Shea Langeliers, C, Oakland Athletics (Triple-A Las Vegas): .361 (13-36), 11 R, 2B, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K.
The power that came alive for Langeliers last season has followed him to Vegas with his 11 home runs currently tops in the PCL. Already a solid defender behind the dish, he’s about as major league ready as a prospect can be, unfortunately he’s currently blocked at the position by Sean Murphy. If Oakland continues the firesale and moves Murphy sometime this season, Langeliers is poised to take on the role at the big-league level.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... longballs/
Down on the Farm - 2022
Moderator: Braves
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
8. Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.90, 10 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO, 1 HR
The Scoop: Few pitchers in the minors draw as universally glowing reviews as Bradley, and he keeps justifying even the loftiest praise. The tantalizing righthander delivered back-to-back starts of five innings pitched and only one hit allowed against Biloxi last week. He served up a solo home run to Brewers top prospect Joey Wiemer and nothing else while striking out seven in his first outing. He was even better in his second outing, tossing five scoreless to help set the stage for a Biscuits win. (KG)
9. Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers
Team: High-A Wisconsin (Midwest)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 1 HR
The Scoop: Kelly, the Brewers’ second-round pick in 2019, has come back nicely after thoracic outlet surgery, a procedure with a wide range of outcomes. The lefthander needs to greatly improve his control and command (42 walks in 72.2 pro innings), but his pitch package of fastball-slider-changeup is filthy when it’s around the strike zone. He has 33 punchouts in 21.2 innings this season, meaning 50.7% of his outs this season have come on strikes. Even if he never finds the command necessary to be a starter, Kelly could be a game-changing reliever. (JN)
16. Matt Wallner, OF, Twins
Team: Double-A Wichita (Texas)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .500/.579/1.063 (8-for-16), 5 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 SB.
The Scoop: When the Twins drafted Wallner, the hope was that he could end up as a right fielder who would draw walks and hit for power. In return, there was going to have to be an acceptance that he would also swing and miss a lot. All of that has been true so far. His contact issues lead to a low batting average, but he does draw walks and when he connects, his pull-heavy approach gives him plus power. (JC)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-51022/
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.90, 10 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO, 1 HR
The Scoop: Few pitchers in the minors draw as universally glowing reviews as Bradley, and he keeps justifying even the loftiest praise. The tantalizing righthander delivered back-to-back starts of five innings pitched and only one hit allowed against Biloxi last week. He served up a solo home run to Brewers top prospect Joey Wiemer and nothing else while striking out seven in his first outing. He was even better in his second outing, tossing five scoreless to help set the stage for a Biscuits win. (KG)
9. Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers
Team: High-A Wisconsin (Midwest)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO, 1 HR
The Scoop: Kelly, the Brewers’ second-round pick in 2019, has come back nicely after thoracic outlet surgery, a procedure with a wide range of outcomes. The lefthander needs to greatly improve his control and command (42 walks in 72.2 pro innings), but his pitch package of fastball-slider-changeup is filthy when it’s around the strike zone. He has 33 punchouts in 21.2 innings this season, meaning 50.7% of his outs this season have come on strikes. Even if he never finds the command necessary to be a starter, Kelly could be a game-changing reliever. (JN)
16. Matt Wallner, OF, Twins
Team: Double-A Wichita (Texas)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .500/.579/1.063 (8-for-16), 5 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 SB.
The Scoop: When the Twins drafted Wallner, the hope was that he could end up as a right fielder who would draw walks and hit for power. In return, there was going to have to be an acceptance that he would also swing and miss a lot. All of that has been true so far. His contact issues lead to a low batting average, but he does draw walks and when he connects, his pull-heavy approach gives him plus power. (JC)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-51022/
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
A trio of IBC Braves pitching prospects showing up today: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ew-may-11/
Taj Bradley, RHP
Double-A Montgomery (Rays)
May 3: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR
After leading the minor leagues in ERA in 2021, Bradley entered the season as the No. 52 prospect in baseball. Drafted out of the Georgia prep ranks in the fifth round in 2018, he was one of the youngest players in his draft class and had very little experience on the mound leading up to his senior year.
The righthander turned 21 a few weeks before the season and was assigned to Double-A Montgomery this spring. Coming into the season, Bradley relied heavily on a fastball and slider plan of attack, mixing in a curveball and changeup on occasion. In this start, Bradley showed better feel for a variety of pitches. While still primarily fastball-heavy early in counts, he didn’t use his slider as a crutch as frequently as he had in the past. Over the first few innings, he battled his command a little, some of which was an inability to land his changeup low to his glove side in two-strike counts to lefthanded batters.
After Biloxi’s Joey Wiemer led off the second inning with a home run, Bradley reined it in. He proceeded to sit down the final nine batters he faced, including six via strikeout. His fastball sat 95-97 mph and touched 98, showing trademark plus vertical break by getting more than 18 inches of ride on average. Bradley mixed in his slider at 88-91 mph, a cutter at 91-94 mph, a downer curveball at 78-80 and a split-changeup in the upper 80s.
Bradley used his cutter quite a bit in fastball counts, and that gave him another look to work off his plus fastball. His curveball was more of a strike-stealer or show-me pitch, but he didn’t shy away from it. I wouldn’t describe his command as sharp on the day, but he managed to get all of his pitches in the zone and challenged hitters with velocity and movement.
Ultimately, Bradley has the stuff to dominate whenever he’s throwing strikes. When you factor in his relative inexperience on the mound, it’s easy to see front-of-the-rotation potential from Bradley. In order to get there, he’s going to need to identify a true putaway pitch versus lefthanders, whether that comes in the form of his curveball or changeup.
