Thanks to Dan Loney at the Trenton Thunder, I was able to speak with New York Yankees prospect Brett Smith this past week. Brett is currently 6-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 13 starts. He has a WHIP of 1.01 and opposing hitters are batting a mere .185 against him.

Check out the interview right here...Q & A with New York Yankees Prospect Brett Smith

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed 2007 First-Round Draft Pick Matt LaPorta to a contract, it was announced today by Special Assistant to the General Manager/Director of Scouting Jack Zduriencik.  The signing marked the 29th of the Brewers 46 draft picks during the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

LaPorta, a senior at the University of Florida, is a two-time SEC Player of the Year (2007 and 2005).  This past season, he hit .402 with 20 home runs, 52 RBI and 55 walks.  He was a member of the 2005 USA Baseball National Team and was recently named a finalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s premier amateur baseball player.   

LaPorta was a four-year letterwinner at Charlotte HS (Fla.) and earned second-team All-State honors as a senior in 2003.  LaPorta was selected in the 14th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft and in the 14th round of the 2003 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago Cubs, but did not sign. 

Info courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers media relations department

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed 2007 First Round pick INF Beau Mills to a minor league contract.  Mills was selected by Cleveland with the 13^th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft on Thursday, June 7.

Mills, 20, batted .458 (110-240) with 100 runs, 22 doubles, 1 triple, 38 home runs, 123 RBI  and 6 stolen bases in 62 games during his junior season at Lewis-Clark State (Idaho).  He set a new NAIA single-season record with 38 home runs and helped Lewis-Clark State defend their NAIA National Title as he earned NAIA Player of the Year & NAIA World Series MVP honors.  The 6-3, 205 pound left-handed hitting infielder hit 3 homers and drove in 8 runs in the NAIA National Championship game vs. Spring Arbor (MI).  On the year he established new school records in HR & slugging % (1.033) and his 123 RBI were 2^nd most in school history. 

Entering the draft the Visalia, CA native was ranked as the 9^th best prospect by Baseball Prospectus and the 12^th best draft prospect by Baseball America & ESPN.com.