Down on the Farm: Friday July 18th

Star of the Day:
Yu Darvish - SP - Nippon Ham Fighters
Darvish tossed another complete game while allowing only a single run. He allowed 4 hits, walked none and struck out 10 batters.

AAA:
Michael Aubrey - 1B - Buffalo Bisons
Aubrey started to heat up just before the AAA allstar break, and he seems to have the hot bat still going. He went 3 for 5 today while scoring a single run.

High A:
Hank Conger - DH - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
After hitting 3 dingers yesterday, Conger was able to hit two more today. He drove in 6 runs during his 2 for 4 day.

Low A:
Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Not the greatest start for Beavan, but not horrible either. He tossed 5 innings and only allowed 1 run. Unfortunately, he allowed 8 baserunnners while striking out 4.

Matt Dominguez - 3B - Greensboro Grasshoppers
Dominguez extended his 4 game hittin streak by going 2 for 4 with a run, and RBI and a walk.

Justin Jackson - SS - Lansing Lugnuts
Jackson extended his multi-hit game streak to three games with anoth 3 for 5 game. This time they were all singles, but he was able to score on one of the hits.

Shortseason:
Josh Vitters - 3B - Boise Hawks
Vitter extended his hitting streak to 6 games with a 2 for 5 game. One of his hits was a double and he was able to score twice.

Down on the Farm : Saturday July 12th

Prospect of the Day:
Yu Darvish - SP - Nippon Ham Fighters
Another start for Yu and another complete game. Darvish tossed his seventh complete game, allowing 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 9. Scary thing is this is close to an average start for Yu who average 6 hits, 2 walks and 8 strikeouts per game.

Low A:
Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Beavan has extended his scoreless streak to 13 innings. He tossed 6 innings tonight allowing 5 hits and no walks. He struck out only one batter, but seems be on track over his last 10 starts as he has a 1.94 ERA and a WHIP slightly under 1.00.

Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
Michael finally ended his homerun streak, but he still went 2 for 4 with a double. He is now hitting .266/.360/.528 on the year.

Justin Jackson - SS - Lansing Lugnuts
This is becoming a habit for Jackson...finally! Jackson went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

Short Season:
Josh Vitters - 3B - Boise Hawks
Vitters had another multi-RBI game in a row. This time he went 2 for 5 with a double and a walk.

Rookie:
Aaron Hicks - CF - GCL Twins
Not a great game but it still qualifies. He went 2 for 6 with a run scored.

Down on the Farm : Saturday July 5th

Star of the Day:
Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
This may be Beavan's best start of the season. He only allowed 3 runners, all hits, over 7 shutout innings while striking out 5. He now has only allowed 72 runners (64 hits and 8 walks) over 69.2 innings, with a 2.84 ERA.

High A:
Hank Conger - C - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Conger returned after missing the last 12 days. He went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Low A:
Jason Heyward - RF - Rome Braves
After a few days off, Heyward had his third game in a row with 3 hits. This time he went 3 for 5 with a run scored, a double and a stolen base.

Dellin Betances - SP - Charleston RiverDogs
Betances was horrible during his demotion to the GCL, but must have showed something as he was sent back to Low A ball and he had a very good start. He went 5 innings and allowed only 3 hits while allowing 2 runs and striking out 6. His biggest problem has been control and tonight he only walked one batter.

Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
Burgess showed his patience today going 0 for 1 on the game with 3 walks. He was able to score a run. On the season he is hitting .261/.350/.505. He has demonstrated a good eye at the plate and the ability to hit the ball hard when he makes contact.

Rookie:
Aaron Hicks - RF - GCL Twins
Hicks has the best game of his 10 game career, by going 4 for 7. Two of his hits went for extra bases, with the homerun being the first of his career. He scored 3 times and drove in 4 runs.

Tim Beckham - SS - Princeton Devil Rays
Beckham went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. He is not off to the greatest start but one positive is he is showing good patience.

