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Minor League Spotlight is the FanHouse's look into baseball's minor leagues. Although you probably figured that out already.

Remember one of everyone's favorite prospects in the early part of this spring, Reds' fireballer and rotation darkhorse Homer Bailey? Well, he made his first start in AAA on Sunday and it's pretty safe to say that things went well.

The reports from the minor-league people were that [Bailey] was sticking to the program and making progress.

The results showed Sunday night in his Triple-A debut.

Bailey went 5 1/3 innings and allowed only one run on one hit in the Bats' 13-3 victory over Toledo. First base prospect Joey Votto hit a grand slam and drove in five runs.

The run Bailey allowed came on a solo home run in the fourth by veteran Timo Perez.

Now, I suppose giving up a home run to Timo Perez is probably something I'd be concerned about, but since it was the only hit he gave up in 5 and 1/3 innings of work we can let it slide. His control, the reason he was sent down in the first place, is still a bit of a concern, though. He walked three batters to go with his 4 strikeouts and the official boxscore says he only threw 42 of 83 pitches for strikes, barely half. Still, with Eric Milton, Kyle Lohse, and Matt Belisle in the rotation you've got to wonder how long that will keep him in AAA if he keeps being so difficult to hit.

He still needs a haircut, though.

Previously at the Fanhouse
If Bronson Arroyo Jumped Off a Bridge, Homer Bailey Would Totally Follow

What a long strange trip it's been for Josh Hamilton. After his three plus year layoff (most of which was a suspension for drug use) that ended last season with a stint in the New York Penn League, his subsequent selection in the Rule 5 draft by the Cubs, trade to the Reds, and scorching hot spring that ended with him making the Reds 25-man roster, Josh Hamilton got his first big league start last night in Arizona. And for his first major league hit, he homered. Here's what Hamilton had to say:

"I hit off the end of the bat," Hamilton said. "I thought it was going to be a routine fly to right field. Then I saw the guy turn his back."It was pretty cool." ...

"I didn't realize that I was trotting for a home run until I touched second base," he said. "It happened so fast. I didn't take my time. But that's the way I always do."

Hamilton got the usual reception in the dugout for a first home run. Everyone ignored him initially.

"I've been a part of those," he said. "I've been on the bench. It took me a second to realize what was going on. I thought, I hit a home run. Shake my hand.'"

His teammates finally did, giving him the congratulations he deserved. It was Hamilton's first home run since June 29, 2002. He hit that one for Bakersfield in the Single-A game in San Jose.

The Diamondbacks actually won the game but, and I don't really intend any disrespect to the D'Backs, that's not what anyone's going to remember about this one.

Previously at the Fanhouse
Josh Hamilton Is Putting His Career Back Together
Josh Hamilton Rebuilt Shoeless Joe's House
Josh Hamilton, Ken Griffey and the Reds Outfield
Josh Hamilton is Still Cocky
Let the Josh Hamilton Watch Begin

Let's say you're Chris Denorfia. You've probably already had a pretty bad spring. Despite the fact that you've hit well at just about every level of the minors and that you're 26 years old and not getting younger, it was already kind of looking like you'd begin the season back in AAA or at best on the bench behind a psychopath that runs into walls and can do little more than get on base (something that you're actually quite good at). So you probably feel like things aren't going so well. To make things worse, you strain your forearm. You have to get an MRI because the team says so. Then the MRI results come back.

Outfielder Chris Denorfia was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Denorfia, 26, will have Tommy John elbow ligament transplant surgery, general manager Wayne Krivsky revealed.

...

"Our worst fears were realized," Krivsky said. "His pain went more from the forearm to closer to the elbow. [The MRI] was a very smart thing for us to do so we could find out what it is. Unfortunately for everybody, it's a serious injury."

Denorfia will go on the disabled list and will be out for at least six months. Kremchek is expected to perform the operation Tuesday in Cincinnati.

That is one bad spring, my friends. It's hard not to feel pretty awful for Chris Denorfia at this point. Of course while Denorfia is the big loser in this whole scenario, the Reds fans are not winners in the whole thing. The final bench spot is now assured to go to Chad Moeller or Norris Hopper.

Previously at the Fanhouse
Ryan Freel Is Crazy