Midwest League Notebook

Beloit Snappers (Minnesota Twins)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Snappers are 38-22 and in first place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT: OF Danny Santiesteban snapped out of a four-game, 0-for-14 slump with a three-run homer and career-high five RBIs on June 3 in a 14-4 win over Peoria. ... 2B Brian Dinkleman tied for fourth in the league with a .500 (9-for-18) batting average that included a league-high tying seven runs in five games last week

WHO'S NOT: RHP Cole Devries allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 loss to Peoria on June 4. ... RHP Danny Vais allowed six runs on five hits and a walk in just an inning in Peoria's 9-1 loss on Tuesday.

DID YOU KNOW: While the Snappers pitchers are doing their jobs, combining for a league-leading 2.86 team ERA, the team's batters are tied for 12th in the 14-team league with a .235 batting average.

LEAGUE ALL STARS: The Snappers will send six players to the Midwest League All-Star Game June 19 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, Ill., home of the Kane County Cougars. Representing Beloit will be: Dinkelman, INF Danny Valencia and RHPs Jeff Manship, Robert Delaney, Alex Burnett and Devries.

Burlington Bees (Kansas City Royals)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Bees are 25-36 and in sixth place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT: LHP Matt Campbell struck out eight batters over a seven-inning complete game -- a 5-3 win in the opener of a doubleheader against Cedar Rapids June 3. In the second game, RHP Harold Mozingo did one better, holding the visiting Kernels to just two hits in a 2-0 complete-game win.

ROSTER MOVES: Campbell was promoted to Class A Advanced Wilmington in the Carolina League. He went 4-2 with a 3.47 ERA in 11 games, including six starts.

DID YOU KNOW: Campbell is the fourth player promoted to Wilmington this year, joining Marc Maddox, Yovany D'Amico, and Jason Godin.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: The Burlington Bees will be represented this year by IF/DH Michael Thompson RHP Tyler Chambliss. Thompson owns team highs in home runs (11) and RBIs (27). Chambliss is 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA and three saves in 16 appearances this year. In 33 1/3 innings, he has allowed just six runs on 19 hits while walking 12 and striking out 44.

Cedar Rapids Kernels (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Kernels are 35-24 and in third place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT: OF Chris Pettit was named as the Topps Midwest League Player of the Month for May last week. Pettit posted a .348 average in April and a .373 average in 28 games in May. He owned a league-best 15-game hitting streak during the month that included 14 doubles, 20 runs scored and owned a 1.012 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

MORE HONORS: Pettit and pitcher Doug Brandt were named the Angels Player and Pitcher of the Month for May. Brandt posted a 2-1 record and 1.65 ERA in five starts for the Kernels. In 27 1/3 innings he allowed eight runs -- five earned -- on 26 hits with 29 strikeouts and just three walks. ... C Hank Conger was named the Midwest League Player of the Week for period May 28 to June 3 on Tuesday. During that span, Conger batted .381 (8-21) with two home runs, nine RBIs and a grand slam. He also led the league in slugging percentage (.857) and racked up 18 RBIs in his last 14 games.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: Six players will represent Cedar Rapids on the West Roster at the All-Star Game: Pettit and DH Matt Sweeney were selected as starters, C Hank Conger and IF P.J. Phillips were selected as reserve players, and LHP Doug Brandt and RHP Tim Schoeninger were selected as pitchers.

ROSTER MOVES: RHP Vladimir Veras joined the Kernels from extended Spring Training June 4, taking the place of RHP Sean O'Sullivan, who was placed on the disabled list with a lower back strain.

Clinton LumberKings (Texas Rangers)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The LumberKings are 36-23 and in second place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT: LHP Zach Phillips took a perfect game into the seventh inning but settled instead for a one-hit outing over seven dominant innings in a 10-1 win over Peoria Friday. The five-strikeout performance ranked him third among league pitchers for the week and improved his record to 6-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 12 starts.

WHO'S NOT: C Kevin Gossage is batting .147 (10-for-68) with four doubles, four runs scored, two RBIs and 27 strikeouts in just 21 games.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: C/OF Chad Tracy, 3B John Whittleman and OF K.C. Herren were named to start the All-Star team. Jose Vallejo was selected as a reserve infielder, and Broc Coffman, Zach Phillips, Omar Poveda and Brennan Garr were pitching selections.

Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Dragons are 38-24 and in first place in the Eastern Division.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Sean Watson ranks second in the league with 76 strikeouts. In 12 starts this season, he is 4-2 with a 2.06 ERA.

ROSTER MOVES: RHP Terrell Young joined the club from extended Spring Training and C Tony Esquer was activated from the disabled list Saturday. To make room for the additions, RHP Jordan Smith was released and catcher Jake Long was transferred to the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League.

