[gehrig38]

MINOR LEAGUE UPDATE
At Class A Joe Holsinger went 4-1 1.69 with 36 K's in 32 IP to win Pitcher of the Month honors. His command issues remain, as he walked 23 in those 32 IP.
Here's a look at the clubs after a month of play, what prospects are where and how they are doing.

AAA-NEW ORLEANS

• Off to a terrible start and 1-9 in their last 10.
• Their rotation has 2 potential 3-star talents in Brian Pennington (0-2 10.45) who missed 2 weeks in early April with a bad back and Yadier Perez (1-3 4.50) who was a waiver claim from LA last November.
• The pen is full of 2.5 star potentials with Wilfredo Diaz (1.50) Aiden Forte (0.96) and lefty Trevor Carlson (.514) as arms I can use in a bind.
• 4 2.5 star prospects are playing every day. Troy Zehnder (C-22) .182/.308/.200 had a miserable month.
• 2-star IF Adam Higgins (22) is making the most of his call up hitting .306/.348/.500 with 3 HR and 7 RBI. Derek Dames (24) our next in line SS, hit .246/.325/.536 with 5 HR and 11 RBI in April.
• John Tite (21) hit 31 HR's in AA last year and was banged up most of April so he's just starting to get AB's and the 4th 2.5 star guy is Kevin Dietz who hit just .192 this month.
• 2-star Matt Chiquete, after a great AA season, has moved into the CF role and hit .366/.416/.549 in April.
• Jimmy Young (22) hit 19 in AAA last year but a .216 Avg and .302 OBP have held him back. He started horribly and just heated up this last 2 weeks hitting 4 HR and driving in 8 but is sitting at .147 on the year.

AA-MILWAUKEE

• Off to a great start at 16-6.
• 2nd in R, 1st in AVG and OBP as well as 3rd in SP ERA.
• Former 1st rounder Luis Ornelas won a bunch of April awards going 4-0 1.50. He's a 3.5 star prospect. He threw 30 IP 21 H 24 K to 6 BB with a 0.90 WHIP.
• Three other 2.5 star arms in their rotation.
• Augusto Campos (22) 1-1 6.23 acquired in a 2011 deal with Washington
• Danny Eckenrode (24) 2-0 6.75 acquired in a 2013 deal with Phoenix
• Jake Schmidt (22) 1-0 4.50 drafted in the 4th round (140th overall) last year
• Bobby Hutcheson (23) still tantalizes with the stuff. 3-0 2.79 with 17 K in 19 IP but 10 BB. His past 3 years at AA he's 17-10 4.21 with 224 K's in 237 IP with 219 H but has walked 135 hitters. He cannot seem to harness the control or make that next step. He's still a 1.5 star prospect but time's ticking.
• The bullpen features 3 prospects we're watching
• 2.5 Star Justin Tar has a 4.92 ERA but control still haunts him.
• 3.5 star 2013 draftee (3rd round 107th overall) John Alex was 0-6 21 Saves 2.81 at Class A last year, he's 1-2 1 Save 5.79 through a month this year.
• Acquired last July from Fresno 4.5 star prospect Juan Arevalo is closing here and had a good April with 9 Saves. His control bit him (10K 9BB 9.2 IP) but he's a future closer.

• 6 2.5 star or better prospects are in their lineup.
• Gil Ermatinger (2.5* 22 Catcher) is off to a torrid start hitting .355/.452/.613 with 5 HR and 17 RBI. Gil was our 7th round pick last year (235th overall)
• Cody Mullins (2.5* 22 Catcher) is another Catcher drafted last year, 10th round 331st overall. Had a god April hitting .294/.385/.412 while splitting time between spelling Ermatinger and DH'ing.
• Andy Alvarado (2.5* 23 2B, 3B) spent a bit of time at AA last year before starting this season here. Struggled a bit .191/.322/.324 with 2 HR 9 RBI. Andy was acquired from San Diego last June.
• A.J. Lanigan (3* 20 IF) is hot. The 10th round pick (312th overall) in 2012 has surprised everyone. He had a great 2013 hitting .295/.366/.504 with 16 2B 12 HR 29 RBI at Albuquerque last year and is off to another great start hitting .293/.384/.467 with 3 2B 2 3B 2 HR and 13 RBI's.
• Garrett Combs (2.5* 23 OF) acquired from Utah 3 weeks ago in a deal of minor leaguers. Elite defender across the OF with ++ speed. Hitting .235/.270/.329 so far.
• Jaden Brown (2.5* 23 LF) drafted in the 13th round in 2011 (401st overall) he's sort of jumped onto the scene last year hitting .307/.416/.473 with 22 2B 11 HR and 55 RBI. This year an improved version saw him hit .395/.489/.500 in April with a HR and 10 RBI.

A-ALBUQUERQUE

• Started 0-6 and are now 14-8
• They are throwing the crap out of the ball, 2nd in SP ERA, 3rd in BP ERA. That's all with just 2 guys rated above 2-stars.
• David Arroyo (2.5* 21) drafted 45th overall back in 2011. Was 10-4 4.09 over 25 starts here last year, started this year 2-1 2.08 through 5 starts this year.
• Mike Felan (2.5* 22) drafted 600th overall in 2012 he's slowly, but steadily gotten better and opened eyes. Went 3-1 1.50 at Nashville last year and is 0-1 7 Saves 1.04 this year with an 0.81 WHIP.
• Joe Holsinger (2* 22) is 4-1 1.69 with 36 K and 22 BB in 32 IP.
• Blake Reynolds (2* 21) is 3-0 2.60 in 4 starts after going 5-5 4.03 last year after we acquired him in June from San Diego.

• Their lineup has some potential talent including the highest rated prospect playing for us right now.
• Dean Hahn (5* 19 C) drafted in the 2nd round last year (73rd overall) had a great April hitting .328/.366/.507 with 3 2B 3 HR and 8 RBI.
• Jim Baxley (2.5* 22 C) 17th round pick last year (555th overall) had a tough start hitting .188/.278/.375 in April.
• Josh Logan (2.5* 21 1B/2B) 15th round pick (465th overall) had a great year here last year hitting .318/.382/.485 with 13 2B 12 HR and 41 RBI. Off to a slow start .197/.329/.423 with 5 HR.
• Jake Pena (2.5* 20 IF) 14th round (440th overall) in 2012. Had a good season at Nashville last year (.295/.373/.419) hitting 12 2B 6 HR and driving in 21. Off to a solid start .253/.364/.440 with 5 2B 3 HR and 10 RBI.
• Enrique Garza (2.5* 21 IF) drafted to be a potential answer at SS he struggled a bit at Milwaukee last year hitting .239/.291/411 with 18 2B and 13 HR driving in 48. His defense has not progressed and he looks to be a 1B or 2B though his bat won't likely play at 1B.
• Edwin Mejia (2.5* 20 OF) Back here after a great run at Nashville got him called up last year, where he struggled hitting just .174. Tough April .217/.270/.361 but he did hit 3 HR's. Acquired last year in a deal with the “other” Chicago club.
• Johnny Blackwell (2.5* 20 OF) Monster power, drafted in the 3rd round in 2012 (94th overall) for his raw power. Hit 28 last year in 126 starts here. Off to a big start, homering 7 times in April and hitting .273.

• On the international FA front we signed three players recently. 2 5-star prospects in SS Marcello Dazzi and OF Teobaldo Pintalho and 3.5* OF Javier Dominguez. Dazzi jumped to 32nd on the IBL prospect list and Pintalho 67th.