Down on the Farm : Monday June 30th

Star of the Day:
Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Beavan makes the list for his third start in a row. This one was not as great as the past two but he did only allow 6 runners over 5 innings and struck out 5. The bad was the 3 runs he allowed.

Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
Burgess goes 1 for 4 with an RBI single and a stolen base. The stolen base was his 5th on the season.

Rookie:
Isaac Galloway - CF - GCL Marlins
Galloway went 1 for 5 with a run scored and his first career stolen base.

Down on the Farm : Wednesday June 25th

Star of the Day:
Cameron Maybin - CF - Carolina Mudcats
Maybin had a great game going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles. He scored twice, walked once and added an RBI. The only negative was a caught stealing.


Low A:
Jason Heyward - RF - Rome Braves
Heyward continues hitting the ball, going 3 for 4 with a triple and a run scored. He also drove in a run.


Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
It's great to see Blake back to his old pitching ways. Beavan went 6 innings today and only allowed 6 runners (4 hits and 2 walks) as he did not allow any runs. He struck out three in the process.


Short Season:
Josh Vitters - 3B - Boise Hawks
Vitters may have struggled in Low A ball but he is consistently on this list for Boise. Today he went 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.

Down on the Farm: Friday June 20th

Star of the Day:
Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
After a few days off, Burgess extended his hit streak to 5 games. He went 2 for 2 today, extended his streak of homeruns in each of his last three games. He also added a couple RBI's and a couple of walks today.

High A:
Hank Conger - DH - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Conger went 1 for 4, scoring a run, adding an RBI and walking twice.


Low A:

Matt Dominguez - 3B - Greensboro Grasshoppers
After enjoying some time off for the all-star break, Matt started off with a bang. He went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's.


Jason Heyward - RF - Rome Braves
We thought he would be promoted after the allstar break, but instead he keeps mashing. Heyward goes 1 for 4, with a double, walk, run scored and RBI.


Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Beavan has had a couple rough outings in June, but this start was a change in the right direction. Beavan went 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. He only allowed 1 run on the night.

Down on the Farm: Thursday June 12th

Star of the Day:
Yu Darvish - SP - Nippon Ham Fighters
Another consistent start for Darvish, though he took the loss as the Fighters were unable to score a run. Darvish went 9 innings, allowing only 5 hits while striking out 7. What is not Darvish like were the 5 baserunners that got on via the walk. The only run allowed by him was a 6th inning solo homerun. On the season, Darvish has tossed 108.2 innings, allowing 76 hits, 22 walks, and 94 strikeouts.

High A:
Hank Conger - DH - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Conger produced his fourth game in a row with 2 hits. He went 2 for 4 this time with a double. He is 9 for 19 over the last 5 games with 3 doubles and 9 RBI's.

Low A:
Jason Heyward - RF - Rome Braves
Heyward has just recently came back from a minor injury. He had a couple "0-fers" before going 2 for 4 today with a stolen base, his ninth on the season.

Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Blake has been struggling lately. Though he only gave up 2 runs over 5.2 innings, he did give up 9 hits. Blake looks like he is a similar type of pitcher to Chris Volstad, throwing a lot of strikes and not giving up much in the way of walks. That typically means he will give up more than a hit an inning.

Justin Jackson - SS - Lansing Lugnuts
You do not see his name on this list much, but our fingers are crossed he will develop. Jackson went 1 for 2 with a double, a run scored and 2 walks. He also stole his 9th base. Jackson is only hitting .230/.360/.362 on the season...well, at least he can talk a walk!

Down on the Farm : Monday June 2nd

Star of the Day:
Cameron Maybin - CF - Carolina Mudcats
Cameron has all the talent in world but needs to make more consistent contact. Today was probably his best game of the season as he went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 2 RBI's and 2 homeruns. Both his homeruns were off a very good pitcher in Jake McGee.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - DH - Tacome Rainers
Not sure why the Mariners are playing Jose Vidro and Richie Sexson over this Clement...he just keeps raking. Clement went 2 for 4 with a run scored in what would be an okay game for Clement in 2008.

