I'm fully on board with the Beamster. Normally I don't get too excited about dudes from Baylor, but I'm officially in Beamer's camp, if you'll pardon the mixed metaphor. I've never actually seen Beamer play, but no matter. He tops this month's list of Padres hitting prospects as of July 1. As you may remember from past monthly prospect posts, this is a ranking based on peformance to-date this season. That's why guys like Ced Hunter and Kellen Kulbacki, beasts of yesteryear, are not on the list.
Something new this month, only dudes with .400 OBP or higher were eligible for the list. And because I didn't want to leave anyone out, if you had a .400 OBP or higher, you made the cut.
On to the list:
1. Beamer Weems, SS, LE: Beamer is playing a slick SS - traditionally my favorite position - and rolling with a .302 2 26 and .471 OBP line. That works for me.
2. Logan Forsythe, 3B, LE, SA: Quickly becoming the beast of the entire Drino minor league system. The .480 OBP is sick, not to mention the .332 8 32 at two levels. He's actually hitting better since moving up to AA. September cup o' coffee?
3. James Darnell, 3B, LE: The OBP is slightly down his first week in High A but the power numbers are still there: two bombs already. His overall line is a pretty .324 9 44 .457.
4. Jaff Decker, LF, FW: He's been sitting out a lot lately with some back issues but that's okay, no need to rush young Jaff. He may be the prize of the system, after all. When he's not nursing his back he's raking to the tune of .298 8 30 .462.
5. Sawyer Carroll, RF, FW, LE: Another hitter who earned a recent promotion, Sawyer went 4-4 in the Midwest League All-Star game and is now playing in High A. Overall he's a steady .316 6 47 .408.
6. Mike Baxter, RF, SA, Por: Still hitting nicely after the move to AAA Portland. One wonders what the Padres are thinking with this guy. Probably at least a couple at bats this September in the Diego, one would think. He's hanging in at .349 5 54 .422.
7. Craig Cooper, 1B, SA: Still smokehousing the Texas League, Craig is at .339 6 56 .424. He may make a run at Texas League Player of the Year. That's got to get him some notice with the higher ups, you'd think.
8. Lance Zawadzki, SS, LE, SA: Rated a sleeper pick by Baseball America this season because of his power from both sides of the plate, Lance has raked steadily since an early power explosion to start the season. He's currently holding ground at .316 13 55 .402.
9. Daniel Payne, CF, LE: Surprise, surprise. Daniel is one of the least regarded of the Padres slew of 2007 Supplemental First Round picks (a group that included Payne, Kulbacki, Cumberland, Canham and Luebke), but he is putting together a moderately strong season. Apparently he is a legitimate CF and, if you ignore the .254 batting average which smacks of some bad luck, and focus on his 6 bombs, 25 ribeyes and .416 OBP, you realize Daniel has a discerning eye and some pop. I'm keeping an eye on him.
10. Allan Dykstra, 1B, FW: Quietly starting to learn his modified, wooden bat swing. The eye is still there, as his .400 OBP attests. His .212 4 27 other numbers should start to improve soon.
