April 18, 2017
Minor League Update
Games of April 17
by Steve Givarz
Hitter of the Day:
Ryan McMahon, 3B, Colorado Rockies (Double-A, Hartford): 5-7, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, BB, 2 K
Jeffrey Paternostro attended this outing for McMahon and these were his comments to us during the game, “McMahon is going to hit balls straight out of this stadium. As long as they aren’t breaking balls. He still looks lost against spin.”
Pitcher of the Day:
Jack Flaherty, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Double-A, Springfield): 7 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 9 K
Flaherty can get lost in the shuffle between their high-octane arms, but he is a quality arm with more pitchability then you would expect. While his fastball lacks plus velocity, his changeup and slider are both plus offerings and he throws his entire arsenal for strikes.
Other Notable Performances:
Dakota Chalmers, RHP, Oakland Athletics (Low-A, Beloit): 4 IP, H, 0 BB, 10 K, 49 pitches
Chalmers has always had tantalizing offerings, but he has never been consistent with them, nor has he always thrown strikes. The path has been slow for the former 2015 third-rounder, but his fastball and curveball are potential plus offerings, with a usable changeup. If he throws strikes, he is the classic mid-rotation starter, if not then he could be a monster bullpen arm.
Anthony Dimino, C, P?, New York Mets (High-A, St. Lucie): IP, H, S
Dimino is the backup catcher, he got a save in a 11-10 game. I don’t have anything else to say.
Jeffrey Diehl, OF, P?, New York Mets (High-A, St. Lucie): 2-3, 2R, HR, 3 RBI, BB, K, 1/3 IP, H, K
Not only did Dimino pitch, Diehl got the last out in the eighth to cap off his day. Likewise with Dimino I don’t have anything else to add.
Michael Gerber, OF, Detroit Tigers (Double-A, Erie): 4-5, HR, 2RBI, SB, CS
Gerber can play the corner OF well, but is stretched in CF on a daily basis due to a lack of foot speed. While he will always strike out a ton, there is a lot of value in a lefty platoon bat with power, which is Gerber’s most likely outcome.
Eric Lauer, LHP, San Diego Padres (High-A, Lake Elsinore): 6IP, 3H, R, BB, 6K
The Padres second first-rounder in this past draft, Wilson Karaman talked about being excited to see him (and the rest of the rotation in Lake Elsinore) in a recent Ten Pack. Grant Jones (RIP) saw Lauer multiple. He throws three pitches for strikes, with the fastball and slider as true above-average offerings.
Andrew Stevenson, OF, Washington Nationals (Double-A, Harrisburg): 4-6, 2 R, 3 RBI
Known more for his defensive prowess, Stevenson shows a solid hit tool with quality hands, as well as the ability to manipulate his barrel. While more of a high-floor “fourth outfielder” than everyday regular, his overall ability should help him reach it sooner rather than later.
Fight Another Day:
Micker Adolfo, OF, Chicago White Sox (Low-A, Kannapolis): 0-4, 3 K
Adolfo has long tantalized with tools, including plus raw power, a plus to better arm, and above-average run times. But he has missed time with ankle, and hamate injuries the past two seasons. When he has been on the field he has struggled to make contact with a lot of strikeouts.
Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (High-A, Rancho Cucamonga): 2 1/3 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 2 BB
California League, man… it can be a rough time out west.
Steve Givarz is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
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Closer Report: Week 3
I was hoping to watch Crobin Burnes, but the game was moved to today. Burnes and now will start the first of a double header for the Mudcats, with Medeiros starting the second game.
One positive from yesterday: Amalani Fukofuka went 3-4 with a homerun off Darwinzon Hernandez.
I don't know which of those names I like better. Solid 70, possibly 80 grade names.