Antoine Kelly, LHP
High-A Wisconsin (Brewers)
May 6: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 10 SO
Kelly is a tall, athletic lefthander who was the Brewers’ 2019 second-rounder out of Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC. Entering 2022, Kelly had pitched just 51 pro innings, a majority of them in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2019. He missed much of 2021 as he recovered from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, logging 19.1 innings.
Assigned to High-A Wisconsin out of camp this year, Kelly had an encouraging opening month in which he allowed just six earned runs over 16.2 innings with 23 strikeouts to 13 walks. In his first start of May, Kelly’s command of his arsenal was as locked in as ever. He masterfully quelled the Fort Wayne lineup for five innings.
Kelly allowed an infield single to the second batter of the game, but it was really just a miscommunication by his infield. He attacked hitters early in counts with fastballs to both sides of the plate and elevated. He sat 95-97 mph early before dropping down to 93-95. He threw nearly 70% strikes on the day, and many of his misses were chase pitches in two-strike counts. Kelly didn’t just miss bats, he put pressure on hitters by landing his three-pitch mix to both sides of the plate. He didn’t allow any hard contact, and all three of his fly balls were routine outs.
Kelly got squeezed in his single walk of the game. He threw well-executed pitches in succession that were both ruled balls. While Kelly allowed two baserunners on the day, it’s fair to say each came with an asterisk. With a power, mid-90s fastball with more than a foot of horizontal break, a sweepy slider and a changeup that’s beginning to flash average or better consistently, Kelly has the mix of an impact arm who could fill a variety of roles.
It’s rare to see this level of power, movement and deception in a single package. If Kelly can consistently look the way he did in this start, he’s got a future as a starter. If the command never fully materializes, he’ll likely provide value as a high-leverage reliever.
Kyle Harrison, LHP
High-A Eugene (Giants)
May 6: 4 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 10 SO
The 2020 fourth-rounder out of high school has quickly established himself as one of the most highly touted pitchers in the low minors. Assigned to High-A Eugene out of camp, Harrison entered this start with a 3.00 ERA and 32 strikeouts to five walks. In this start he struck out 10 while allowing two hits and three walks.
Most of Harrison’s trouble came in the third inning, when he was squeezed on consecutive pitches that could have been strike three. Once he had to pitch from the stretch, his command seemed to waver. Up to that point, he had mostly attacked in the zone, particularly early in counts. He was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam with a called strike in a 3-2 count.
On the day, Harrison’s fastball sat 93-95 mph playing up due to his low release height and deceptive motion. He mixed in mostly his mid-80s slider as his primary secondary, showing a few changeups. His stuff was dominant at times, but he went in and out of pinpoint command, and he had several misses that landed fairly well off their intended target. He struggled at times in two-strikes counts, throwing too many easy takes.
Overall, Harrison showed flashes of brilliance, with a fastball-slider combination that could be deadly at times. If Harrison is able to hone his command in the coming years, he could blossom into an above-average major league starter.
Taj Bradley, RHP
Double-A Montgomery (Rays)
May 3: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR
After leading the minor leagues in ERA in 2021, Bradley entered the season as the No. 52 prospect in baseball. Drafted out of the Georgia prep ranks in the fifth round in 2018, he was one of the youngest players in his draft class and had very little experience on the mound leading up to his senior year.
The righthander turned 21 a few weeks before the season and was assigned to Double-A Montgomery this spring. Coming into the season, Bradley relied heavily on a fastball and slider plan of attack, mixing in a curveball and changeup on occasion. In this start, Bradley showed better feel for a variety of pitches. While still primarily fastball-heavy early in counts, he didn’t use his slider as a crutch as frequently as he had in the past. Over the first few innings, he battled his command a little, some of which was an inability to land his changeup low to his glove side in two-strike counts to lefthanded batters.
After Biloxi’s Joey Wiemer led off the second inning with a home run, Bradley reined it in. He proceeded to sit down the final nine batters he faced, including six via strikeout. His fastball sat 95-97 mph and touched 98, showing trademark plus vertical break by getting more than 18 inches of ride on average. Bradley mixed in his slider at 88-91 mph, a cutter at 91-94 mph, a downer curveball at 78-80 and a split-changeup in the upper 80s.
Bradley used his cutter quite a bit in fastball counts, and that gave him another look to work off his plus fastball. His curveball was more of a strike-stealer or show-me pitch, but he didn’t shy away from it. I wouldn’t describe his command as sharp on the day, but he managed to get all of his pitches in the zone and challenged hitters with velocity and movement.
Ultimately, Bradley has the stuff to dominate whenever he’s throwing strikes. When you factor in his relative inexperience on the mound, it’s easy to see front-of-the-rotation potential from Bradley. In order to get there, he’s going to need to identify a true putaway pitch versus lefthanders, whether that comes in the form of his curveball or changeup.
Antoine Kelly, LHP
High-A Wisconsin (Brewers)
May 6: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 10 SO
Kelly is a tall, athletic lefthander who was the Brewers’ 2019 second-rounder out of Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC. Entering 2022, Kelly had pitched just 51 pro innings, a majority of them in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2019. He missed much of 2021 as he recovered from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, logging 19.1 innings.
Assigned to High-A Wisconsin out of camp this year, Kelly had an encouraging opening month in which he allowed just six earned runs over 16.2 innings with 23 strikeouts to 13 walks. In his first start of May, Kelly’s command of his arsenal was as locked in as ever. He masterfully quelled the Fort Wayne lineup for five innings.
