This week’s list features the debut of Will Middlebrooks, a strapping third baseman playing for Salem who has been raking all season. He takes the place of Portland outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin, who is hitting .238.
1. Casey Kelly, RHP
The prize 20-year-old righty took a big step forward in his last start. After being limited to no more than 3 1/3 innings in his first four starts, Kelly went five in a loss to Reading on Wednesday. He allowed just one earned run on four hits, striking out four and walking two. Kelly did give up his first home run of the season.
Last week: No. 1
2. Josh Reddick, OF
The streaky Reddick, who tore apart pitching during spring training and then started slow for Triple-A Pawtucket, is at it again. Over his last seven games through Thursday, Reddick was hitting just .276 (8-for-29), but of his eight hits, three have been home runs, two have been doubles and one was a triple.
Last week: No. 2
3. Ryan Kalish, OF
We know how much the organization loves its hitters to get on base. Kalish had done so in 16 straight games through Thursday and is among the Eastern League leaders with eight stolen bases. A further sign that the 22-year-old has made significant strides: He has walked 21 times against just 10 strikeouts. Last year, at the same level, he had 42 walks and 87 strikeouts.
Last week: No. 3
4. Lars Anderson, 1B
The first week at Triple-A was a mixed bag for Anderson. He is just 4-for-20 but clubbed his first home run at the level earlier this week at Gwinnett. The 22-year-old has also drawn five walks against four strikeouts. Upon his promotion, he was third in the Eastern League with a .355 average and ranked second in home runs with five.
Last week: No. 4
5. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Rizzo continues to slug, ranking in the top 10 in the South Atlantic League in both home runs and doubles. He had three longballs in a span of two games this week. What Rizzo will want to show as he rises through the system is more success against lefties. He is 10-for-42 (.238) with no home runs and 14 strikeouts when facing southpaws this year.
Last week: No. 6
6. Jose Iglesias, SS
Iglesias went .300 (12-for-40) over a 10-game span entering the weekend, but he continues to lack patience. He has struck out 17 times in 79 at bats, which is not altogether horrendous, but he has managed just five walks. These are the categories the organization will be eyeing as it ponders Iglesias’s future at the plate. He has also committed seven errors in 22 games.
Last week: No. 5
7. Luis Exposito, C
One of the hottest hitters in the system the past week, Exposito entered Friday with a six-game hitting streak, during which he is hitting .571 (12-for-21) with seven RBIs. The 23-year-old, who leads Double-A Portland with 18 RBIs, is hitting .341 with runners on.
Last week: No. 7
8. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP
Any organization wants to see how its youngsters respond to adversity. Pimentel did just that this week, recovering from a rough start in fine fashion. After giving up eight runs — seven earned — and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings against Kinston, the 20-year-old notched his third win at Wilmington on Wednesday. He went a season-high 5 1/3 innings, yielding a run on four hits, striking out five and walking none.
Last week: No. 8
9. Felix Doubront, LHP
For the third time this season, Doubront finished a start allowing just three hits when he went 5 2/3 strong innings against New Britain on Sunday. He has yet to allow a home run 24 1/3 innings.
Last week: No. 9
10. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
We are rocketing Middlebrooks into the top 10 based on his continued success at the plate. Entering Friday, he ranked among the top three in the South Atlantic League in hitting (.360), doubles (10) and OPS (1.026). While he has fanned 20 times in 86 at bats, that is a notable improvement from what he has shown in the past. If the 21-year-old can continue to make strides in that category, he’ll begin to garner plenty of attention.
Last week: NR
