Rays prospects and minor leagues: The Patrick Leonard show continues

Patrick Leonard keeps hitting baseballs hard. The third baseman is now slashing .381/.439/.590/1.029 in about 150 plate appearances for Durham this season. How are the Rays going to find space for him at the major league level? Leonard doesn’t appear to be getting any reps at any other positions, so its likely if he comes up it will be to play 3B, 1B or DH. If they can’t find room, they may look to get something in a trade for him soon. He is not on the 40 man roster, and therefore will be Rule 5 Draft eligible this coming offseason. He will certainly find himself on a roster by then.

Triple-A Durham Bulls (23-12)

The Bulls added another to the win column on Mother’s Day in their 3-4 win over Toledo on Sunday. On the pitching side, six relievers combined for 11 strikeouts in a successful bullpen day. Jake Bauers hit his third home run of the season, while Patrick Leonard collected three doubles to add to his season collection that now stands at 13. The three doubles all came off different pitchers. Leonard also had a line out. He might be seeing the ball pretty well right now.

Mallex Smith - 2-5, 2B, 3 K, 2 CS, hitting .276

Willy Adames - 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 K, hitting .222

Jake Bauers - 3-5, HR, hitting .242

Patrick Leonard - 3-5, 3 2B, hitting .381

Curt Casali - 0-4, hitting .299

Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (20-16)

Biscuits hitters reached base safely 17 times in their 4-3 win over the Smokies. Greg Harris struck out 11 in six innings, then Kyle Bird and Diego Castillo shut the door for the last three innings. Interestingly, the box score says Kyle Bird threw 16 strikes out of 18 pitches, but also somehow issued a walk. It must have been of the no-pitch intentional walk variety. Lots of strike throwing all around for the Biscuits as Harris threw 60 of 92, and Castillo 12 of 16. On offense, Cade Gotta reached based four times and stole three bases, while Justin O’Conner reached three times and Grant Kay knocked his third home run of the season.

Braxton Lee - 1-4, BB, K, hitting .313

Michael Russell - 1-5, SB, K, hitting .220

Joe McCarthy - 1-5, K, hitting .295

Grant Kay - 1-4, HR, BB, K, throwing error, hitting .264

Cade Gotta - 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, 3 SB, hitting .317

Justin O'Conner - 0-2, 2 BB, HBP, K, hitting .239

Nathan Lukes - 1-4, 2B, BB, K, fielding error, hitting .297

Mac James - 2-4, 2 BB, K, hitting .226

Greg Harris - 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 1 HRA, 3.26 season ERA

Kyle Bird - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 3.09 ERA

Diego Castillo - 1.0 IP, 1 K, Save, 2.49 ERA

The Stone Crabs and Hot Rods took the day off and presumably enjoyed some quality time with their mothers.

Check here for today’s matchups! Looks like Faria-Franco-Santos day.