Kelly allowed an infield single to the second batter of the game, but it was really just a miscommunication by his infield. He attacked hitters early in counts with fastballs to both sides of the plate and elevated. He sat 95-97 mph early before dropping down to 93-95. He threw nearly 70% strikes on the day, and many of his misses were chase pitches in two-strike counts. Kelly didn’t just miss bats, he put pressure on hitters by landing his three-pitch mix to both sides of the plate. He didn’t allow any hard contact, and all three of his fly balls were routine outs.
Kelly got squeezed in his single walk of the game. He threw well-executed pitches in succession that were both ruled balls. While Kelly allowed two baserunners on the day, it’s fair to say each came with an asterisk. With a power, mid-90s fastball with more than a foot of horizontal break, a sweepy slider and a changeup that’s beginning to flash average or better consistently, Kelly has the mix of an impact arm who could fill a variety of roles.
It’s rare to see this level of power, movement and deception in a single package. If Kelly can consistently look the way he did in this start, he’s got a future as a starter. If the command never fully materializes, he’ll likely provide value as a high-leverage reliever.
Kyle Harrison, LHP
High-A Eugene (Giants)
May 6: 4 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 10 SO
The 2020 fourth-rounder out of high school has quickly established himself as one of the most highly touted pitchers in the low minors. Assigned to High-A Eugene out of camp, Harrison entered this start with a 3.00 ERA and 32 strikeouts to five walks. In this start he struck out 10 while allowing two hits and three walks.
Most of Harrison’s trouble came in the third inning, when he was squeezed on consecutive pitches that could have been strike three. Once he had to pitch from the stretch, his command seemed to waver. Up to that point, he had mostly attacked in the zone, particularly early in counts. He was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam with a called strike in a 3-2 count.
On the day, Harrison’s fastball sat 93-95 mph playing up due to his low release height and deceptive motion. He mixed in mostly his mid-80s slider as his primary secondary, showing a few changeups. His stuff was dominant at times, but he went in and out of pinpoint command, and he had several misses that landed fairly well off their intended target. He struggled at times in two-strikes counts, throwing too many easy takes.
Overall, Harrison showed flashes of brilliance, with a fastball-slider combination that could be deadly at times. If Harrison is able to hone his command in the coming years, he could blossom into an above-average major league starter.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
And from BP's stash list: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... st-week-5/
(15) Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox
This is your weekly check in on the cold-corner situation in Beantown.
Player Avg. OBP Slug. HR
Bobby Dalbec .139 .225 .215 1
Franchy Cordero .222 .250 .278 0
Meanwhile, Casas continues to plug along at Triple-A, hitting .260/.373/.500 with six homers in his first 29 games. He still struggles against lefties, but he demolishes right-handed hurlers. If the Red Sox have aspirations to catch the Orioles in the standings, it might be time for an injection of youth and power.
(15) Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox
This is your weekly check in on the cold-corner situation in Beantown.
Player Avg. OBP Slug. HR
Bobby Dalbec .139 .225 .215 1
Franchy Cordero .222 .250 .278 0
Meanwhile, Casas continues to plug along at Triple-A, hitting .260/.373/.500 with six homers in his first 29 games. He still struggles against lefties, but he demolishes right-handed hurlers. If the Red Sox have aspirations to catch the Orioles in the standings, it might be time for an injection of youth and power.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
The distance between Eugene and Richmond is 2,882 miles, but Kyle Harrison is making that feel shorter and shorter every single time he takes the ball.
The third-ranked Giants prospect continued his domination of the Northwest League with another brilliant outing on Saturday night. Harrison worked around a pair of hits and a walk to fan nine over five scoreless frames to pace High-A Eugene's 1-0 blanking of Vancouver in eight innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader at PK Park.
It was the fourth outing of the year with at least nine strikeouts for Harrison, and his third straight. The 20-year-old retired the first seven batters he faced -- whiffing the side in the second -- and exited after tossing 75 pitches, 47 for strikes.
After yielding a one-out single in the fourth, MLB's No. 73 overall prospect responded with consecutive punchouts to escape the frame unscathed. After notching a pair of outs to start the fourth, the southpaw walked PK Morris on six pitches. But, Morris would be left stranded at first as Harrison locked back in for his eighth strikeout of the game.
The 2020 third-round Draft pick made quick work of his final frame. After recording the first two outs on five pitches, Harrison yielded a double on the first pitch to Zach Britton, who became the only player to reach scoring position with Harrison on the bump. But, a four-pitch whiff by Harrison Ray ended the threat and the inning.
Harrison has allowed one run or fewer in five of his six starts this season -- with four of those going for shutouts. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is sporting a 1.88 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and a .172 average against with 51 strikeouts over 24 innings this season.
Harrison earned Low-A West pitcher of the year honors during his pro debut last year after leading the league in ERA (3.19) and strikeouts per nine innings (14.3). The left-hander delivers from a low-three-quarters slot that adds action to his pitches. He blows hitters away up in the strike zone with a mid-90s heater that reaches 98 mph with plenty of armside run. His slider also has gotten sharper and harder, parking at 82-85 mph while proving effective against hitters from both sides of the plate. He's gaining faith in a changeup with similar velocity and some fade, and it should become at least an average pitch on his quest to The Show once fully developed.
https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-harrison- ... e-coverage
The third-ranked Giants prospect continued his domination of the Northwest League with another brilliant outing on Saturday night. Harrison worked around a pair of hits and a walk to fan nine over five scoreless frames to pace High-A Eugene's 1-0 blanking of Vancouver in eight innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader at PK Park.
It was the fourth outing of the year with at least nine strikeouts for Harrison, and his third straight. The 20-year-old retired the first seven batters he faced -- whiffing the side in the second -- and exited after tossing 75 pitches, 47 for strikes.
