Heels On The Field: A Baseball Blog

Eastern League Notebook:

By: Matthew Kardos

The biggest story right now in the Eastern League and around all of baseball is the incredible start that Yankees prospect Peter O'Brien has gotten off to in Trenton. The 23-year old slugger has already mashed nine homers in just 18 Double-A games and has entrenched himself as the overall HR leader in all of the MiLB with 19. O'Brien is slugging .669 between Tampa and Trenton and has a robust OPS figure of .982. Thunder Manager Tony Franklin admits that he has never had a player arrive at this level and immediately hit for power the way that O'Brien has.

Portland Sea Dogs second baseman Mookie Betts was the Eastern League Player of the Month in April and could very well win the award again in May. The 21-year old speedster is hitting a league-best .363 overall with six homers and 30 RBI. The key element to the game of Betts is his incredible speed on the bases; he has already swiped 22 of 25 bases which is also an EL high. After stealing 38 bases in 2013, Betts appears poised to shatter that mark perhaps as soon as next month if he maintains his current pace. He should be viewed as the early favorite for league MVP as May draws to an end.

Performances from prospects like Betts are a huge reason why Portland currently holds a four game lead over Reading in the Eastern Division and the best record in the league at 34-18. In addition to the torrid start of Betts, the Sea Dogs have had arguably the two best starting pitchers in the EL over the first two months of the season. Right-hander Keith Couch is the leagues only six game winner (6-0) and has posted a stellar 2.22 ERA in nine starts. In the month of May alone, Couch has started four games and has surrendered just six earned runs. The Red Sox reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year Henry Owens is proving why he is labeled as one of the premiere pitching prospects in all of baseball. The flame throwing southpaw has gone 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 57 innings. After posting a 3.33 ERA in April, Owens is the favorite to the EL Pitcher of the Month for May with a 1.88 ERA in five starts with a .133 batting average against. Couch and Owens have combined to give up just 12 earned runs in nine May starts.

Portland also received a huge boost this season from slugging first baseman Travis Shaw, who was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday. The lefty hit .305 with 11 homers and drove in 37 runs in 47 games for Portland after spending all of the 2013 campaign with the Sea Dogs.

The rebranded Rubber Ducks of Akron surprisingly find themselves atop the Western Division with a 32-20 record. The Ducks have been poised by the best shortstop prospect in all of baseball in Francisco Lindor. In his first full-season of Double-A ball, the phenom has stroked four homers and driven in a team best 30 runs. Aside from Lindor, Akron doesn't have a huge presence of "big-time" prospects, but the team has used speed, defense and a lights-out bullpen to rise to the top of the West. Akron has three players who have stolen double-digit bases in Tyler Holt (11), Lindor (11) and Tyler Naquin (10). Shawn Armstrong has already posted seven saves and has a 1.69 ERA in 18 games for Akron while fanning 27 in 21 innings. The versatile pen of the Rubberducks has two other pitchers who have at least five saves under their belt in Kyle Crockett(0.57 ERA in 15 games), had six saves before being promoted to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, and Tyler Sturdevant, who has five saves and has pitched 15 scoreless innings in the month of May. Akron has the most road wins in the EL with 18.

If there wasn't so much attention surrounding all of the things that Mookie Betts has done, more attention would be focused on Bowie first baseman, Christian Walker. The University of South Carolina product is tied with Michael Taylor of Harrisburg for the league lead in homers with 14. Walker sits atop the league with 45 RBI and is third in the league with a .581 slugging mark. After hitting .300 between three different levels in 2013, the Orioles prospect has really emerged in his first full season at Double-A. Walker has blasted nine homers and driven in 26 runs in May.

