Ranking the top minor leaguers from Long Island
![Steven Matz during pitching drills at spring training baseball practicein...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3ANDlhZmZlMjctM2EwMi00%3AMjctM2EwMi00NzFkYzNh%2Fsteven-matz-cropped.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Steven Matz during pitching drills at spring training baseball practicein Port St. Lucie on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
1. STEVEN MATZ, LHP (Ward Melville, ’09) – Binghamton Mets (Mets Double-A): 2.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 66 K, 23 BB
Matz had a rough Double-A debut, allowing five earned runs and seven hits in 5.2 innings.
2. NICK TROPEANO, RHP (SBU, ’11) – Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros Triple-A): 2.28 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 72 K, 22 BB
Tropeano has a 1.95 ERA in his last 10 starts.
3. SEAN NOLIN, LHP, (Seaford, ’08) – Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays Triple-A): 3.70 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 42 K, 24 BB
Nolin is on the seven-day disabled list. He walked 12 and struck out 11 in his last four starts.
4. CAM MARON, C (Hicksville, ’09) – St. Lucie Mets (Mets Single-A advanced): .294 average, .389 OBP, .407 slugging, 3 HR
Maron is 14-for-38 (.368) in his last 10 games.
5. KEITH COUCH, RHP (Adelphi, ’10) – Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox Double-A): 3.16 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 55 K, 15 BB
Couch had allowed 13 earned runs in a nine start run before a seven-run blowup on June 16.
6. KYLE HANSEN, RHP (St. Dominic, ’09) – Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox Single-A Advanced): 4.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 37 K, 14 BB
Hansen has held opponents scoreless in three of his last four outings.
7. PAT CANTWELL, C (SBU ’12) – Frisco RoughRiders (Double-A Rangers): .244 average, .307 OBP, .289 slugging, 1 HR
Cantwell is 13-for-40 (.325) in his last 10 games.
8. BRYAN VERBITSKY, RHP (Hofstra, ’13) – Eugene Emeralds (Class-A Short Season Padres): 6.20 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 23 K, 13 BB
In nine innings with Eugene, Verbitsky’s allowed two hits and struck out 13.
9. JOSEPH PALUMBO, LHP (SJB, ’13) – AZL Rangers (Class Rookie Rangers): 2.00 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 6 K, 2 BB
The 19-year-old has allowed six hits in nine innings during his first two starts.
10. KEVIN KRAUSE, C, (SBU, ’14) – Jamestown Jammers (Class A Short Season Pirates): .241 average, .353 OBP, .655 slugging, 3 HR
In his first seven pro games, Krause has five extra-base hits in 29 at-bats.
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