Bandit Post, Vol 1.3, 2001 - Early Minor League Report

[aaronweiner]

(ED Note: I think that the minor leagues are the most fun part of the game for me. It's really, really awesome playing farm director.)

A quick look at some star performers at each minor league level so far:

AAA DC Americans:

Jesus Ramos continues to show why he's the Bandits' top pitching prospect. Ramos, still just 23, has posted a stellar 5-2, 3.13 line with 55 Ks in 60 innings.

Outfielder Eugene Henriksen might have earned himself a spot on the 40-man roster with his .337 average so far.

Other players:

Luis Fermoso continues to pound base hits, get on base and be basically punchless...Todd Kramer has made the jump to AAA, but he still needs to refine before he'll get the call to the majors...Christian Hoey, last year's surprise, was sent to AA this week due to a horrid 10.29 ERA and nine walks in seven innings. Silver lining: he'll start there.


AA Macon Robins:

The Bash Brothers, Larry Crawford and Hank Rayman, continue to pound homers and put up massive minor league numbers in leading the Robins to the best record in AA. They have very similar numbers, and have posted 18 homers and 70 RBI in 74 games combined.

Last year's first rounder, Mario Diaz, is leading AA with nine saves, and has a solid 3.27 ERA. The team would like to see more development from him, but he certainly hasn't been bad.

Chris Clark has made the jump to AA well, posting a .394 OBP so far.


A Moline Mallards

Bobby Norton and Chris Neal, the team's two best prospects, were called up to Macon this month. Norton posted a .362 OBP in 34 games, while Neal was blowing away A-ball so badly (albeit in a small sample) that he basically required a call-up; the latter has already shown he can hold his own in AA.

Ramiro Lopez has not shown major signs of development yet, but the team is still hopeful that the young righty supplemental pick will show his stuff soon. He's been very solid in his first year in High-A.

[recte44]

It's becoming clear that Crawford, not Rayman, is the future for Birmingham at first base.

[aaronweiner]

I don't know if I've made that call yet, but I'm pretty sure that one of them's gonna be there, and probably not long from now.