27 year-old Jeff Keppinger (Pirates #4 – 2001) went 2 for 4. He is hitting .395/.429/.447. In his minor league career with 490 PAs he has hit .316/.353/.359 with 0 SB and 4 CS.
25 year-old Enrique Cruz went 3 for 4 with a 3B and a R. He is hitting .295/.371/.410 in 88 PAs. For his carrerhe is hitting .269/.323/.371 in 375 PAs.
24 year-old Calvin Medlock (Reds #39 – 2002) pitched 3 more solid innings giving up just a H, a BB, and no ER. His ERA is 1.50 with 10 H, 2 BB, and 21 Ks in 18 IP. Why don’t they just stick him down in Sarasota so he can REALLY dominate. In his last 10 appearances he has given up just 5 H, 2 BB, and 1 ER in 16 IP. During that span he has struck out 17. Note to Krivsky, he has nothing left to prove at AA.
20 year-old Jay Bruce (Reds #1 – 2005) went 2 for 4 with another 2B, and another HR. He is hitting .345/.385/.646. The only thing that concerns me about Bruce is his low walk rate. Maybe they are leaving him down because he hasn’t shown any patience yet, because other than that, what else can he do? Does anybody think if he were in the A’s system that he would still be in A+? I would bet Bill’s paycheck that he would be in at least AA, maybe even AAA.
Almost 25 year-old catcher Chris Kroski (Mariners #19 – 2002) went 3 for 4 with 2 2B, a HR, and 3 RBI. He is hitting .375/.487/.656. Last year he hit .215/.260/.298. You probably won’t see Kroski on the DOTF much unless he starts hitting like this at Chattanooga this year….a 25 year old repeating at A+ just doesn’t impress me.
22 year-old Drew Stubbs (Reds #1 – 2006) went 2 for 3 with a 2B and a BB. He is hitting .277/.349/.383. Last year in rookie ball he hit .252/.368/.400. The Stubbs discussion on the DOTF comments is interesting. I think I understand both points of view. But I think I am leaning toward the negative with him. He did have a great walk rate last year, but he was 21 at rookie ball. I want a college tested #1 pick to dominate like Bruce, not be average like Stubbs has been so far.
21 year-old shortstop Chris Valaika (Reds #3 – 2006) went 2 for 4 with a HR and 2 RBI. He is hitting .387/.433/.559. THIS is what future major leaguers do in A-!! Last year in Billings he hit .324/.387/.520.