The Charlotte Knights’ offense is heating up and this week another resurgent prospect followed Tyler Flowers’ lead and took the hot hitter spot. On the flip side, a pair of Knights’ teammates are struggling to get things going this year.
Hot Hitter: Jordan Danks, CF, AAA
Last week it was Tyler Flowers, this week Danks is the Knights’ prospect on the rebound. After a discouraging April (.706 OPS, 25 K in 64 AB), the former Longhorn is getting people excited again. Danks showed massive power with seven home runs in his last 11 games. He’s already matched his HR total from last year with eight. It took a Herculean week to top Dayan Viciedo, but Danks pounded the ball to the tune of .364/.400/1.136 with five homers and only two strikeouts in 25 plate appearances. His .577 slugging ranks eighth in the International League and his .330 ISO is second. The April slump has his average down at .247 so we’ll have to see if this power surge is sustainable. The strikeouts become less of a concern if a third of his hits leave the park. Also, most of his homers are on the road so no using the park as an excuse. Honorable mentions: Viciedo (.448/.515/.759), Andrew Garcia (.389/.500/.667) and Nick Ciolli (.467/.471/1.000).
Cold Hitter: Alejandro De Aza, OF, AAADe Aza had a successful 2010, hitting over .300 with Charlotte and earning a September call-up with the White Sox, where he went 9-30. This year, the 27-year-old is off to a poor start and another call-up could be in doubt. He’s hitting .252 entering Thursday’s action and his OPS is below .700. This week the leadoff hitter went just 5-31 (.161) with just one walk (.182 OBP) and one extra base hit (.193 SLG). Honorable mentions: Jose Martinez
(.190/.240/.190), Daniel Wagner (.172/.194/.241) and Jared Mitchell (.172/.172/.345 with 15 K in 29 PA).
Hot Pitcher: Spencer Arroyo, SP, A
Arroyo signed with the White Sox last April and was the ace of Bristol’s staff. This year, the 22-year-old is doing the same thing for Kannapolis. In a pair of starts this week the lefty gave up just two earned runs while striking out 12 and walking three. On the year he has a 3.74 ERA with 32 K and 9 BB in 33.2 IP. He isn’t considered much of a prospect at this time, but you can never have enough lefties. Honorable mentions: Addison Reed (4 IP, 0 R, 6 K, BB, 3 H), Paul Burnside (7 IP, 0 R, 2 K, 2 BB, 3 H) and Gaby Hernandez (7 IP, 0 R, 6 K, 0 BB, 5 H).
Cold Pitcher: Brandon Hynick, SP, AAA
The Jose Contreras trade netted Hynick at the end of 2009. He had a strong AAA campaign, at least in terms of ERA, but got hurt in 2010 and hasn’t been able to make an impact since. In six starts this year the 26-year-old has an ERA north of seven and gave up 13 runs in a pair of starts this week. Expectations were never high for Hynick, but so far his worst stints as a pro have been with the Sox. Honorable mentions: Freddy Dolsi (4 IP, 13.5 ERA, 4 K, 2 BB, 7 H), Dylan Axelrod (4 IP, 13.5 ERA, 5 K, 2 BB, 9 H) and Nevin Griffith (5 IP, 9 ERA, 7 K, 5 BB, 4 H).
