First-month minor league review - International League - MLB

OPS Leaders
1. Steve Pearce (Pirates) – .349/.452/.605 – 1057
2. Dan Johnson (Rays) – .304/.375/.674 – 1049
3. Chris Carter (Mets) – .348/.408/.607 – 1015
4. Carlos Santana (Indians) – .300/.446/.550 – 996
5. Mike Hessman (Mets) – .297/.353/.637 – 990
6. Chase Lambin (Nationals) – .333/.385/.583 – 968
7. Dustin Martin (Twins) – .311/.400/.554 – 954
8. Justin Ruggiano (Rays) – .330/.419/.527 – 943
9. Jason Donald (Indians) – .323/.440/.500 – 940
10. Tyler Flowers (White Sox) – .286/.398/.543 – 940
– Santana is the elite prospect on the list and he could take over as the Indians’ catcher sometime around June 1, but Donald has a chance to beat him to Cleveland, possibly as a replacement for the slumping Luis Valbuena.
– Flowers is the other top prospect on the list. The White Sox would likely be better off right now with him DHing and Andruw Jones starting over Juan Pierre. However, it makes more sense to let him keep catching in Triple-A in the hopes that he’ll be the long-term replacement for A.J. Pierzynski.
– Carter deserved to make the Mets over Mike Jacobs this spring and he could still be of use now as a replacement for Frank Catalanotto. Unfortunately for him, too many teams like their bench players to be former regulars.
Notable hitters
John Mayberry Jr. (Phillies) – .300/.387/.511 – 898
Jose Tabata (Pirates) – .340/.404/.456 – 860
Chris Valaika (Reds) – .341/.380/.459 – 839
Hank Blalock (Rays) – .347/.407/.431 – 838
Jordan Danks (White Sox) – .276/.366/.471 – 837
Pedro Alvarez (Pirates) – .260/.333/.500 – 833