After yielding a one-out single in the fourth, MLB's No. 73 overall prospect responded with consecutive punchouts to escape the frame unscathed. After notching a pair of outs to start the fourth, the southpaw walked PK Morris on six pitches. But, Morris would be left stranded at first as Harrison locked back in for his eighth strikeout of the game.
The 2020 third-round Draft pick made quick work of his final frame. After recording the first two outs on five pitches, Harrison yielded a double on the first pitch to Zach Britton, who became the only player to reach scoring position with Harrison on the bump. But, a four-pitch whiff by Harrison Ray ended the threat and the inning.
Harrison has allowed one run or fewer in five of his six starts this season -- with four of those going for shutouts. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is sporting a 1.88 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and a .172 average against with 51 strikeouts over 24 innings this season.
Harrison earned Low-A West pitcher of the year honors during his pro debut last year after leading the league in ERA (3.19) and strikeouts per nine innings (14.3). The left-hander delivers from a low-three-quarters slot that adds action to his pitches. He blows hitters away up in the strike zone with a mid-90s heater that reaches 98 mph with plenty of armside run. His slider also has gotten sharper and harder, parking at 82-85 mph while proving effective against hitters from both sides of the plate. He's gaining faith in a changeup with similar velocity and some fade, and it should become at least an average pitch on his quest to The Show once fully developed.
https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-harrison- ... e-coverage
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
It was a monster night for a pair of top Astros prospects in Albuquerque on Saturday...
The Astros' No. 2 prospect, Korey Lee, contributed a solo home run to left-center field in the sixth inning and a pair of RBI singles in the fourth and seventh, driving in three runs overall.
The right-handed-hitting catcher has also been having a solid offensive season. As of Saturday, the 23-year-old was tied for the third-most home runs (six) among catchers in the Pacific Coast League.
https://www.mlb.com/news/pedro-leon-kor ... e-coverage
The Astros' No. 2 prospect, Korey Lee, contributed a solo home run to left-center field in the sixth inning and a pair of RBI singles in the fourth and seventh, driving in three runs overall.
The right-handed-hitting catcher has also been having a solid offensive season. As of Saturday, the 23-year-old was tied for the third-most home runs (six) among catchers in the Pacific Coast League.
https://www.mlb.com/news/pedro-leon-kor ... e-coverage
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Two Reds pitchers, namely top prospect Hunter Greene, didn't allow a hit to the Pirates on Sunday afternoon, but there was no rejoicing, no celebrating and worst of all for the team -- no winning.
Instead there was only heartbreak following a 1-0 Cincinnati loss to Pittsburgh at PNC Park to split a four-game series. It was the sixth time a pitcher/team has allowed no hits and lost.
"Bittersweet for sure. Obviously today, we were on the wrong side of history," Reds catcher Aramis Garcia said.
While throwing 118 pitches -- the most in the Majors this season -- Greene worked 7 1/3 innings with five walks and nine strikeouts.
"I felt really good about where all of my pitches were," said Greene, MLB Pipeline's No. 21 overall prospect. "I’m very confident in myself. It’s hard on the mental side not to let your mind drift to that accolade. I think you’ve got to embrace all the thoughts and emotions in that moment and just go out there and have fun. Hopefully, I’m going to have a lot more opportunities for that. I’m looking forward to that.”
https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-lose-afte ... vs-pirates
Instead there was only heartbreak following a 1-0 Cincinnati loss to Pittsburgh at PNC Park to split a four-game series. It was the sixth time a pitcher/team has allowed no hits and lost.
"Bittersweet for sure. Obviously today, we were on the wrong side of history," Reds catcher Aramis Garcia said.
While throwing 118 pitches -- the most in the Majors this season -- Greene worked 7 1/3 innings with five walks and nine strikeouts.
"I felt really good about where all of my pitches were," said Greene, MLB Pipeline's No. 21 overall prospect. "I’m very confident in myself. It’s hard on the mental side not to let your mind drift to that accolade. I think you’ve got to embrace all the thoughts and emotions in that moment and just go out there and have fun. Hopefully, I’m going to have a lot more opportunities for that. I’m looking forward to that.”
https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-lose-afte ... vs-pirates
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds: Speaking of no-hitters, Greene threw 7.1 hitless innings as Cincinnati held PIttsburgh hitless. But the Pirates still won 1-0, which keeps this from being an official no-hitter, since the Reds only threw eight innings.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... r-hit-day/
Liover Peguero, SS Pirates
Double-A Altoona (Eastern)
Key Metrics: .384 wOBA, 90 mph average exit velocity, 27% swing-and-miss rate, .215 isolated slugging percentage
Acquired in the Starling Marte trade in January 2020, Peguero is showing improvements in both his contact rate and exit velocity. He’s seen a 16% decrease in whiffs while adding over 1 mph to his top 10% of exit velocities. There’s still some aggressiveness in his approach, but he’s done a good job of balancing aggression and patience in the early going.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... for-april/
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... r-hit-day/
Liover Peguero, SS Pirates
Double-A Altoona (Eastern)
Key Metrics: .384 wOBA, 90 mph average exit velocity, 27% swing-and-miss rate, .215 isolated slugging percentage
Acquired in the Starling Marte trade in January 2020, Peguero is showing improvements in both his contact rate and exit velocity. He’s seen a 16% decrease in whiffs while adding over 1 mph to his top 10% of exit velocities. There’s still some aggressiveness in his approach, but he’s done a good job of balancing aggression and patience in the early going.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... for-april/
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Astros: Hunter Brown, RHP (No. 3)
Brown not only throws hard but also maintains his velocity over the course of a game and a season, working in the mid-90s and touching 99 mph with riding action on his four-seam fastball last September at the end of his first full year in the Minors. A 2019 fifth-round pick out of NCAA Division II Wayne State (Mich.), he has a 2.63 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 24 Triple-A innings.
