Week 3 Little Hero of the Week

Bradley Zimmer, cf, Indians
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .545/.615/.727 (12-for-22), 6 R, 4 2B, 3 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO, 4-for-4 SB

The Scoop: The 21st overall pick in last year’s draft, Zimmer has yet to meet a real challenge in pro ball while showing off five-tool ability. He aced the short-season New York-Penn League last year and has zoomed to a hot start in the Carolina League this April. Zimmer leads the circuit in hitting (.357), home runs (four), on-base (.452) and slugging (.586), while spending time in both center and rigth field.

also having great weeks was


Noah Syndergaard, rhp, Mets
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO

The Scoop: Syndergaard had by far his best outing of the season against Albuquerque on April 27. The big righthander is blessed with some of the best pure stuff in the minors, and consistency remains the only box he needs to check before becoming a viable option for the major league club, which doesn’t need pitching reinforcements at this point.

Lance McCullers Jr., rhp, Astros
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO

The Scoop: Mark Appel isn’t the only Astros pitcher thrilled to put high Class A Lancaster in his rear-view. A back injury may have worsened McCullers’ below-average control in 2014, but his four-inning, no-walk outing this week is the first time he’s worked that long without issuing a free pass since a June 2013 start at low Class A Quad Cities. His 94-96 mph fastball and power breaking ball give him one of the best one-two punches in the minors, and he’s put his weaponry to good use in 2015 in now allowing an earned run through 14 innings.

Raimel Tapia, cf, Rockies
Team: high Class A Modesto (California)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .316/.391/.789 (6-for-19), 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Tapia tapped into the favorable hitting conditions at Lancaster and High Desert this week to club four extra-base hits, including two home runs. Nicknamed “Straight-Ball Tapia” for his ability to hit a fastball but not much with a bend in it, he has nevertheless started well at Modesto, hitting .321 with 10 doubles and 17 strikeouts in 19 games.