This week’s “Diamonds in the Rough” is, a la Sesame Street, brought to you by the letter L.

L is for Lyles (as in Jordan), Lynn (as in Lance), Lindblom (as in Josh) and LeMahieu (as in D.J.).

It’s also for Louis, as in the St. Louis Cardinals, who had three players make their big league debuts — pitchers Lynn and Maikel Cleto, as well as third baseman Matt Carpenter — to raise their tally of 2011 debutantes to six in the first two-plus months of the season.

With the focus in baseball firmly on tonight’s launch of the annual amateur draft, it’s also worth noting that of the 10 players to make their debuts this week, six were taken in the past three drafts — three in 2009 and three in 2008 (with one more, Colorado Rockies southpaw Rex Brothers from the ’09 draft, on tap any day now).

Be sure to watch the draft coverage (I know you will) on the MLB Network. I always enjoy seeing my ex-partner in crime, Jonathan Mayo, in his big-screen glory.

MATT CARPENTER
3B, St. Louis Cardinals
B/T: L/R H/W: 6-3/210 BORN: Nov. 26, 1985
ACQUIRED: Selected in the 13th round of 2009 out of Texas Christian
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Memphis June 4 when IF Pete Kozma was sent down.
DEBUT: June 4 in a 5-4 12-inning win against the Chicago Cubs: The starting third baseman, he batted seventh and went 1-for-5.
NOTES: A fifth-year senior sign out of TCU, Carpenter is a solid defensive third baseman who has hit .300 over his brief pro career thus far, including batting over .300 with a combined 13 homers, 69 RBI and 11 steals between Advanced A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield in his lone full season, 2010. He was hitting .283 with two homers, 23 RBI and two steals in 52 games at Memphis before his promotion.

MAIKEL CLETO
RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-3/235 BORN: May 1, 1989
ACQUIRED: Acquired via trade from the Seattle Mariners Dec. 2010 for SS Brendan Ryan.
PROMOTED: Recalled from Double-A Springfield June 2 when OF Matt Holliday went on the DL.
DEBUT: June 2 in a 12-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants: The third of four pitchers, he allowed five earned runs on three hits, two of them homers, in two innings, walking two and striking out three,
NOTES: Originally signed by the New York Mets as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2006, the just-turned-22-year-old Cleto has been dealt twice in his career, as he was also one of the dozen players involved in a three-team deal (Mets, Mariners and Cleveland Indians) at the 2008 Winter Meetings. After posting a 6.16 ERA at Advanced A High Desert in 2010, one of the worst pitchers’ parks in the minors, and a 5.17 ERA over his first four pro seasons, Cleto was coming around this season. Between Advanced A Palm Beach and Springfield, he’d posted a 2.55 ERA in 10 games, nine of them starts, striking out 58 batters in 53 innings and limiting opposing hitters to a .224 average before his brief promotion. He returned to Springfield after his debut.

FAUTINO DE LOS SANTOS
RHP, Oakland Athletics
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-2/225 BORN: Feb. 15, 1986
ACQUIRED: Via trade from the Chicago White Sox with P Gio Gonzalez and OF Ryan Sweeney for OF Nick Swisher in Jan. 2008
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Sacramento June 3 when P Grant Balfour went on paternity leave.
DEBUT: June 4 in a 9-8 14-inning loss to the Boston Red Sox: The fourth of nine (yes, nine) pitchers, he pitched just one-third of an inning, striking out the lone batter he faced — infielder Jed Lowrie — swinging.
NOTES: On his second trip to the big leagues, De Los Santos finally made his debut. He had originally been called up May 20 during a three up-three down pitcher shift between the RiverCats and Athletics but returned to the minors four days later when Guillermo Moscoso was brought up, without having gotten into a game. One of the comeback players of the year at early glance, De Los Santos was originally signed by the White Sox in December 2005 before being dealt to the Athletics in a trade that has clearly worked in the As’ favor. One of the standouts of the 2007 All-Star Futures Game despite his youth, the fireballer with a fastball in the mid-high 90s underwent Tommy John surgery the next year which cost him most of 2008-2009, a span in which he appeared in just 12 games combined. It also prompted a move from the rotation to the bullpen, where he has also been effective with his heat and plus slider. Between Double-A Midland, where he started the spring, and Sacramento, he combined for a 1.77 ERA in 17 games in relief, including three saves, and had fanned 26 in 20 1/3 innings. He’d posted an 0.82 at Sacramento.