Pirates: Kyle Nicolas, RHP (No. 18)
The Pirates got Nicolas in the Jacob Stallings deal and the big right-hander might make that deal a really good one for Pittsburgh. He can reach back for 100+ mph in shorter stints and holds mid-90s heat deep into starts and it plays well with carry up in the zone and heavy sink when it’s down. He’s struck out nearly 10 per nine in Double-A so far and can throw his plus heater for strikes.
Reds: Hunter Greene, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 21)
There’s definitely been a learning curve for Greene during his first taste of life in the big leagues, and much of that has to do with continued work to command his fastball. The velocity has always been there, averaging over 98 mph and often hitting triple digits, but he’s been getting too much of the zone and Major League hitters can barrel it up, a reason why he started leaning on his slider a bit more in his last start.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospects-with ... e-coverage
Brown not only throws hard but also maintains his velocity over the course of a game and a season, working in the mid-90s and touching 99 mph with riding action on his four-seam fastball last September at the end of his first full year in the Minors. A 2019 fifth-round pick out of NCAA Division II Wayne State (Mich.), he has a 2.63 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 24 Triple-A innings.
Pirates: Kyle Nicolas, RHP (No. 18)
The Pirates got Nicolas in the Jacob Stallings deal and the big right-hander might make that deal a really good one for Pittsburgh. He can reach back for 100+ mph in shorter stints and holds mid-90s heat deep into starts and it plays well with carry up in the zone and heavy sink when it’s down. He’s struck out nearly 10 per nine in Double-A so far and can throw his plus heater for strikes.
Reds: Hunter Greene, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 21)
There’s definitely been a learning curve for Greene during his first taste of life in the big leagues, and much of that has to do with continued work to command his fastball. The velocity has always been there, averaging over 98 mph and often hitting triple digits, but he’s been getting too much of the zone and Major League hitters can barrel it up, a reason why he started leaning on his slider a bit more in his last start.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospects-with ... e-coverage
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Red Sox: 1B Triston Casas
Without question, Casas is the most advanced hitting prospect in Boston’s farm system and the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Given the continued offensive struggles of Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec, who has been platooning with Franchy Cordero of late, it’s not hard to picture Casas getting his first callup to the Majors sometime around midseason. This is the first time Casas has started a season at Triple-A, and the Red Sox are likely to let the talented left-handed hitter bring it up a notch from the modest start he has had before giving him the call. In his first 36 games, Casas slashed .248/.359/.457 with six homers and 22 RBIs.
Astros: RHP Hunter Brown
Brown, the Astros’ No. 3 prospect on Pipeline’s Top 30 list, could be the next hard-throwing pitcher in Houston’s organization to reach the Majors. Brown is considered to have the best stuff in the system, and he’s off to a good start at Triple-A Sugar Land, posting a 2.76 ERA over his first seven outings (five starts). Brown’s velocity sat in the mid-90s and hit 99 mph in September of the 2021 season, showing he could maintain his power pitches over the course of a full year. His most devastating weapon is his curveball, which sits in the low 80s and drops coming out of his three-quarters arm slot.
Athletics: C Shea Langeliers
Oakland’s No. 2 prospect doesn’t appear to have much left to prove at the Minor League level. Langeliers, who headlined the prospect haul acquired from the Braves in exchange for Matt Olson this spring, is slashing .289/.381/.586 through 34 games at Triple-A Las Vegas. His 11 home runs are good for second most in the Pacific Coast League. Sean Murphy has the everyday catching job in Oakland locked down, but Langeliers could still force his way up here with his supreme bat if he continues this tear at the plate.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospects-read ... h-mlb-team
Without question, Casas is the most advanced hitting prospect in Boston’s farm system and the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Given the continued offensive struggles of Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec, who has been platooning with Franchy Cordero of late, it’s not hard to picture Casas getting his first callup to the Majors sometime around midseason. This is the first time Casas has started a season at Triple-A, and the Red Sox are likely to let the talented left-handed hitter bring it up a notch from the modest start he has had before giving him the call. In his first 36 games, Casas slashed .248/.359/.457 with six homers and 22 RBIs.
Astros: RHP Hunter Brown
Brown, the Astros’ No. 3 prospect on Pipeline’s Top 30 list, could be the next hard-throwing pitcher in Houston’s organization to reach the Majors. Brown is considered to have the best stuff in the system, and he’s off to a good start at Triple-A Sugar Land, posting a 2.76 ERA over his first seven outings (five starts). Brown’s velocity sat in the mid-90s and hit 99 mph in September of the 2021 season, showing he could maintain his power pitches over the course of a full year. His most devastating weapon is his curveball, which sits in the low 80s and drops coming out of his three-quarters arm slot.
Athletics: C Shea Langeliers
Oakland’s No. 2 prospect doesn’t appear to have much left to prove at the Minor League level. Langeliers, who headlined the prospect haul acquired from the Braves in exchange for Matt Olson this spring, is slashing .289/.381/.586 through 34 games at Triple-A Las Vegas. His 11 home runs are good for second most in the Pacific Coast League. Sean Murphy has the everyday catching job in Oakland locked down, but Langeliers could still force his way up here with his supreme bat if he continues this tear at the plate.
https://www.mlb.com/news/prospects-read ... h-mlb-team
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Red Sox: Triston Casas, 1B (No. 2, MLB No. 14)
Casas not only is one of the best power prospects in the Minors, thanks to an impressive combination of bat speed, strength and leverage, but he's also an advanced hitter with a patient approach. The 2018 first-round pick from a Florida high school tied for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics lead with three homers in six games and is batting .248/.359/.457 with six homers in 36 Triple-A games.
