 hits in 137 1/3 innings, and struck out only 84. In 65 innings in '10, he's given up 73 hits and has struck out 40. His GO/AO ratio is an improved 1.43, but opposing batters are seeing him too well, hitting .292. His last four starts have been extremely sharp: 25 innings, 20 hits and four ER. The Buccos just called up Brad Lincoln, so maybe they'll opt for a full bore youth movement. Alderson is just 21, however, and likely needs more seasoning. Kyle Gibson, SP Minnesota AA Line - 3-2, 3.65 ERA, 31 K The former Missouri Tiger was absolutely rolling and appeared on the fast track to the bigs. Gibson was 3-0 in May with a 1.37 ERA, and getting a sick 3.23 GO/AO. Queue the reality check. In his last two outings Gibson has gone 10 2/3 innings, allowing 15 hits and 11 ER. In his latest start on June 11th, he recorded just three ground-outs on balls put in play (0.38 ratio). Tight slider is his ground ball pitch. Jake McGee, SP Tampa Bay AA Line - 2-4, 3.65 ERA, 51 K The Rays have brought McGee along slowly following Tommy John surgery. His May 28th start was a turning point: 7 innings, the deepest he's gone into a game this season, giving up 5 hits and zero ER, walking one and striking out 11. He's allowed only one ER in his last four starts, spanning 23 2/3 innings. McGee has coughed up only two HR in 49 1/3 this season. He's a year away from contributing at the major league level, and even then his path is firmly blockaded. Simon Castro, SP Padres AA Line - 4-2, 2.48 ERA, 52 K Squaring up Castro's pitches has been an immensely arduous task. The Texas League is hitting a mere .197 against him. Righties are having an even tougher time at .164. After a 0.81 GO/AO ratio in '09, he's lived on the ground in '10 with a 1.69 ratio. Only three balls have left the park in 65 1/3 innings. Castro possesses a 'swinging gate' motion, which can definitely disrupt a hitter's timing. If the Padres suffer an injury in the rotation, he'd get the first call. Martin Perez, SP Texas AA Line - 2-3, 5.32 ERA, 47 K The 19-year old Perez has turned heads in the Rangers system, but is currently suffering through the growing pains. His WHIP is far too high at 1.69. He walked just 38 in 114 2/3 innings in AA last season, but has already given out 27 free passes in 45 2/3 innings this year. His strikeout and ground ball (1.47) rates show the promise of what lies ahead. The latest rumor has the Rangers, of all teams, interested in Roy Oswalt. If so, it could very well take an arm like Perez to acquire him. Zach Britton, SP Baltimore AA Line - 6-3, 2.84 ERA, 55 K The O's are a pitiful bunch right now, but they sure have a plethora of young pitching. Britton went 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA during the month of May, with a (don't adjust your monitor) 4.27 GO/AO ratio. He allowed 27 hits in 34 2/3 innings, K'ing 24. He's come out on top in both of his June starts as well, allowing one run in 13 1/3. Britton's ground ball success is not an aberration: In 147 1/3 innings of A ball in 2008 he finished with 2.81 GO/AO, and in 140 innings of Advanced A his ratio was 3.38. Don't panic Oriole fans, he's not related to former O Chris Britton. NOTES Wilkin Ramirez, OF Detroit- Ramirez was promoted to AAA on June 8. His immense power, 15 HR in 54 games, got him the call. Not his .243 BA or 82 K's in 210 AB. Kyle Russell, OF LA Dodgers- Russell got the promotion to AA after tearing through the California League, hitting .354 with 16 HR and 53 RBI in 53 games. His OPS was a 1.140. It's safe to say the soon to be 24 year old warranted an upgrade in competition. Phillippe Aumont, SP Philadelphia- After getting lit up in 11 starts at AA, Aumont was demoted to the Florida State League. He was 1-6 with a 7.43 ERA, and allowed 38 BB in 49 2/3 innings. In his first A ball appearance he went 2/3 of an inning, giving up 3 hits and 5 runs, walking 4 in the process. There is much work to be done.. Jemile Weeks, 2B Oakland, Weeks has been out since May 6th with a hip injury. He was hitting .304 with 2 HR, 3 triples, 7 doubles and 13 RBI prior to being disabled. Written by Adam Ganeles for The Fantasy Fix. Check