Minor League Notes, April 6th, 2012
**Looking for a sleeper prospect? Check out Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Tyler Cloyd, who threw six shutout, no-hit innings last night for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He didn't give up any walks, either, while fanning eight. Cloyd is a 6-3, 190 pound right-hander, 24 years old, drafted in the 18th round in 2008 from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He posted a 2.78 ERA with a 99/15 K/BB in 106 innings last year for Double-A Reading, so this success is not out of context with his career. His fastball isn't especially fast for a right-hander at 87-90, topping out at 92, but he changes speeds well, throws strikes, and will certainly get a major league look at some point if he keeps pitching like this.
**Los Angeles Angels prospect Austin Wood (not to be confused with the Tigers prospect of the same name) had a brilliant start yesterday for the Low-A Cedar Rapids Kernels in the Midwest League, throwing five innings, allowing four hits, one walk, one run, while fanning 10 against Wisconsin. Wood was a sixth round pick last year from Southern Cal. His college career was erratic, punctuated by command problems and unreliable secondary pitches, but he has impressive arm strength (up to 96 MPH). His key goals this year are to refine his slider and changeup.
**The St. Louis Cardinals have converted Robert Stock from catching to mound work. He pitched 1.2 innings of relief yesterday for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Low-A Midwest League, giving up four hits and five runs, fanning one. A second round pick in '09 out of Southern Cal, Stock hit .249/.320/.347 in 189 minor league games. He pitched in college and most scouts preferred him on the mound, but he wanted to hit and the Cardinals obliged. It didn't work out, so back to the mound he goes.
**Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Mikie Mahtook got 2012 off to a good start yesterday by going 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, and a stolen base for High-A Charlotte in the Florida State League. Drafted in the first round out of Louisiana State last spring, Mahtook played well in the Arizona Fall League and turned some heads this spring. His tools are solid across the board and he has good strike zone judgment. He should see Double-A later this year.
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