Guardians: Nolan Jones, 3B/OF (No. 6)
Jones comes with plenty of raw power and isn't afraid to work counts in search of pitches he can drive, which helped him lead the Minors with 96 walks in his last complete and healthy season in 2019. A second-round pick who signed for first-round money out of a Pennsylvania high school in 2016, he has yet to play this season after having surgery on his left ankle last September.
Twins: Matt Wallner, OF (No. 11)
Yes, the strikeout rate is a concern at 31.6 percent in his career, up to 36.9 percent so far this year, but when he makes contact, it goes a long way. He hasn’t matched the .652 SLG he had at Southern Miss, but he did hit 15 homers in 68 games in 2021, then six more (.606 SLG) in the Arizona Fall League. He’s hit six over his first 30 games this year, with an improved walk rate that should only help him get to his pop more.
A’s: Shea Langeliers, C (No. 2, MLB No. 55)
Sure, his defense may always be his calling card, but anyone who thought his 22 homers in Double-A with the Braves last year was a fluke, he’s already smashed 11 in 35 games with Triple-A Las Vegas, now with the A’s organization, though the friendly environs in Vegas have helped.
Astros: Korey Lee, C (No. 2)
Lee was a surprise first-round pick in 2019 out of California, but the Astros believed in his considerable raw power and arm strength. He's off to a slow start in Triple-A at .216/.264/.425, though he has bashed seven homers in 33 games.
Marlins: Peyton Burdick, OF (No. 10)
Thick-framed 22-year-old corner outfielders from mid-majors aren't usually coveted Draft prospects, but the Marlins loved Burdick's performance at Wright State, metrics and makeup and took him in 2019's third round. His strength and deceptive athleticism have translated into pro success, as he led the Double-A South in homers (23) and walks (76) last year and is batting .221/.345/.451 with six homers in 33 Triple-A games.
Nationals: Brady House, SS (No. 2, MLB No. 45)
The 2021 11th overall pick is certainly built like his last name. His measurements entering his first full season are 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and he very much has the pop to match that frame. House shortened his swing before last year’s Draft, giving evaluators hope he could make better use of his plus-plus raw power. He has more singles (25) than extra-base hits (eight) to begin 2022 at Single-A Fredericksburg, but some loud contact has helped drive his .330 average and .894 OPS. Expect more balls to fly out of the park as he grows older and more experienced in full-season ball.
https://www.mlb.com/news/each-team-s-to ... e-coverage
Casas not only is one of the best power prospects in the Minors, thanks to an impressive combination of bat speed, strength and leverage, but he's also an advanced hitter with a patient approach. The 2018 first-round pick from a Florida high school tied for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics lead with three homers in six games and is batting .248/.359/.457 with six homers in 36 Triple-A games.
Guardians: Nolan Jones, 3B/OF (No. 6)
Jones comes with plenty of raw power and isn't afraid to work counts in search of pitches he can drive, which helped him lead the Minors with 96 walks in his last complete and healthy season in 2019. A second-round pick who signed for first-round money out of a Pennsylvania high school in 2016, he has yet to play this season after having surgery on his left ankle last September.
Twins: Matt Wallner, OF (No. 11)
Yes, the strikeout rate is a concern at 31.6 percent in his career, up to 36.9 percent so far this year, but when he makes contact, it goes a long way. He hasn’t matched the .652 SLG he had at Southern Miss, but he did hit 15 homers in 68 games in 2021, then six more (.606 SLG) in the Arizona Fall League. He’s hit six over his first 30 games this year, with an improved walk rate that should only help him get to his pop more.
A’s: Shea Langeliers, C (No. 2, MLB No. 55)
Sure, his defense may always be his calling card, but anyone who thought his 22 homers in Double-A with the Braves last year was a fluke, he’s already smashed 11 in 35 games with Triple-A Las Vegas, now with the A’s organization, though the friendly environs in Vegas have helped.
Astros: Korey Lee, C (No. 2)
Lee was a surprise first-round pick in 2019 out of California, but the Astros believed in his considerable raw power and arm strength. He's off to a slow start in Triple-A at .216/.264/.425, though he has bashed seven homers in 33 games.
Marlins: Peyton Burdick, OF (No. 10)
Thick-framed 22-year-old corner outfielders from mid-majors aren't usually coveted Draft prospects, but the Marlins loved Burdick's performance at Wright State, metrics and makeup and took him in 2019's third round. His strength and deceptive athleticism have translated into pro success, as he led the Double-A South in homers (23) and walks (76) last year and is batting .221/.345/.451 with six homers in 33 Triple-A games.
Nationals: Brady House, SS (No. 2, MLB No. 45)
The 2021 11th overall pick is certainly built like his last name. His measurements entering his first full season are 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and he very much has the pop to match that frame. House shortened his swing before last year’s Draft, giving evaluators hope he could make better use of his plus-plus raw power. He has more singles (25) than extra-base hits (eight) to begin 2022 at Single-A Fredericksburg, but some loud contact has helped drive his .330 average and .894 OPS. Expect more balls to fly out of the park as he grows older and more experienced in full-season ball.
https://www.mlb.com/news/each-team-s-to ... e-coverage
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BA's Prospect Report: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -triple-a/
Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers: Kelly was even more dominant than his final line indicates. He struck out the first six batters he faced and fanned 13 batters while recording just 17 outs. And when he left the game, he had not allowed a run, although he was pulled after 5.2 innings with the bases loaded. Owen Caissie then doubled to clear the bases, putting three runs on Kelly's ledger.
