September 15, 2017

Minor League Update

Games of September 14

by Steve Givarz

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Hitter of the Day:

Rylan Bannon, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rookie, Ogden): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, K
An eighth-rounder from this year’s draft out of Xavier University, Bannon gets high marks for his defensive skills at third base, projecting to plus. While Ogden, and his college home park before it, can exaggerate power, Bannon still has average raw power and doesn’t miss when one is given to him.

Pitcher of the Day:

Kevin Herget, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Triple-A, Memphis): 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 15 K
Before this season, Herget hadn’t started a professional game since 2013, when he was a lowly 39th-rounder out of Kean University. It is safe to say that this was probably the best game of his pitching career. A bubbly drink for you, good sir.

Other Notable Performances:

Brent Honeywell, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Triple-A, Durham): 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 10 K
I bid you a bond farewell, as this is the last time this year for both you and I. The winter might be harsh for you, it will be pleasant for me, but I will miss screwballs until I see you re-appear in March.

Chance Adams, RHP, New York Yankees (Triple-A, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
If this is it, then color me blue, for I was mistaken, for thinking this was your true.

Drew Strotman, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Short-Season, Hudson Valley): 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 5 K
A fourth-rounder from this past draft out of Saint Mary’s, Strotman has an ideal pitcher's frame, a heavy above-average fastball, and a slider that can sometimes flash plus. The catch is that he did not start very often in college, with only one year of that experience under his belt.

Andrew Gist, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Short-Season, Hudson Valley): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
A ninth-rounder from this past draft out of the University of Georgia, Gist was a senior-sign money saver. Here was my report on him from this past season.

Here is my report on the newest @RaysBaseball LHP Andrew Gist from @BaseballUGA. Looks like a senior-sign $$ saver. pic.twitter.com/oiVANtIXvc

— Steve Givarz (@SteveGivarz) June 13, 2017

Patrick Sandoval, LHP, Houston Astros (Low-A, Quad Cities): 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
An 11th-rounder out of a California high school in 2015, Sandoval has taken the slow track in his development, but has good clay. Working with an average to better fastball, Sandoval shows good command and the ability to spot it when needed. His over-the-top curve has depth and action, but he struggles to throw it for strikes.

Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Double-A, Altoona): 7 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 8 K
This is not the end for you and us Mitch, we shall see you soon.

Jin-De Jhang, C, Pittsburgh Pirates (Double-A, Altoona): 1-4, 3B, 3 RBI
What happens when a player's primary tool abandons him? They most likely are never heard from again. Jhang has built a reputation as a guy who has hit wherever he has played, but with that disappearing from him this season, he is on thin ice.

Taylor Walls, SS, Tampa Bay Rays (Short-Season, Hudson Valley) 3-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K
A third-rounder from this past draft out of Florida State, I was (and am) skeptical of how Walls' approach would work in pro ball given how some of his predecessors haven’t fared well.

Here's my report on the newest member of the @RaysBaseball SS Taylor Walls pic.twitter.com/c8GV14vcyz

— Steve Givarz (@SteveGivarz) June 13, 2017

Gabriel Arias, SS, San Diego Padres (Low-A, Fort Wayne): 3-3, 2B, 3B, BB
Prepare yourselves, the 2000s are here. While there are a lot of young, toolsy shortstops in the Padres’ system, they sent Arias up to Low-A from AZL for the Fort Wayne playoff push. He is just as toolsy as the rest of them, but with more polish than you would expect.

Fight Another Day:

Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays (Triple-A, Durham): 0-5, 3 K
Is this it for you and I? When will you and I meet again?

Parker Dunshee, RHP, Oakland Athletics (Short-Season, Vermont): 1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB
It had been relatively smooth sailing for Dunshee in his initial foray into pro ball. Prior to the playoffs he hadn’t given up a run, earned or otherwise, in 38 innings for Vermont. But baseball can be a strange, weird game at times.

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