Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Minor League Report
The Latest News on the Top Prospects
Eric Sacharski
The Farm Report is happy to see outfielder Corey Hart called up by the big-league Brewers, but sort of sad that he will no longer be mentioned in these reports.
The Farm Report is happy to see outfielder Corey Hart called up by the big-league Brewers, but sort of sad that he will no longer be mentioned in these reports.
Anyways, on with the week in the Brewers farm system that saw the steam clear and the progress taper off.
NASHVILLE SOUNDS (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
I said I didn’t get to mention Corey Hart anymore, but I lied. Hart played two games in center field this week and stole 3 more bases to give him 31 for the year (now leading the PCL). With 31 steals and 85 runs scored, is Hart the leadoff hitter we have been pushing Dave Krynzel into all this time?
But even though Hart was called up, nobody has been hotter then Prince Fielder in Nashville. Fielder was 4-for-4 on Thursday with 3 runs, his seventh-straight multi-hit day in which Fielder was hitting .655 (19-for-29) .
Nelson Cruz also bopped homerun number 6 in a two-hit, 3-RBI game Thursday.
With an 8 game lead, the Sounds are looking like they are playoff bound in the PCL. This may cause several players (Fielder, Cruz, Etc.) to delay their September call-ups.
HUNTSVILLE STARS (Double-A Southern League)
The Stars continued to struggle, dropping 6 of their last 7 before they even got into the weekend.
Anthony Gwynn was 2-for-5 with a triple on Sunday, but even that is slim pickins. This team just does not seem to have much life right now.
BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES (High-A Florida State League)
I may just have to consider Brevard County as my comeback team this season. As of press time, BC is (surprise, surprise) in the midst of a playoff hunt in the FSL.
The Manatees are only 4 games back of first-place Vero Beach with a 28-22 record. And while they have been mediocre of late (5-5 last 10), things are looking up for BC. Already sporting a 16-8 record when playing on the road, the Manatees leave Monday for a six-game excursion to Jupiter and Palm Beach before returning home to host an important series with Vero Beach. They must love bus rides, or feed off the opposing crowd, either way lets hope it continues.
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (Low-A South Atlantic League)
When I mentioned in the opening that some of the Brewers prospects have lost their steam, I was talking about West Virginia.
It seems the torrid two or three weeks that Angel Salome and Charlie Fermaint have had is starting to wear them down. Salome, despite going 2-for-4 on Sunday, has started to lose plate discipline and is down to .235. While Fermaint is still above .300 (.301 as of press time), his bat is slower and he also seems to be pressing.
First-round pick Ryan Braun has not slowed down however. Braun started the week Monday with a 4-for-5, 2B, HR and 4-RBI night and as of Sunday is hitting .353 with 8 HR and 30 RBI in just 33 games in the SAL. I cant speak for Doug Melvin, but I know I think Braun can skip Brevard County and jump right to Huntsville next season.
The cooling off of the offense has helped to keep the Power 5 games back of first-place Delmarva in the SAL standings, with a 26-22 record.
HELENA BREWERS (Rookie Pioneer League)
Helena finally lost a game in the second half, make that lost three games in the second half (all this week). But at 11-3, they are still 5 games ahead of Billings atop the standings
Several players continue to play well, namely Mat Gamel and Will Inman.
Gamel, and infielder, went 3-for-4 and hit his 5th HR on Thursday. While the righty Inman got his 5th win (now 5-0) of the season when he pitched 1.2 hitless innings on Saturday.
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.