Baseball and Stuff – Austin Hedges, Matt Bush, Engel Beltre, Drew Pomeranz

Baseball and Stuff –  Austin Hedges, Matt Bush, Engel Beltre, Drew Pomeranz

RHP Rick VandenHurk signed with the Pirates after electing free agency following an outright assignment by the Indians.

San Diego Padres catching prospect Austin Hedges is off to a fast start for Low-A Fort Wayne in the Midwest League: 6-for-14 (.429) with two doubles, a homer, three walks, and three strikeouts. Drafted in the second round last spring out of high school in San Juan Capistrano, California, Hedges entered pro ball with an excellent defensive reputation but a questionable bat. He's played just 13 professional games thus far, but the results are actually the opposite of expectation: he's a career .300/.451/.525 hitter, but has committed three errors, two passed balls, and has allowed 15 steals with just six caught. Small sample caveat obviously applies here. I expect the defensive stats will catch up with his reputation as he gains experience, but will he keep hitting? Purely instinctual, but I don't think this is all small sample illusion and I am increasingly optimistic about the bat. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/4/11/2941147/minor-league-notes-april-11-2012

Rays minor league pitcher Matt Bush got in a previous hit-and-run accident three hours before police arrested him in North Port Mar. 22 for a DUI-hit-and-run crash, according to Venice Police records. Marc Topkin has the details from the police reports in the story. No one else was hurt — one involved hitting a car and then making an illegal u-turn, the other was hitting a light pole — but it’s amazing that Bush didn’t kill anyone. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/11/matt-bush-was-involved-in-three-separate-hit-and-runs-on-the-day-he-was-arrested

Twins RHP Scott Baker to undergo right elbow surgery, will miss remainder of the season

Angels RHP Michael Kohn to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Keithlaw ‏@keithlaw - I don't trust Johnny Damon as far as he can throw.

It’s no secret that 2012 is a make-or-break year for Double-A Frisco outfielder Engel Beltre––at least as far as his spot on the Rangers’ 40-man roster is concerned. Now 22-years-old, Beltre is in his second season as a member of the club’s 40-man roster. He’s coming off a disastrous 2011 campaign in which he batted .231/.285/.300 in 118 games at Frisco. While Beltre’s offensive development came to a screeching halt last season, he continued to progress in the field. He’s an above-average defender who covers plenty of ground and has an easy plus arm. http://rangers.scout.com/2/1176566.html

Drew Pomeranz was an ace starter at the University of Mississippi for three seasons. He posted a 4.16 ERA with an 81/30 K/BB in 71 innings as a freshman in 2008, a 3.40 ERA with a 124/37 K/BB in 95 innings as a sophomore in 2009, and a 2.24 ERA with a 139/46 K/BB in 101 innings as a junior in 2010. As you can see, he improved every year, earning a spot in the first round of the '10 draft, where he was selected fifth-overall by the Cleveland Indians.  http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/4/12/2941311/prospect-of-the-day-drew-pomeranz-lhp-colorado-rockies

Dylan Bundy with identical 3 IP and 6 Ks and no base runners in 2nd pro start. Has 12 Ks in 6 pro IP and no base runners

David Lennon‏ @DPLennon - Acknowledge is a message on the screen - "Congrats on a great career. Enjoy your retirement, Chipper. We know we will." Is that so hard?

Adam Rubin:  Nats' Michael Morse in "total shutdown mode" for 6 weeks after reaggravated lat tear. No surgical option to repair

Anthony Rendon has a partial fracture in his left ankle.