Remember last week when I told you about Mike Stanton?  In an effort to bring you top of the line content, here is the follow up that was promised.

Stanton is the top prospect in the Marlins system.  There are a lot of reasons why, his power numbers the most obvious.  Stanton is a big boy at 6'5", 230lbs.  He is also fast as all get out.  There is a reason that Pete Carroll told him that he could walk on to USC's football team as either a wideout or a defensive back if he accepted a baseball scholly there.  So not only is dude big and young, but also athletic and fast.  His battery of skills are compared to those of a Jayson Werth type player, although Stanton seems like he may also hit for average.  Five tool player, anyone?

So what has Stanton done since we last wrote about him?  How about four more dingers to bring his total to 13 on the season.  That is four more in six games, bringing his total for the last ten games to nine.  He has also added eight more RBI's over those six games, as well as six runs, six bases on balls and one bag nabbed.  So far on the year, he has a .360 AVG, .504 OBP, .884 SLG (1.388 OPS), 13 HR, 26 Runs, 29 RBIs and that one stolen base.  The only troubling thing is that he has 25 strikeouts to go with his 25 walks.  For a guy who is not getting a lot of pitches to swing at, he should be walking more than he is.  It is really hard to argue with a .504 OBP, however, but the level of competition also has to be considered.

How much longer the Fish can leave dude in AA is unclear, but a promotion to AAA in the next few weeks is likely.  We will continue to follow Stanton's progress, and at this point expect him to get called up to the Bigs by the end of July.

Baseball America's Prospect Handbook was used extensively in this entry.  If you are in a keeper league, or are just a baseball nut like me, this book is a must have as it is the top resource on the market for prospects.