back weekly for Adam's awesome insight on MLB and MiLB Fantasy Baseball! We'd love to hear your thoughts on AA ball. Hit us up on Twitter. Twitter.com/thefantasyfix Tags: MiLB, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Blog, The Fantasy Fix, Featured Blog, Minor League Baseball, A, AA, AAA, The Farm Report MLB, NL, AL, Domonic Brown, Dee Gordon, Brett Lawrie, Josh Vitters, Dustin Ackley, Mike Moustakas, Logan Forsythe, Lonnie Chisenhall, Tim Alderson, Kyle Gibson, Jake McGee, Simon Castro, Martin Perez, Zach Britton, Wilkin Ramirez, Kyle Russell, Phillippe Aumont, Jemile Weeks, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics, Florida State League, The Fantasy Fix's AAA Farm Report 06/06/2010
 Madison Bumgarner Key player notes from AAA's International and Pacific Coast Leagues. Who's moving on up and who's failing to distinguish themselves? POSITION PLAYERS Michael Brantley , OF Cleveland- AAA Line .281, 1 HR, 11 RBI With Grady Sizemore sidelined for the year following knee surgery, a spot appears to have opened up for Brantley. But where has Brantley's speed gone? After stealing 46 bases in 116 games at AAA Columbus in 2009, he's swiped only 5 bags in 36 games in 2010. He's not even attempting to run, only being caught twice. It should also be noted that he didn't attempt a stolen bases in 9 games with the big club earlier this season. Brantley hit .313/0/11 in '09 in 112 major league AB, and .156/0/3 in 32 AB in '10 before his demotion. Pedro Alvarez , 3B Pittsburgh- AAA line .278, 11 HR, 47 RBI Alvarez, the Buccos #2 overall pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, is showing serious pop at the highest minor league level. He's compiled 12 doubles, 3 triples and 11 HR for a .527 SLG %. After struggling early on against left-handed pitching, Alvarez has picked up the pace. His .286 BA in 56 AB against LHP now sits higher than .275 BA in 149 AB versus RHP. He can't be too far from the majors with Andy LaRoche and his .317 OBP and .349 SLG in his path. There's also a possibility Garret Jones will shift to RF and Alvarez will move across the diamond to 1B. Todd Frazier , 1B Cincinnati- AAA line .194, 7 HR, 19 RBI Talk about struggling with the stick.. Frazier is in a rough place right now. After hitting .292/16/77 in AAA Louisville in 2009, he has just 33 hits and a .266 OBP through 47 games in 2010. The Reds have moved Frazier all over the field defensively, and it could be taking it's toll on his overall game. They may be better suited keeping him in one spot and letting him focus on his ticket to the bigs, his swing. Desmond Jennings , CF Tampa Bay- AAA Line .236 0 HR 6 RBI Jennings missed much of April with a left wrist injury and has not been himself since returning. Jennings numbers are dramatically down from 2009 when he hit .318/11/62 for AAA Durham. In his last 10 games Jennings is batting .175 (7 for 40) with 1 RBI, 11 K and 1 SB. He has been extremely effective on the base paths on the season, stealing 12 while being caught only once. He swiped 52 bags in 59 attempts in '09. Jennings is viewed as the Rays top offensive prospect, but will need to pick up his production to reach the majors. Jason Castro , C Houston- AAA Line .279, 1 HR, 18 RBI Castro's best attribute has been his eye at the plate. He's walked 31 times against just 24 K's for an OBP of .396. However, the pop, in the hitter friendly PCL nonetheless, is sorely missing. He has 1 HR and 7 XBH in 165 AB, and is slugging an unimpressive .333. Castro has done his best work with RISP, hitting .326 and driving in 15 of his 18 runs. Logan Morrison , 1B Florida- AAA Line .300, 3 HR, 17 RBI Gaby Sanchez has been adequate at 1B for the Marlins, but he can't hold off Morrison for long. In 25 games with AAA New Orleans, Morrison is sporting a .400 OBP and .544 SLG. His BB/K ratio is 16/13. In 24 AB with RISP he's raking to the tune of .458. He's also displayed solid top end speed notching 3 triples to go along with his 7 doubles. PITCHERS Jake Arrieta , SP Baltimore- AAA line 6-2, 1.85 ERA, 64 K The O's top pitching prospect is rolling right along in 2010, owning the top ERA in the