Around the leagues; Baez Homers Twice

Mar 7, 2013; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez (70) doubles during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at HoHoKam Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

News and Notes from around the farm on the day Nolan Ryan’s recorded his 5000th strikeout on a 96 MPH heater past the bat of fellow hall of famer, Rickey Henderson.

>Last Night for Tennessee, Cubs SS prospect Javier Baez unfurled two long home runs. The former 9th overall pick, who ranked #11 on our pre-season top 100 prospect list,  now stands at 33 home runs between A+ and AA ball. With quick wrists and inhuman power, the 20 year old Baez is well on his way to becoming one of the game’s top shortstops, possibly as soon as 2014.

>Unheralded Giants pitcher, Kendry Flores, struck out 15 batters and walked none over eight dominant innings in a 2-1 Greenjackets (Giants A ball affiliate) victory. The 21 year old righthander didn’t appear on many prospect radar’s before the year but with a 2.65 ERA, an 8.9 K/9, and a Maddux like 1.1 BB/9 through 21 starts, he will.

>In other Giant’s news, their A+ affiliate, the San Jose Giants, came back from an 11-5 deficit to win 16-11 over the Athletic’s affiliate, the Stockton Ports.  Addison Russel went 2 for 5 for Stockton, homering once and driving in a pair. The 19 year old shortsop was ranked #46 on our prospect list going into the season and has only improved his stock since, bopping to an .890 OPS as one of the youngest players in the league. While in high school just one year ago, the athletic youngster has hit at every level and could find himself in the majors by September 2014.

>Nationals 2012 first round pick, Lucas Giolito, was brilliant last night, striking out four over 5 shutout innings in his New York-Penn League debut. . Giolito has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery he underwent shortly after the 2012 draft, and appear successful thus far, pitching to a 2.28 ERA across two levels. Capable of hitting 100 MPH when healthy, Giolito  has proven to be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball this summer.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to follow@Gradingthecurve on Twitter and and Like Grading On The Curve’s Facebook page to keep up with the latest prospect news, rumors, and opinion.