Minor leaguers grabbing starting spots in majors

Jeff Mathis finally has the Angels starting catcher spot to himself. AP

A week ago two of the players featured in this week's Who's He were playing in Triple-A waiting for an opportunity to get a shot at the big leagues. Now, through some pre-deadline deals that cleared out the veterans ahead of them, not only are they in the majors, but they're everyday starters and should be for the rest of the season. So it goes for the ever-changing world of fantasy baseball.

Jeff Mathis, C, Angels

The free agency defection of Bengie Molina last season was supposed to clear the way for Mathis, 24, one of the brightest minor league catching prospects in baseball, to finally take the Angels starting catcher job. However something funny happened along the way. Mathis was completely outplayed by the second best catching prospect in the Angels chain, slugging Mike Napoli, who seized the starting spot. That forced the disappointed and disappointing (.145 batting average) Mathis back to Triple A. This season, Mathis began the year as Napoli's backup but was sent out yet again when Jose Molina returned from an injury (and after batting .103). Now Molina is a Yankee, Napoli is on the DL with a hamstring pull and the job at long last is Mathis'. He's got good power and is an excellent handler of pitchers but his bat has been awfully quiet, even at Triple A (.244, five home runs). But don't be discouraged. He's going to get a steady stream of at-bats (with minor league journeyman Ryan Budde as his backup) and has already raised his average from .095 to over .250 in just a few days. He's a total sleeper for the rest of this year and may surpass the streaky and often injured Napoil for the top job altogether next season.

Danny Richar, 2B, White Sox

Little could Richar know that when Phillies slugger Chase Utley was hit in the hand by a John Hannan fastball last Sunday that it would trigger a chain of events resulting in him becoming the White Sox everyday second baseman. The loss of Utley put the Phillies in the market for a second baseman for the stretch run. That happened to be Tad Iguchi, who was blocking Richar's path to the majors. Acquired in mid-June in a trade with the Diamondbacks for outfielder Aaron Cunningham, Richar is a power hitting former shortstop who was in the midst of a tremendous season in Triple A, batting .305 with 25 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, 61 RBI, 61 runs scored and eight steals in 98 games split between Tucson and Charlotte. At 24, Richar has matured from the skinny kid who signed with the Diamondbacks at age 18 from La Romana, Dominican Republic (a short relay throw from the cradle of shortstops, San Pedro de Macoris) to a five-tool infielder who basically forced the Sox hand to move the more pricey Iguchi. A lefthanded hitter, Richar is a good pickup for the rest of this season and an excellent choice for those of you mining for gems for next year.

Brian Buscher, 3B, Twins

The lefty-swinging Buscher was called up to provide a bit more pop at third base than Minnesota's regular third baseman for most of the last two seasons, Nick Punto. Not even considered one of the Twins top five prospects at third base, the former South Carolina Gamecock has had a non-descript minor league career until being selected from the Giants in the Minor League Rule 5 Draft in Dec. This season for the Twins he hit .310 with career highs of 13 home runs and 57 RBIs between Double and Triple A. The lefthanded swinger fits the mold of the classic Twin farmhand, meaning he'll get more at bats than you'd expect but will not be a big-time fantasy producer. Think the Minnesota versions in the Terry Tiffee, Casey Blake, Lew Ford, Dustan Mohr mold. On the bright side, he's having a great season and barring a big slump, will likely keep the starting job. Don't go crazy to get him, but he could be a moderate contributor to your stretch run, especially if your team is injury ravaged.

Cory Doyne, RP, Orioles

Few relievers are able to make the transition from closing games in the minors to immediately becoming a ninth inning man in the majors. Most of the greatest closers of late were either converted starters (Eric Gagne, Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon) or served as apprentices to other closers before taking the reins (Francisco Rodriguez, Billy Wagner, Joe Nathan, J.J. Putz). Doyne was recalled from Triple A Norfolk when Chris Ray went on the DL, where Doyne racked up 29 saves and a 0.88 WHIP. He spit the bit in the stopper role with the big club, allowing six earned runs in one inning over his last two appearances. In four total appearances Doyne has an ERA over 23 and a 2.44 WHIP. In his eighth pro season yet just 25 years old, Doyne has been a journeyman in the minors, pitching in the Houston, San Diego and St. Louis organizations before signing last November with Baltimore. His minor league numbers suggest he has a chance to be a closer in the big leagues one day. However, it's obvious that he'll need an apprenticeship and perhaps some more time in the minors for that to happen. In the meantime the O's will go with the closer-by-committee.

Manny Parra, SP, Brewers

That sigh of relief you heard might be the one breathed by the Brewers brain trust after Parra made his major league debut earlier this month. Formerly the top pitching prospect in the organization, Parra suffered from a torn rotator cuff that cut short his 2005 season. He underwent surgery but had to return to Class A to rehab for the first part of last season. Luckily for him and the Brewers, Parra has looked like the pitcher they hoped he would be before the injury. Despite Milwaukee's recent struggles, Parra has been a bright spot, surrendering just one earned run in six innings of his first big league start against the Cards on Saturday. On three levels this season, he's averaged about one strikeout per inning and was close to untouchable in four starts at Triple A (15 hits in 26 innings). The Brewers already have one of the best collections of young position players in baseball, but Parra and righty Yovani Gallardo provide great hope for Milwaukee's pitching fortunes as well. He's heartily recommended.