Written by Al Ciammiachella

---

LeVon Washington, LF-LCC: 2-4, R, BB, 3 K.

WASHITIME is off to a blazing start here in 2012, hitting .440/.563/.480 in 6 games so far. Washington hit just .218/.331/.315 in 79 games for the Captains last year, struggling with nagging injuries in spring training and never really getting untracked at the plate. His shoulder was still bothering him after having surgery to fix a torn labrum in college, and he came to Goodyear not really knowing what to expect or how to prepare for the grind of a full professional baseball season. All of that was different in 2012, as Washington reported early to Arizona and even went on a twitter hiatus this winter, determined to concentrate on preparing himself mentally and physically for the 2012 season. His shoulder is feeling better, he's in better shape and he was really humbled by his poor showing in 2011. Washington was used to being the best athlete on the field in pretty much every game he'd ever played, but learned that he can't get by as a professional on athletic ability alone. The difference between 2011 and 2012 Washington is dramatic, and it's showing up on the field and in the box scores. Washington could be the breakout prospect in the system this year, and be on top-100 lists from the national prospect gurus when it's all said and done. Get out to see him in Lake County soon, because he could be in Carolina by the all-star break.

•  Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B-COL: 2-4, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, 2 K. Chiz has now homered in back-to-back games, and is slugging .714 in the Clippers 7 games.
• Matt LaPorta, 1B-COL: 1-4, HR (4), RBI, R, K. Honestly, I almost wish LaPorta wasn't hitting. The fact that he can pound AAA pitching infuriates me. His career AAA OPS is almost 1.000. He's never had a full season in the minor leagues with an OPS under .900. Why can't this guy adjust to major league pitching???
• Trevor Crowe, CF-COL: 1-4, HR (2), RBI, R, K. Speaking of not being able to hit major league pitching...
• Clayton Cook, SP-CAR: 5 2/3 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 2 H, 6 K, BB. Cook is off to a solid start this season, allowing just 2 ER in 10 2/3 IP in his first two starts. He allowed 5 BB and struck out two in his opening-day start, but flipped those ratios yesterday in what was a much more efficent outing.
• Jesus Aguilar, 1B-CAR: 2-3, BB, R, K. Aguilar just keeps rolling along. He's one of the hottest hitters in the system, starting 2012 off with a .417/.462/.667 line for Carolina. More importantly, after striking out once a game last season Aguilar has been punched out just three times in 6 games this year.
• Jake Lowery, C-CAR: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K. Lowery is 7-15 in his last four games. Skipping low-A seems like a good move at this point.
• Felix Sterling, SP-LCC: 5 IP, 4 R (1 ER), 4 H, 6 K, BB. Sterling has opened the season with two solid starts, and has now compiled 10 K and 3 BB in 10 IP so far this year.
• Kyle Petter, RP-LCC: 3 IP, H, 5 K. Nine K in 5 IP for the lefthanded strikeout machine.
• Mason Radeke, RP-LCC: 3 IP, H, 4 K. Radeke was a 35th round pick in 2011, and is doing a nice job missing bats so far this year. The wiry righty has 6 K in 5 IP and has allowed just a single baserunner.
• Francisco Lindor, SS-LCC: 2-7, 2B, R, K. Lindor now has an XBH in three straight, and is sitting at .300/.323/.467 in 6 games for the Captains.
• Luigi Rodriguez, CF-LCC: 2-5, BB, R, SB, CS, 2 K. Speedy Rodriguez is hitting .333/.375/.476, but has struck out 8 times against just 2 walks. Shockingly, he's been caught stealing twice in three attempts. Expect that ratio to improve as his baserunning gets better.
• Alex Lavisky, C-LCC: 2-6, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 K. Moved up to the cleanup slot for yesterday's game, Lavisky resonded with 4 RBI in his 6 trips to the plate. He also eliminated a baserunner with a snap throw to 1B.
• Robel Garcia, 2B-LCC: 2-6, K. Yesterday was Garcia's 1st multi-hit effort of the season, but he's still hitting just .190/.227/.238. As I noted in my spring writeups his plate discipline and pitch recognition have to improve, as he has 9 K to just 1 BB in 5 games for the Caps.