One Minor 2011 review

During the 2011 season I started a segment called Two Major One Minor where I tried to spot light two Major League players and one minor league players each week. While I missed a few weeks I did put the spotlight on 18 minor league players in 2011. Now I'm going back and see how each finished their season.


The first I featured was first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on April 18 when he was with the Diamondbacks Double A team the Mobile Bay Bears. He ended up hitting .306/.435.626 with 30 home runs, 94 RBI, 84 runs and 9 steals in 103 games with Mobile. He was called up to the Diamondbacks and he hit .250/.333/.474 with eight home runs, 26 RBI, 28 runs and 4 steals in 48 games. He will be the Diamondbacks starting first baseman in 2012.


On April 25 RHP Liam Hendriks was with the Twin Double A team the New Britain Rock Cats. He was 8-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 81 strikeouts and 1.14 WHIP in 90 innings over 16 games at New Britain. He was promoted to Triple A with the Rochester Red Wings and was 4-4 with a 4.56 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 1.11 WHIP in 49.1 innings over nine games. He had a late season call up to the Twins and was 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA, 16 strikeouts and 1.50 WHIP in 23.1 innings over four games. He will likely start 2012 at Triple A.


The spot light was on second baseman Jose Altuve of the Astros Class A Advanced team the Lancaster Jethawks on May 3. He hit .408/.451/.606 with five home runs, 34 RBI, 38 runs and 19 steals in 52 games at Lancaster. He was promoted to the Double A team Corpus Christi Hooks where he hit .361/.388/.569 with five home runs, 25 RBI, 21 runs and 5 steals in 35 games. The Astros then called him up and he hit .276/.297/.357 with two home runs, 12 RBI, 26 runs and 7 steals in 57 games. He will be the Astros starting second baseman in 2012.


On May 17 LHP Charles Furbush was featured from the Tigers Triple A team Toledo Mud Hens. He was 5-3 with a 3.17 ERA, 67 strikeouts and 1.49 WHIP in 85.1 innings over 28 games with Toledo. He was called up to the Tigers and was 1-3 with a 3.62 ERA, 26 strikeouts and 1.55 WHIP in 32.1 innings over 17 games. He was traded to the Mariners on July 30 and was 3-7 with a 6.62 ERA, 41 strikeouts and 1.45 WHIP in 53 innings over 11 games. He should start the 2012 season in the Mariner's starting rotation.


LHP Edwar Cabrera of the Rockies Class A team Ashville Tourists was featured on June 4. He was 4-2 with a 3.14 ERA, 110 strikeouts and 1.10 WHIP in 86 innings over 13 games at Ashville. He was promoted  to the Class A Advanced team Modesto Nuts and was 4-1 with a 3.56 ERA, 107 strikeouts and 1.25 WHIP in 81 innings over 13 games. His 217 strikeouts led the minors. He should start 2012 at Double A.


Outfielder Dayan Viciedo of the White Sox Triple A team Charlotte Knights was the subject on June 14. He hit .296/.364/.491 with 20 home runs, 78 RBI, 60 runs and 2 steals in 119 games with Charlotte. He was called up to the White Sox and hit .255/.327/.314 with one home run, six RBI, 11 runs and one steal in 29 games. He will start in right field for the White Sox in 2012.


RHP Jenrry Mejia of the Mets Triple A team Buffalo Bison was already on the DL when he was featured on June 25. After his rehab from Tommy John surgery he should start pitching for the Mets Double A or Triple A team in mid 2012.


On June 30 catcher Devin Mesoraco of the Reds Triple A team Louisville Bats was featured. He hit .289/.371/.484 with 15 home runs, 71 RBI, 60 runs and one steal in 120 games with Louisville. He was called up to the Reds and hit .180/.226/.360 with two home runs, six RBI, five runs and zero steals in 18 games. He will likely start as the back up catcher with the Reds in 2012.


LHP Mike Montgomery of the Royals Triple A team Omaha Storm Chasers was featured on July 6. He was 5-11 with a 5.32 ERA, 129 strikeouts and 1.50 WHIP in 150.2 innings over 28 games at Omaha. He will likely start 2012 at Triple A again.


On July 16 first baseman C.J.Cron of the Angels Rookie team Orem Owlz was breaking out after being drafted a month earlier. He hit .308/.371/.629 with 13 home runs, 41 RBI, 30 runs and zero steals in 34 games. He might start 2012 at Class A.


LHP Eric Surkamp was at the Giants Double A team Richmond Flying Squirrels when he was featured on July 21. He started the season at Class A Advanced San Jose Giants where he was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, five strikeouts and 0.83 WHIP in 6 innings in one game before being promoted to Richmond where he was 10-4 with a 2.02 ERA, 165 strikeouts and 1.08 WHIP in 142.1 innings over 23 games. He was called up to the Giants where he was 2-2 with a 5.74 ERA, 13 strikeouts and 1.84 WHIP in 26.2 innings over six games.  He will likely start 2012 at Triple A.


First baseman Kody Hinze was featured on July 29 while with the Astros Double A team Corpus Christi Hooks. He started the season with the Class A Advanced Lancaster Jethawks where he hit .323/.458/.625 with 22 home runs, 70 RBI, 61 runs and one steal in 80 games before being promoted to Corpus Christi where he hit .281/.358/.422 with seven home runs, 28 RBI, 26 runs and zero steals in 55 games. He might start 2012 at Double A.


On August 6 the spot light was on RHP Joe Wieland of the Rangers Double A team Frisco RoughRiders. He started the season at Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans and was 6-3 with a 2.10 ERA, 96 strikeouts and 0.96 WHIP in 85.2 innings over 14 games and after being promoted to Frisco was 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA, 36 strikeouts and 1.04 WHIP in 44 innings over seven games. He was traded to the Padres and pitched for their Double A team San Antonio Missions where he was 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 1.11 WHIP in 26 innings over five games. He might start 2012 at Triple A.


Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was featured on August 14 while with the Rays Double A team Montgomery Biscuits. He started with the Class A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs where he hit .318/.389/.443 with four home runs, 23 RBI, 82 runs and 28 steals in 97 games before being promoted to Montgomery where he hit .190/.272/.310 with one home run, seven RBI, 16 runs and 5 steals in 24 games. He will likely start 2012 at Double A.


On August 18 the spot light was on outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker of the Red Sox Double A team Portland Sea Dogs. He started with the Class A Advanced Salem Red Sox where he hit .279/.389/.475 with five home runs, 14 RBI, 26 runs and 12 steals in 34 games before being promoted to Portland and he hit .266/.350/.435 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 60 runs and 35 steals in 90 games. He will likely start 2012 at Double A.


RHP Boone Whiting pitched for the Cardinals Class A team Quad Cities River Bandits when featured on August 28. He was 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA, 122 strikeouts and 0.89 WHIP in 119.2 innings over 30 games with Quad Cities. He might start 2012 with the Cardinals Class A Advanced team.


The final player covered was first baseman Matt Adams whose season was complete by the September 23 segment. He played his 2011 season with the Cardinals Double A team Springfield Cardinals and hit .300/.357/.566 with 32 home runs, 101 RBI, 80 runs and zero steals in 115 games. His future with the organization got much brighter with the trade of Albert Pujols. He likely will start 2012 at Triple A.