July 25, 2017
Minor League Update
Games of July 24
by Steve Givarz
Hitter of the Day:
Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves (Triple-A, Gwinnett): 4-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
So Acuna started out in High-A at 19, aggressive, but he did well in 2016 so he could’ve used the challenge. Then he crushed that, was sent to Double-A for a real challenge, Acuna said, “I’ll just hit .326/.374/.520”. Then was sent to Triple-A…oh yea, he’s still 19.
Pitcher of the Day:
Grant Holmes, RHP, Oakland Athletics (Double-A, Midland): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Still large, Holmes has only kind of been in charge this year. The stuff that helped him get through the low-minors, hit a wall at Double-A as he has had to learn more about pitch ability. The stuff is still there, highlighted by a plus heater/curve combo, it just needs more strikes.
Other Notable Performances:
Enyel De Los Santos, RHP, San Diego Padres (Double-A, San Antonio): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
Acquired for Joaquin Benoit in 2014, Enyel has shot up the ranks since that trade. His plus heater/change combo gets him swings and misses from both sides, but his curve is more fringe-average than average.
Luis Martinez, RHP, Chicago White Sox (Low-A, Kannapolis): 6 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Signed in 2011, Martinez has had a lot of bumps in the road, including Tommy John surgery soon after he signed. His tall, narrow, lean frame still looks like he can project added muscle, which would help his average fastball and off-speed offerings.
Leonardo Crawford, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Low-A, Great Lakes): 8 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 6 K
There are not many players from Nicaragua in the minors. Crawford is one of them. The stuff is very fringe overall as he sits upper 80’s with an assortment of usable offspeed pitches that he can throw for strikes. So if you do play baseball in Nicaragua, remember to throw left-handed.
Nick Kingham, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Triple-A, Indianapolis): 7 IP, 8 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 6 K
After missing all of 2015 and most of 2016 with Tommy John, Kingham has shown no ill effects from the procedure. He still throws lots of strikes, gets lots of grounders, and has an above-average fastball to miss barrels with him.
Jose Siri, OF, Cincinnati Reds (Low-A, Dayton): 2-4, R, K
This is now a 30-game hit streak for Siri. He is making much more contact than I ever thought he would when I first saw him in AZL in 2015. But he has a lot of tools as well. Plus speed, plus arm strength, and plus raw.
Adrian Tovalin, 3B, Houston Astros (Short-Season, Tri-City): 4-4, 4 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI
A 16th rounder from Azusa Pacific University (CA), I have nothing to add for Mr. Tovalin. But he still had a good day, so a drink to you.
Logan Ice, C, Cleveland Indians (Low-A, Lake County): 4-4, R, HR, 2 RBI
Because the college catching class is always incredibly thin, a player like Ice moves up boards. His ceiling is more of a solid backup given his solid receiving skills and ability to make contact.
Jose Miranda, 3B, Minnesota Twins (Rookie, Elizabethon): 4-5, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI
Taken in the CBB round out of Puerto Rico in 2016, Miranda is more 3B than SS given his lack of footspeed and overall range, but should have more than enough power to profile there with his plus arm strength and overall defensive skills.
Harold Ramirez, OF, Toronto Blue Jays (Double-A, New Hampshire): 3-3, R, HR, 4 RBI
While he has been passed in the organization by other OF’s talent-wise, Ramirez is still close to the majors with a relatively high 4th OF floor.
Jack Reinheimer, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks (Triple-A, Reno): 3-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
Likewise with Ramirez, there are certainly more athletic players in the D’backs system (we think, we haven’t really looked); Reinheimer also offers a high floor as a defensive specialist with a plus run tool.
Will Craig, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates (High-A, Bradenton): 3-4, R, 2 2B
So the over the fence power hasn’t really showed up yet…and we are wondering if it will ever show up. The on-base skills are still there, which gives him a higher floor than you would expect.
Lucas Erceg, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers (High-A, Carolina): 2-2, 3 R, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB
He was bound to come down after the impressive start he had last year, and he has hit a rough spot this year in High-A. The plus power and double-plus arm are still there, but the long swing and lack of pitch recognition are starting to catch up to him.
Tomas Nido, C, New York Mets (Double-A, Binghamton): 0-2, 2 R, 3 BB, K
Catchers are weird, so weird that I can include him in the MLU even when he doesn’t get a hit!
Telmito Agustin, OF, Washington Nationals (Low-A, Hagerstown): 2-5, R, 2 3B, RBI, K
There are not many players from the Virgin Islands in the minors, Agustin is one of them. A plus runner, Agustin uses his speed well on the bases, but lacks much power and profiles better in LF.
Jhailyn Ortiz, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Short-Season, Williamsport): 1-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Signed for $4M in 2015, the calling card for Ortiz is big loud power, with some giving it a 70-raw grade. While he does show a feel to hit with on-base skills, his defense has not gotten positive critiques, which could send him to LF or 1B.
Fight Another Day:
Zack Collins, C, Chicago White Sox (High-A, Winston-Salem): 0-4, 3 K
Collins will work a lot of counts, which results in a lot of walks…and a lot of strikeouts
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers (Triple-A, Colorado Springs): 2/3 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, K
Still rehabbing from his hamstring injury that handcuffed his major league debut, Brandon will be glad to learn that the elevation in Milwaukee is much lower than in Colorado Springs.
Steve Givarz is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
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