Minor League Ball Gameday, April 17

Good morning prospect watchers. Here is your daily gameday thread. Without further ado, let's get to the good stuff.

COOL THINGS THAT HAPPENED APRIL 16

***Yesterday's Gameday thread

***Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Jeff Ames and the Bowling Green bullpen threw a combined one-hitter yesterday against Great Lakes in Low-A Midwest League action.

***Dan Straily of the Oakland Athletics continues rolling right along for Triple-A Sacramento, allowing one run in seven innings yesterday, fanning seven, in victory over Las Vegas. He now has a 27/1 K/BB ratio in 20 innings of work between Triple-A and the majors this month.

***Another outstanding start for San Francisco Giants prospect Clayton Blackburn, who went six innings for High-A San Jose, giving up four hits and a run, walking one, while fanning nine. He now has a 21/2 K/BB in 17 innings with a 1.06 ERA. But you know, he doesn't have a 98 MPH fastball, so he's not a very good prospect (sarcasm).

***After a slow start, Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Mikie Mahtook has had a couple of good games, going 3-for-8 with two doubles and a home run. He's at .196/.255/.457 through 12 games for Double-A Montgomery, having some problems with contact (13 strikeouts) but showing some pop (seven of his nine hits are for extra bases) and some speed with three steals.

***Orioles prospect Kevin Gausman got knocked around a bit for Double-A Bowie, giving up 10 hits and six runs in six innings, but he also fanned five and now has an 18/0 K/BB in 16 innings with a 3.00 GO/AO.

***Rangers outfield prospect Nick Williams knocked a home run for Low-A Hickory, giving him four on the season with an overall .298/.353/.617 line. He's got discipline/contact issues with three walks against 16 strikeouts, but there is real juice in that bat.

***Pirates ex-pitching prospect Stetson Allie really likes being a hitter: he's at .411/.469/.804 with six homers for Low-A West Virginia after yesterday's 4-for-5 game. I will be writing more about him soon, but I think his bat is for real.

COOL THINGS TO WATCH ON APRIL 17

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

***Red Sox lefty prospect Henry Owens takes on Nationals prospect Taylor Jordan in the Salem/Potomac High-A Carolina League contest.

***Red Sox prospect Brandon Workman goes up against Mets prospect Jake DeGrom in the Double-A Eastern League match between Portland and Binghamton.

***Miami Marlins southpaw prospect Adam Conley takes the mound for Jacksonville in their Double-A contest against Pensacola and Reds prospect Tim Crabbe. I don't think Conley gets enough attention.

***The Pacific Coast League game between Fresno and Tacoma features a pair of live-armed lefties: Mike Kickham of the Giants and James Paxton of the Mariners.


ITEMS OF INTEREST

***MinorLeagueBaseball.com interviews Yankees outfield prospect Mason Williams.

***Jim Callis at Baseball America will have a chat about prospects and the draft beginning at 2 pm Eastern.

***Dave Cameron at Fangraphs takes a look at Carl Crawford's revival.

***Al Yellon at Bleed Cubbie Blue discusses the proposed gargantuan Jumbotron at Wrigley Field.

***Brian and Jordan at Bless You Boys (SB Nation's Detroit Tigers blog) examine potential breakout prospects in the Tigers farm system.