SJL:
Michael Noland, the 8th overall pick in the 1976 draft, has had quite the meteoric rise through the minors to find himself not only a member of the San Antonio Keys rotation but the May Rookie of the Month in the SJL. Noland, a lefty out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, who starred at Chandler College before being drafted by the Keys, profiles as a durable hurler with a plus fastball that is expected to improve with experience, a fine curveball, and a decent changeup, along with an average splitter to keep batters honest. He has good stamina and good movement to go along with stuff and control that rate as pretty much average at this point but both have the potential to be decently above average as he matures.
MGL:
The Brewers did not rush
Jim Atwell through the minors but with his 25th birthday approaching in less than a week,
Atwell is certainly making his presence felt now that he has finally been installed into the Denver rotation. The feeling is that much more greatness is ahead for the young man who was the top prospect in the WPK two year's running and entered this season as #2 on that list.
And, while I can't be absolutely certain, I feel fairly confident that this is the first time the Brewers have pulled off the trifecta with MGL Batter of the Month, Pitcher of the Month, and Rookie of the Month. And certainly these three players have been key in the early good start for the team.