From BP's MMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... s-hitting/
Taj Bradley, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A Montgomery)
But boy does my gut like Bradley. Now as bits of prospect writer intuition go this one is comically well-supported and not even particularly prescient. He was an overslot fifth-round prep pick. He’s struck out better than 10-per-nine everywhere he’s been. And if anything, I am well behind the rest of the industry getting on the Bradley bandwagon. In his 2022 Rays list blurb Nathan wrote: “However, there’s a chance we’re a bit low here and Bradley’s the next in line to be the ace of the Rays staff.” Mi scuso. Perhaps I will sneak in under the wire as just “fashionably late.”
Bradley’s mid-90s heat comes in flat—in a good way—and his upper-80s he-calls-it-a-cutter that looks like a razorblade slider, shows like a plus swing-and-miss offering whatever your preferred taxonomy. He’ll snap off an 11-6 curve now and again that flashes plus—far less often than the cutter—and rounds out the repertoire with an already usable change. Like Bello the command isn’t all quite there, and the fastball can be a little hittable in the zone. There’s a deeper and more consistent set of secondaries, and I’m more confident Bradley is a starter long term—or whatever that designation means to the 2020s Tampa Bay Rays. I often write that our list product is not my personal pref list. I know what my gut says here though.
Osleivis Basabe, INF, Tampa Bay Rays (High-A Bowling Green)
Traded over from the Rangers organization along with Heriberto Hernandez and Alexander Ovalles in the Nathaniel Lowe deal of December 2020, Basabe is the most promising talent of the group for me. He doesn’t excel in the aspects of the game that are stereotypically associated with forward-thinking teams such as the Rays (power and patience), but he does contribute in ways that have been prized by the org in recent years (positional versatility and speed). Basabe posted solid but underwhelming numbers in an injury-shortened campaign with Low-A Charleston last year, but he has started 2022 hot with a better than .300 average and better than .800 OPS that have persisted through mid-May.
Basabe has sustained this level of production thanks to exceptional barrel control that allows him to cover all quadrants of the zone and foul off fastballs above the chest or breaking stuff below the knees until he gets a good pitch to hit, in the process avoiding whiffs and strikeouts. This is all despite a consistently hefty cut with a bit of extra hand and leg movement in addition to a general distaste for letting balls go by his door. Some level of concern about these tendencies may be warranted once he lands in Double-A and beyond, but for now the bat-to-ball ability is carrying him through.
Though he has made his way to twelve two-baggers already, the over-the-fence power has been nearly nonexistent. It is difficult to see him venturing too far past 10 homers (think Joey Wendle levels of pop) as Basabe is small framed and nearly maxed out physically, but the bat speed is legit and I expect the dinger numbers to tick up at least slightly. He hasn’t been stealing bases this season, odd considering his plus speed, but was swiping them at a healthy clip in 2021 and would enhance his overall profile if he returned to the habit. Also of value to his profile is an ability to play multiple infield positions: recently he’s spent significant time at short, second, and third. I’ve not seen him take enough chances to make definitive statements on his defensive chops, but the arm seems strong enough for all three spots, and the range should be as well if it corresponds with his broader base of skills. The sum is greater than the whole of the parts, and the parts add up to yet another pesky Rays dude.
From BP's Weekend MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... nt-falter/
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants (High-A Eugene): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 8 K.
Another day another decimation for Harrison, who is terrorizing Eugene’s opponents despite his precocious age. The southpaw now has 59 strikeouts of 118 batters faced.
Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers (High-A Wisconsin): 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 13 K.
Kelly’s bat-missing ability has come and gone throughout the 2022 season, but the towering lefty was firing on all cylinders with his fastball-slider combo for Wisconsin in this outing.
And finally, From MLB Pipeline's Update Top 100: https://www.mlb.com/news/updated-top-10 ... e-coverage
Moving Up
Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics (No. 55 to No. 42): The 24-year-old backstop has made a big impression since joining the A’s system in the Matt Olson deal with the Braves. Langeliers has been known for his big-time arm and overall defensive work since his college days and continues to show budding power with 11 homers, a .549 slugging percentage and .913 OPS at Triple-A Las Vegas. Even baking in some of the desert home effects, Langeliers has shown some of the best pop in his new system.
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants (No. 71 to No. 45): Harrison has put a plus heater and plus slider to work at High-A Eugene, where he’s fanned 59 in only 29 innings. Put another way, he’s struck out exactly 50 percent of the batters he’s faced to begin the season. The southpaw could need a Double-A challenge at just 20 years old soon.
Liover Peguero, SS, Pirates (No. 75 to No. 62): Already an above-average defender at a premium position, Peguero looks like he could be an above-average offensive threat too after taking kindly to Double-A Altoona (.317 average, 139 wRC+) in his first taste of the upper Minors.
New Faces
Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros (No. 100): Following Peña’s graduation, the Astros still claim a Top 100 representative in the 23-year-old right-hander with an upper-90s fastball and two promising breakers in his slider and curve. Brown has fanned 46 batters through 33 1/3 innings in his return to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers: Kelly was even more dominant than his final line indicates. He struck out the first six batters he faced and fanned 13 batters while recording just 17 outs. And when he left the game, he had not allowed a run, although he was pulled after 5.2 innings with the bases loaded. Owen Caissie then doubled to clear the bases, putting three runs on Kelly's ledger.
