A New York State of Mind

It is hard to believe but the minor league season is nearing an end. With its season more than half over, the short season New York-Penn League has announced its All-Star teams. Made up of a collection of Latin players, 2008 college draft picks and 2006 or 2007 high school players, the teams are loaded with talent and intriguing stories. Let’s take a quick look at a few of the more interesting players:

Bradley Holt (New York NL), 21, was nabbed in the 2008 supplemental first round and has not skipped a beat after a solid college season. He has allowed just 34 hits in 54.2 innings and has a 1.98 ERA with 27 walks allowed and 69 strikeouts.

Robert Bell (Toronto), soon to be 23, was selected all the way down in the 18th round, possibly because so many teams are worried about health issues with Rice University graduates. Working out of the bullpen, Bell has allowed just 13 hits in 25.1 innings and he has yet to allow a walk. He has also struck out 35 batters and has racked up 10 saves.

Miguel Fermin (Florida), 23, is a little old for the league but the catcher can hit. Last season in the Dominican Summer League, Fermin hit .336/.386/.474 in 116 at-bats. In 2008, the right-handed batter is dominating the league with a line of .370/.393/.676 in 173 at-bats. The 165-pound backstop has increased his power output with 13 homers but has just eight walks.

Shortstop Chase D’Arnaud (Pittsburgh) is best known at this point for being 2007 first round pick Travis D’Arnaud’s older brother. The 21-year-old is now making a name for himself with a line of .339/.371/.505 in 109 at-bats. He has also stolen 10 bases in 11 attempts.

Pat Venditte (New York AL) is well known now as being a true ambidextrous hurler (he throws with both right and left hands). Hardly a sideshow, Venditte has saved 16 games and has allowed just 10 hits in 25.2 innings. Left-handed batters have hit just .088 against Venditte.

Backstop Robert Alcombrack (Cleveland), 20, has lots of raw power but he is beginning to learn how to be a better all-around hitter. After slugging seven homers in 127 Gulf Coast League at-bats in 2007, Alcombrack has managed just one this season but his average has improved more than 30 points to .274. He was originally selected out of high school in the seventh round of the 2006 draft.

At 5’7”, Mike Gosse (Detroit) will always have detractors, but the second baseman is doing his best David Eckstein impression. He currently has a line of .292/.333/.375 in 168 at-bats. His average has improved each of the last three months. Gosse has also struck out just nine times to go along with 12 walks.