Mike Stanton provides the power for Greensboro
MINOR LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT
Southern California has produced more than its share of major league players. In this space, we'll take a look at how Southland players are faring in the minors. This week: the Class-A South Atlantic League.
Yes, the Dodgers ended up winning the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes, acquiring the slugger from the Boston Red Sox as part of a three-team deal just before the non-waiver trade deadline last Thursday that cost them only two minor leaguers.
But Ramirez came very close to joining the Florida Marlins. The basic framework of the deal had Ramirez and a prospect going to the Marlins, outfielder Jeremy Hermida and a pair of prospects going from the Marlins to Pittsburgh and Pirates outfielder Jason Bay going to the Red Sox.
The Miami Herald reported that the trade fell through when the teams couldn't agree on the final details. For one thing, the Pirates wanted the Marlins to include Mike Stanton, one of their prized prospects, in the deal.
Stanton, who plays center field for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, was Florida's second-round pick in 2007 from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High.
Arguably the best athlete in the draft, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Stanton, who had signed a baseball letter-of-intent with USC, also starred in football and basketball for the Knights. He was named Cal-HiSports.com athlete of the year in 2007.
According to Baseball America, Stanton is the Marlins' ninth-best prospect. Baseball America also rates him as the organization's top power hitter.
Stanton leads the league with 29 home runs and is fourth with 73 RBIs. His homer total is the fifth-best in all the minor leagues. Former Angel Dallas McPherson, who plays for the Albuquerque Isotopes -- the Marlins' Pacific Coast League affiliate -- leads the minors with 39 homers.
In 103 games this season, Stanton, a right-handed hitter who bats third for the Grasshoppers, is hitting .281 (108 for 385) with 223 total bases (second in the league). Interestingly, he fares better against right-handers (.297) than left-handers (.236.). He has hit 22 homers against right-handers. His on-base percentage is .361 and his slugging percentage is .579 (second in the league).
Stanton was named the Marlins' minor league player of the month for June. In 27 games, he batted .300, had 33 hits -- seven doubles, one triple and 10 homers -- drove in 22 runs and scored 21. He finished the month with a .355 on-base percentage and a .655 slugging percentage. He also stole three bases in four attempts.
The 10 homers were the most in the league in June, as were his 72 total bases. He led the Grasshoppers in 11 offensive categories.
