Week 9 Little Hero of the Week

Michael Conforto, lf, Mets

Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .400/.538/.700 (8-for-20), 7 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 6 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: The top two college bats in the 2014 draft class have lived up to expectations so far. The Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber has ranked among the best hitters in the minors this year, and Conforto has earned a promotion to Double-A with a solid start at high Class A St. Lucie. The jump to the Eastern League has done nothing to slow down Conforto, who has hit safely in 9 of his first 11 games, and he’s also finding it easier to hit for power—he had four extra-base hits this week—now that he’s left the stifling humidity of the Florida State League.

Runner up

Stryker Trahan, c, Diamondbacks

Team: low Class A Kane Couty (Midwest)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .421/.400/1.105 (8-for-19), 5 R, 1 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBIs, 0 BB, 8 SO, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Trahan led the Midwest League with 26 extra-base hits through June 10, while ranking 12th in the minors with 12 home runs. The D-backs bumped him to high Class A Visalia the very next day, and he went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his California League debut. As powerful as Trahan’s first half has been, though, he has not advanced to this point in a linear fashion. The 2012 first-rounder put up a tame .790 OPS in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2013, then weathered a position change to right field and a demotion to short-season ball in 2014. Trahan clearly caught up with the speed of the Midwest League as he repeated the league this season, with improved balance and swing plane at the plate going a long way toward that success.