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 Joey O'Gara, Double-A Jacksonville (FLA)
season stats: 3-1, 4.82 ERA, 46.2 IP, 58 H, 11 BB, 25 K in 8 starts
May 11-May 17: 2-0, 15 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 14 K in 2 starts
Today I performed my civic duty by voting in our local primary election. I initially scanned the ballot for those newcomers looking to push out the incumbent. But in most races, I ended up choosing the more seasoned candidate to give it a run in November. As I returned to my cozy corner office at home, I found myself repeating the process in choosing this week’s UTR selection as I selected another Double-A pitcher. O’Gara isn’t the seasoned pitcher by any stretch, but the 23 year-old did raise some eyebrows in 2010 when he was tabbed to make a spot start at Hi-A Jupiter and ended up staying in the rotation. The former 31st Round pick was pitching mostly in relief with short-season Jamestown when that call came. Baseball America took notice of the 6'7" right-hander, naming him the 30th best prospect in the organization coming into 2011.
With an ERA over 7.00 after his May 6th start, which was the casualty of his three previous starts that could only be described as horrific (14.2 IP, 31 H, 16 ER, 5 BB, 4 K), the former Indiana Hoosier worked on fine-tuning his delivery before his next start. Apparently, it worked. He shutdown the Mobile BayBears (ARI), tossing one-hit ball over eight innings, allowing just one unearned run, striking out a career-high nine batters, and lowering his ERA by almost two full runs. O’Gara, who throws a low 90’s fastball with remarkable sink that has induced an almost 60% groundball rate and a respectable 4.01 FIP, then went out and threw seven shutout innings yesterday for his second straight win. His other offerings need work but with his strong work ethic, O’Gara could improve and may see a modest rise in his ceiling. If he fills out his tall frame, I could see him as a Joe Blanton/Brett Myers type starter that could eventually pitch in the Marlins’ new stadium sometime in 2013.
Relief Pitcher of the Week
RHP Heath Hembree, Hi-A San Jose (SF): 0.60 ERA, 15.0 IP, 12 H, 8 BB, 25 K, 12 saves in 16 appearances; 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K, 4 saves in 4 appearances
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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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