Bourjos Running Strong: Angels Upper Minors Report

AAA Salt Lake Bees: 44 wins, 48 losses

Peter Bourjos, Cf - (58 AB's) .431/.468/.690 with 1 dbl, 4 trpls, 2 HR's, 4 SB's, 8 K/4 BB

Bourjos is looking every bit the table setter, scoring 17 runs in just 12 games while hitting nearly .500 with power and a touch of patience. His season line now sits at .287/.341/.439, similar to what he put up last year in the Texas League.  Most important to his big league future, much of his success these past few weeks has come against right-handers, boosting his righty on righty line to a (barely) respectable .261/.320/.381, almost 300 OPS points below his .359/.405/.592 line against southpaws.  Needless to say, he must figure out how to square up or layoff those pesky breaking balls, because the severe OPS split remains his biggest flaw (if only he hit left-handed!). He was named the PCL player of the week before the all star break.

Mark Trumbo, 1B - ( AB's) .288/.413/.519 with 4 dbls, 1 trpl, 2 HR's, and 10 K/10 BB

Get a load of that K/BB ratio. Trumbo makes the list if for no other reason than he's managed to walk as often as he's struck out over a 50+ AB sample size.  He played in the PCL Allstar game this week, going 1 for 1 with a walk.  Look for him in an Angels' uniform come September.

Amalio Diaz, rhrp - (6 appearances) 1 W, 13 IP, 11 hits, 2.08 ERA, 6 K/5 BB

Long relief in the PCL; can you think of a more difficult job? Diaz has performed extraordinary well in the role, and in a fair world, would have collected more than just one W over past couple of weeks.

Michael Ryan, of  - (37 AB's) .351/.429/.649 with 6 dbls, 1 trpl, 1 HR, 5 K/5 BB

Ryan continues to toil away in the borderline obscurity of the Salt Lake. Interestingly, he's hit only 2 HR's for the Bees this season, but has racked up the doubles. He's trapped behind Aldridge and McAnulty on the depth chart for now, but his defense and propensity to put the ball in play may yet earn him another shot with Halos.

AA Arkansas: 34 wins, 56 losses

Trevor Reckling, lhsp - (2 starts) 1 W, 13.1 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 9 K/4 BB

Reckling's been dominant!  We should promote him to AAA, like yesterday!...  Or not. His AA/AAA splits provide a good reminder that no level is a give-me, and that a conservative attitude towards player development has it's place.  At least confidence doesn't seem to be an issue, because Reckling is going right at AA hitters, pounding the zone and showing few of the control problems that dogged him in the PCL.  He, Chatwood, and Smith are all pitching at the same level now, making for a convenient set of apples to apples comparisons when it comes time to rank these guys.

Roberto Lopez, C - (39 AB's) .282/.349/.590 with 3 dbls,3 HR's and 4 K/ 4 BB

Lopez' AA numbers are coming around, largely due to more balls in play dropping for hits. His AA BB and K rates are fine, and he's hitting for good power. In the field, he's caught 10 games with mediocre defensive results (3 passed balls 1 error, and a 21% caught stealing percentage), but has been much more solid at the corner positions. The 2008, 25th round draftee will likely make it to AAA next year, and might just put together a Shawn Wooten like career (though hopefully with more longevity).

Jeremy Moore, OF - (47 AB's) .362/.375/.404 with 1 trpl, 1 SB, 6 K/1 BB

Moore's July numbers are driven entirely by batting average, but it's not all fluke: his line drive rate for the month is a very good 26% and his July K rate is down to just 12%.  Moore continues o show poor control of the strikezone, but he's done a great job of making solid contact over the past season and a half and is currently hitting .330/.380/.457 against righties in a difficult park. It's not too difficult to imagine a platoon situation a few years down the road with the guy above him.