Freddie Freeman (Braves) – .277/.330/.479 – 8009
Chris Heisey (Reds) – .241/.307/.430 – 737
Josh Bell (Orioles) – .253/.282/.434 – 716
Dayan Viciedo (White Sox) – .267/.283/.422 – 705
Jesus Montero (Yankees) – .238/.304/.381 – 685
Fernando Martinez (Mets) – .239/.286/.394 – 680
Danny Valencia (Twins) – .267/.309/.356 – 665
Josh Reddick (Red Sox) – .187/.225/.413 – 638
Ruben Tejada (Mets) – .243/.288/.324 – .612
Juan Francisco (Reds) – .189/.208/.365 – 573
Todd Frazier (Reds) – .180/.311/.262 – 573
Brandon Snyder (Orioles) – .198/.303/.267 – 570
Josh Thole (Mets) – .180/.246/.279 – 525
– It looks like the White Sox made a mistake pushing the 21-year-old Viciedo up to Triple-A in his second year in the U.S. He wasn’t very impressive in hitting .280/.317/.391 in Double-A last season, and it would have made sense to let him conquer the level before promoting him. What little damage he’s done in the International League has come against lefties. He’s hitting .224/.234/.316 with a 21/1 K/BB ratio in 76 at-bats versus righties.
– Ike Davis got off to a fabulous start, of course, but the Mets have to be very disappointed in how the rest of their Triple-A prospects are progressing. Martinez, especially, has been a disappointment after such a promising spring. He’s walked just once in 71 at-bats, and it’s actually HBPs that have boosted his OBP.
ERA Leaders
1. Chris Resop (Braves) – 1.40 ERA, 32/14 K/BB in 25 2/3 IP
2. Jake Arrieta (Orioles) – 1.50 ERA, 30/19 K/BB in 36 IP
2. Andrew Kown (Nationals) – 1.50 ERA, 15/8 K/BB in 24 IP
4. Armando Galarraga (Tigers) – 2.30 ERA, 28/6 K/BB in 31 1/3 IP
5. R.A. Dickey (Mets) – 2.33 ERA, 22/5 K/BB in 38 2/3 IP
6. Ivan Nova (Yankees) – 2.43 ERA, 32/12 K/BB in 37 IP
7. Jeremy Hellickson (Rays) – 2.57 ERA, 35/7 K/BB in 35 IP
8. Sam Lecure (Reds) – 2.67 ERA, 25/10 K/BB in 30 1/3 IP
9. Alfredo Figaro (Tigers) – 2.76 ERA, 21/9 K/BB in 29 1/3 IP
9. Dillon Gee (Mets) – 2.76 ERA, 27/4 K/BB in 29 1/3 IP
– With Chris Tillman struggling to find any consistency, Arrieta is probably going to be the next pitcher added to Baltimore’s rotation. He doesn’t have the upside of Tillman or Brian Matusz, but he could be a nice long-term No. 4 behind those two.
– Gee is expected to be the choice to join the Mets rotation if anyone is needed. I’m skeptical that he’ll make it in the majors as a starter, but he is worthy of the opportunity. With his control, he should at least be able to give the team some innings.
Notable starting pitchers
Matt Maloney (Reds) – 3.05 ERA, 28/2 K/BB in 20 2/3 IP
Aroldis Chapman (Reds) – 3.12 ERA, 30/13 K/BB in 26 IP
Jeff Manship (Twins) – 3.48 ERA, 13/3 K/BB in 20 2/3 IP
Carlos Carrasco (Indians) – 3.49 ERA, 25/14 K/BB in 28 1/3 IP
Travis Wood (Reds) – 3.77 ERA, 32/8 K/BB in 31 IP
Chris Tillman (Orioles) – 3.98 ERA, 24/7 K/BB in 31 2/3 IP
Brad Lincoln (Pirates) – 4.76 ERA, 18/9 K/BB in 28 1/3 IP
Lucas Harrell (White Sox) – 5.00 ERA, 15/11 K/BB in 27 IP
Zach McAllister (Yankees) – 5.52 ERA, 24/8 K/BB in 31 IP
Shairon Martis (Nationals) – 6.20 ERA, 20/10 K/BB in 24 2/3 IP
Daniel Hudson (White Sox) – 6.56 ERA, 28/10 K/BB in 23 1/3 IP
Brandon Erbe (Orioles) – 6.66 ERA, 18/12 K/BB in 24 1/3 IP
Michael Bowden (Red Sox – 6.86 ERA, 12/13 K/BB in 19 2/3 IP
Hector Rondon (Indians) – 9.13 ERA, 22/9 K/BB in 22 2/3 IP
Collin Balester (Nationals) – 11.57 ERA, 10/13 K/BB in 21 IP
– I really like Rondon — I probably would have ranked him as the circuit’s fourth-best pitching prospect behind Chapman, Tillman and Hellickson at the beginning of the year — but he’s already given up eight homers this year. That’s just three fewer than he allowed in 146 1/3 innings in a 2009 season split evenly between Double- and Triple-A. His command has also gone downhill in a big way, so it’s possible he’s hurt.
Relievers
Jay Sborz (Tigers) – 0.00 ERA, 7 Sv, 10/4 K/BB in 9 1/3 IP
Scott Mathieson (Phillies) – 0.71 ERA, 4 Sv, 12/4 K/BB in 12 2/3 IP
Anthony Slama (Twins) – 1.10 ERA, 6 Sv, 20/7 K/BB in 16 1/3 IP
Craig Kimbrel (Braves) – 1.20 ERA, 6 Sv, 21/5 K/BB in 15 IP
Daniel Schlereth (Tigers) – 1.46 ERA, 0 Sv, 15/12 K/BB in 12 1/3 IP
Mark Melancon (Yankees) – 1.76 ERA, 3 Sv, 15/5 K/BB in 15 1/3 IP
Robbie Weinhardt (Tigers) – 4.15 ERA, 0 Sv, 11/3 K/BB in 13 IP
Jess Todd (Indians) – 4.50 ERA, 2 Sv, 15/8 K/BB in 12 IP
– With Billy Wagner apparently out of the picture for 2011, Kimbrel is even more interesting as a fantasy prospect. He may well take over as Atlanta’s closer at some point during 2011, if not right from Opening Day.

