Stars of the Day: May 25

After walking on, he spent five years toiling in various roles at Georgia Tech, then lasted until the 33rd round in last year's draft.  The Rangers sent him out for 18 appearances, all out of the pen, spread out over three stops in the organization last summer. 

He's really never been anybody's first choice for anything except the Dean's List. 

This year, he's spen t most of his spring in the Bakersfield bullpen, but with Omar Poveda on the shelf and Tommy Hunter off to Frisco,  Jared Hyatt (5-0;  3.29) has gotten an opportunity to start and he's making the most of it.

Yesterday, Hyatt (pictured) held Inland Empire to a run on just one hit while punching out six in seven very strong innings as the Blaze ran off to an 11-2 victory.

The Bakersfield  lineup recorded a dozen base hits and as many walks. Johnny Whittleman (.280 / .398 / .434) reached base five times, going 1-2 with four walks, driving in two and scoring three times while Julio Borbon (.325 / .375 / .414) went 3-6, stole his 18th bag of the year and scored three times from the top of the order. 

In Iowa,  the LumberKings continued to use Cedar Rapids as a punching bag, recording their ninth straight victory over the Angels affiliate as southpaw starter Derek Holland (5-0;  2.47) did his part to maintain the legacy of what must be the most dominant starting rotation -- top to bottom -- in minor league baseball. 

Holland went seven,  limiting the Kernels to a pair of runs on six hits.  He fanned three and induced 11 ground ball outs.  

Toolsy 18 year old center fielder Engel Beltre (.266 / .293 / .391) tripled in a 3-5 outing to drive in three.  He also recorded an outfield assist, nailing a baserunner at third.   The Midwest League's leading hitter (by .025), Renny Osuna (.365 / .439 / .528) also went 3-5 and hit his ninth double of the year.

Ben Harrison (.351 / .449 / .649) homered twice in  four trips, driving in three, but it wasn't enough for the Riders-sans-Davis as Frisco dropped a 6-5 affair at Fort Smith.  

Harrison's 1.098 OPS is second in the league -- ahead of Chris Davis and behind you know who.   Harrison is also second in the league in OBP and slugging percentage, third in batting average, and sixth  in both dingers (9) and RBIs (35). 

Any notions  Tommy Hunter (1-1;  5.25) might have had about the Texas League after his first dominant start against double-A competition were tempered yesterday as the Naturals chased him after five having gotten to him for six runs on six hits -- two of which left the yard -- and four walks.  

In Iowa,  4-A doubled and homered in four trips but the I-Cubs trounded Oklahoma 9-2.  Dustin Nippert wasn't so good.   Chris Davis went 0-1 in a pinch hitting appearance.