In a regular feature like Farm Report, we try to keep the information relevant to fantasy owners, yet we don't want to revisit the same names again and again and again, forever. There's a clear risk that this thing could simply become the Anthony Rizzo-Wil Myers-Billy Hamilton-Trevor Bauer Report, and no one needs that.
But sometimes, a player we've already discussed (repeatedly) continues to perform at a ridiculous level, demanding headlines. Such is the case this week with Myers, the 21-year-old Royals prospect who's still binging at Triple-A Omaha.
On Thursday, Myers hit an absolute missile into the left field seats off Roy Oswalt with the bases loaded, leading the Storm Chasers to a 7-2 win over Round Rock. You can watch the grand slam right here, via MiLB.com. That blast was the 21st of the year for Myers, and it was his fifth home run in his last seven games. He's now batting .321 at Omaha with an OPS of 1.087. The kid opened the season at Double-A, where he hit .343/.414/.731.
He reportedly won't get the call for the upcoming interleague series with Pittsburgh, but he's making an awfully strong case for a pre-break promotion. Myers, a converted catcher, has spent most of his season playing center field, so he isn't exactly blocked by anyone too intimidating at the major league level. Feel free to stash and wait. Myers is still available in 98 percent of Yahoo! leagues.
• While we're talking Omaha, check out the line delivered by 22-year-old RHP Jake Odorizzi in the win: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 10 Ks. Odorizzi is now 7-2 on the season with a 2.85 ERA and 74 Ks in 66.1 innings. He's allowed only four runs over his last 21.2 innings at Triple-A. Odorizzi and Myers have progressed together through the minors this year, and Wil seems impressed:
"He's been great all year," Myers said of Odorizzi. "I've been able to see every start of his and he looks dominant up there. In my opinion, he's the best pitcher I've seen all year."
• If I didn't recycle Myers for today's lead item, I might have gone with Pads third base prospect Jedd Gyorko. He's gone deep in back-to-back games and he's hitting .463/.522/.854 over his last 10 for Tucson. (Yes, it's the PCL, where everyone hits .330 or better. I know). The 23-year-old has homered 13 times in 55 games this year, and he cleared the fence 25 times in 2011. He's on the radar in NL/dynasty formats. But if instead you're looking for third base help in an AL dynasty league...
• Texas' Mike Olt is hitting .311/.413/.632 at Double-A Frisco, with 18 homers and 48 RBIs. Last weekend, Olt had back-to-back-to-back multi-homer games, which is a pretty impressive trick at any level.
• Jays prospect Anthony Gose has been stuck on 24 steals for a few days, because he can't seem to get himself on base lately (2-for-20, last five games). Still, he's hitting .290/.368/.419 on the year. Gose is a burner, and he has the potential to be an elite source for stolen bases whenever he arrives. He swiped 70 bags in 85 attempts in the Eastern League last year.
• If Gose's ceiling as a base-stealer is "elite," then Billy Hamilton's potential is ... um ... well, it cannot be adequately described. Gose stole 70 bases last season over 137 games; Hamilton will probably steal his 70th bag of 2012 tonight, when Bakersfield faces Modesto. That's absurd. Hamilton is hitting .321/.407/.449 at Single-A so far this season, with an incredible 69 steals in just 57 contests. That hardly seems possible, but here's the California League leader board.
• If you're looking for Trevor Bauer conversation, give tonight's Freak Show a listen, either live or via the weekend podcast. The D-backs have basically acknowledged that Bauer has little left to prove in the high minors, but the team is still stiff-arming the fantasy community. Jerks. This from GM Kevin Towers:
"Sometimes you just have to wait your turn — you know wait, for that opportunity. How that opportunity presents itself — be it an injury or a trade or somebody's not performing and ends up going down and then you take advantage of it. But right now, I don't know who I'd take out of the rotation to make room for [Bauer], and I don't want to put him in the bullpen."
Fair enough. If you're a fantasy owner who's been holding onto Bauer all year, you certainly can't give up now.