Yankee Farm Hands Flex Offensive Muscle For Columbus/ Around The Minors Van Rose
Sunday, July 10, 2005 Page: 3C
There appears to be no shortage of hitters in the New York Yankees farm
system. Columbus outfielder Mitch Jones already has 100 base hits and leads
the International League in home runs with 20. Andy Phillips also is
continuing his torrid hitting with a .313 average and 14 home runs.
The Yankees have another good-looking prospect in Triple-A rookie Melky
Cabrera, who has been on a tear since his call-up to Columbus from Double-A
Trenton. During a recent seven-game streak, Cabrera hit .357, with three home
runs, 11 RBI and scored six runs.
Cabrera twice matched his career in RBI in a game with four. He also hit a
grand slam in the eighth inning against Richmond on June 30 that proved to be
the game winner.
The Clippers also received a pitching boost last Tuesday when Sean Henn
recorded the first victory for a Columbus starter since June 18.
Toledo infielder Kevin Hooper had a week he’ll never forget. Hooper and his
wife had their first child on June 27, a daughter named Lucy. Just eight days
later, the Detroit Tigers purchased Hooper’s contract, marking his first stint
in the big leagues.
Mud Hens outfielder Marcus Thames has thrived on Durham pitching. In four
games against the Bulls, Thames is batting .722, with four home runs and nine
RBI.
Thames is best known for hitting a two-run home run off Arizona’s Randy
Johnson for the New York Yankees in June 2002 in his first major league
at-bat.
Louisville outfielder Austin Kearns tied a franchise record while setting a
personal high when he slammed three home runs for the Bats in a win over
Indianapolis on July 5.
Kearns, once regarded as the Cincinnati Reds’ top hitting prospect, joined
Tom Pagnozzi, Dan Driessen and Jose Oliva as the only Louisville players to
hit three homers in a game.
Louisville infielders Edwin Encarnacion and William Bergolla were selected
to play in the 2005 All-Star Futures Game for the World Team today at Comerica
Park in Detroit.
Encarnacion also was selected as the IL’s starting third baseman for
Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star team.
Reading outfielder Jim Deschaine was named Eastern League Player of the
Week for the week ending July 3. Deschaine blasted five home runs while
hitting .381, with two doubles and 10 RBI.
Deschaine hit a pair of solo homers in a win over Akron, and had three home
runs and five RBI in a victory over Erie.
Reading will be represented by five players in Wednesday’s Double-A
All-Star game: first baseman Randy Ruiz, outfielders Michael Bourn and Chris
Roberson, and pitchers Seung-Hak Lee and Allen Davis.
