posted 8/3/12 10:44 AM PST
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 2012 season as an 'under the radar' player.
Under the Radar Minor League NL Hitting Performance of the Week
Leon Landry, OF - Hi-A Rancho Cucamonga (LAD)
season stats: .325 BA, 9 HR, 52 RBI, 26 2B, 15 3B, 14 BB, 53 K, 21 SB in 82 games
Last season at the trade deadline, Trayvon Robinson, a promising outfielder for the Dodgers, was part of a three-team deal involving the Boston Red Sox that would eventually land the 24 year-old switch hitter with the Seattle Mariners. Fast forward to this season’s trade deadline, I was reminded that history tends to repeat itself. Seattle sent relief pitcher Brandon League to the Dodgers for yet another up-and-coming Dodger outfielder, Leon Landry. Not only were both Robinson and Landry targets of the Mariners, they've also gained MLBDC accolades. Robinson was tabbed as a ‘Knocking Down the Door” candidate in June 2011 while Landry was my “Dodgers Breakout Player of the Year’candidate for 2012. The 22 year-old highlighted his week by falling a single shy of a cycle on July 25th vs. Inland Empire. Two days later, he had four hits, including an inside-the-park home run, and knocked in four against Lexington. Landry leads the California League with 50 extra-base hits.
Landry was a highly touted three-sport athlete out of Baker HS (Louisiana) when the Cincinnati Reds made him their 36th round draft choice in 2007. However, the smooth gloved infielder decided to honor a commitment to Louisiana State University where he made an easy transition to the outfield and became a three-year starter. After posting a .337/.441/.512 slash line during his junior season and helping propel the Tigers to their 6th-ever College World Series Championship in 2009, he earned an invite to the 2010 Cape Cod League, where he had an impressive .364 batting average with a wood bat. He continued to impress after the Dodgers drafted him in the 3rd Round, batting .349 with 28 extra-base hits in 56 games with Rookie Level Ogden. He earned a promotion to Lo-A Great Lakes in 2011, but saw his average drop to .250, yet the Dodgers were pleased with his ability to draw walks and steal bases in his first full season of pro ball. Landry will stay in the Cal League with an assignment to Seattle’s High Desert affiliate and brings athleticism, great speed and major league ready defense to an organization currently void of any true top level outfield prospects.
Honorable Mentions
OF Yeison Asencio, Lo-A Fort Wayne (SD): .329 BA, 8 HR, 47 RBI, 17 2B, 3 3B, 11 BB, 26 K, 6 SB in 65 games; 18-for-30, HR, 6 2B, 3B, 10 RBI in last week.
1B William Beckwith, Lo-A Rome (ATL): .307 BA, 13 HR, 64 RBI, 20 2B, 25 BB, 71 K, 13 SB in 82 games; 12-for-25, 3 HR, 3 2B, 15, 5 BB RBI in last week.
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UTR Minor League NL Pitching Performance of the Week
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