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Baltimore Orioles highlight Week 2 of minor league notes

By Brody Hilgenkamp

Mar 17, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Christian Walker (34) waits on deck in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Christian Walker (34) waits on deck in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite pitching in a hostile environment, pitchers are keeping runs off the board in the California League.

As we learned earlier, the California League is very friendly for hitters. But that doesn’t mean pitchers can’t thrive there.

Consider Houston Astros prospect Brock Dykxhoorn. He’s second in the California League in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.oo) and has a 2.57 ERA. In his first start he struck out six batters in five innings. Sunday was his third appearance of the season, but it was out of the bullpen and he allowed one earned run in 4 1/3 innings. He has just two walks in 14 innings.

The best pitcher in the league might be the San Francisco Giants’ Andrew Suarez. The 2015 second round pick is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season today. Over his first three starts he struck out 20 batters, including nine April 21. His 11.25 K/9 innings pitched is fifth in the league.

Other noteworthy players:
Ian Happ (Cubs) and Ryan O’Hearn (Royals) are terrorizing Carolina League pitchers. Happ won the league’s player of the week Tueday with a .429/.600/.905 line that included three home runs.

O’Hearn is hitting .316 with four home runs over his past 10 games. The first base prospect is leading the league in slugging and home runs.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Brent Honeywell has rediscovered his fastball command and it’s turned him into a dominant starter. In four starts he has a 0.73 ERA and an eye-popping 13.00 K/BB, tied for fourth in the Florida State League. Honeywell is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season today against the St. Lucie Mets.

Next: Class A

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