Some notes and observations from down on the farm.
AAA Louisville Bats
Recently promoted LF/1B Donald Lutz continues to swing a hot bat. After slashing .360/.412/.685/1.098 in 97 PA at AA Pensacola, he has a .250/.357/.583/.940 line in his first 14 PA at AAA Louisville. With the parent clubs star 1B going onto the DL, one has to wonder if Lutz might not be getting the call to the big leagues soon since he is the most attractive prospect in the minors that could fill in at 1B and is already a member of the 40 man roster.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
The SP at AA Pensacola continues to be strong. Michael Lorenzen (2.26 ERA) and Jon Moscot (2.11) lead the staff. Top prospects Robert Stephenson (3.74) and Daniel Corcino (3.91) are putting up solid seasons thus far also where the league average ERA is 3.76. It will be interesting to see which of these hurlers gets the nod when it comes time to promote someone up to AAA.
High A Bakersfield Blaze
In his seconed season at A+ Bakersfield, 24 year old 2B Ryan Wright is off to .314/.338/.505/.844 start in 195 PA. Wright put up a good .285/.343/.424/.767 line at A Dayton in 2012, but then followed that up last season with a dissapointing .265/.311/.384/.695 line in high offense California League. Wright is second on the team to Marquez Smith in both HR and 2B. While the power surge is encouraging, his walk rate has dropped from its previous levels this year. Nice to see him rebounding this season and hope to see him at AA soon.
Low A Dayton Dragons
Tanner Rahier is a 20 year 3B who is reapeating this year at A Dayton. Rahier spent all of last season at Dayton where he struggled with a .222/.252/.320/.571 line. But note that last season he bypassed advanced Rookie league Billings where I had expected to see him assigned, especially after putting up a .192/.266/.311/.577 line with the Rookie AZL Reds the year before. Rahier has rebounded very nicely this season with a .288/.345/.444/.789 line in 172 PA. He could be another promotion candidate in the near future.