Minor League Ball Morning Report: Monday, April 9th, 2018

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Minor League Ball Morning Report for Monday, April 9th, 2018. Here are some items worthy of your attention as the work week begins.

****Everyone in baseball is talking about Shohei Ohtani’s marvelous start yesterday for the Los Angeles Angels, shutting down the Oakland Athletics with one hit in seven innings, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. I really don’t have much to add to the general praise, other than to point out that Ohtani is still only 23 years old.

****St. Louis Cardinals prospect Jack Flaherty made the start for Triple-A Memphis yesterday, throwing seven innings with five hits and one run allowed, no walks, with 11 strikeouts.

****Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Mitch Keller fanned eight over six shutout innings in his first start for Double-A Altoona.

****Proper valuation of Colorado Rockies pitching prospects is difficult for obvious reasons but right-hander Peter Lambert looks like a superior prospect on his own terms. Just 20 years old, he made his first start of the year for Double-A Hartford and threw six shutout innings, with five hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.

****Another Rockies prospect, first baseman Roberto Ramos, hit three homers for the Lancaster Jethawks in the California League, driving in six. On the negative side, Rockies pitching prospect Riley Pint was removed in the first inning of his start for Asheville with a “forearm injury.”

****New York Yankees prospect Gleyber Torres went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base for Triple-A Scranton.

****Washington Nationals outfield prospect and Minor League Ball favorite Juan Soto went 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBI for Low-A Hagerstown.

****More highlights can be found in yesterday’s Gameday Discussion Thread.

RECOMMENDED READING

****David Kagan at The Hardball Times looks at the physics of the home run boom.

IN THE WORK QUEUE

****Clinton Riddle has part two of his interview with Blake McFarland, minor league pitcher turned artist. The article will be posted later this morning. Part one was here. I find it useful to remember that players are people with interests and talents outside the game.

****Also coming up, report on Wichita State and possible first round pick third baseman Alec Bohm.