Flurry of Minor League Moves
Kenny Maiques (Photo by Dustin Mattison)
There was a flurry of minor league moves on this Friday but first a dissappointing story.
Relief pitcher Kenny Maiques has been suspended fifty games for testing positive for a drug of abuse. Maiques back in extended spring training after starting the year at Double-A Springfield. The 23-year-old struggled with his command with 13 walks in only 3.2 innings. He finished his stint with a 14.73 ERA in his five appearances.
Maiques struggled through 2008 after a fantastic professional debut in 2007. He finished with 31 saves and 57 strikeouts in 53 innings. His 31 saves is the Quad Cities single season record. After the record-breaking performance, the Birdhouse named Maiques the 15th ranked prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system.
The Cardinals drafted Maiques in 2005 after the right-hander had undergone Tommy John Surgery.
Maiques is the second high profile minor league pitcher in the St. Louis organization to be suspended for a positive drug test. The Quad Cities’ Deryk Hooker was suspended for 50 games in April.
Brown To the DL; Smith promoted
First Baseman Andrew Brown has been placed on the Springfield disabled list with a left-hand injury. After a slow start, Brown had been on fire of late. In 76 at bats, the Nebraska product had posted a line of .329/.366/.447. His batting average would have put him in the top ten among Texas League leaders if he had enough at bats to qualify.
Curt Smith has been promoted to Double-A Springfield after his hot start at Palm Beach. The 2008 Appalachian Player of the Year was hitting .344/.365/.492 with five home runs and 22 RBIs during Florida State League play. That batting average was tops on the circuit while his home runs and slugging percentage ranked in the top 10.
Not chosen until the 39th round of the 2008 MLB First Year Player Draft, Smith burst on the scene by hitting .378/.418/.585 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs to garner Player of the Year honors in his professional debut.
Swauger Up; Mitchell Makes Full Season Debut
Quad Cities’ outfielder Chris Swauger has been promoted to Palm Beach of the Florida State League. The 26th round choice in last June’s draft was hitting .296/.357/.522 with four home runs and 22 RBIs in 115 at bats. The Citadel product is hitting .325 in his last 10 games including three home runs in his last seven
Travis Mitchell has been promoted to the Quad Cities. The St. Louis native was drafted by his hometown team in the 13th round of the 2006 MLB First Year Player Draft.
In three professional seasons, he has a career line of .232/.278/.310 in 568 career at bats.
Dustin Mattison
Feel free to contact me at dustin@whiteyball.com.
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