Michael Taylor, OF, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley)
Wednesday's stats: 5-for-5, 2 2B, 3B, HR (4), 2 R, 4 RBI, CS
Taylor was a Minor League Update regular during the first half of the season, but not so much since he moved up to Triple-A in mid-July. After going more than a week without an extra-base hit, he more than made up for it Wednesday by hitting for the cycle and doing it in style, with his home run coming in the ninth inning. This one game increased his slugging percentage more than 100 points for a total batting line of .286/.368/.490 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) that is much more in line with expectations.
Robert Stock, C, Cardinals (Short-season Johnson City)
Wednesday's stats: 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR (5), 2 R, 4 RBI
When Stock signed on to play at Southern California as a 16-year-old in 2006, everyone expected him to be an elite first-round pick three years later. Disappointing performances dropped him to the second round this June, and it's almost like people forgot how young he was. So now we have a 19-year-old catcher with outstanding tools and three years of major college play under his belt, and after last night's outburst, he's batting .356/.424/.606 in 28 games. The breakout is official.
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Sean Rodriguez, 2B, Angels (Triple-A Salt Lake)
Wednesday's stats: 4-for-4, 2 HR (26), 3 R, 7 RBI
As a guy who plays mostly second base and a little shortstop, Rodriguez seems to be eternally blocked in the Angels' system, yet he's also playing for an organization that absolutely hates trading away prospects. So once again, he's stuck in Triple-A, and with 26 home runs in just 89 games, he's slugging better than .600 there for the second straight year.
Josh Bell, 3B, Orioles (Double-A Bowie)
Wednesday's stats: 3-for-4, 2B, HR (2), R, 3 RBI, k
I spoke with Bell just days after the trade from the Dodgers, and he talked about a mix of emotions following the deal. But mostly, he was excited at the opportunity being presented to him. Now 10-for-23 with 18 total bases in his first seven games wearing black and orange, he's on his way to changing from a guy lined up for a late-2010 look to a guy who gets an honest chance next spring.
Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs (Low-A Peoria)
Wednesday's stats: 3-for-4, 2 HR (4), 3 R, 4 RBI, BB
The Cubs' first-round pick in June, Jackson is a big, toolsy athlete who has a lot of swing-and-miss in him. While he's hitting .338 across three levels, the power hadn't showed up until recently. After hitting just one home run in his first 116 pro at-bats, he now has slugged four in his past nine games. An outstanding defensive centerfielder who also features plus speed, he has the tools to make a lot of teams look silly for passing on him.
Wily Peralta, RHP, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin)
Wednesday's stats: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Kept on a strict pitch count throughout the year, Peralta hasn't been able to pile up any big-time numbers, but at the same time, the 20-year-old Dominican has consistently shown some of the best raw stuff in the Midwest League. Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Peralta is a tall, thickly built righty with a fastball that sits in the low-90s and frequently gets up to 94-95 mph, and he flashes a plus slider. With 102 strikeouts in 89 innings while limiting the league to a .229 batting average, he's frequently dominating in short stints, and scouts are excited to see what he can do once the Brewers take the reins off.