DID YOU KNOW: The Dayton Dragons are one of three Midwest League teams to place eight players on the 2007 Midwest League All-Star Rosters. The eight players in the 2007 All-Star game are the most the Dragons have sent since the team's inaugural season of 2000 when Dayton sent 10 players.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: The Dragons have three players in the starting lineup and will make up three-fourths of the starting infield. 2B Justin Turner, SS Chris Valaika and 3B Juan Francisco will start for the Eastern Division. Rounding out Dayton's representatives are OF Drew Stubbs and pitchers Rafael Gonzalez, Marcos Mateo, Pedro Viola and Sean Watson.

Fort Wayne Wizards (San Diego Padres)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Wizards are 26-33 and tied for fifth place with Great Lakes in the Eastern Division.

WHO'S HOT: OF Javis Diaz tied for fourth among league batting leaders last week, hitting .500 (8-for-16) with three runs scored in four games. In 51 games this season, he is batting .290 (62-for-214) with six doubles, four triples, two home runs and 18 RBIs.

WHO'S NOT: RHP Stephen Faris was roughed up in the tough loss Tuesday, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. Things didn't get any better for reliever R.J. Rodriguez, who dished up five runs -- four earned -- on three hits and a walk in just one-third of an inning.

DID YOU KNOW: In an 11-2 blowout loss to West Michigan Tuesday, both manager Doug Dascenzo and pitching coach Wally Whitehurst were ejected from the game.

ROSTER MOVES: LHP Nathan Culp was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Wednesday. ... RHP John Hussey, who was sent to the Eugene Emeralds squad last weekend, was recalled to Fort Wayne.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: Three Fort Wayne Wizards were named to the Eastern Division's Midwest League All-Star team -- IF Rayner Contreras, SP Culp and reliever R.J. Rodriguez.

Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Loons are 27-34 and are tied for fifth place with Fort Wayne in the Eastern Division.

WHO'S HOT: 1B Eduardo Perez is batting .307 (63-for-205) with 12 doubles, six home runs and 27 RBIs.

WHO'S NOT: RHP Arismendy Castillo allowed five runs on 12 hits and three walks in six innings of a 12-2 loss to South Bend Tuesday. It didn't get any better for RHP Joseph Jones, who gave up five runs on a hit and four walks in two-thirds of an inning.

LEAGUE HONORS: LHP Clayton Kershaw was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 28 to June 3 on Tuesday. During that span, Kershaw (the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 draft) went 2-0 and didn't give up an earned run. In the two starts, he struck out 13 batters compared to just four walks. In 11 starts this season, he is 6-2 with a 2.13 ERA with a 74-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

DID YOU KNOW: The Loons' home park, the Dow Diamond, will host the 2008 Midwest League All-Star Game next season.

ROSTER MOVES: OF Bridger Hunt was promoted to Class A Advanced Inland Empire Saturday. He was replaced on the Loons roster by OF Thomas Giles.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: Perez and Kershaw are headed to the upcoming All-Star Game.

Kane County Cougars (Oakland A's)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Cougars are 19-42 and in seventh place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Andrew Bailey led the league last week with a career-high 12 strikeouts in an 8-6 win over Wisconsin Friday, giving him 49 on the season. In seven games -- six starts -- he is 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA and has issued just 12 walks in 30 innings.

WHO'S NOT: IF Christian Vitters is batting .212 (24-for-113) with 39 strikeouts in 37 games. ... RHP John Herrera is 2-5 with a 5.16 ERA in 11 games -- 10 starts -- this season. In 59 1/3 innings, he has 31 walks to 31 strikeouts. League batters are hitting .297 against him.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: Four Cougars were named Western Division All-Stars -- OF's Mike Massaro and Jermaine Mitchell, along with IF Mike Affronti and pitcher Scott Moore. Massaro will start in the outfield for the Western Division squad, while Mitchell and Affronti were named reserve players.

Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto Blue Jays)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Lugnuts are 31-28 and in third place in the Eastern Division.

WHO'S HOT: 3B Sean Shoffit went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and four RBIs in a 14-10 loss to South Bend on Thursday. In 53 games this season, he is batting .270 (48-for-178) with 10 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 22 RBIs.

WHO'S NOT: In his first game back for the Lugnuts, RHP Zachary Dials gave up eight runs on six hits and two walks in just one-third of an inning.

ROSTER MOVES: IF Josh Bell was placed on the disabled list June 4. ... C Brian Bormaster was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire Tuesday. ... Dials was activated from the disabled list, OF Johnathan Baksh joined the team from extended Spring Training and OF Travis Snider was placed on the temporary inactive list Thursday.

LEAGUE ALL STARS: Snider is the team's lone All-Star representative. In 46 games this season he is batting .335 (60-for-179) with 16 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 38 RBIs.

Peoria Chiefs (Chicago Cubs)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Chiefs are 30-31 and in fifth place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT HITTING: 2B Ryne Malone ranked ninth among league batting last week in hitting .474 (9-for-19) with four runs scored, two home runs and three RBIs in five games. In 18 games this season, he's batting .339 (19-for-56) with five doubles and two homers in 18 games.

