April 26, 2017

Minor League Update

Games of April 25

by Steve Givarz

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Pitcher of the Day:

Domenic Mazza, LHP, San Francisco Giants (Low-A, Augusta): 9 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 9 K
That’s right a perfect game. This was also a Maddux, as he accomplished the feat in 85 pitches. Mazza is not a prospect, he is a strike throwing, mid-to-upper 80s arm. It helps to have quality off-speed you can throw for strikes. While this was the first mention of Mr. Mazza on these pages, it might take more moments like this to garner more mentions.

Hitter of the Day:

Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians (Triple-A, Columbus): 3-3, 2 2B, BB
Zimmer is an athletic monster, he is a plus runner, with a plus arm, plus raw power, and can be a potential plus defender in center. While he has his fair share of swing and miss, that hasn’t stopped other players from contributing to big-league teams for years to come.

Other Notable Performances:

Max Fried, LHP, Atlanta Braves (Double-A, Mississippi): 7 IP, H, BB, 6 K
On most other days, Fried would have been my pitcher of the day, but a perfect game takes priority. It is good to see Fried healthy, and while the walks have been high thus far in Double-A, he seems to be settling in.

Alejandro Requena, RHP, Colorado Rockies (Low-A, Asheville): 8 IP, 4 H, BB, 9 K
The owner of a 0.34 ERA (second-lowest in the South Atlantic League), Requena has average stuff, with an 89-93 fastball, and an assortment of off-speed pitches that he can spot and throw for strikes. But this kind of profile has value at the lower levels and could mature into a promising player in the future.

Zach Hedges, RHP, Chicago Cubs (Double-A, Tennessee): 7 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K
While the fastball velo is only average, Hedges can locate it to all quadrants and has had success at every level thus far in his career.

Devin Smeltzer, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Low-A, Great Lakes): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
A fifth-rounder from San Jacinto JC (Texas), Smeltzer offers pitchability and a quality assortment of off-speed pitches. While his fastball is more upper 80’s, he has a lean body that could add some more velocity in pro ball.

Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox (Double-A, Birmingham): 6 IP, H, 4 BB, 8 K
Flame on young child, flame on.

Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Detroit Tigers (Low-A, West Michigan): 6 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 9 K
Reports from this game had Funkhouser’s velo averaging 94, and topping out at 96 late in the game. With his plus fastball and potential plus slider, Kyle has shown the stuff that made him a first-rounder in the first place. With 29 strikeouts thus far in West Michigan, it might be time for the next challenge.

Yohander Mendez, LHP, Texas Rangers (Double-A, Frisco): 7 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 7 K
While he might have been rushed in his initial big league-foray, Mendez can pitch, but doesn’t have a lot of innings overall and has questions about his durability.

Sam Hilliard, OF, Colorado Rockies (High-A, Lancaster): 1-4, R, RBI, K
You might not have known it, but Hilliard leads all of the California League in batting average with a .377 mark, and is third with his .443 OBP. A plus runner, with a plus to better arm (he was up to 93 in college), Hilliard also features plus raw power and looks to be a breakout prospect for the Rockies next season.

Nicky Lopez, SS, Kansas City Royals (High-A, Wilmington): 4-6, 2 R, 3B, SB
A fifth-rounder from Creighton, Lopez has all the tools to stick at shortstop. He has a plus arm, plus runner, quality instincts, and soft hands. It didn’t hurt that he showed much more power in his initial pro exposure either.

Max Pentecost, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A, Dunedin): 1-5, HR, 4 RBI, K
What is noteworthy about this is that Pentecost has been playing more first base than catching thus far in the field. If this continues to be the case, Pentecost would have to hit a lot to have an everyday future at future.

Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves (High-A, Florida): 3-5, 3 R, 3B, HR, 5 RB
We told you Acuna was going to be really good.

Alex Jackson, C, Atlanta Braves (High-A, Florida): 3-6, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI
With 7 home runs on the season now, Jackson is showing why he was such a highly rated prospect to begin with. While whether or not he can catch is not known at this point, it is good to see him rebounding well when given a new chance with another organization.

Fight Another Day:

Palm Beach Cardinals Pitching Staff (High-A): 8 IP, 18 H, 22 R, 14 ER, 6 BB, 4 HRA
Sometimes, baseball just happens.

Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets (Triple-A, Las Vegas): 0-3, 2 K, BB, 2 E

Phillip Evans, 3B, New York Mets (Triple-A, Las Vegas): 1-4, 3 E
Sometimes, it can be hard playing the left side of the infield.

Steve Givarz is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @SteveGivarz
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