by Marc Hefferan
*MLBDepthCharts.com considers any player not on a team's 40-man roster, in AAA, or ranked as a top 10 prospect by Baseball America or top 11 prospect by Baseball Prospectus before the 2010 season as an 'under the radar' player.
Under the Radar Minor League NL Hitting Performance of the Week
1B Matt Adams, Double-A Springfield (STL)
season stats: .317 BA, 10 HR, 30 RBI, 9 2B, 3B, 7 BB, 24 K in 31 games
May 4-May 10: 8-for-25, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 3 2B, 3 BB
It’s no secret to regular readers that I enjoy comparing daily life to my UTR choices each week. Using empathy and analogies to point out similar characteristics of life in quirky situations is preferred to help readers understand the logic behind my choice for 'Hitter of the Week'. Adams, who was also one of my 2011 UTR breakout candidates, is certainly no stranger to this feature. As most readers may already know, Adams comes from the same hometown where fellow UTR writer Jim Brown and I grew up and went to high school together. However, the analogy that is stewing through my head isn’t necessarily a pleasant one. While gathering my information for the week, my frustration was steadily growing. Stop and think for a moment of when someone has a supreme passion for something. They continue to tell you over and over how great it is, but you just aren’t buying in. Time continues to churn, but people just aren’t buying regardless of how hard you’re selling. This is the exact analogy I feel when I continue to read the Texas League batting leader board.
The 22 year-old Adams is hitting .317 with 10 HR, 30 RBI and leads the league with 80 total bases. With 39 hits, 9 doubles, and a .999 OPS, Adams is keeping up with the big boys of the Texas League. There are striking similarities in the stat lines between Adams and hot-shot prospects Mike Trout and Jaff Decker, who are on the fast track to the big leagues. So it begs the question, why aren’t more people talking about Adams? The left-handed slugger continues to methodically produce at the plate with peripherals that give room to continue to drastically improve. His performance is placing him in prime position within the Cardinals organization if Albert Pujols decides to take his services elsewhere after the season. Hopefully with all of the selling we are doing at MLBDepthCharts on Adams' behalf, people will finally start buying in.
Honorable Mentions
IF Ryan Curry, Double-A Jacksonville (FLA): .287 BA, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 6 2B in 27 games; 11-for-31, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 2B in last week
OF Ender Inciarte, Lo-A South Bend (ARI): .436 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4 2B, 7 BB in 11 games; 13-for-28, 4 2B, 7 BB in last week
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UTR Minor League NL Pitching Performance of the Week
UTR Minor League AL Performances of the Week
Under the Radar 2011 Archive
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