Top 2: Matt Tolbert struck out swinging against Gavin Floyd

Top 4: Tolbert singled to center against Floyd

Top 5: Tolbert struck out swinging against Will Ohman

Top 7: Tolbert called out on strikes against Brian Bruney

Top 9: Tolbert struck out swinging against Jesse Crain

Final Line: 1-for-5, 4 K, 5 LOB

Notes: Tolbert’s sombrero on Friday against the White Sox was his first of the season, although his fourth inning single did snap a 1-for-20 skid.  Dating back to June 15^th, Tolbert is now two for his last 23 and is currently hitting .181.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 67

Top 2: Nick Hundley struck out on a foul tip against Brian Duensing

Top 5: Hundley struck out a foul tip against Duensing

Top 6: Hundley struck out swinging against Duensing

Top 8: Hundley struck out swinging against Glen Perkins

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Apparently weak-throwing left-handers are Hundley’s kryptonite. Since being activated from the DL on June 8, Hundley has gone 5-for-35 with one extra-base hit and one RBI.  He’s also drawn only five walks compared to 17 strikeouts, and fanned in every single game this month.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 45

With the draft quickly approaching and in light of the incident with Buster Posey at the plate a week ago, I think it makes sense to look at the catcher position and the future of it within the draft.  Granted I probably would not even have considered this if the two best catchers in baseball weren’t currently on the disabled list, but that hardly makes anything about the inherent risks of the position less true.  No reader of this site requires an explanation of these risks and the dangers of the catcher position, but I am skeptical many would disagree that it’s about time the offensive catcher disappears from baseball, and it starts with the draft.

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With nearly a quarter of the MLB season in the books, and some of the baseball’s best prospects now suiting up for their respective big league squads, it’s time to reflect on the performances of our Top 50 Prospects.  Today we look at 34-30, which includes: Kyle Gibson, Kyle Drabek, Yonder Alonso, Matt Moore and Lonnie Chisenhall.

34. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Triple-A: 1-3, 4.25 ERA, 42.1 IP, 8 BB, 41 K, 1.181 WHIP, 6 HR (1.3 HR/9)

33. Kyle Drabek, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

MLB: 3-3, 4.34 ERA, 56 IP, 37 BB, 38 K, 1.66 WHIP

32. Yonder Alonso, 1B/LF, Cincinnati Reds

Triple-A: .331/.393/.543, 15 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 17 BB, 24 K, 5-for-7 SB

31. Matt Moore, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Double-A: 2-3, 3.28 ERA, 46.2 IP, 13 BB, 65 K, 1.029 WHIP

30. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Cleveland Indians

Triple-A: .268/.362/.405, 10 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 16 BB, 29 K

The move to the cleanup spot prompted four strikeouts

Top 1: Juan Rivera struck out swinging against Nick Blackburn

Top 3: Rivera struck out swinging against Blackburn

Top 6: Once again, Rivera struck out swinging against Blackburn

Top 8: Struck out swinging against Matt Capps

Top 11: Four-pitch walk against Jim Hoey

Final Line: 0-5, 4 K, BB

Notes: Serving as the Blue Jays’ cleanup hitter with Adam Lind out of the lineup, Rivera did his best impersonation of Vernon Wells on Saturday when he fanned in four of his five at-bats.  The designated “hitter” is now batting .217 and slugging a dismal .272. Don’t be surprised if he is a repeat offender this season.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 23