BRIAN DINKELMAN
IF/OF, Minnesota Twins
B/T: L/R H/W: 5-11/195 BORN: Nov. 10, 1983
ACQUIRED: Selected in the eighth round of 2006 out of McKendree (Ill.) University.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Rochester June 3 when SS Trevor Plouffe was sent down and DH Jim Thome and OF Jason Kubel went on the DL.
DEBUT: June 4 in a 7-2 win against the Kansas City Royals: The starting left fielder, he batted sixth and went 1-for-3 with a walk.
NOTES: Not to be confused with original American Idol co-host Brian Dunkelman, this infielder was hitting .277 over five pro seasons prior to 2011 and hit .265 with eight homers, 54 RBI and nine steals at Rochester in 2010, numbers that were pretty much standard for his pro career thus far. Back with the Red Wings to open 2011, he was hitting .296 with one homer, 10 RBI and four steals when promoted. He can play infield or outfield.

JOSH HARRISON
IF, Pittsburgh Pirates
B/T: R/R H/W: 5-8/175 BORN: July 8, 1987
ACQUIRED: Via trade from the Chicago Cubs in July 2009, along with pitchers Kevin Hart and Jose Ascanio, for pitchers John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Indianapolis May 30 when IF Steven Pearce went on the DL
DEBUT: May 31 in a 5-1 win against the New York Mets: The starting third baseman, he batted second and went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
NOTES: Originally drafted out of his hometown school, the University of Cincinnati, by the Cubs in the sixth round of 2008, Harrison’s live bat belies his size. He was hitting .321 with two homers, 11 RBI and eight steals in 37 games in his Triple-A debut at Indianapolis before his callup, having brought a .306 average into ’11 over his first three seasons, including 2010 when he hit .300 with 75 RBI and 19 steals at Double-A Altoona.

TOMMY HOTTOVY
LHP, Boston Red Sox
B/T: L/L H/W: 6-1/195 BORN: July 9, 1981
ACQUIRED: Selected in the fourth round of 2004 out of Wichita State
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Pawtucket June 3 when P Rich Hill went on the DL.
DEBUT: June 3 in an 8-6 win against the Oakland Athletics: The third of six pitchers, he retired the lone batter he faced in one-third of an inning on three pitches.
NOTES: With a 4.30 ERA over his seven-year pro career coming into 2011, the erstwhile prospect had fallen off the Red Sox depth charts after missing much of 2008-2009 following Tommy John surgery. But, just a month shy of his 30th birthday, Hottovy finally made it to the big leagues. You could probably hear the cheers all the way from Portland, Maine, where he had spent all or parts of the last six seasons, including the first few weeks of 2011 as he posted a 1.93 ERA in eight games for the Seadogs before joining the Paw Sox, where his 1.08 ERA in six games helped convince the Sox to bring him up when fellow southpaw Hill was disabled.

