Knocking Down the Door (Position Players)

posted 4/12/10 8:06 AM PST
by Jason Martinez

Let's kick it off with a few position players who are already making some noise after just four minor league games. Click here to see the list of pitchers.

Aaron Cunningham, OF - Triple-A Portland (SD): This pick has more to do with how well Cunningham, who is off to a 7-for-18 start in Portland, played in the spring (.286 BA, 6 2B, 7 SB) and how badly Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks (3-for-19, BB, 8 K) has looked at the plate thru the first six games of the season. The 23 year-old Cunningham, who was acquired from Oakland this offseason in the Kevin Kouzmanoff deal, is expected to be part of the team's starting outfield if they decide to deal Adrian Gonzalez, which would move Blanks back to his natural position at first base. But if Blanks and center fielder Tony Gwynn, Jr. (2-for-14) continue to struggle, he could be in San Diego's starting lineup much sooner than expected.

Ike Davis, 1B - Triple-A Buffalo (NYM): Despite an injury to Daniel Murphy, the Mets said they were going to be patient with Davis (pictured, courtesy of Icon Sports Media Inc.), their 23 year-old first baseman of the future. But after a frustrating start to the season and 2 hits in 15 AB's from fill-in Mike Jacobs, the pressure from Mets fans is growing. Especially now that the former 1st-round pick has reached base in 10 of his first 18 Triple-A at bats (5-for-13, 3 2B, HR, 5 BB, 2 K). And the .480 BA with 3 HR and 10 RBI's this spring. Oh, and the combined .906 OPS he posted in last year between AA and AAA in his first full professional season.

Tyler Flowers, C - Triple-A Charlotte (CHW): Aside from Carlos Quentin (6-for-18) and Paul Konerko (6-for-19), the White Sox don't have a regular hitting over .227 and are hitting an anemic .203 as a team thru the first six games of the season. And while nobody expects Flowers to come up and replace A.J. Pierzynski as the starting catcher anytime this season, it doesn't mean that the 24 year-old can't contribute in a different role. With Mark Kotsay and Andruw Jones, who share the DH role, off to a combined 3-for-21 start, the team could look to Flowers to jump-start the offense. After a rough spring (2-for-18), the 6'4" slugger is off to a fast start (6-for-15, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI) for Triple-A Charlotte and is coming off of a season in which he posted a .939 OPS between AA and AAA.

Carlos Santana, C- Triple-A Columbus (CLE): Starting catcher Lou Marson is 1-for-13, the Indians offense has struggled badly, and Santana continues to crush minor league pitching as he's done since being acquired by the team in July 2008. In 2009, the 24 year-old switch-hitter didn't have much of a problem with Double-A pitching as he hit 23 HR's with 93 RBI's and an impressive 90 BB's. Same story so far in 2010 as he is off to a 7-for-16 start with 4 HR's, 2 2B's, and 8 RBI's in his first four Triple-A games. In a season that most people consider to be a rebuilding year for the Indians, it won't be long before they stick Santana in the middle of what looks to be a very promising lineup.

Knocking Down the Door (Pitchers) - April 12, 2010