Top rookies in class of 2011, UPDATED

  Back in March, I gave you a list of some of the top rookies to keep an eye on for the 2011. Here is an update of where they are playing currently and what kind of a year they are having as the calendar turns over to August.

1.      Jesus Montero, C, New York Yankees

-Currently playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he is hitting .283 with 10 HRs and 48 RBIs after 84 games.

2.      Aroldis Chapman*, LHP, Cincinnati Reds

-Pitched in 5 games for Double-A Carolina where he posted a record of 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA in 7.1 innings of work.

-Pitched in 4 games for Triple-A Louisville where he posted a record of 0-1 with a 11.12 ERA in 5.2 innings of work.

-Pitched in 32 games for the Reds where he has posted a record of 2-0 with 1 save and a 3.86 ERA in 30.1 innings of work out of the bullpen.

3.      Freddie Freeman*, 1B, Atlanta Braves

-Hitting .297 with 15 HRs and 52 RBIs after 105 games with the Braves.

4.      Jeremy Hellickson*, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

-Made 19 starts for the Rays posting a record of 10-7 with a 3.15 ERA.

5.      Chris Sale*, LHP, Chicago White Sox

-Has a record of 2-1 with 2 save and a 3.00 ERA in 40 appearances out of the White Sox Bullpen.   

6.      Dominic Brown, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

-Currently playing in Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he is hitting .341 with 2 HRs and 10 RBIs after 12 games.

-Hit .368 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs in 5 games with Hi-A Clearwater.

-Hit .246 with 5 HRs and 19 RBIs in 54 games with Philadelphia.

7.      Desmond Jennings*, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

-Was hitting .275 with 12 HRs and 39 RBIs after 89 games with Triple-A Durham.

-Hitting .333 with 1 HR and 8 RBIs in 9 games with the Rays.

8.      Dustin Ackley*, 2B, Seattle Mariners

-Was hitting .303 with 9 HRs and 35 RBIs after 66 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

-Hitting .305 with 5 HRs and 20 RBIs in 36 games with the Mariners.

9.      Mike Minor, LHP, Atlanta Braves

-Currently pitching in Triple-A Gwinnett where he has posted a record of 3-5 with a 3.14 ERA after 15 starts.

-Made 6 starts with Atlanta where he posted a record of 1-2 with a 4.59 ERA.

10.   Kyle Drabek, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

-Currently pitching in Triple-A Las Vegas where he has posted a record of 2-2 with a 6.93 ERA after 8 starts.

- Started the season with the Blue Jays where he posted a record of 4-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 14 starts.

Honourable Mention

Eric Hosmer*, 1B, Kansas City Royals

-Was hitting .439 with 3 HRs and 15 RBIs after 26 games with Triple-A Omaha.

-Recalled to Majors on May 5^th, Hitting .282 with 10 HRs and 46 RBIs in 75 games.

Mike Moustakas*, 3B, Kansas City Royals
-Was hitting .287 with 10 HRs and 44 RBIs after 55 games with Triple-A Omaha.
-Recalled to Majors on June 9^th, Hitting .199 with 1 HR and 10 RBIs in 40 games.
Julio Teheran, RHP, Atlanta Braves
-Currently pitching for Triple-A Gwinnett where he has a record of 12-1 with a 1.90 ERA after 19 starts.
-Made 2 starts in the Majors back in May posting a record of 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 8.2 innings of work.
Brandon Belt*, 1B, San Francisco Giants
-Hitting .224 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs in 29 games with the Giants.
-Hit .324 with 7 HRs and 29 RBIs in 43 games with Triple-A Fresno.
-Hit .462 with 4 RBIs in 4 games with Hi-A San Jose.
Brett Lawrie, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
-Currently playing in Triple-A Las Vegas where he is hitting .359 with 18 HRs and 59 RBIs in 65 games.
-Hit .125 with 1 RBI in 4 games with Hi-A Dunedin.

Mr. 1300

I recently took in a Buffalo Bisons game. For those of you unfamiliar with the Bisons they play in the International League (IL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.

One thing that I am quickly learning is that the baseball world is a small one. I crossed paths  yesterday afternoon with Bisons #17, Valentino Pascucci, a familiar face playing first base. The name Pascucci does not ring a bell for most baseball fans but it sure does for me and here is why.

Pascucci who was selected in the 15^th round of the 1999 Amateur Draft by the Montreal Expos spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as a member of the Pacific Coast League Edmonton Trappers. He played in 247 games, hitting .289 with 40 home runs and driving in 177 runs during his two seasons in a Trapper uniform. Prior to the 2004 season Pascucci was ranked as the 16^th best prospect in the Expos system by Baseball America, a year that saw him play in 32 games in the Majors with the Expos where he hit.177 with 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in during his only time in the Majors to date. The now thirty two year old Pascucci has appeared in 1300 minor league games where he has hit .274 with 228 home runs and 830 runs batted in (not including two seasons spent playing overseas in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League). He has made stops in the minor league systems of the Expos, Marlins, Phillies, Dodgers, Padres and Mets (twice), playing for eleven different minor league teams along the way.   

You always hear stories about life in the minors and I am sure that Pascucci has more than a few to share from his 13 year playing career, one that has had its fill of highs (such as making his Major League debut April 26, 2004 against the Padres, picking up his 1^st hit April 30, 2004 against the Dodgers) and lows (being released and having to find a new team more then once). If one thing can be learned from Pascucci it is the value of persistence. In life things do not go always go according to plan. It is important to take each day in stride and enjoy the journey and the ride, regardless of where it takes us. I for one hope that Pascucci gets to step into the batter’s box at the Major League level again even if it is only for a short time just so we remember not to give up on our dreams but rather make the most of the various opportunities that come our way.   

Pascucci is currently hitting .271 with 15 home runs and 70 runs batted in 90 games so far this season.