Bernie On The Scene: Eastern League Round-Up

At this time of year it makes sense to look at how some players are doing in their minor league assignments.

Double-A baseball has some of baseball' s best prospects. There are three different leagues devoted to Double-A. The Eastern League, the Southern League and the Texas League.

I will begin this week with a look at the Eastern League. You will find some familiar names, and then some you may have never heard about.

My purpose is to introduce some players and share some of the success.

Remember, Double-A is rich in development standards with good pitching and in general, and fair parks for both pitchers and hitters. That is particularly true of the Eastern and Southern Leagues, where the weather is not as warm as in Texas or California.

The Eastern League has players of all ages and experience levels. Remember that when you look at some of the names.

This list does NOT UPDATE the current classification of players. It is a list of players that did well at Double-A at some point this year. The point is to illustrate the better players that passed through the league, or are currently at the level now.

The Eastern League is comprised of the following teams and affiliations:

Akron Aeros - Cleveland Indians
Altoona Curve - Pittsburgh Pirates
Binghamton Mets - New York Mets
Bowie Baysox - Baltimore Orioles
Erie Seawolves - Detroit Tigers
Harrisburg Senators - Washington Nationals
New Britain Rock Cats - Minnesota Twins
New Hampshire Fisher Cats - Toronto Blue Jays
Portland Sea Dogs - Boston Red Sox
Reading Fightin Phils - Philadelphia Phillies
Richmond Flying Squirrels - San Francisco Giants
Trenton Thunder - New York Yankees

Since the Eastern League is extremely competitive and doesn' t favor hitters or pitchers, teams get a very good read on their player' s potential in the league.

Here are some names to watch closely for your own teams. Again, please note that some of these players have already been promoted to Triple-A. They are retained on the league leader charts.

EASTERN LEAGUE BATTING LEADERS AS OF AUGUST 11TH

Cesar Puello - .328-RF (22) Mets RHH
Mark Minicozzi - .321-3B (30) Giants RHH
Kevin Pillar - .318-RF (24) Blue Jays RHH
Josmil Pinto - .308-C (24) Twins RHH
Alex Dickerson - .294-OF (23) Pirates LHH
Javier Herrera - .294-OF (28) Giants RHH
Adalberto Santos - .292-OF (25) Pirates RHH
Kyle Hudson - .292-OF (26) Orioles LHH
Carlos Moncrief - .289 (24) Indians LHH
Caleb Joseph - .286-C/OF (27) Orioles RHH

EASTERN PITCHING LEADERS (ERA)

Logan Darnell - LHP (24) Twins SP 2.61
Anthony Ranaudo - RHP (23) Red Sox SP 2.95
Kyle Lobstein - LHP (24) Tigers SP 3.12
Warwick Saupold - RHP (23) Tigers SP 3.14
Casey Sadler - RHP (23) Pirates SP 3.19
Nathan Karns - RHP (25) Nationals SP 3.27
Chris Gloor - LHP (26) Giants SP 3.39
Jack Snodgrass - LHP (25) Giants SP 3.45
Mike Wright - RHP (23) Orioles SP 3.46
Matt Packer - LHP (25) Indians SP 3.50

Here's a look at each club's players having good statistical seasons:

AKRON
Carlos Moncrief - OF - .289/14/66 10SB (age 24)
Jesus Aguilar - 1B - .271/14/89 (age 23)
Francisco Lindor - SS - .297/1/7 (has played only 20 games there) (age 19)
Cedric Hunter - OF - .277/9/30 (age 25)
Tyler Holt - OF - .271/0/6 26 SB (age 24)
Chun-Hsiu Chen - 1B - .328/6/29 (age 24)
Jose Flores - RHP - 12 saves, 2.75 ERA, 46 hits in 55.2 IP (age 24)
Austin Adams - RHP - 2.40 ERA, 37 hits in 45 IP (age 26)
Toru Murata - RHP - 5-5 in 19 starts, 3.70 ERA, 16 walks, 88 strikeouts (age 28)
Bryan Price - RHP - 0.56 ERA in 16 IP, 6 hits, 4 walks, 17 strikeouts (age 26)

