Jay Bruce's dominance is reaching ridiculous proportions again. He just turned 21, yet he leads the International League in batting average (.363) and is second in OPS (1.061) to only 30-year-old Mike Hessman, who has 18 home runs and shouldn't even factor into the discussion. Bruce is also second to Hessman in total bases and has raised his on-base percentage to .392, in the top 10. So, assuming the Reds move him up because he's earned it and not just because some spot happened to open up, who do you get rid of to get Bruce in Cincinnati? I would probably DFA Javier Valentin, as he seems to be playing pretty much no role on the team at this point.
Triple-A: Bruce was 2 for 4 with his 10th homer of the season and Matt Maloney had a quality start as the Bats won 5-3. Louisville only got five hits, but it was enough. Jolbert Cabrera's 3-run double in the sixth was the difference. Danny Herrera gave up his first earned run as a Bat but got the hold. UP NEXT: Bats at Indy, tomorrow night.
Double-A: The Lookouts won 17-11 in a classic pitchers' duel. A run down of some of the hits: 2 for Shaun Cumberland (including his 6th homer), 2 for Chris Valaika, 2 for Tonys Gutierrez and 3 for Cody Strait. Eric Eymann went 3 for 5 with 3 doubles, 3 runs and 8 RBIs. 8 RBIs. Just go to the box score and look around a bit. You're bound to find something surprising. UP NEXT: New series at West Tennessee, tomorrow.
High A: Todd Frazier was 2 for 4 with a double, playing left field, in Sarasota's 7-4 loss at Brevard County. Juan Francisco played third and was 0 for 4. UP NEXT: Game 2 at Brevard, 7 tonight.
Low A: Brandon Waring was 3 for 4 with his ninth homer, but Dayton fell 4-3. 3 more strikeouts for Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, and the farm system's leader in ERA, Enerio Del Rosario, took the loss. UP NEXT: Lansing at Dayton, 7 tonight.