Since there is no big league game tonight, I thought it'd be nice to have an open thread on the minor league games. I've been too swamped this past week to catch up on how guys have been doing, but hopefully will have something on the minors for Wednesday. Until then, let's talk the draft, the minors or anything else you've got on your mind.
Games for Monday:
Las Vegas 51s (19-25) at Round Rock Express (19-24)
Wesley Wright, LHP (2-0, 4.20 ERA) vs. Marty McLeary, RHP (0-2, 9.00 ERA)
Midland RockHounds (20-23) at Corpus Christi Hooks (21-22)
Carlos Hernandez, LHP (3-0, 1.98 ERA) vs. Jeremy Johnson, RHP (0-3, 4.98 ERA)
High Desert Mavericks (26-18) at Lancaster JetHawks (15-28)
Ryan Feierabend, LHP (0-1, 5.31 ERA) vs. Shane Wolf, RHP (3-2, 4.15 ERA)
Lexington Legends at West Virginia Power
Juan Minaya, RHP (0-5, 6.19 ERA) vs. Nathan Baker, LHP (2-3, 3.99 ERA)
I'll also take this opportunity to pimp Andy Seiler's Draft Notebook. Just got a preview of the one I bought and MLB Bonus Baby's excellent content did not disappoint. Seiler has graciously allowed me to reproduce some of the content here, but if you want to read about all the players the Astros draft come June 6th, you'll have to buy one yourself (which I recommend).
Here's what he had to say about UT-Arlington outfielder Michael Choice, who has been linked to the Astros in at least one mock draft:
Michael Choice Position: OF School: UT-Arlington State: TX Year: Jr. Height: 6’1’’ Weight: 215
Bats: R Throws: R Birth Date: 11/10/89 Seiler Rating: 1B2 Last Drafted: Never
Year G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG 2008 50 197 39 74 9 3 7 51 8 0 21 35 .376 .440 .558 2009 56 225 64 93 13 3 11 52 5 3 29 30 .413 .494 .644 2010 56 183 62 70 10 1 16 57 12 4 71 49 .383 .568 .710
Michael Choice is a solidly-built college outfielder from the University of Texas at Arlington. Choice came
to UTA from Timberview High School in Mansfield, Texas, just south of Arlington. He wasn’t even really
recruited, though he was more than walk-on at UTA. He started immediately once arriving on campus,
and he hasn’t given up his center fielder’s job since, starting every single game since his freshman year.
He hit immediately, too, though it wasn’t until a successful stint with Team USA last summer that he
really began to be noticed on the national stage. A monster year as a junior has only elevated his status
as a potential big-time bat, and the tools, seen as fringy before the spring, started to receive more
favorable ratings as the season went on. His best tools involve his bat, as he’s an above-average hitter
with plus-plus raw power, and his speed rates as above-average, as well, giving him big offensive
potential. He’s a little more raw as a fielder, and the majority of scouts think he’ll shift over to a corner
outfield spot as a pro, as his range is more average than true center field range, and his arm is solid-
average. He has the potential to be an all-star player due to his bat, and while he’s not a huge ceiling
player, he’s a solid first round option, and he could go in the upper half of the first round and sign for
slot money.