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Minor League Ball Gameday, April 17

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Dan Straily
Dan Straily
Jim Cowsert-US PRESSWIRE

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.