International League. Opponents are hitting a meager .189 against him, and he's getting 1.43 ground outs to air outs. In his last 3 starts he's thrown 22 innings, allowing 16 hits, 2 ER and striking out 23. Arrieta was scratched from his June 5 start and could be headed to the big club imminently. Snatch him up while you can! Jeremy Hellickson, SP Tampa Bay- AAA Line 8-2, 2.28 ERA, 71 K The power pitching Hellickson leads the AAA IL with 8 wins. He's been real stingy on the mound, not yielding a run in 4 of his last 5 starts. In those 4 starts he's pitched 27 innings, allowed 16 hits and K'd 27. With Wade Davis' ERA now over 5, will Hellickson get the call? Carlos Carrasco , SP Cleveland- AAA Line: 4-2, 4.68 ERA, 46 K Now at 23 years of age, Carrasco has still failed to live up to the hype. Prior to being dealt to the Indians, Carrasco made 20 starts for AAA Lehigh Valley in 2009, going 6-9 with a 5.18 ERA. He finished the season strong for AAA Columbus winning 5 of 6 starts with a .319 ERA and allowing only 31 hits in 42 1/3 innings. He has taken a step back once again in early in 2010. He's given up 64 hits in 59 2/3 innings while striking out only 46. Opponents are hitting a comfortable .282 against him, and right handed hitters are hitting .313. On a positive note, Carrasco is getting ground balls with a 1.21 GO/AO ratio. Madison Bumgarner , SP San Francisco- AAA Line: 5-1, 2.73 ERA, 43 K As Todd Wellemeyer continues to get shelled, a logical question arises: where is Madison Bumgarner? The Giants top farmhand has been sharp since two rough starts to open the AAA season, albeit, not in dominating fashion. He's allowed 66 hits in 62 2/3 innings of work and struck out only 43. Nevertheless, Bumgarner's been extremely effective at forcing opponents to pound the ball into the ground. For example: In his May 23rd start vs. Nashville he recorded 14 outs on balls put in play. 12 were recorded on the ground. Despite giving up his 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings in that start, he maneuvered his way through the jams without conceding an earned run. WHERE'D THEY GO? Chris Davis, 1B Texas- Davis is hitting .313 with 5 HR and 31 RBI for AAA Oklahoma City in the PCL. He's still striking out too much with a 13/37 BB/K ratio. Alex Gordon , OF Kansas City- Gordon has been killing the ball in 31 games for AAA Omaha in the PCL. He's batting .371 with 9 HR and 26 RBI. His OBP is a ridiculous .510 and his SLG % is an equally preposterous figure at .662. Keep in mind, Royals GM Dayton Moore said it is unlikely that Gordon will be called up for the remainder of 2010. Chris Johnson , 3B Houston- Johnson is tearing the cover off the ball for AAA Round Rock: .330, 6 HR and 26 RBI. However, he still refuses to take a BB. He's walked only 5 times in 103 AB, and his OBP is only .24 higher than his BA. With the Astros season nearing an early termination, he'll get the call back up soon. Johnson hit .227/0/2 in 22 AB earlier this year for the 'Stros. Written by Adam Ganeles for The Fantasy Fix. Check back weekly for Adam's awesome insight on MLB and MiLB Fantasy Baseball! We'd love to hear your thoughts on AAA ball. Hit us up on Twitter. Twitter.com/thefantasyfix Tags: Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Blog, The Fantasy Fix, Featured Blog, Minor Leagues, AAA, The Farm Report MLB, NL, AL, Michael Brantley, Pedro Alvarez, Todd Frazier, Desmond Jennings, Jason Castro, Logan Morrison, Jake Arrieta, Jeremy Hellickson, Carlos Carrasco, Madison Bumganer, Chris Davis, Alex Gordon, Chris Johnson, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlina, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates,  Chris Marrero Let The Fantasy Fix take you on a trip through AA's Eastern, Southern and Texas Leagues... including the no-hit arm of Kyle Drabek and the toiling of $ grabber Aaron Crow. Also a look at Chris Marrero... Adam Dunn's possible replacement if he gets traded. BATTERS Chris Marrero, 1B Washington Nationals AA Line – .289, 11 HR, 43 RBI The Nationals 2006 first round pick is slowly working his way through the system, playing in 356 games at the AA level over