PITTSBURGH – Andrew McCutchen’s tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning lifted Pittsburgh to a 5-4 victory over Oakland on Monday night, extending the Pirates’ win streak to six games and sending the Athletics to their record-tying 15th consecutive road loss.

The 15 straight defeats away from home matches the Athletics’ record since they moved from Kansas City in 1968. Oakland set that mark in 1986.

The major league-worst Athletics (12-50) have lost five games in a row overall. They are on pace to finish the season exactly 100 games under .500 at 31-131.

“It’s tough,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “Tonight’s game, we didn’t play well enough to win the game. I don’t want to say we gave the game away but there were a lot of instances where we had a chance to capitalize on opportunities and didn’t do it.”

McCutchen also singled and drew three walks to go with two RBIs. The 2013 NL MVP now has 1,998 career hits.

With the score tied at 4, Ji Hwan Bae led off the decisive eighth inning with a single off Sam Moll (0-3) and advanced to third on Austin Hedges’ one-out single. McCutchen’s sac fly plated Bae.

“I was just trying to get the job done. I understand the situation there,” McCutchen said. “We just need to get the run. I was trying to bear down against a hard thrower and trying to get that run in as much as I can, and I was able to do it and have a good at-bat.”

Angel Perdomo (1-0) retired both hitters he faced. and Colin Holdeman pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first career save. It was an eventful inning for Holderman as the first three batters reached base, but he struck out Carlos Perez with runners on the corners to end it.

“I began my career as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues but ever since I was switched to relief, this has been the goal, to get a save in the big leagues,” Holderman said.

Pittsburgh starter Johan Oviedo gave up three runs and four hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Oakland left-hander JP Sears did not allow a hit until Mark Mathias’ leadoff single in the fifth but was unable to make it through the inning. Sears was charged with one run in 4 2/3 innings while allowing two hits, walking five and striking out six.

Sears has not allowed more than two runs in five consecutive starts. His nine no-decisions are the most in the major leagues.

Ryan Noda and Brent Rooker had two hits each for the Athletics.

The Athletics tied the score at 4-4 in the eighth inning on pinch-hitter Aledmys Diaz’s run-scoring double. Oakland left the bases loaded, though, when Nick Allen hit an inning-ending flyout.

Consecutive bases-loaded walks keyed a three-run sixth inning that put the Pirates 4-3. McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds each worked bases on balls off Shintaro Fujinami to tie the score at 3-all and pinch-hitter Jack Suwinski followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Athletics opened the scoring in the first inning when rookie Esteury Ruiz reached on catcher’s interference, stole his MLB-leading 30th base of the season and scored on Noda’s single. Seth Brown doubled in a run in the third and came home on Perez’s sacrifice fly to push Oakland’s lead to 3-0.

Connor Joe hit an RBI double for the Pirates in the fifth.

The Pirates drew 10 walks, their most in a game in nearly two years.

“We had a bunch of opportunities that we didn’t capitalize (on), but the thing I think I was most proud of is we got down and we didn’t rush to get back,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “We were still patient.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: LHP Kirby Snead (strained shoulder) is expected to pitch in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, which will be his first game action since spring training. … RHP Freddy Tarnok (strained shoulder) will throw a bullpen on Tuesday.

TOP PICK PROMOTED

Pirates catching prospect Henry Davis was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis from Double-A Altoona. In 41 games at Double-A this season, the 23-year-old hit .284 with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases.

“He was performing offensively at a level where we felt like he was more than ready to meet the challenges,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “He improved as an offensive player even since spring training, focusing on the things we were challenging him on. Defensively, he’s made strides too.”

Davis was the first overall selection in the 2021 amateur draft from the University of Louisville.

UP NEXT

Athletics RHP James Kaprielian (0-6, 8.12 ERA) will make his first start in June after taking the loss in all four starts in May and face RHP Mitch Keller (7-1, 3.25). Keller has eight or more strikeouts in seven consecutive starts, the longest streak by a Pirates pitcher in the modern era (since 1901).

First-month minor league review – International League

McCutchen’s sacrifice fly lifts Pirates to 5-4 win, extends Athletics’ road losing streak to 15