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 Kiel Roling, Hi-A Modesto (COL)
season stats: .311 BA, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 5 2B, 15 BB, 28 K in 27 games
May 25-May 31: 14-for-32, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 2B, 7 BB
When former major leaguer Andres Galarraga left the Colorado Rockies as a free agent at the end of the ’97 season, the door was opened for Todd Helton, the team's 1st round pick in 1995. Thirteen years later, the former Tennessee Volunteer is the Rockies' all-time team leader in nine major offensive statistical categories. Helton’s contract runs through the 2013 season and the 37 year-old has stated that he would like to play through the end of his deal. This, of course, gives the Rockies a small deadline to develop Helton’s future replacement. The organization does possess a selection of power-hitting first basemen to choose from, including Roling, this week’s UTR pick and the reigning Cal League Player of the Week.
Drafted as a catcher in the 6th round of the 2008 draft out of Arizona State, the Rockies immediately converted the 6’3” Roling into a first baseman. The New Mexico native led the Sally League in batting, slugging percentage, and OPS in his first full professional season but he hit just .222 in 89 games after making the jump to Double-A Tulsa in 2010. Backtracking in 2011, the 23 year-old is tearing up the Hi-A Cal League, including five homers and 14 RBI's in his last six games. Like most power hitters, he strikes out often and needs to develop better plate discipline but he doesn’t get fooled often and makes adjustments quickly. If his bat continues to develop, Roling could take over for the incumbent Helton in a few years and begin his own legacy in Coors Field.
Honorable Mentions
OF Brock Kjeldgaard, Hi-A Brevard County (MIL): .402 BA, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 11 2B, 3 3B, 24 BB, 15 SB in 35 games; 12-for-23, HR, 5 RBI, 2 2B, 2 3B, 4 BB, 2 SB in last week
OF Angelo Songco, Hi-A Rancho Cucamonga (LAD): .273 BA, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 16 2B, 2 3B, 24 BB, 5 SB in 43 games; 13-for-30, HR, 10 RBI, 7 2B, 3B 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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