parts of 4 seasons. While Marrero is lauded for his incredible power, he hit .359 in June with 27 singles, ten doubles and three HR. His recognition of the strike zone is still a work in progress (25:65 BB to K), but he should fall well short of his 115 K in '09. Marrero was shifted from the OF to 1B as a result of well below average foot speed (despite a strong arm). If the Nats have plans to move Dunn at the deadline, the 22 year old could be next in line. Matt Dominguez, 3B Florida Marlins AA Line – .239, 9 HR, 41 RBI The 20 year-old Dominguez is still adjusting to Southern League ball. He hit .186 in 31 games at the end of '09, and is stuck at .239 this season. He shows a willingness to work counts and draw walks, but it's not helping his BA. He finished June at .262, his strongest month, but drew a season low (for a month) six base on balls. He drew 13 BB in 20 April games, but hit just .239. Go figure... Dominguez should grow into a doubles machine, compiling 32 in '09 and 20 thus far in '10. A right hander hitter, his .211 BA against LHP is puzzling. Carlos Triunfel, SS Seattle Mariners AA Line – .280, 5 HR, 30 RBI Triunfel broke his leg last April, forcing him to miss almost the entire 2009 campaign. Following the injury, his speed and/or willingness to run has vanished. He stole 30 bags in A ball in '08, and has attempted only eight SB in '10, being caught in six of them. Triunfel is a free swinger, walking 11 times (hasn't drawn a BB in his last ten games) and K'ing only 36. He's crushed LHP to the tune of .320 in 103 AB. He’s displayed some decent pop for a shortstop, slugging.406 with 20 2B and eight HR in 2008, and has five bombs so far this year. The Mariners have a black hole at SS on the major league level, but Triunfel is only 20 and still working his way back from a serious injury. Austin Romine, C New York Yankees AA Line – .285, 6 HR, 44 RBI The other Yankees catcher, Romine took the Eastern League by storm, batting .354 in April and .305 in May. June was a reality check, as he hit just .227 for the month. Nevertheless, despite his struggles with the stick, he still drew 16 BB, scored 15 runs and knocked in 12. He's already drawn more walks in 2010 than he did in any of his first three minor league stops. Romine is another strong gap hitter, with 24 doubles in '09, 28 in '09 and 21 thus far in 2010. He flashed some speed in '09 with 11 SB in 16 attempts, but has stolen just one base in one attempt this season. The Yankees love his glove behind the plate, so he should be on the fast track. Posada is a free agent in 2012, and at 38 should be subjected to DH duties in the near future. James Darnell, 3B San Diego Padres AA Line – .226, 4 HR, 13 RBI Darnell started 2010 in the Midwest League (A) where he hit .360 with a HR and eight RBI in seven games. Coming off the heels of a .311 20 HR 81 RBI season in '09, he was quickly promoted to AA. The Texas League has not been as kind to the former SC Gamecock. Darnell is hitting .226 overall, .211 against RHP and .222 with RISP. He also missed significant time with a finger injury. He's struck out 31 times in 43 games, but his plate discipline is improving. In 12 June games, he drew seven BB against six K. The line drive hitter has crushed the ball at every level, there's no reason to think he won't make the necessary adjustments here. But at 23, the clock is ticking. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF New York Mets AA Line – .286, 12 HR, 44 RBI When Nieuwenhuis puts bat on ball, good things usually happen. He has 22 doubles, 12 homers and a .505 SLG%. In 72 at bats with RISP he's batting .333 with 36 of his 46 RBI. A left handed hitter, he's hitting .303 in 66 AB against LHP. Unfortunately, contact is not made enough. He has 70 K in 68 games this season, and had a 6:31 BB to K ratio in the month of May. Nieuwenhuis stole 17 bases in '09 and has 12 in 2010. He missed the second half of June with a strained shoulder. PITCHERS Kyle Drabek, RH SP Toronto Blue Jays AA Line – 8-8, 3.20 ERA, 80 K The second marquee prospect in the Roy Halladay deal, Drabek threw a no-hitter on July 4th, recording 13 outs via