Two Major One Minor 050912

Here is the fourth installment of Two Major One Minor for 2012. The players this week are Lance Lynn, Drew Smyly and Tyler Thornburg.

RHP Lance Lynn of the St Louis Cardinals aced his audition as starter and may have secured himself a spot in he rotation for good. He was initially given the shot because Chris Carpenter went on the DL. Lynn had plenty of experience and success in the minors as a starter but was primarily used in the bull pen last season with the Cardinals. He split 2011 between Triple A Springfield and the Cardinals and was 7-3 with a 3.84 ERA, 64 K, 1.39 WHIP in 75.0 IP over 12 games at Triple A and was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 40 K, 1.04 WHIP in 34.2 IP over 18 games with the Cardinals. This season he is nearly perfect going 6-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 37 K, 0.85 WHIP in 38.2 IP over 6 games. He was originally drafted by the Cardinals with the 39th of the first round in 2008. He will be 25 on May 12.

LHP Drew Smyly of the Detroit Tigers is making the most of his first season with the club. 2011 was his only year in the minors as he split the season between Class A Advanced and Double A going a combined 11-6 with a 2.07 ERA, 130 K, 1.10 WHIP in 126.0 IP over 22 games. This season with the Tigers he is 1-0 with a 1.61 ERA, 29 K,1.18 WHIP in 28.0 IP over 5 games. He was originally drafted by the Tigers in the second round in 2010. He will turn 23 on June 13.

RHP Tyler Thornburg is off to a good start with the Brewers Double A team Huntsville. He is 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA, 47 K, 0.90 WHIP in 41.0 IP over 7 games. He shined good strikeout ability in 2011 with 160 K in 136.2 IP combined at the Class A and Class A Advanced levels. He was originally drafted by the Brewers in the third round in 2010. He will be 24 on September 29.