Here is a look at the current Eastern League standings as of 5/29/2014:

Eastern League Eastern

Portland Sea Dogs (BOS) 34-18
Reading Fightin Phils 29-21
Binghamton Mets 29-22
Trenton Thunder 29-24
New Britain Rock Cats 22-28
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 18-34

Eastern League Western

Akron RubberDucks 32-20
Bowie Baysox 29-23
Richmond Flying Squirrels 25-24
Erie SeaWolves 22-29
Altoona Curve 20-31
Harrisburg Senators 18-33

Thunder Slugger Peter O'Brien Taking EL By Storm

By: Matthew Kardos

(Trenton) - New York Yankees catching prospect Peter O'Brien opened the 2014 campaign with High-A Tampa and exhibited power that has garnered immense attention throughout all of baseball. The 23-year old slugger blasted 10 homers in 30 games with Tampa to lead all of the Florida State League.

His torrid start earned him a well deserved promotion to Double-A where he has not skipped a beat with the Thunder. In just nine games with Trenton, O'Brien has already slugged six home runs and has put the Eastern League on notice.

"I've never had a player come up and hit for power like he has in my eight seasons," said Thunder Manager Tony Franklin. "When you see Pete hit a baseball, you realize that he is a little different than everyone else.

Franklin added, "This guy has got easy power, he's been pretty impressive and it is easy to see that he has got something special about him."

O'Brien was gracious enough to answer a few questions about his promotion to Double-A and his blazing start to the 2014 season. O'Brien and his 16 homers trail only Rangers prospect Joey Gallo for the overall MiLB lead with 18.

Matt Kardos:: What is the biggest difference that you have seen in the Eastern League pitching as compared to the Florida State League?

Peter O'Brien: I think at the lower levels, you get maybe two or three good pitches to hit per at-bat; the more that you move up, the less that you can afford to miss your pitch. I think that is where approach comes in. it is all about executing what you do in the cage out on the field.

MK:Is it tough to not know where you're going to be playing everyday in the field; trying to learn both catching and the outfield defensively while still having to produce at the plate?

PO:I try not to think about all of those things when I get to the ballpark. I try to focus on what I am good at and where I need to be getting better. Right now, I am focused on catching and a little bit of right field. During BP, I will shag my balls in the outfield but right now, my primary focus is being a better catcher.

MK: How helpful is it to have a player like Gary Sanchez here in Trenton with you? Both of you are similar types of players with similar ceilings while learning the same position, how much does help ease your comfort level here?

PO: It's good to have him. He was up here before I got here but we both help each other out and give each other pointers on certain things. He will give me some advice about pitchers that he has already faced and things like that, so it helps in that respect.

MK: Have pitchers been attacking you any differently as you continue to make a name for yourself in the EL?

PO:I haven't really noticed a difference in that respect. I think I have been getting attacked the same way for the whole year. I've seen a few changes here and there, but I think I have made adjustments to theirs and that is what I keep striving to do.

Renegades 2013 MVP Darryl George 'Fueled' By Flying Under The Radar

The Bowling Green Hot Rods didn't lose hope.

Despite a losing streak that stretched on for two weeks, the Hot Rods, Midwest League affiliate of the the Tampa Bay Rays, stayed upbeat because, well, that's what they have to do. Losing streaks, like winning streaks, come and they go.

What Darryl George and his teammates did made all the difference mentally, if not on the field.

"You're going to have those tough stretches. The fact that we stayed competitive everyday, even though we were losing, kept morale from getting too low," George said Friday. "We were always in the game. We did our best and you have to have that short memory in baseball."

George is coming off an outstanding season with the Hudson Valley Renegades, of the New York Penn League (short season). In 61 games (a career-high) he hit .286 with 65 hits, 18 RBI, and 77 total bases. He finished the season being named by the Rays as Hudson Valley Renegades Team MVP. [Read my 2013 FanGraphs report on George http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/renegades-darryl-george-strong-finish-at-the-plate/

The Aussie spent the off-season building on that success and improving his swing, while playing winter ball with the Melbourne Aces.

"I made a couple of adjustments. I'm using the whole field more, staying through the zone longer. This year my power is slightly better. I'm able to hit both sides of the plate. I'm getting more off-speed pitches in this league, which I'm not used to. But I'm hitting good and feeling comfortable."

