Let’s stroll across the farm and see what’s going on this week.
AAA Louisville Bats
Neftali Soto (.336/.378/.491/.869) has hit very well since being sent down to Louisville. He’s positioned himself as the best option in the minors right now to help out at 1B with the big club in Joey Votto’s absence. Ruben Gotay (.279/.341/.463/.804) and Rey Navarro (.285/.344/.478/.822 .794 OPS AA and .936 OPS AAA) look to be the best options for IF help should Phillip’s thumb injury result in an extended outage. Mikey O’Brien, who posted a 3.86 ERA in 53 IP at AA and was demoted to A+ where he put up a 6.23 ERA over three starts, got the call up to AAA and did very well giving up just one run over 6.1 IP.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Kyle Waldrop (.308/.379/.500/.879) is picking up in AA where he left off in A+. Jesse Winker (.225/.341/.380/.721) and Seth Mejias-Brean (.258/.395/.318/.713) are both hanging in there about the Southern league average (.718 OPS) as they work on adjusting to the new level. Michael Lorenzen (2.45) and Jon Moscot (3.19) continue to pace the starting pitching staff. Robert Stephenson (3.97) and recently promoted Ben Lively (4.12) are doing fine at just above the Southern league average of 3.87. Daniel Corcino (4.63) has fallen off pace a bit. Reliever Carlos Gonzalez has a 1.50 ERA over his fiirst 6 IP.
High A Bakersfield Blaze
OF Juan Silva (.310.421.437.858, 34 SB) is putting up very good season in his second year at Bakersfield. He spent all of last season there as well with a solid line of .271/.386/.414/.799, 31 SB.  DH Sean Buckley (.415..435..723.1.158) continues to stay hot at A+ since his promotion. Daniel Wright (4.38) has bested the California League average ERA of 4.60 over his first eight starts after posting a 2.06 ERA over 7 GS at A Dayton.
Low A Dayton Dragons
SS Carlton Daal (.302/.339/.347/.686) continues to hit .300. He’s just 20 years old, and coming off of hitting .200 between both Rookie level teams last year. He has no power, draws walks at about half of what you would like to see, and has committed 36 errors, but hey, his .300 average is better than what we are used to seeing for OBP from our SS at the major league level. LH SP Nick Routt has a 3.12 ERA after 3 starts. Last season the 23 year old posted a 2.86 ERA over 9 starts between both Rookie level teams.
Rookie Billings Mustangs
First round supplemental 2014 draft pick SS Alex Blandino (.313/.393/.521/.914) is off to a great start. SS/2B Cory Thompson (.329/.352/.573/.925), a 2013 5th round draft pick, is also hitting very well. Third round 2014 draft pick SP Wyatt Strahan (3.27) is pacing the Mustangs staff after four starts.
Rookie AZL Reds
CF Jose Siri (.302/.333/.512/.845) is off to a quick start. The 18 year old hit .303 /.363 /.483 /.846 last season in the Reds Dominican Rookie level team.