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Prospect Transactions: Sept. 7-13

Hurlers Archer, Straily promoted to Majors for stretch run
September 14, 2012
Readers: "Prospect Transactions" updates you weekly on the most notable moves involving prospects in the Minor Leagues. All comings and goings of MLB.com's top prospects are included and are ordered by organization.

Player Org Move
L.J. Hoes BAL Promoted from Triple-A Norfolk to Orioles
Ryan Adams BAL Designated for assignment
Alex Castellanos LA Promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque to Dodgers
Joc Pederson LA Promoted to Double-A Chattanooga
Blake Smith LA Placed on Chattanooga DL
Dan Straily OAK Promoted from Triple-A Sacramento to A's
Notes: MLB.com's No. 80 prospect joined Oakland for the second time this season. Straily pitched 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball -- and picked up his second big league win -- against the A.L Wild Card-contending Angels on 9/11. The 23-year-old right-hander, a proud owner of a five-pitch repertoire, gives the Athletics yet another young arm to help them squeeze into the postseason.
Darin Ruf PHI Promoted from Double-A Reading to Phillies
Notes: MLB.com's 20th-ranked Phillies prospect finally got the call. Ruf, a 20th-round draftee in 2009, led the Eastern League in games (139), home runs (38), RBIs (104), on-base percentage (.408). Oh, and he ranked second in runs (93), walks (65) and batting average (.317). All impressive marks for the circuit's MVP, even if we are talking about a somewhat-burly 25-year-old first baseman. (In case you hadn't heard, Philadelphia has one of those, only one much older and much more expensive.) So it may be time to wonder if Ruf, with his career .303 average in the batter's box, is simply a right-handed-hitting version of the Cardinals' Matt Adams. Remember, Adams is 24; also weighs 220-plus pounds; was drafted in the 23rd round in 2009; and has a .318 career clip in the box. Adams, however, is viewed as more of a prospect, at sixth overall in St. Louis' system. Maybe it's time Ruf should be viewed through the same prism.
Bryan Morris PIT Promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to Pirates
Joe Ross SD Promoted to Class A Fort Wayne
Matthew Wisler SD Promoted to Fort Wayne
Jack Marder SEA Activated off Class A Adv. High Desert DL (hamstring)
Leon Landry SEA Activated off, placed on High Desert DL (quadriceps)
Johernmyn Chavez SEA Outrighted to Double-A Jackson
Chris Archer TB Promoted from Triple-A Durham to Rays
Notes: MLB.com's No. 88 prospect joined Tampa Bay for the second time this season. Archer pitched seven innings of two-run ball against the A.L West division-leading Texas Rangers on 9/8. He remains in search of his first Major League win. The 23-year-old right-hander has a dynamite fastball-slider-changeup repertoire, but it remains to be seen if he will start 2013 in the bigs.

Andrew Pentis is a contributor to MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at AndrewMiLB.