Low A:
Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberJacks
Another great start for Beavan who should be considered for a midseason promotion to High A. Beavan went 7 innings giving up 6 hits, one walk and a lone strikeout.

Down on the Farm: Monday May 26th

Star of the Day:
Chris Marrero - 1B - Potomac Nationals
One day, Posse management see Marrero in either left field or at first base. With Barry Bonds retiring soon, an opening will be available soon but Chris must have more days like this. Marrero went 2 for 3 with three runs scored, two RBI's, a double, a homerun and two walks.

AAA:
Jeff Clement - C - Tacoma Rainers
What a surprise, Jeff Clement! Clement went one for three on the day hitting a 2 run homerun to give him nine on the season. He also showed his patience by adding another walk to his season total.

Jeff Niemann - SP - Durham Bulls
Every start Jeff has had this year he has been lights out. In his sixth start of the season, Niemann tossed five innings allowing only an unearned run while giving up four hits, one walk and striking out two. On the season he has tossed 26.1 innings in AAA, allowing 18 hits, eight walks, and striking out 22.

AA:
Cameron Mayin - CF - Carolina Mudcats
Maybin went 2 for 4 with two runs scored, and one RBI. He showed his patience/power/speed combination by walking for his 31st time this season, he hit his 7th homerun, and he stole two bases to give him twelve on the season.

Low A:
Michael Burgess - RF - Hagerstown Suns
Burgess went 2 for 5 today with two runs scored, two RBI's, a double and a stolen base. This was Burgess' second consecutive multi-hit game and fourth in the last five games.

Blake Beavan - SP - Clinton LumberKings
Beavan may be the most consistent pitcher of a very strong Posse pitching farm. He threw another six innings, allowing only four hits and striking out four. On the season he has thrown 31 innings, allowing 26 hits and only one walk!

Down on the Farm: Thursday May 22nd

Star of the Day:
Blake Beavan, SP, Clinton Lumberjacks
Blake was late starting with Clinton this season, but has been spectacular since he has taken the mound. Today's start was the best of his young career as he went five shutout innings of one hit ball. Beavan struck out three, while walking none. Beavan is 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA on the season.

AAA:
Jeff Clement, C, Tacoma Rainers
This is becoming common practice for the AAA catcher. Jeff homered in his third consecutive game, knocking out his seventh via the solo variety. Clement also walked in the game, another common practice.

Low A:
Michael Burgess, RF, Hagerstown Suns
Not sure this is a positive thing, but Burgess went 1 for 5 with a run scored and 4 strikeouts.

Dellin Betances, SP, Charleston RiverDogs
Dellin had some control problems today as he walked six batter over 4.1 innings, but he also did not allow many hits, two, and therefore few runners, two, to score. Betances has now thrown 55 innings, allowing only 37 hits but 40 walks and 64 strikeouts.

Posse close out 1st round with stud pitcher

The Oak Ridges Posse closed out the first round of the minors draft by making their fourth draft selection. After going for two high ceiling bats, and one "soon to be in majors" pitchers, they decided to select a high ceiling pitcher in Neftali Feliz.

Feliz is a good sized fire balling right handed pitcher. He brings to the mound one of the best fastballs in the minor leagues that tops out in the upper 90's. What he needs to continue to develop is his secondary pitches, but his curveball has plus potential and his change is improving. If everything clicks with Feliz then he has the potential to be an ace on any staff.

"We have to cross our fingers and hope the Texas Ranger pitchers develop well. We are heavily invested in Blake Beavan, Neil Ramirez and now Neftali Feliz", stated GM Shawn Luddington.

Naftali just turned 20 and is currently tossing the ball really well in Low A ball. He has tossed 36.2 inning, allowing 25 hits, 16 walks and has struck out 43. The amazing thing is he has not allowed a run since April 21st which spans 20.1 innings. If he continues this trend he should be seeing High A ball in the not too distand future.