WHO'S HOT PITCHING: RHP Robert Hernandez ranked among league pitching leaders last week in winning a pair of starts with a 0.90 ERA and a league-high eight strikeouts over 10 innings. In five starts this season, he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

WHO'S NOT: RHP's Juan Mateo and Oscar Bernard were roughed up in a 14-4 loss to Beloit on June 3. Mateo, making his first start for the Chiefs, gave up four runs on six hits and lasted just three innings. Things didn't get much better for Bernard, who dished up eight runs on seven hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings.

DID YOU KNOW: Malone extended his hitting streak to 10 games on Saturday with a single.

ROSTER MOVE: Pitcher Al Albuquerque was transferred to Mesa on Tuesday.

South Bend Silver Hawks (Arizona Diamondbacks)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Silver Hawks are 31-31 and in fourth place in the Eastern Division.

WHO'S HOT: C Richard Mercado ranked second among league batting leaders last week with a .556 (10-for-18) batting average that included seven RBIs and seven runs scored in four games. ... OF Geraldo Parra was third with a .520 (13-for-25) average that included seven runs scored and a league-high nine RBIs.

WHO'S NOT: The Silver Hawks committed six errors in a 10-9 loss to Great Lakes June 3, four of which came during Great Lakes'seven-run fourth inning. Oddly, the miscues led to just one unearned run. The next night, they committed four more, this time leading to an 11-9 loss.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "We showed a lot of intestinal fortitude with a comeback like that, but the bottom line is we never should have been in that position." South Bend manager Mark Haley told the South Bend Tribune. "You can't win when you make six errors."

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: Four Silver Hawks players made the All-Star team -- OF Joey Side, IF Yunesky Sanchez and pitchers Brett Anderson and Tony Barnette.

Swing of the Quad Cities (St. Louis Cardinals)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Swing is 34-27 and in fourth place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Elvis Hernandez ranked third in the league in strikeouts last week with 10. In 14 games -- seven starts -- he is 4-3 with a 2.76 ERA. Over 49 innings, he owns 53 strikeouts compared to 17 walks.

WHO'S NOT: OF Daryl Jones is batting .185 (31-for-168) with a team-high tying 45 strikeouts in 55 games.

DID YOU KNOW: The Swing's season-high seven-game win streak came to an end Thursday in a 7-3 loss to Cedar Rapids.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: 1B Brandon Buckman and SS Christian Lopez are headed to the upcoming All-Star Game.

West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Whitecaps are 36-25 and in second place in the Eastern Division.

WHO'S HOT PITCHING: RHP Jeff Gerbe, a recent starter-turned-reliever, gave up just one earned run on two hits in a career-high seven-inning outing to earn his first win in a 4-2 victory over Fort Wayne June 4. A 16th-round pick in the 2006 draft, Gerbe owns two saves and a 1.26 ERA -- quite a turn around after going just 1-4 with a 5.08 ERA last year at Class A Short-Season Oneonta.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Last year gave me a lot of motivation," Gerbe told MLB.com. "I was pretty frustrated. ... [Since then] I made a lot of adjustments to clean up my delivery. If I didn't, something was going to break down."

WHO'S HOT HITTING: OF Brennan Boesch led the league last week with 13 RBIs, giving him a team-high 37 on the season. In 54 games, he's hitting .283 (60-for-212) with seven doubles, two triples and four home runs.

ROSTER MOVES: Gerbe and fellow RHP Randor Bierd were promoted to Double-A Erie, while RHP Eleazar Aponte joined the team from Lakeland and Luis Gil was brought up from extended Spring Training.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: C James Skelton, OF Gorkys Hernandez, DH Deik Scram and pitcher Chris Cody will represent the Whitecaps at the upcoming All-Star Game.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Seattle Mariners)
SO FAR THIS SEASON: The Timber Rattlers are 17-43 and in last place in the Western Division.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Andrew Barb is 2-1 with seven saves and a 2.03 ERA in 23 appearances this season. Over 26 2/3 innings, he has struck out 34 batters compared to allowing just 11 walks.

WHO'S NOT: LHP Tony Butler (0-6, 7.02) dished up 10 runs on 12 hits -- including two home runs -- and two walks in a four-inning outing that resulted in a 13-5 loss to Quad Cities Tuesday. In 10 games -- nine starts -- this season, he is still looking for his first win.

STRIKE-OUT CITY: In a doubleheader Tuesday, Rattler batters struck out 25 times against Quad Cities pitchers. In the four-game series against the Swing, Wisconsin hitters struck out 53 times.

LEAGUE ALL-STARS: Three Timber Rattlers have been selected to represent the team at the Midwest League All-Star game -- Relievers Barb and Joe Kantakevich will be in the bullpen for the Eastern Division. SS Carlos Triunfel was picked, but will not be able to participate because he is on the disabled list.