So far this season George is hitting .317 with 13 hits, putting together a five-game streak in April with 10 in that span.

His success and focus are a product of an unwavering drive. He points out that he's probably not the highest ranked Rays prospect, but that doesn't deter him. Exactly the opposite.

"I have that underdog mentality. I'm overlooked a little bit, but that's fuel for the fire. I hustle as much as I can. I've set goals for myself for this season. I want to be a premium defender, be consistent, and play as many positions as I can."

Signed by the Rays as a non-drafted Free Agent in 2010, George has cultivated an attitude that has served him well. Pushing himself is the daily goal.

"When I walk off the field, I want to have the dirtiest jersey."

You can follow Darryl George on Twitter @DarrylRoyGeorge & on Instagram @DGEORGE14

Ready my continuing coverage of Rays Triple-A Durham Bulls for Minor League Ball, as well as league-wide coverage there and here all season. Last year's Hudson Valley coverage can be found in links below.

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Renegades Darryl George Reflects On Clubhouse Leaders and Playing Smart

Eye On...The Bowling Green Hot Rods: Starting Pitching Deserves Applause...and Run Support

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Brendan Ryan Rehabs With Thunder

By: Matt Kardos

(TRENTON) The Trenton Thunder announced on Friday afternoon that New York Yankees shortstop Brendan Ryan would be joining the club on major league rehab assignment. The 32-year old veteran suffered a neck injury early in spring training which has kept him out of big league action since the season has gotten underway.

"I had a pinched nerve in my neck," Ryan explained. "I couldn't move my head, or anything. So I had to work to strengthen the area and protect it. I have been doing a lot of core-strengthening stuff and watching my posture and just being careful."

Ryan began his rehab stint by playing in four games for High-A Tampa in the Florida State League earlier in the week. In 14 at-bats there, Ryan had four hits, walked three times, and drove in three runs before heading north to Trenton yesterday to continue his push back to the big leagues.

"Brendan is here to get maybe 10-12 at-bats and that could possibly consists of two days, it may be three days," said Thunder Manager Tony Franklin. "He has been playing in Tampa and working out down there so he is ready to get going. he's going to try and get as many at-bats as he can to get himself back to being comfortable."

"It's nice to have a change of scenery," Ryan admitted. "It's been about three months down in Tampa for me, no offense to anybody in Tampa, but it's nice to be here."

Ryan added, "I have felt good for a while now. From what I understand, it's just a matter of getting at-bats so hopefully I can do that and get out of here healthy."

In his first action with the Thunder on Friday night, Ryan batted second in the Trenton lineup and played all nine innings in the field. At the plate, Ryan had two opposite-field singles to rightfield in his four at-bats that consisted of 11 total pitches.

"Brendan looked very good tonight, he swung the bat well," said Franklin. "He knows his game. I was watching him take batting practice earlier this afternoon; he knows what he wants to do and uses the entire field and doesn't try to do too much."

As a .233 career hitter, Ryan is known more for his defensive prowess than his offensive ability. From 2009-2012, Ryan led the league in defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) twice, and finished each year in the top-four. On Friday, Ryan made a few of those signature stellar plays in the field which included an acrobatic play that forced Ryan to run to his right, field the ball on a hop in the hole and throw the runner out at first base on one knee.

"He can certainly catch the baseball," admitted Franklin. "He is about as sure-handed as anybody that I have seen. He does it with a lot of instincts; he isn't measured at all, he just catches the baseball. Brendan is pretty gifted, not a lot of people can do what he does."

Ryan says that beyond Saturday he is not certain how long his minor league rehab will continue. Both Franklin and Ryan stated that a stay for the entire weekend is a possibility but Ryan believes some clarity may come by Sunday when the Yankees can officially place Michael Pineda on the disabled list after completing his ten-game suspension.

"I would say that I am extremely itchy to get back," said Ryan. "I have just been restless. First, it was nice to just smell the grass again and get out of the training room. Now,I'm like let's get this thing going."