Taking a short break from our draft coverage (and plenty more is coming) for the latest Hot and Cold. This week we have an outfielder on yet another hitting streak and a catcher struggling to handle a promotion.
Hot Hitter: Brandon Short, OF, AA
Short was here two weeks ago for a hitting streak and he’s here again for a hitting streak. The entire
Barons lineup had a hot week (as you can see from Seth Loman and Tyler Kuhn making honorable mention). Short had a hit in every game to start a new seven-game hit streak after having a 19-game streak that ended May 28. For the week the 22-year-old hit .452/.441/.742 in 31 at-bats. He hit just .241 in April, but the May hit streak put him at .301 for May and Short is hitting .424 to start June. .296/.343/.477 on the season. Honorable mentions: Kuhn
(.438/.486/.531), Loman (.406/.424/.563) and Brady Shoemaker (.385/.448/.808). (Photo credit: al.com)
Cold Hitter: Mike Blanke, C, High-ABlanke was in this spot last week as a member of the Intimidators. This week, he got moved up to the Dash and the slump continued. When the
promotion was made, I questioned its timing and so far it seems I had good reason. He’s just 2-16 with no extra base hits and just one walk (.125/.222/.125). Granted it’s just four games, but this is an extended slump dating back to his time with Kannapolis. “Honorable” mentions: Drew Lee
(.111/.111/.111), Tyler Flowers (.100/.250/.150) and Lastings Milledge (.063/.238/.125).
Hot Pitcher: Addison Reed, RP, High-A
It’s almost getting boring with Reed. The right-hander continues to put up disgusting numbers out of the ‘pen in A-ball this year. He’s been at least mentioned on the good side of most of the Hot and Colds this year and he got the nod in a competitive week for pitchers as a season-long achievement. On the year he has a 50:5 strikeout to walk ratio. 50 to 5! We thought he could be a quick mover, but it seems even after a promotion earlier this season that he could be in line for another. This week he struck out ten in six innings with just one walk and five hits allowed. Honorable
mentions: Terry Doyle (8 IP, 1.13 ERA, 2 K, BB, 5 H), Paul Burnside (7.1
IP, 2.45
ERA, 10 K, BB, 7 H), Lucas Harrell (7 IP, 1.29 ERA, 10 K, BB, 4 H), Freddy Dolsi (6
IP, 1.50 ERA, 9 K, 0 BB, 6 H) and Shane Lindsay (6 K in 7 batters faced).
Cold Pitcher: Ryan Buch, SP, High-A
It’s been an up and down season for Buch, but this is definitely the low point so far. After giving up just one run in his first two starts with the Dash, Buch got absolutely bombed in two starts this week. He lasted five inning in each start, giving up seven runs on June 4 and eight runs last night. What’s interesting is that his strikeout and walk numbers were still decent (12 K to 4 BB), but he gave up five home runs so it sounds like he had trouble with command within the strike zone. Overall, it’s still been a good season for Buch so it’s too early to be concerned, but maybe he’s pitching hurt. “Honorable” mentions: Hector Santiago (11.1 IP, 6.35 ERA, 8 K, 6 BB, 9 H), Gaby Hernandez (4.1 IP, 10.39
ERA, 5 K, 4 BB, 7 H) and Anthony Carter (4.2 IP, 15.43 ERA, 6 K, 4 BB, 7
H).