ALTOONA
Justin Howard - OF - .336/6/31 (age 25)
Charles Cutler - C/1B/OF - .320/3/26 (age 26)
Alex Dickerson - OF - .294/15/62 (age 23)
Andrew Lambo - OF - .291/14/46 (age 24)
Adalberto Santos - OF - .289/6/41 18 SB (age 25)
Casey Sadler - RHP - 10-5 in 20 starts, 3.19 ERA, 98 hits in 113 IP (age 22)
Stolmy Pimentel - RHP - 3.61 ERA in 13 starts
Jameson Taillon - RHP - 3.67 ERA in 19 starts, 36 walks, 106 strikeouts (age 21)
Zack Thornton - RHP - 2.66 ERA in 23.2 relief innings, 15 hits (age 25)

BINGHAMTON
Cesar Puello - OF - .326/16/73 28 SB (age 22)
Allan Dykstra 1B - .285/18/70 (age 26)
Darrell Ceciliani - OF - .278/6/40 26 SB (age 23)
Daniel Muno - INF - .261/9/65 11 SB (age 24)
Erik Goeddel - RHP - 9-5, 3.55 ERA, 101 hits in 111.2 IP, (age 24)
Darin Gorski LHP - 4-1, 1.76 ERA, 28 hits in 51 IP, (age 25)
Rafael Montero RHP - 7-3, 11 starts, 2.43 ERA, 51 hits in 66.2 IP (age 22)
Jeff Walters - RHP - 1.85 ERA out of bullpen, 38 hits in 48.2 IP (age 25)

BOWIE
Kyle Hudson - OF - .292/0/30 18 SB (age 26)
Caleb Joseph C - .286/18/84 (age 27)
Niuman Romero INF .286/2/39 (age 28)
Brandon Waring - corner infield .217/18/49 (age 27)
Tyler Wilson RHP - 7-1, 3.00 ERA, 57 hits in 69 IP, (age 23)
Mike Wright - RHP 9-2, 3.46 ERA 34 walks, 114 strikeouts (age 23)
Zech Zinicola - RHP - 12 saves, 44 hits in 54 IP (age 28)
Marcel Prado - RHP - 10 saves, 17 hits in 20.1 IP (age 25)
Kevin Gausman - RHP - 3.11 ERA, 44 hits in 46.1 IP 5 walks, 49 strikeouts, (age 22)
Eddie Gamboa - RHP 3.64 ERA, 82 hits in 99 IP, (age 28)

ERIE
Tyler Collins - OF - .237/17/67 (age 23)
Ramon Cabrera - C - .298/0/39 (age 23)
Hernan Perez - INF - .301/4/35 24 SB (age 22) promoted to big leagues
Daniel Fields - OF - .285/10/49 20 SB (age 22)
Blaine Hardy - LHR - 1.63 ERA, 16 hits in 27.2 IP, (age 26)
Warwick Saupold - RHP - 3.14 ERA, 18 starts, 96 hits in 106 IP (age 23)
Drew VerHagen - RHP - 2.81 ERA, nine starts, 41 hits in 48 IP, (age 22)

HARRISBURG
Steven Souza - OF - .273/14/31 13 SB, (age 24)
Jimmy Van Ostrand - 1B - .255/10/37 (age 28)
Jerad Head - OF - .254/12/41 20 SB (age 30)
Brian Goodwin - OF - .254/9/31 19 SB (age 22)
Aaron Barrett - RHRP - 23 saves, 37 hits in 46.3 IP, 13 W, 64 Ks (age 25)
Caleb Clay - RHP - 13 starts, 3.46 ERA, 64 hits in 75.1 IP, 17 W, 59 Ks (age 25)
Matt Graces - LHRP - 2.37 ERA in 20 app., 27 hits in 30.1 IP (age 24)
Nate Karns - RHP - 19 starts, 3.27 ERA, 80 hits in 107.1 IP, 126 Ks and 43 W (age 25)

