July 19, 2017

Minor League Update

Games of July 18

by Steve Givarz

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Hitter of the Day:

Tyler O'Neill, OF, Seattle Mariners (Triple-A, Tacoma): 4-8, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 K (DH)
One of the few remaining Mariners prospects left, O’Neill has gone somewhat backwards since a strong Double-A performance in 2016. While he might never hit like that again, O’Neill does do a lot of good things! He hits big home runs, will play an average right field, and has a plus arm.

Pitcher of the Day:

Keegan Akin, LHP, Baltimore Orioles (High-A, Frederick): 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 10 K
Akin has handled an aggressive assignment to High-A well, but has also had a fair amount of walks at the level. While he won’t ever have great command, his control should be above-average in due time. Which makes it scary when thinking about his plus fastball and slider.

Other Notable Performances:

Miguel Andujar, 3B, New York Yankees (Triple-A, Scranton Wilkes-Barre): 4-7, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI (DH)
Well, with Frazier a Yankee, it looks like Andujar will have to wait longer to show off all of his tools in the Bronx.

Ryan O'Hearn, 1B, Kansas City Royals (Triple-A, Omaha): 3-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
O’Hearn has plus raw power, it looks more and more like it will play to plus in game as well. As for the hit tool? That still looks like a below average offering as his swing is long and focuses more on leverage and aggression.

Ryan Boldt, OF, Tampa Bay Rays (High-A, Port Charlotte): 4-7, 2 R, 2 H, K, 2 SB (DH)
A former 2^nd rounder, Boldt has been playing well at High-A this season. He is a plus runner who uses his speed well in the outfield. While he lacks much over the fence power, his speed will help him extend base hits.

Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Houston Astros (Triple-A, Fresno): 3-3, 3 R, 3 3B, 3 RBI
The Astros are loaded with outfielders. Some of them might be trade bait because Kyle Tucker, Hernandez, Daz Cameron, Ronnie Dawson, Jason Martin, Derek Fisher, and Stephen Wrenn all can’t play outfield at the same time. That is, unless they shift them all in.

Jordan Patterson, OF, Colorado Rockies (Triple-A, Albuquerque): 3-6, 2 R, 3 2B, 2 RBI, K
Patterson, who received a brief cup of coffee last season, is more than ready for Denver. While his swing is long and is prone to strikeout, his above-average raw power is playing more in games and could be a good platoon bat for them.

Chance Sisco, C, Baltimore Orioles (Triple-A, Norfolk): 3-4, 2 R, 3 2B, 4 RBI
Catchers are weird. Nobody knows if Sisco will catch at the big league level. Pitchers hate guys behind the plate who can’t help them out or have their back. While it seems like Sisco will hit more than expected, he might have to bring some other gloves with him to Baltimore.

Tomas Nido, C, New York Mets (Double-A, Binghamton): 3-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
Catchers are still weird. Nido crushed High-A last season and looked to be a major league regular. While he hasn’t put on that kind of offensive performance this year in Double-A, he seems to be the only hope for catchers for the Mets.

Ben Breazeale, C, Baltimore Orioles (Short-Season, Aberdeen): 2-3, R, RBI, BB
A 7^th round pick from this year’s draft out of Wake Forest, Breazeale might be more 1B/DH/C, but is still hitting .442/.527/.636 in 21 games.

Steven Duggar, OF, San Francisco Giants (High-A, San Jose): 2-4, R, 2 2B, 4 RBI
Duggar has a lot of things to like. A plus arm, plus speed, quality plate discipline and the makings of an above-average hitter. After missing most of the season to injury, Duggar back on the field and looks ready to go back to Double-A.

Chesny Young, INF, Chicago Cubs (Triple-A, Iowa): 3-3, 3 R, 2B, 2 BB
If you like hitters who have hit everywhere, then you will like Chesny. But if you like guys with power who can play a consistent spot in the infield, then you won’t like Chesny.

Jonathan Davis, OF, Toronto Blue Jays (Double-A, New Hampshire): 2-2, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
After a breakout season at High-A last year, Davis has held his own in Double-A this year. While older for the league, he still can carve out a role as a reserve outfielder thanks to his plus speed and ability to play all the outfield spots.

Tyler Alexander, LHP, Detroit Tigers (Double-A, Erie): 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 9 K
One thing I was worried about with Alexander last year was that he tended to be hittable, even with his best stuff. He has been touched up at Double-A, but still profiles as a back-end starter.

P.J. Conlon, LHP, New York Mets (Double-A, Binghamton): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
The big question with Conlon will be, is he a role 2, or role 3?

Alec Hansen, RHP, Chicago White Sox (High-A, Winston-Salem): 5 2/3 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
Another day goes by, and Hansen keeps finding more and more talented teammates around him to watch him show off his premium stuff.

Christian James, RHP, New York Mets (Rookie, Kingsport): 6 IP, 5 H, R, ER, BB, 7 K
Signed for 100K in the 14^th round in 2016, James has a young, projectable body, but has some present stuff. His fastball can touch 93, but sits 89-92 and has a slider that flashes average, but is an inconsistent offering.

Fight Another Day:

Omar Estevez, INF, Los Angeles Dodgers (High-A, Rancho Cucamonga): 0-4, BB, 4 K
Estevez has been pushed aggressively as an 19 year old everyday player in High-A. But at the end of the day, if Wilson Karaman likes him, than I like him.

Adam Plutko, RHP, Cleveland Indians (Triple-A, Columbus): 5 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Don’t you wished you could be “Plutked” out of games sometimes? Am I right? Wait where are you all going? You haven’t heard my Plutko-Plinko joke!

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