 Precocious Power (and Arms)
The Next Influx of Top Prospects Might Not Wait Until July by Hunter Manchak
Thursday May 3, 2007 11:30am
Whenever Yankee top prospect Phil Hughes took the hill this spring, the team was unequivocal in its plan for him. With the big league rotation seemingly stacked, Brian Cashman and Joe Torre promised to handle their 20-year old wunderkind with kid gloves, letting him marinate in AAA, perhaps for the entire season.
Wang: Hamstring. Pavano: Forearm. Mussina: Hamstring. Igawa: Horrible.
Hughes: Welcome to the Bronx.
So much for patience.
To be sure, Hughes was a beneficiary of circumstances. Although his 2007 Scranton-Wikes Barre numbers were good (2-1 3.94), he was not exactly breaking down the door of Yankee Stadium. But even in the season's first month, injury or ineffectiveness at the Major League level, or Minor Leaguers simply forcing the issue can result in an impact promotion.
So while Phil Hughes rode in a palanquin to 161st and River (albeit briefly), let's take a look at some other hot minor leaguers that are making a case to start mixing it up at the Big League level:
Pitchers
Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants
AAA Fresno (4-0 0.29)
The 22-year old has been downright fascistic in five starts this season, striking out 46 batters in his first 31 innings and allowing just one man to cross home plate. It doesn't appear that the bantam 2006 first round pick has much left to learn or prove in Triple-A. The problem is that the Giants can't decide whether they are rebuilding or competing, starting the season 2-8 and then winning 10 of 11. If Lincecum keeps this up, though, he might give Giants GM Brian Sabean no choice but to make the call. Baseball fans everywhere should pray for a Russ Ortiz hamstring injury; Lincecum is going to be fun to watch.
Kevin Slowey - Minnesota Twins
AAA Rochester (3-0 1.05)
When the Twins broke camp without Matt Garza on their 25-man roster, the conventional wisdom was that it wouldn't be long before he was back with the club. While Garza has done a fine job thus far, he has struggled with his control, a problem that plagued him during his tour with the Twins. Enter Slowey, who has dominated International League hitters while walking just two batters in 25 2/3 innings. Whether his stuff can translate in the Majors remains a question but it's hard to imagine he would do much worse than the immortal Sidney Ponson. At this point, it looks likely that both Slowey and Garza will claim rotation spots by the All-Star break.
Hitters
Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers
AAA Nashville (.329-7-15)
When was the last time a Brewers prospect was held back because the Major League squad was performing too well? That's exactly the situation facing the Crew's third baseman en flambe, with Milwaukee looking like the team to beat in the National League Central. Although the Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino platoon has been incomparably bad so far, manager Ned Yost does not want to mess with team chemistry or risk defensive struggles - it was Braun's glove that kept him from winning the job out of Spring Training. Braun will be in Milwaukee before too long; sooner than later if the big league club starts to cool off.
Ian Stewart - Colorado Rockies
AAA Colorado Springs (.306-2-4)
Since slugging 30 home runs as a 19-year old, Stewart has been slowed by a slew of injuries. Although his '07 numbers aren't eye-popping, Stewart could help vitalize a flaccid Rockies offense, provided there's a place for him to play. Garret Atkins seemingly has third base on lockdown, but defensive struggles could necessitate a move to the outfield or to first base. The latter would require the Rockies to reexamine the possibility of trading Todd Helton, which may now be an impossibility. Somehow, Stewart should find a way to Denver by summertime.
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