After getting off to a great start in the month of May and getting a team record six game winning streak the two weeks since the last Threshers farm report have seen the team go a disappointing 4-9.  The team has fallen from third place 1.5 games back to fifth place now 6.0 games back over that same period.  The time frame has also seen the team suffer its second shut out of the year as they lost 2-0 to the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) on the 17^th, but then the following night they scored a franchise record eighteen runs to down the Hammerheads 18-5.

The minors at every level in the organization has seen a great deal of player movement this season, a much greater extent than any year I have covered the team here in Clearwater.  Here is a quick look at all of the top prospects currently with the team, and a report on the comings and goings within the Threshers franchise over the last two weeks.

Prospects in the Starting Rotation:

Derek Griffith (LHP - 2.98 ERA) has looked good for the team most of the year, but has suffered losses in each of his last two outings moving his record to 3-4 in nine starts this year.  On the 17^th he pitched well enough for a win giving up just one run on five hits over seven innings of work, but the Threshers offense offered him no help as the team was shut out for the second time this year losing 2-0.  His next outing on the 22^nd was a different story however.  He managed only 3.0 innings of work before being lifted after giving up six runs on six hits, including two home runs.

JA Happ (LHP - 2.45 ERA) has been impressive for the team as well, though like Griffith he has suffered losses in each of his last two outings dropping his record to 2-5 in nine starts this year.  Happ leads the team in innings pitched with 54.0, and has a team high 53 strike outs versus just 12 walks this year.  He also leads the team in WHIP at just 0.96, but also in home runs allowed with 6.

Julio De La Cruz (RHP – 4.71 ERA) After a slow start to the year De La Cruz has looked very impressive in his last few outings. The Threshers have one the last three times he has taken the hill improving his record to 2-2 in his nine starts.  In his last three starts he has logged 21.0 total innings with 29Ks versus just five walks giving up six runs on nine hits, but four of the runs and six of the hits were in a Threshers 18-5 drubbing of the Jupiter Hammerheads.

Prospects in the Bullpen:

Joe Bisenius (RHP) has appeared in more games than any other pitcher (18) primarily as a middle reliever.  He owns a terrific ERA of just 1.26 with 26 Ks in 28.2 innings of work.

Nate Johnson (RHP) has the team's lowest ERA (1.40) having appeared in sixteen games as both a middle reliever and a closer.  He has 21 Ks versus just 2 walks and has 2 saves in 25.2 innings of work.  In his last outing however he gave up three runs in the ninth inning as the Threshers lost 5-4 to the Jupiter Hammerheads.

Prospects In the Field:

Mike Costanzo (3B) has seen his batting average slump over the last two weeks falling 26 points to .232.  He still leads the team however in RBIs with 27 proving that when he does get a hit he gets them at the right time.  His defense has been solid however as he has just five errors on the year in 44 games, but his 57 strike outs lead the team, and are the second most in the league.

Brad Harman (SS) has seen his batting average climb to .262 third best on the team and he leads the team in runs scored with 32 (8^th in the FSL) and games played at 45 having missed just one game this year.  One unfortunate stat Harman leads in however is errors with 17 and recently had 4 in one game contributing to a 2-0 Threshers loss.

Other Players of Note:

Peeter Ramos (2B) continues to lead the team in batting average (.315), hits (51) and on-base-percentage (.392) and is in the FSL top ten in each of these stats as well.  Ramos is a minor league free agent having spent the last five years in the Padres organization.

Branden Florence (OF/DH) leads the team in slugging percentage at .444, and has a team high 12 doubles on the year.  He is second on the team with a .300 batting average, and second with 22 RBIs.  Florence is a 5-year free agent from the Orioles system (originally signed as a undrafted free agent by the Giants.)

Brian Burgamy (CF) leads the team in home runs with 6, and has 24 walks (8^th best in the FSL) and is third on the team with 20 RBIs.  Burgamy is another seasoned minor leaguer who along with Peeter Ramos comes to the Threshers from the Padres organization.

Players on the Move: Off the DL

Nick Evangelista (RHP) has finally come off of the DL for the Threshers and currently has an ERA of 0.00 in 4.1 innings in three games.  He has 8 Ks versus just 1 walk in that period..

Chris Honsa (RHP) was also activated from the DL the same day as Evangelista, but has not had much success.  In 2.2 innings of work in three games he has an ERA of 27.00 giving up 9 runs on 6 hits.

Players on the Move: Signed as a free agent

Chris Key (RHP) has been signed as a minor league free agent having spent the last two years with the Mariners.  He has a 2.70 ERA in 3.1 innings of work in 3 games since being signed.

Players on the Move: Promoted to Reading

Jeff Winchester (C) was promoted to AA Reading to replace an injured Tim Gradoville, but is hitting just .100 with 2 hits in five games.

Brian Reed (RHP) who had lead the Threshers in saves was promoted to AA Reading also but Like Winchester has seen limited success with an ERA of 5.06 after 5.1 innings of work in 3 games.

Brian Sellier (OF) was also promoted to AA Reading but is hitting just .143 after seven games.

JJ Johnson (OF) was promoted to AA Reading as well and suffers the same fate as the rest of the Threshers transplants hitting just .100 in nine games.

Players on the Move: Moved up from extended spring training

Tom Paterson (OF) has been moved up from camp and used mainly as a pinch hitter with one hit in eight at bats in five games.

Orlando Guevara (C) has been moved up from camp to replace the promoted Jeff Winchester, but so far has only seen playing time as a pinch runner in one game

Doug Morales (OF) has been moved up from camp for a second time this season and is hitting .250 in 13 total games this year.

Players on the Move: Sent down from Reading

Marc Tugwell (C) has been sent down from Reading after getting of to a slow start hitting just .143 in AA.  After a terrific season in Clearwater last year Marc has gotten off to a slow start hitting just.077 with one hit in his first four games since returning.

Players on the Move: Released & Retired

Matt Parris (RHP) has been released by the Threshers after posting an ERA of 6.94 over the first six weeks of the year.

Zach Norman (C) voluntarily retired from the Threshers to return to college.  Norman had been a back-up catcher for the Threshers the last two years and was hitting .200 at the time of his retirement.