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 Pitching Performance of the Week
LHP Darin Gorski, Hi-A St. Lucie (NYM)
season stats: 6-0, 1.55 ERA, 75.2 IP, 60 H, 15 BB, 87 K in 16 G, 10 starts
June 21-June 27: 1-0, 13 IP, ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 11 K in 2 starts
A little over a year ago, I wrote about how excited New York Mets fans might be when they took notice of the Lo-A Savannah pitching staff. At the time, a pitcher from that rotation was listed as an “Under the Radar” honorable mention five times in the first eight weeks of the season. Yet none of those were Gorski, who finished 2010 with a 4.58 ERA in 25 games (18 starts), but never made as much noise as teammates Mark Cohoon, James Fuller, or Brandon Moore. Though Cohoon and Moore have earned promotions this year to Triple-A and Double-A, respectively, Gorski’s performance during the first half of this season may soon have him biting at their heels.
The 23 year-old started 2011 in the St. Lucie bullpen before earning a return to the rotation. Since joining the rotation, Gorski hasn’t given up more than 2 earned runs in any of his 10 starts. He finishes June with a 4-0 record, 0.79 ERA, and BB/K rate of 2/24. He currently leads the Florida State League in ERA (1.55), is second in WHIP (0.99), and third in strikeouts (87). At Division II Kutztown, the same school that produced current big league starter Ryan Vogelsong, Gorski finished his career with a 20-6 record, 2.33 ERA, and 218 strikeouts over 200.2 innings. He throws a plus fastball that reaches the low 90’s and also has a solid breaking ball/change-up combo. He’s been a more aggressive strike thrower this season and has done a terrific job of shutting down batters with runners on base (85% LOB). GM Sandy Alderson has instituted a conservative approach to moving prospects, so we shouldn’t see Gorski at Citi Field anytime soon. And with his age vs. level, its too soon to get excited - see Brad Holt and Cohoon. But I believe Gorski will surpass Cohoon’s Baseball America prospect ranking (#22) and if he succeeds at Double-A later this season, could close in on the top 10 heading into 2012.
Relief Pitcher of the Week
LHP Alan Williams, Rookie League Helena (MIL): 3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 3 H, 10 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 3 SV in 4 appearances; 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 Sv in 3 appearances from June 21-June 27.
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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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