ground ball and walking only two. He's been tough to square up all season. He's allowed 86 hits in 107 innings of work, and opposing batters are hitting .219 against him. His GO/AO ratio is 1.53, and 2.36 against LHH. However, the base on ball has cost him. He's walked 45, many of which have crossed the plate. Despite a BAA of .223 in June, he went winless in 5 starts, in large part the result of his 16 BB in 30 1/3. The Blue Jays have a strong stable of young arms, but he's not far off from harnessing his stuff. Casey Kelly, RH SP Boston Red Sox AA Line – 1-3, 5.05 ERA, 55 K Drafted out of high school as a SS, Kelly is now an esteemed pitching prospect. In his first minor league season on the hill in '09, accumulating 17 starts between A & AA, he pitched to a 2.08 ERA, yielding only 65 hits in 95 innings. Just as impressive, he issued only 16 BB. He's already walked 25 in 2010 in 62 1/3 innings, and he's getting hit hard. Kelly's allowed 78 hits in 62 1/3, and opposing hitters are roughing him up the tune of a .307 BAA. On a positive note, he's still inducing ground balls at a significant rate (1.33). His stuff is not overpowering, but at 20 years of age he's extremely polished on the mound. Jordan Lyles, RH SP Houston Astros AA Line – 6-5, 2.60 ERA, 85 K Lyles' strikeouts are down from A ball (167 in 144 2/3) as expected, but his K:BB ratio of 85 to 22 is excellent. He uses his two-seam fastball adroitly against LHH, holding them to a .227 BA. Despite his low ground ball rate and a tendency to pitch up in the zone, he's allowed only seven HR (one every 13 innings). As Lyles continues to move up the ranks, he will need to be more proficient with his location and keep balls out of the air. He's a quick riser, but needs seasoning on his secondary offerings. Aaron Crow, RH SP Kansas City Royals AA Line – 5-6, 6.11 ERA, 63 K Crow was originally drafted by the Nationals at #9 overall in '08, but did not sign. He throws hard sinking fastballs in the low to mid 90's. He's been a ground ball machine in his first season of pro ball, with a 3.08 GO/AO ratio. On the opposite end of the spectrum, he's walked 44 in 91 1/3 innings and struck out just 63. All batters are hitting .292 against him, and left handed batters are hitting .335. He finished June with an 8.72 ERA in 5 starts. Crow played independent ball in '09, but has clearly fallen behind the curve. Christian Friedrich, LH SP Colorado Rockies AA Line – 1-5, 5.34 ERA, 57 K The Rockies first round pick in 2008, Friedrich is having no fun in the Texas League. He's allowed 72 hits in 64 innings, working to a 0.88 GO/AO ratio and LHH are hitting .342 against him. This after mowing through A ball in '09 with a 2.41 ERA and 159 K in 119 2/3 innings. Friedrich possesses a low 90's fastball, 12-6 curve and hard, cutter-like slider. The changeup is a new offering for him. NOTES Michael Pineda, SP Seattle Mariners – Pineda was promoted to AAA after an 8-1 mark and 2.22 ERA in the Southern League. In three starts since his promotion, he's 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA, struck out 26 in 19 innings, and his BAA is .164. He's flown under the radar big time. Mike Montgomery, SP Kansas City Royals – Montgomery has been shut down since June 15th with elbow soreness. Apparently it's just a precautionary measure and he should be fine. He's 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA between two AA stops in 2010, and is a high ceiling left-handed arm. We'd love to hear your thoughts on AA ball. Hit us up on Twitter. Twitter.com/thefantasyfix Tags: MiLB, Fantasy Baseball Advice, Fantasy Baseball Blog, The Fantasy Fix, Featured Blog, Minor League Baseball, A, AA, AAA, The Farm Report MLB, NL, AL, Chris Marrero, Washington Nationals, Matt Dominguez, Florida Marlins, Carlos Triunfel, Seattle Mariners, Austin Romine, New York Yankees, James Darnell, San Diego Padres, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, New York Mets, Kyle Drabek, Toronto Blue Jays, Casey Kelly, Boston Red Sox, Jordan Lyles, Houston Astros, Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals, Christian Friedrich, Colorado Rockies |