Scouting Report - Blake Beavan

Biographical Data
Player Name: Blake Beavan
Position: Starting Pitcher
School: Irving HS, Irving, Texas
School Type: High School
Academic Class: Senior
Birthdate: 01/17/89
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 210 lbs.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Report Date(s): 02/16/07
Game(s): Arlington Lamar

Focus Area/Comments
Fastball: Beavan was clocked up to 96 mph.
Slider: Beavan threw sliders in the 81-84 mph range, though they weren't as sharp as his fastball.
Changeup: He didn't throw many changeups, but when he did they were inthe 82-83 mph range.
Control: Beavan commanded his fastball to both sides of the plate extremely well, rare for a young pitcher of his body type.
Poise: Beavan showed good poise in a scrimmage-type setting. In the past, he's showboated at times on the mound, but there was none of that in this four-inning outing.
Physical Description: Beavan is big and strong with incredible arm strength and above-average athleticism.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: Command of a plus, plus fastball.
Weaknesses: His secondary offerings. Both his slider and changeup were below average in this outing.
Summary: Beavan is a very confident young man who knows all eyes are on him. He didn't disappoint in this outing and probably didn't throw a fastball below 90 mph. It was a very encouraging start to his final high school season.

Posse have six prospects named to Preseason All-American first team

Baseball America announced today the 2007 Preseason All-American High School teams today and the Posse had a MDBL leading six prospects on the first team, three prospects on the second team and one prospect on the third team.

Leading the way on the first team are third base prospect Josh Vitters, shortstop prospect Justin Jackson, outfield prospects Jason Heyward and Michael Burgess and pitching prospects Blake Beavan and Matt Harvey. All six of these players are expected to be first round draft selections in June MLB draft.

On the second team are first base prospect Freddie Freeman, catching prospect Danny Rams and third base prospect Matt Dominguez.

Christian Colon is the only Posse prospect on the third team.

Josh Vitters, Cypress (Calif.) HSA treat of last summer's showcase circuit was the five days Vitters spent playing third base opposite Chatsworth (Calif.) High's Matt Dominguez at the Area Code Games. They both have outstanding bat speed and a knack for squaring balls with wood bats, but Vitters' feel for hitting is unrivaled among this year's high school hitters. He's the younger brother of Christian, who signed with the Athletics as a 10th-round pick in 2006 following three years at Fresno State. Josh could be the first high school player drafted this year.

Justin Jackson, Roberson HS, Asheville, N.C.Having played alongside Tigers prospect and 2005 first-round choice Cameron Maybin and growing up as the son of former big leaguer Chuck Jackson, Justin's pedigree is impressive. His swing is longer than Dent's, but he's a more refined player, with savvy, feel, soft hands and an extraordinary arm.

Michael Burgess, Hillsborough HS, TampaBurgess and righthander Rick Porcello were the only unanimous choices as first-teamers this year. A product of the same high school as Doc Gooden and Gary Sheffield, Burgess boasts huge raw power and a ferocious approach at the plate. He was one of three underclassmen to be named to last year's postseason All-America teams and his power will be tough to pass up during the first half of this year's first round.

Jason Heyward, Henry County HS, McDonough, Ga.Like Davis and Burgess, Heyward is a lefthanded hitter with superb athletic ability. He lacks Davis' speed and Burgess' power, but his instincts and feel for all phases of the game are valuable assets. He has never missed a high school game in three years, and led his school to a Georgia Class 4-A title in 2006.

Blake Beavan, Irving (Texas) HSUSA Baseball's junior national team fell a run short of winning a gold medal during the World Junior Championship in Cuba last September, but Beavan put Team USA in position when he dominated Cuba in a showdown in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, in an elimination game. His delivery isn't without its flaws, but he has a nasty two-pitch mix that he delivers from a low-three-quarters arm slot and a big, durable frame.

Matt Harvey, Fitch HS, Groton, Conn.Harvey enters the spring as the top player in the prep class, but not without some debate. He's tall, lean and projectable, has flashed 96 mph heat and owns a filthy, if inconsistent curveball. He wasn't as sharp as Beavan for Team USA in Cuba, and will have fewer opportunities to acquit himself this spring in the chilly New England weather where high school seasons are abbreviated.