In this installment, the class of 2008: Robertson, Stutes, Hopkins, Lechelt, Keller, Ogata.
Daniel Robertson/ Eugene Emeralds (Padres)
Daniel is beginning to prosper with the Emeralds, as his .373 batting average leads the team. He's played in fifteen games, and is 22-59 at the plate. He's hit one home run but has nine RBI's and ten runs scored. He's struggled with left hand pitching, which is interesting since he hits right handed (correct?). His batting average is .419 against right handed pitchers, and .250 against left handers. Daniel is still leading off and playing center most of the time. In the Northwest League, his team is 7-9, two games behind the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
Mike Stutes/ Williamsport Crosscutters (Phillies)
Stutes has started three games for the Crosscutters and has an 0-1 record with a 0.82 ERA. He's started three games, has allowed 7 hits and 2 runs, and has recorded 11 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .175 against him. In his first start on June 22, Stutes picked up the loss after going 2 innings, only giving up a run and a hit with four strikeouts. In his second start, he went four innings, allowing no runs on three hits. And on his most recent start on June 2 (yesterday), Mike threw five innings, allowing no runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. I don't really understand why Mike is being pulled so early in these games, except for the fact that it's the minor leagues and they want to cycle their players.
Chris Hopkins/ Auburn Doubledays (Blue Jays)
Hopkins has played in 11 games with the Doubledays, but is 7-38 at the plate and is hitting .184. The good news is that he has the third highest average for outfielders (two outfielders are hitting even worse than him), so Chris isn't exactly sinking to the bottom of the pond. He's still playing a lot of center field, but a few innings in right or left field isn't out of the ordinary. He does have 10 strikeouts in 38 at-bats, so he'll need to improve that number as the season goes on.
***
Lechelt, Ogata, and Keller after the break.
Lonnie Lechelt/ Jamestown Jammers (Marlins)
Lonnie has also been struggling as of late at the plate, as he is .186 in his 12 games with the Jammers. He has 2 home runs but 20 strikeouts in his 43 at-bats. He's been having troubles with right handed pitching, which has been the majority of what he's facing. Lonnie is 6 for 37 against righties and 2 for 6 against lefties, and is 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Jason Ogata/ Spokane Indians (Rangers)
Ironically, Ogata is has the exact same average and number of at-bats as Lonnie Lechelt. He's hitting .186, is 8 for 43, but has played in eleven games. His strikeout total is also high at eleven, so hopefully he can bring that down.
Josh Keller/ Angels Rookie League Team (Angels)
Keller has pitched four game in relief for the Angels and has three saves. He has a 2.84 ERA and has seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched.
***
If anyone has any additional information on any of these players, feel free to send it in.
GO BEAVERS!
--JB--