Whatever Happened To That Guy?

When players get promoted from the Cal League to AA or AAA, they don't get mentioned here again unless they come back. I thought I should post an update on the guys that have moved on to new challenges at higher levels. I'm sure some people are interested in them.

Rey Navarro, Visalia (traded to Kansas City/A+ Wilmington) .245/.263/.337 (AVG/OBP/SLG) 37 R 4 HR 26 RBI 4/9 SB with A+ Wilmington

Navarro hasn't hit much at all since being selected by the Diamondbacks in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft, and that has continued after an organization change. He doesn't strike out much, but a player that walks as little as he does will have a tough time reaching the majors.

Kyle Russell, Inland Empire (promoted to AA Chattanooga) .228/.300/.421 23 R 6 HR 16 RBI 2/3 SB with AA Chattanooga

Russell completely dominated the Cal League, but the 24 year old has hit a major road block in the Southern League. He always struck out too much, but with Chattanooga Russell has been striking out in 36% of his PA. Lately, he's been heating up and could build some momentum towards 2011.

Drew Cumberland, Lake Elsinore (promoted to AA San Antonio) .278/.298/.333 5 R 0 HR 6 RBI 2/3 SB with AA San Antonio

Cumberland was struggling after his promotion during the All Star break when he fell victim to the injury bug again. He played in just 15 games before going down with a cut on his leg that could keep him out for the rest of the season. His biggest problem in his pro career has been staying healthy, and it looks like that has continued.

Engel Beltre, Bakersfield (promoted to AA Frisco) .290/.346/.419 11 R 1 HR 13 RBI 3/5 SB with AA Frisco

Beltre repeated Bakersfield to start the season and showed a lot of improvement. He was promoted to AA where he has hit a little better than the league average, which is good for someone as young as he is. His plate approach still needs work, but it's been a little better with Frisco.

Alexi Amarista, Rancho Cucamonga (promoted to AA Arkansas/AAA Salt Lake) .319/.358/.363 16 R 1 HR 18 RBI 4/5 SB with AA Arkansas

Amarista cooled off a bit at the end of his stay with Rancho Cucamonga, but he still earned a promotion. He's been a solid hitter at every stop, but he's a smaller player, so scouts don't necessarily believe in him. He'll probably need to start walking a little more.

Brandon Belt, San Jose (promoted to AA Richmond) .336/.399/.639 19 R 6 HR 28 RBI 2/3 SB with AA Richmond

Belt has been one of the best minor league hitters this year, even though it's his first season in pro ball. If you listen to scouts and analysts, it's no fluke. Belt made adjustments after being San Francisco's 5th round pick in 2009, and he's on the fast track to the majors.

Jordan Pacheco, Modesto (promoted to AA Tulsa) .143/.222/.143 1 R 0 HR 1 RBI 0/0 SB with AA Tulsa

Pacheco was just promoted to Tulsa this weekend and has only played two games. Wilin Rosario, one of the Rockies' best prospects, went down with a knee injury, and Pacheco was called up to fill in. Pacheco is a solid player in his own right and deserved the promotion.

Cole St. Clair, Inland Empire (promoted to AA Chattanooga) 1-2 4.44 ERA 1.52 WHIP 46.2 IP 20 BB 43 K with AA Chattanooga

St. Clair showed that staying at Inland Empire was pretty pointless quickly this season. He has found that AA is a bit tougher, and his H/9 has nearly doubled. He obviously hasn't been as good as fellow relief prospect Kenley Jansen, but both made quick work of the Cal League.

Josh Collmenter, Visalia (promoted to AAA Reno) 4-3 5.92 ERA 1.59 WHIP 51.2 IP 24 BB 30 K with AAA Reno

Collmenter hardly had time to unpack with Visalia before being sent to Reno to make some spot starts. He struggled, went to AA Mobile, dominated and ended up with the Aces again. His success has come and gone, and he's going to need to increase his strikeouts to be more consistent.

Will Smith, Rancho Cucamonga (promoted to AAA Salt Lake, traded to Kansas City/A+ Wilmington) 1-1 4.15 ERA 1.39 ERA 13 IP 2 BB 9 K with A+ Wilmington

This season has been a whirlwind for Smith. After a brief stint to start the year with Rancho Cucamonga, Smith was needed at AAA. He was then sent back to AA where he wouldn't be as overmatched, and then he was traded to Kansas City as part of the Alberto Callaspo deal.

