Decker & Pelzer on BA PHS

Low-A OF Jaff Decker and High-A RHP Wynn Pelzer each made this week's Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet in the "In the Team Photo" honorable mention catagory.

Low Class A Fort Wayne LF Jaff Decker (Padres) hasn't had any problems acclimating to the Midwest League. Decker hit .409/.480/.727 (9-for-22) with two home runs this week, upping his season line to .320/.490/.613 in 75 at-bats. The 19-year-old Decker didn't make his season debut with the TinCaps until April 24, but he's already tied for the team lead in home runs with five, and he ranks fifth in RBIs with 16...

and...

Only Mat Latos and Simon Castro, among Padres farmhands, can challenge high Class A Lake Elsinore RHP Wynn Pelzer for the distinction of having the most arm strength in the organization. Thus far, the 22-year-old has handled his assignment to the California League with aplomb, starting twice this week and going a clean 2-0, 1.88, while allowing three runs on seven hits while racking up 20 strikeouts and three walks in 14 1/3 innings. On the season, his 51 strikeouts rank third in the Cal League, and his 3.55 ERA ranks seventh...

Decker, in my opinion, is one of the best young hitters in all the minor leagues. And I won't go that high in my praise for Pelzer, but I will say that not only is just a step behind Latos in terms of arm strength, but he's also not that far off Latos' pace in terms of upside.

Unfortunately, as I pointed out in last night's post, Kyle Blanks is quite cold lately. He headlined BA's "Not-So Hot Sheet."

Kyle Blanks, lf/1b, Padres: While it's probably not a pure cause-and-effect relationship, Blanks, since playing his first game in left field for Triple-A Portland on May 10, has gone 6-for-43 (.140) with a lone extra-base hit (a home run). The 22-year-old also has struck out at an uncharacteristically high rate in that span—18 times in 43 at-bats, or 42 percent of the time. Kudos to Blanks for his willingness to play the outfield, where he hasn't roamed since 2005, but he won't be in line for a big league callup until he snaps out of his funk. This week, Blanks batted .087/.250/.087 (2-for-23) with five walks and seven strikeouts.