NEW BRITAIN
James Baresford - INF - .316/0/19 (age 24)
Antoan Richardson OF - .336/0/14 14 SB (age 29)
Josmil Pinto - C/DH - .308/14/68 (age 24)
Eddie Rosario - 2B .294/3/24 (age 21)
Danny Santana - SS - .286/1/38 23 SB (age 22)
Daniel Ortiz - OF - .264/11/55 (age 23)
Reynaldo Rodriguez - 1B - .233/18/49 (age 27)
Miguel Sano - 3B - .258/13/42 (age 20)
A.J. Achter - RHRP - 2.21 ERA, 28 hits in 36.2 IP, (age 24)
Alex Meyer - RHP - 3.69 ERA, 11 starts, 53 hits in 61 IP, 73 K, 23 BB
(age 23)
Michael Tonkin - RHRP, 2.22 ERA, 7 saves, 8 W, 30 K (age 23)

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Kevin Pillar - OF - .333/5/30 15 SB (age 24)
Ryand Schimpf - OF - .203/18/52 (age 25)
Brad Glenn - OF - .264/17/68 (age 26)
Adam Loewen - OF - .260/13/44 (age 29)
Clint Robinson - OF - .270/11/43 (age 28)
Austin Bibens-Dirkx - RHP - 2.36 7 starts, 38 hits in 45.2 IP, 12 W, 20 K (age 28)
Joel Carreno - RHRP - 1.65 ERA, 12 hits in 27.1 IP, 8 W, 22 K (age 26)
Marcus Stroman - RHP, 16 starts, 3.22ERA, 79 hits in 89.1 IP, 22 W, 103 K, (age 22)
Sean Nolin - RHP, 16 starts, 2.84 ERA, 80 hits in 85.2 IP, 24 W and 99 K (age 23)

PORTLAND
Xander Bogaerts - INF - .311/6/35 (age 20)
Michael Almanzar - 3B - .274/13/69 11 SB (age 22)
Tony Thomas - OF.223/11/66 15 SB (age 26)
Travis Shaw - 1B - .216/15/47 (age 23)
Garin Cecchini - 3B - .301/2/17 (age 22)
Anthony Ranaudo - RHP - 19 starts, .295 ERA 80 hits in 109.2 IP, 40 BB with 106 K (age 23)
Brandon Workman - RHP - 10 starts, 3.43 Era 51 hits in 65.2 IP, 17 BB with 74 K (age 24) up and down in the big leagues this season.

READING
Albert Cartwright - 2B - .270/7/38 22 SB (age 25)
Jim Murphy - 1B - .274/19/68 (age 27)
Anthony Hewitt - OF - .238/15/44 16 SB (age 24)
Maikel Franco - 3B - .342/9/34 (age 20)
Sebastian Valle - C - .208/12/37 (age 22)
Jesse Biddle - LHP - 23 starts, 4-12, 3.76 ERA, 87 hits in 117.1 IP, 69 BB, 128 K (age 21)
Seth Rosin - RHP - 23 starts, 4.28 ERA, 116 hits in 124 IP, 34 BB 94 K (age 24)

RICHMOND
Mark Minicozzi - 3B - .321/8/61 (age 30)
Javier Herrera - OF - .294/15/63 20 SB (age 28)
Andrew Susac - C - .256/12/46 (age 23)
Adam Duvall - 3B - .247/13/45 (age 24)
Jarrett Parker - OF - .247/15/51 13 SB (age 24)
Chris Gloor - LHP - 22 starts, 3.39 ERA, 129 hits in 132.2 IP, 37W, 103 K, (age 26)
Jack Snodgrass - LHP - 22 starts, 3.45 ERA, 107 hits in 122.1 IP (age 25)
Daryl Maday, RHRP, 13 saves, 2.84 ERA, 21 hits in 25.1 IP (age 27)

TRENTON
Kyle Roller - 1B - .254/14/56 (age 25)
Jose Pirela - 2B - .259/8/49 16 SB (age 23)
Slade Heathcott - OF - .261/8/49 15 SB (age 22)
Mikey O'Brien - RHP, 15 starts, 3.90 ERA, 77 hits in 83 IP
Jose Ramirez - RHP, 8 starts, 2.76 ERA, 28 hits in 42.1 IP, 15 W with 50 K, (age 23)
Nik Turley - LHP - 22 starts, 3.74 ERA, 97 hits in 118 IP, 57 BB and 119 K, (age 23)
Tommy Kahnle - RHP, 14 saves, 27 hits in 52.2 IP (age 23)

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