Kenley Jansen, Inland Empire (promoted to AA Chattanooga) 0-0 0.00 ERA .83 WHIP 6 IP 2 BB 9 K with LA Dodgers

Jansen has without a doubt been the best Cal League success story in 2010. His stay with the 66ers was short, but he had bigger and better things to take care of. Jansen quickly climbed the ladder and figures to be a big part of the Dodgers' bullpen moving forward.

Drew Taylor, Rancho Cucamonga (promoted to AA Arkansas) 1-3 4.70 ERA 1.46 WHIP 38.1 IP 18 BB 21 K with AA Arkansas

Taylor was having a very good season with Rancho Cucamonga, and the Angels have been aggressive in minor league promotions this year. He was rewarded with a trip to AA Arkansas where Taylor has had trouble making adjustments. He isn't striking out nearly as many batters as he should be.

Fautino De Los Santos, Stockton (promoted to AA Midland) 0-2 5.75 ERA 1.28 WHIP 20.1 IP 8 BB 34 K with AA Midland

De Los Santos is on the road back to the upper minors in his injury recovery. He was involved in the Nick Swisher trade, and he's still young enough to have a chance to make the majors. The WHIP indicates his ERA shouldn't be as high as it is, and I'd imagine it'll come down in the next month.

Tyler Chatwood, Rancho Cucamonga (promoted to AA Arkansas) 3-4 3.27 ERA 1.40 WHIP 52.1 IP 20 BB 25 K with AA Arkansas

Rancho Cucamonga has had a lot of turnover in the rotation this year, and Chatwood was a part of that. After dominating the Cal League with a few lapses in command, he was promoted to AA and took awhile to settle in. His lack of strikeouts is very puzzling though, and also somewhat concerning.

Wade Miley, Visalia (promoted to AA Mobile) 4-1 2.44 ERA 1.23 WHIP 55.1 IP 22 BB 41 K with AA Mobile

Miley seemed to be a specialist in working out of jams with Visalia, but his overall performance has improved in the Southern League. His K:BB ratio needs to improve especially because he's already the league average age for AA, but Miley has certainly had a solid year.

Craig Westcott, San Jose (promoted to AA Richmond) 3-1 4.35 ERA 1.37 WHIP 39.1 IP 12 BB 29 K with AA Richmond

Westcott came out of nowhere to start the All Star Game for the Cal League. Westcott has been great since being drafted late in the 2009 draft, and like teammate Brandon Belt, got promoted to AA after the All Star Game. His ERA is quite a bit worse, but his WHIP is actually better.

Michael Main, Bakersfield (promoted to AA Frisco, traded to San Francisco/AA Richmond) 0-3 13.83 ERA 2.56 WHIP 13.2 IP 14 B 7 K with AA Richmond

Main knew he was being promoted to AA, but due to the Bengie Molina trade, it was with Richmond and not Frisco. Obviously, that transition did not go as well as he hoped. Richmond seems to be skipping some of his starts, which makes sense because of the results and innings pitched this year.

Rex Brothers, Modesto (promoted to AA Tulsa) 1-1 2 SV 5.79 ERA 1.64 WHIP 14 IP 13 BB 16 K with AA Tulsa

Like every other reliever, small sample sizes can make an ERA look really bad, and Brothers seems to be a victim of that right now. He did very well immediately after his promotion, but he really struggled with his command in a few recent innings, and his ERA had a huge jump as a result.

Dallas Keuchel, Lancaster (promoted to AA Corpus Christi) 2-1 5.24 ERA 1.39 WHIP 22.1 IP 4 BB 17 K with AA Corpus Christi

Lancaster has had an extremely ugly season, but Keuchel emerged as a bright spot and earned a promotion to AA. His first two starts weren't very good, but the last two indicate he may be settling in. Houston needs pitching right now, and the competitive Keuchel could eventually help the big club.

Those are the prospects I've followed all year that have moved on to higher levels. Success is varied, but that's to be expected with tougher competition.