Minor League Ball Gameday, April 10

Good morning prospect watchers. Let's get right to it.

MINOR LEAGUE BALL HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS

***Some community members have asked me recently if the Minor League Notes and Prospect of the Day features will return. The answer to that is yes, they will return very soon. I've just had a large backlog of other projects to clear up first.

***I've had requests for looks at the careers of Andres Galarraga, Brian Cole, Jim Thome, and Cesar Cedeno. I should have something about Cole up later today and I'll put the others in the project queue, though with the minor league season now in progress and draft information gearing up, historical pieces will have a lower priority.

COOL STUFF THAT HAPPENED ON APRIL 9

***Yesterday's Minor League Ball Gameday Thread

***Outfielder Andrew Lambo hit for the cycle for Double-A Altoona yesterday, leading the Curve to a 14-6 win over Akron. The one-time Dodgers prospect missed most of last season with a wrist injury and has had an erratic career, but the tools for him to be a solid outfielder have always been here, so perhaps this is one reclamation project that will work out for the Pirates. He is 10-for-24 with two homers and four walks so far this year.

***Mariners prospect Danny Hultzen had a second strong start for Triple-A Tacoma, fanning six in five innings against Sacramento while allowing two runs. So far he has a 14/3 K/BB in 11 innings this year, and looks a lot more like his normal polished strike-throwing self, rather than the confused thrower we saw in the second half last year.

***Louisville's Billy Hamilton got caught stealing yesterday. Did he trip?

***Royals prospect Sam Selman threw five shutout innings in his first start for High-A Wilmington yesterday, fanning four with two walks. A second round pick out of Vanderbilt last year, Selman dominated the Pioneer League last summer and has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter or a power reliever if his command is sharp enough.

***No problems for Cincinnati Reds prospect Robert Stephenson in his second start for Low-A Dayton: five innings, one run, nine strikeouts.

***New York Mets prospect Rafael Montero had another dominant outing for Double-A Binghamton, allowing one run in six innings while fanning seven against Erie. Meanwhile, fellow Mets prospect Luis Mateo had a strong outing for High-A St. Lucie, throwing six shutout innings with nine strikeouts against Palm Beach.

COOL STUFF TO TRACK ON APRIL 10

***Today's slate of minor league games.

***Braves prospect Sean Gilmartin goes up against Rays prospect Chris Archer in the Gwinnet/Durham Triple-A match.

***Phillies prospect Jesse Biddle takes on Red Sox prospect Drake Britton in the Double-A Reading/Portland contest.

***Twins prospect Kyle Gibson throws against Yankees prospect Dellin Betances in the Triple-A Rochester/Scranton set.

***Giants prospect Clayton Blackburn challenges Athletics prospect Blake Hasselbrock in the High-A San Jose/Stockton game.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

***The Texas Rangers designated Julio Borbon for assignment last night. He seems like a player who would be useful for someone out there. Would you rather have Julio Borbon or Vernon Wells on your team?

***Nick Tepesch made his first major league start yesterday for the Rangers. Lone Star Ball has the scouting report.

***Jason Motte's elbow is hurting and Tommy John surgery is possible. At a minimum he will be out of action for at least a month. Fortunately the Cardinals have more minor league pitching depth than most teams to draw on for reinforcements. The starting rotation at Triple-A Memphis has been more effective than the bullpen thus far, but there are many options for the Cardinals to pick from.

***You need to check out The Day I Met Jackie Robinson.