I started this last week and then, well, life got busy and I wasn't able to get back to it until today.
21. Dawel Lugo, SS: Dawel started the season in Dunedin, and, in 67 games, he hit .219/.258/.292 with 2 home runs, 9 walks and 49 strikeouts, which, surprise, go him demoted to Lansing. He's hitting better there, .282/.308/.352, but still not great. He is just 20, there is time for him to figure it out. We'd just love to see some sign that he's getting better. Unless he improves, he'll be moving down or off the list next time.
22. Taylor Cole, RHP: Cole is pitching in New Hampshire. He's made 19 starts, has a 4.43 ERA. In 105 innings, he's allowed 122 hits, 13 home runs, 33 walks, with 87 strikeouts. He's having a good July, with a 2.77 ERA in 4 starts, allowing 24 hits, 9 walks with 20 strikeouts in 26 innings. His strikeout numbers have really dropped this year, last year he averaged 11.3 per 9 this year is it 7.4. He's 25 now, so the clock is ticking on him.
23. Clinton Hollon, RHP: He's back pitching, in Vancouver. He has a 4.01 ERA in 7 starts. In 33.2 innings, he's allowed 31 hits, 1 home run, 10 walks and 32 strikeouts in his return from Tommy John. His fastball has been around 92. Things seem to be going well. He turns 21 in December. It is nice to see, I'd think he'll be higher up the list next time.
24. Anthony Alford, CF: He could hardly be better. He started the season in Lansing, hitting .293/.418/.394 with 1 home run, 39 walks, 60 strikeouts, 12 steals with only 1 caught stealing and got moved up to Dunedin (the day before I went to see games in Lansing). He hasn't slowed since moving up, hitting .330/.390/.472 with 3 triples, 1 home run, 10 walks, 20 strikeouts, 6 steals, 5 caught stealing. Everyone says his defense look good in center field. I'm hoping he doesn't get traded. He should have gone full time baseball sooner. Have to imagine he'll be in our top 5 next year, unless he gets traded.
25. Andy Burns, INF: Andy played 6 games in New Hampshire, then moved to Buffalo. In Buffalo he's hitting .280/.343/.363 with 3 home runs, 28 walks and 49 strikeouts. He has 5 steals and 8 caught stealing. He's played every position except for center field, catcher, and pitcher. I'd be happy to have him as a utility player. He turns 25 next month.
26. Dan Jansen, C: He's was injured, back in May, and might not be back until the end of the season (what is it with our catching prospect and injuries? It seems we can't have a catcher make it thru a full season). Broken bones in the hand is a tough thing for catchers to come back from. Before he was injured, he wasn't hitting much, .209/.306/.374, with 4 home runs, 16 walks and 17 strikeouts in 33 games. He's just 20 so he can survive a lost year.
27. Lane Thomas, 3B/CF: Lane is having a tough time of it in Vancouver. He's hitting just .200/.233/.363 with 4 home runs, 6 walks, 26 strikeouts in 35 games. That's quite a drop from his .323/.384/.431 line from Bluefield last year. He isn't striking out much and he has 11 extra base hits, out of 27 total hits, a pretty good ratio. The interesting news is that's he's playing second base, when previously, he was splitting time between center field and third base. I'm hoping the rest of his season goes better, but looks like he'll be dropping down the list.
28. John Stilson, RHP: He's pitched just once this season. 1.1 innings with 4 strikeouts, but he gave up 3 hits and 2 earned runs in Dunedin. That was back in May. I don't think he's going to reach his goal of pitching to the Jays this year (http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-pitching-prospect-aiming-bigs/). Unfortunately I don't think he'll be on our list next year. He'll be 25 at the end of the season.
29. Chase De Jong, RHP: Traded to Dodgers for International Free Agent money.
30. Jake Brentz, LHP: Jake has made 5 starts for Bluefield. In 17 innings, he has a 4.24 ERA, allowed 20 hits, 0 home runs, 9 walks and 13 strikeouts. He turns 21 in September.