LaMar likened Susdorf, 25, to a "Greg Dobbs-type hitter" who shows signs of power, but primarily hits line drives, makes contact and uses all parts of the field. Dobbs, of course, has put together a pretty good major league career as a valuable bat off the bench.
"Some people get moved up because of their potential, others get moved up because they just get the job done at every level, and Stephen fits the latter," LaMar said. "We're going to keep moving him up and we'll see what happens."
Reading teammate Derrick Mitchell also warrants a mention. Mitchell (.277, 15 homers, 57 RBI, 11 stolen bases) is a 6-3, 210-pound outfielder who has been around a while - he was drafted in the 23rd round out of Paw Paw High School in Michigan in 2005. He's a bit of late bloomer, but has put up good numbers the last two seasons, hitting for contact, power and showing plenty of speed. Of his 90 hits this season through Sunday, 31 have been for extra bases.
"Like Susdorf, Mitchell's had a good year," LaMar said.
Here are a few others worthy of a longer look:
-- Michael Schwimer, RHP, Lehigh Valley (5-0, 1.71, eight saves). Talk about unheralded, this guy has been dominant in Triple A all season. He's a 6-8, 240-pounder nabbed in the 14th round out of the University of Virginia in 2008. At 25, Schwimer seems to have earned a shot to pitch in the majors.
"It's been a good developmental year so far for Michael at Lehigh Valley," LaMar said. "He's been very consistent. Sometimes he's pitched the seventh inning, sometimes the eighth inning, sometimes the ninth, sometimes multiple innings. He was on the radar screen before spring training and he hasn't done anything to show us that he's not progressing. Hopefully he'll get an opportunity now or in the future to pitch in the major leagues."
