This week’s MLPW is chocolate, it’s pepperment, it’s delicious.

Pitcher:
Kramer Sneed, 22, LHP, A+
2.2 IP, 7 K, 2 BB, 1 H
Notable: Not a misprint, 7K in 2.2 innings pitched

NoMaas Ranking – None

Previous 2011 MLPW Wins: None

Drafted in the 32nd round of the 2010 draft, there is no word if Kramer keeps Junior Mints in his locker. However, on August 14th, he whiffed a whopping seven hitters just 2 2/3 innings against the division-leading Dunedin Blue Jays.

Listed at 6’3″ and with a fastball reportedly sitting at 90 mph, the left-hander was the first player drafted out of Barton College (we looked it up, it’s in North Carolina) since 1995 — a school enrolling less than 1,200 students.

While he’s alternated between starter and reliever, Sneed apparently has a preference for the bullpen (according to this interview), and this year’s usage seems to indicate the organization is moving in that direction (29 appearances, 7 starts in 2011).

His numbers have certainly been impressive. In 2010, between the Gulf Coast and Staten Island, Kramer struck out 51 hitters in 39.2 IP, while only walking 10 (5.10 K/BB). He kicked off 2011 in Charleston, where he continued to post impressive strikeout-to-walk ratios. In 64.2 innings for the RiverDogs, Sneed K’d 68 hitters, while walking 13 — good for a K/BB of 5.23. With that ratio you think his FIP would have been lower than 3.85, but allowing 10 home runs will do that.

He was promoted to Tampa on June 30th and the results since making the jump to High-A have also been positive. Kramer has struck out 30 hitters in 30 innings, although the walks have picked up a bit with 12, resulting in a still-solid 2.50 K/BB. His FIP in Tampa is a nice 2.83, notably because the home runs have calmed down. He is also dating a low-talker that designs shirts suitable for a pirate.

He has quite the contrast in LHB vs. RHB splits. He’s held High-A left-handed batters to a .167 BA versus righties at .305. Granted, we’re only talking about 30 innings in Tampa, but it’s still something interesting to watch.

Hitter:
Ravel Santana, 19, RHB CF, Rookie
.526/.571/.842 in 21 PAs, 4 SBs
Notable: 3 doubles, 1 HR

NoMaas Ranking – None

Previous 2011 MLPW Win – 14

A great week for Santana ruined by an ankle injury on August 13th…the injury was so bad that teammate Dante Bichette Jr. asked people to pray for the 19-year old.

Part of a Yankee offense that leads the GCL in OPS (.857), OBP (.381), SLG (.476), and AVG (.302), the young Dominican centerfielder went 10-19 on the week, with 3 doubles, 1 HR, and 2 walks. Before he went down, Santana was boasting a season line of .298/.363/.571. He’d also stolen 10 bags in 13 attempts. This followed a very strong 2010 Dominican Summer League campaign of .322/.440/.533 (22/27 SBs)

Among GCL OFs, Ravel was 4th in wOBA (.426), 3rd in ISO (.273), 11th in OBP (.363), 3rd in SLG (.571), 2nd in HRs (9), and 8th in SBs (10). In other words, he was having a fine season. The injury is extremely unfortunate.

Honorable Mentions:

Dellin Betances, 23, RHP, AA
7 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, 5 H, 0 HR, 1 ER
His final start before being promoted to AAA

Vidal Nuno, 24, LHP, A
5 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 HR allowed
Signed in June from the Washington Wild Things (independent league)

Cito Culver, 18, SHB SS, Short-Season
.416/.481/.541 in 27 PAs
.283/.358/.387 on the season

Claudio Custodio, 20, RHB SS, Rookie
.555/.636/.611 in 22 PAs
Leads all GCL SS in wOBA (.436), OBP (.438), BB% (12.9%)