D.J. LeMAHIEU
IF, Chicago Cubs
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-4/185 BORN: July 13, 1988
ACQUIRED: Selected in the second round of 2009 out of Louisiana State
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Double-A Tennessee May 30 when IF Jeff Baker went on the DL
DEBUT: May 30 in a 12-7 loss to the Houston Astros: Pinch-hitting for P John Grabow in the eighth inning, he grounded out.
NOTES: Baseball America ranked LeMahieu No. 13 in the Cubs organization coming into 2011 and called him “the best pure hitter in the system,” coming off of a 2010 campaign where he hit .314 with two homers, 73 RBI and 15 steals at Advanced A Daytona. He’d hit a combined .318 in 41 games between Class A Peoria and the short-season Arizona League in his pro debut in 2009, and was living up to the hype with a .358 average, two homers and 27 RBI in 50 games at Tennessee prior to his promotion. He projects as more of a utility infielder, able to play second, third and shortstop.

JOSH LINDBLOM
RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-5/240 BORN: June 15, 1987 
ACQUIRED: Selected in the second round of 2008 out of Purdue
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Double-A Chattanooga May 30 when P Kenley Jansen went on the DL.
DEBUT: June 1 in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies: The second of four pitchers, he allowed two hits in one shutout inning.
NOTES: Though he was passed on the depth chart this past year by fellow prospect Rubby de la Rosa, Lindblom followed his fellow organization-mate to the majors in just a matter of days, thanks to a big rebound from a few off years. Lindblom was 1-3 with a 2.96 ERA as the Lookouts’ closer so far this spring, with seven saves and 33 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings. He’s regained the zip on his fastball which had earned him the high draft status three years ago, zip that he did not show in 2010 when he posted a 6.54 ERA in 40 games, 10 of them starts, at Triple-A Albuquerque, where Pacific Coast League hitters batted .340 against him. He clearly got it back together at Chattanooga. A closer at Purdue, Lindblom’s repertoire also includes a changeup, curve and slider.

JORDAN LYLES
RHP, Houston Astros
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-4/215 BORN: Oct. 19, 1990 
ACQUIRED: Selected in the supplemental first round (38th overall) of 2008 out of high school in Hartsville, S.C.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City May 29 when P Wandy Rodriguez went on the DL.
DEBUT: May 31 in a 7-3 win against the Chicago Cubs: The starting pitcher, he tossed seven shutout innings before allowing two runs in the eighth before departing, with an impressive linescore of two runs on five hits in seven-plus innings, striking out four without walking a man. He did not factor in the decision as the Astros scored six runs in the ninth to win.
NOTES: One of the most eagerly anticipated debuts so far this spring, Lyles made the post-Memorial Day start for the Astros at the age of 20 and showed why he became the youngest starter for the organization since Jeff Juden in 1991. Now the youngest player in the majors, Lyles’ easy delivery of four pitches — fastball, slider, changeup and cutter — help contribute to terrific command. He moved up quickly, obviously, climbing the ladder to post a 3.12 ERA at Double-A Corpus Christi for most of 2010 before becoming the lone teenage pitcher in the PCL at the end of the summer, when he posted a 5.40 ERA in six games at then-Triple-A affiliate Round Rock. He began this summer at Oklahoma City where, after early struggles in which he allowed 11 earned runs in his first 14 innings, he rebounded to allow just 12 more in his last 45 before his promotion, for a 3.20 ERA.

LANCE LYNN
RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-5/250 BORN: May 12, 1987
ACQUIRED: Selected in the supplemental first round (39th overall) of 2008 out of Mississippi.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Memphis June 1 when P Kyle McClellan went on the DL.
DEBUT: June 2 in a 12-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants: The starting pitcher, he took the loss, giving up five earned runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, but struck out five without walking a batter.
NOTES: The Cards’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2009, when he sandwiched brief stops at Advanced A Palm Beach and Memphis around an 11-4, 2.92 performance at Double-A Springfield, Lynn’s out pitch is his fastball in the mid 90s but he also throws a curveball and changeup. At Memphis before his promotion, he was 5-3 with a 4.06 ERA and had struck out 54 batters in 62 innings over 10 starts, walking 21. With Memphis in 2010, he’d gone 13-10 with a 4.77 ERA and had fanned 141 in 164 innings. Over three seasons coming into ’11, he had a 3.66 ERA.