Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Minor League Report
The Latest News on the Top Prospects
Eric Sacharski
EDITORS NOTE - The overall strength of the Milwaukee Brewers organization continues to be in their player development department. With a bevy of promising prospects still just starting their professional careers, the ON THE FARM report will give casual fans a weekly update into what's going on in the Brewers minor leagues.
July is in the rearview mirror, but better yet, it was another exciting week for the Brewers and their player developement team. Here are those details:
HELENA BREWERS (Rookie Pioneer League)
Normally I start with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, but the Helena Brewers are by far the team of the week. Or more appropriately, Charlie Fermaint and Angel Salome are the duo/team of the week.
Center fielder Fermaint and catcher Salome have turned the heads of scouts this season, and now the national media is catching up. Both of them were metioned by BaseballAmerica.com this week, as follows:
”Normally, a player in his third year of short-season ball doesn’t generate much attention, but Brewers outfielder Charlie Fermaint is opening some eyes at Helena in the Pioneer League, and is still just 19 years old. Just 17 when drafted in the third round of 2003 out of a Puerto Rico high school, Fermaint has homered in three straight games for the Brewers, and is batting .358/.414/.724 in 123 at-bats with 11 home runs and nine stolen bases.”
And...
Angel Salome-”The Pioneer League can create some fluke seasons, but this is one heck of a fluke, as one of the smallest (5-foot-7) catchers you'll find on a pro diamond is batting .426 in 141 at-bats to go along with 32 runs and 47 RBIs in 32 games.”
Both Fermaint and Salome were promoted to the West Virginia Power on Friday, making their Power debuts on Saturday.
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (Low-A South Atlantic League)
Which brings us to the Power, perhaps THE team to watch right now in the Brewers farm system.
One night after the Power won Friday‘s game on a Ryan Braun (this years No.1 pick) walk-off two-run homer, Salome and Fermaint both hit homeruns in their Single-A debuts. Fermaint went on to a 3-for-5, 3-RBI night, while Salome went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Braun also homered in the game, his 5th of the season, and was carrying a 10 game hitting streak earlier in the week.
Sunday was more of the same excitement, as Salome took the role of hero with another two-run, walk-off homerun for the Power. Fermaint was 2-for-5 with 3 more RBI. Alcides Escobar also added a two-hit performance in both weekend games, but he also made two more errors (32).
BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES (High-A Florida State League)
Not much to report on the Manatees, at least nothing new. The offense is overmatched by the strong pitching of the FSL. There are players having nice seasons (Steve Moss, Jesse Harper) but only starter Carlos Villanueva is ready to move up. The rest of them are just kind of hanging around.
HUNTSVILLE STARS (Double-A Southern League)
Of few of the Stars prospects are hitting stride, namely Enrique Cruz, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Vinny Rottino. All three guys are great to root for, but its hard to figure out their future beyond Double-A.
Cruz was on fire this week, notching a three-hit game (3-for-4, R, 2B) on Tuesday, followed by two-hit games on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The former Rule 5 pick continues to display poor defensive skill though, as his two errors on Wednesday gave him 38 for the year. With that many errors, and J.J. Hardy and Alcides Escobar already in the system at shortstop, its time for a position switch.
Gwynn is having a solid season in 2005, his second in the Sourthern League. Saturday Gwynn went 3-for-4 and stole his 28th base of the season, he then followed it up on Sunday with a 3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI performance. Again, another player who might serve as a utility outfielder some day in Milwaukee, but not much more really. His name is Gwynn, but he doesnt hit like his Dad.
Rottino has rebounded from a slow start to become the Stars best player, offensively speaking. He was 3-for-4 on Thursday, then he had another 2-hit game on Saturday of this week. After finding out he really was not a catcher the first month of the season, what neysayers say contributed to his slow start, Rottino is once again a good hitter with no position. Just like last year.
NASHVILLE SOUNDS (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
While the new names like Fermaint, Salome and Braun have had an impressive week as professionals, the depth of quality shines the brightest in Nashville. Its also the most encouraging, because these kids are closer to reality.
It was solid across the board for all of the Brewers prospects in Nashvile. Pitchers Ben Hendrickson (7IP, 5H, 1R, 4BB, 5K on Monday) and Jose Capellan (2IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 3K on Tuesday) were dealing early in the week. Prince Fielder had two 3-hit games, Corey Hart hit homeruns No. 12 and 13, and Nelson Cruz was 3-for-4 with 2 SB on Sunday and is still hitting .348 since being promoted to AAA.
It will be nice to see some of those guys in September when rosters expand.