"Despite sputtering in recent games, the Diamondbacks still rate among the better offensive teams in the league. But they're always looking to get better, and one option is to reach down for help from their minor-league system.

Perhaps then it's no surprise that General Manager Kevin Towers has spent the past few days watching the club's Double-A Mobile affiliate play in Birmingham, Ala., where he has gotten a first-hand look at first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who has been perhaps the best hitter in all of minor-league baseball this season.

Towers said he was there Thursday to see Goldschmidt crush a ball "about 500 feet" against a left-hander who was throwing 95 mph.

"That's one of the longest home runs I've seen in a long time," Towers said. "He's pretty well locked in. I don't think I've seen him strike out since I've been here."

Goldschmidt entered Saturday with a .350 average, .471 on-base and .700 slugging to go with 21 home runs and 59 RBIs, numbers rarely seen in the Southern League, which is known for being pitcher-friendly.

So when might the Diamondbacks look to promote Goldschmidt - or, for that matter, Triple-A Reno outfielder Collin Cowgill, who is hitting .372 with 11 home runs?"