by Jim Brown
*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
RHP Daniel Renken, Lo-A Dayton (CIN)
season stats: 1-3, 3.62 ERA, 27.1 IP, 22 H, 14 BB, 38 K in 5 starts
April 27-May 3: 1-1, 12 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 20 K in 2 starts
The weather has played havoc with minor league schedules so far this season. Renken never got the chance to reach the mound on Monday night before the rains came after the Dragons batted in the top of the first inning and the game was suspended after a delay. Renken took the field at noon on Tuesday, however, and the Bowling Green Hot Rods probably wished the rain would have came a little later on Monday night to wash out Renken’s start. The right-hander struckout 10 batters in six innings to seal him as the choice for the UTR pick, but it was his prior start that first brought the 21 year old into the spotlight. On April 28th, Renken whiffed 10 batters while allowing just one run and two hits in six innings to pick up his first win as a pro.
A product from the NCAA powerhouse Cal State Fullerton, Renken was drafted in the 25th Round as junior in 2010. The Colorado Rockies had drafted him three years earlier out of high school, but Renken honored his free ride to CSF and became the ace of the staff and a three-time All-American. Renken has a tall, lean frame that lends to a very odd delivery in which he drops his throwing arm low behind his knee and follows with a loose movement to the plate. The unorthodox delivery has proven success as it leads to deception and is effective when his command is precise. Renken lacks a dominant fastball, which run in the upper 80’s but can touch 91 with good movement and sink. Renken also shows good secondary stuff, in that his delivery supports an outstanding slider that breaks late due to the sweeping motion across his body. His upper 70’s change-up, which has a sudden drop, may be his best pitch. If Renken can continue to repeat his delivery and mix his pitches well, he could be a future innings eater for the Reds.
Relief Pitcher of the Week
RHP Justin Friend, Hi-A Clearwater (PHI): 0.71 ERA, 12.1 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 12 K, 9 Sv in 9 games; 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 3 Sv in 3 games this week
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UTR Minor League NL Hitting Performance of the Week
UTR Minor League AL Performances of the Week
Under the Radar 2011 Archive
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