oh yeah, there’s more

Yes, the Mississippi Braves appear to have a wealth of pitching (see previous post), but this isn’t to imply that they’re bankrupt in the game’s other phases. There are position players of note, as well, and here’s the skinny on five of the most intriguing:
*Shortstop Tyler Pastornicky. There are some players who reach this level and just look like they belong in this game. Pastornicky, the son of a former big leaguer, is one of those. Acquired from Toronto in the Yunel Escobar trade last summer, Pastornicky jumped from A-ball to Double-A and hit .254 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 38 games. His glovework was solid, too. Then he went to the Arizona Fall League and impressed in that highly competitive loop. He’s rated the No. 14 prospect in Atlanta’s system and, at 21, is penciled in as the shortstop of the future. He might not be with the M-Braves very long.
*Outfielder Cory Harrilchak. Harrilchak, drafted in 2009 out of Elon, is rising fast. He played at two levels of A-ball in 2010, hitting .306 at low-A Rome and .269 at high-A Myrtle Beach; he then hit .333 in the AFL. Harrilchak has good speed and is regarded as an outstanding defensive player.
*Third baseman Donell Linares. The Cuba native, 27, is entering just his third full pro season in the U.S. He had what Atlanta farm director Kurt Kemp termed an “OK year” in 2010 with the M-Braves, hitting .240 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs before a broken wrist in late August ended his campaign. He makes contact (only 41 strikeouts in 417 at-bats). But at 210 pounds, he lacked speed on the bases and agility around third base. “He worked hard on his body, on getting in better shape, in the fall,” Kemp said at the start of spring training. “If he continued that work in the off-season, it’ll benefit him this year.” In sum, it’s a pivotal year for Linares.
*Outfielder Antoan Richardson. The Bahamas native and former Vanderbilt star energized the M-Braves when he joined the team (as a free agent) in midseason of 2010. Richardson is — in a word — fast, which translates into bunt hits, stolen bases and big catches in center field, the kind of plays that wow the crowds. In 74 games for the M-Braves last year, he hit .279 with 24 steals and 60 runs. He earned a late promotion to Triple-A and might not be here long this summer. He’s not a highly rated prospect but shouldn’t be overlooked.
*Outfielder/infielder Marcus Lemon. Where and even how much he’ll play remains to be seen, but Lemon, recently acquired from Texas, bears watching. First of all, he has a great baseball lineage; he is the son of Chet “The Jet” Lemon, a Jackson native and former big leaguer who was considered one of the best defensive center fielders of his day. Marcus Lemon hit .271 in his second Double-A tour in 2010. He has played shortstop, second base and every outfield post during his pro career. That kind of versatility never hurts.