Two Major One Minor 072212

Here is the 12th installment of Two Major One Minor for 2012. The players this week are Chris Carter, Jeff Bianchi and Oscar Taveras.


First baseman Chris Carter of the Oakland Athletics appears to be ready to break out. It seems like I've been waiting for him to click forever but he's still only 25. Carter made his first splash five years ago when he hit 25 home runs with the White Sox class A team Kannapolis in 2008. Then next season he was traded to the Athletics and exploded for 39 home runs with Class A Advanced Stockton. He followed that up with 28 in 2009 between Double A Midland and Triple A Sacramento and 31 more in 2010 at Sacramento which prompted his first 24 game call up with the Athletics. He struggled with the Athletics in 2010 only hitting .186/.256/.329 and was worse in 2011 as he hit .136/.174/.136. But in 2012 he is taking that next big step. After hitting .279/.367/.486 with 12 HR, 53 RBI, 48 R and 5 SB in 72 games at Sacraments he showed up in Oakland swinging with confidence and is hitting .313/.436/.813 with 5 HR, 9 RBI, 10 R and 0 SB in 12 games. As he gets more experience I think he will be one of the prolific power hitters in the game. He was originally drafted by the White Sox in the 15th round in 2005. Carter will be 26 on December 18.


I'm going out on some thin branches regarding Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jeff Bianchi since he is hitless since his call up last week but I think he has a bright future. I actually have followed Bianchi since he was the player taken after Alex Gordon by the Kansas City Royals in 2005. In many ways their careers have been similar in regards to being derailed by injuries and I believe Bianchi will over come his like Gordon did and break out big. He has split this season between Double A Huntsville hitting .351/.398/.403 with 0 HR, 6 RBI, 11 R and 3 SB in 19 games and Triple A Nashville where he hit .305/.361/.368 with 1 HR, 13 RBI, 18 R and 9 SB in 51 games. Once he breaks his 0 for 11 initial slump I think the hits will come in bunches if given the chance. As mentioned he was originally drafted by the Royals in the second round in 2005. Bianchi will be 26 on October 5th. 


Outfielder Oscar Taveras is one of the St Louis Cardinals prized prospects and he is shining at Double A Springfield. He won the MVP at the Texas League All Star game and played on the World team in this year's Furures game. This season he is hitting .325/.378/.578 with 18 HR, 71 RBI, 55 R and 6 SB in 90 games. He originally signed with the Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 2008 out of the Dominican Republic. Taveras turned 20 on June 19.