From BP's MMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... s-hitting/
Taj Bradley, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A Montgomery)
But boy does my gut like Bradley. Now as bits of prospect writer intuition go this one is comically well-supported and not even particularly prescient. He was an overslot fifth-round prep pick. He’s struck out better than 10-per-nine everywhere he’s been. And if anything, I am well behind the rest of the industry getting on the Bradley bandwagon. In his 2022 Rays list blurb Nathan wrote: “However, there’s a chance we’re a bit low here and Bradley’s the next in line to be the ace of the Rays staff.” Mi scuso. Perhaps I will sneak in under the wire as just “fashionably late.”
Bradley’s mid-90s heat comes in flat—in a good way—and his upper-80s he-calls-it-a-cutter that looks like a razorblade slider, shows like a plus swing-and-miss offering whatever your preferred taxonomy. He’ll snap off an 11-6 curve now and again that flashes plus—far less often than the cutter—and rounds out the repertoire with an already usable change. Like Bello the command isn’t all quite there, and the fastball can be a little hittable in the zone. There’s a deeper and more consistent set of secondaries, and I’m more confident Bradley is a starter long term—or whatever that designation means to the 2020s Tampa Bay Rays. I often write that our list product is not my personal pref list. I know what my gut says here though.
Osleivis Basabe, INF, Tampa Bay Rays (High-A Bowling Green)
Traded over from the Rangers organization along with Heriberto Hernandez and Alexander Ovalles in the Nathaniel Lowe deal of December 2020, Basabe is the most promising talent of the group for me. He doesn’t excel in the aspects of the game that are stereotypically associated with forward-thinking teams such as the Rays (power and patience), but he does contribute in ways that have been prized by the org in recent years (positional versatility and speed). Basabe posted solid but underwhelming numbers in an injury-shortened campaign with Low-A Charleston last year, but he has started 2022 hot with a better than .300 average and better than .800 OPS that have persisted through mid-May.
Basabe has sustained this level of production thanks to exceptional barrel control that allows him to cover all quadrants of the zone and foul off fastballs above the chest or breaking stuff below the knees until he gets a good pitch to hit, in the process avoiding whiffs and strikeouts. This is all despite a consistently hefty cut with a bit of extra hand and leg movement in addition to a general distaste for letting balls go by his door. Some level of concern about these tendencies may be warranted once he lands in Double-A and beyond, but for now the bat-to-ball ability is carrying him through.
Though he has made his way to twelve two-baggers already, the over-the-fence power has been nearly nonexistent. It is difficult to see him venturing too far past 10 homers (think Joey Wendle levels of pop) as Basabe is small framed and nearly maxed out physically, but the bat speed is legit and I expect the dinger numbers to tick up at least slightly. He hasn’t been stealing bases this season, odd considering his plus speed, but was swiping them at a healthy clip in 2021 and would enhance his overall profile if he returned to the habit. Also of value to his profile is an ability to play multiple infield positions: recently he’s spent significant time at short, second, and third. I’ve not seen him take enough chances to make definitive statements on his defensive chops, but the arm seems strong enough for all three spots, and the range should be as well if it corresponds with his broader base of skills. The sum is greater than the whole of the parts, and the parts add up to yet another pesky Rays dude.
From BP's Weekend MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... nt-falter/
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants (High-A Eugene): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 8 K.
Another day another decimation for Harrison, who is terrorizing Eugene’s opponents despite his precocious age. The southpaw now has 59 strikeouts of 118 batters faced.
Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers (High-A Wisconsin): 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 13 K.
Kelly’s bat-missing ability has come and gone throughout the 2022 season, but the towering lefty was firing on all cylinders with his fastball-slider combo for Wisconsin in this outing.
And finally, From MLB Pipeline's Update Top 100: https://www.mlb.com/news/updated-top-10 ... e-coverage
Moving Up
Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics (No. 55 to No. 42): The 24-year-old backstop has made a big impression since joining the A’s system in the Matt Olson deal with the Braves. Langeliers has been known for his big-time arm and overall defensive work since his college days and continues to show budding power with 11 homers, a .549 slugging percentage and .913 OPS at Triple-A Las Vegas. Even baking in some of the desert home effects, Langeliers has shown some of the best pop in his new system.
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants (No. 71 to No. 45): Harrison has put a plus heater and plus slider to work at High-A Eugene, where he’s fanned 59 in only 29 innings. Put another way, he’s struck out exactly 50 percent of the batters he’s faced to begin the season. The southpaw could need a Double-A challenge at just 20 years old soon.
Liover Peguero, SS, Pirates (No. 75 to No. 62): Already an above-average defender at a premium position, Peguero looks like he could be an above-average offensive threat too after taking kindly to Double-A Altoona (.317 average, 139 wRC+) in his first taste of the upper Minors.
New Faces
Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros (No. 100): Following Peña’s graduation, the Astros still claim a Top 100 representative in the 23-year-old right-hander with an upper-90s fastball and two promising breakers in his slider and curve. Brown has fanned 46 batters through 33 1/3 innings in his return to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-52422/
7. Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers
Team: High-A Wisconsin (Midwest)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 3.00, 12 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 18 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Making two starts this week for the Timber Rattlers against the South Bend Cubs, Kelly was very good in both turns and electric over the first five innings of each. On Tuesday, Kelly went 6.1 innings and didn’t allow a hit until the sixth. On Sunday, he struck out the first six batters he faced and 11 over the first five innings. In each of his starts he ran into trouble in his final inning as three inherited runners scored in the sixth inning of Sunday’s contest. One other note, on Sunday, Kelly induced 30 swings and misses, the most whiffs in a minor league game this season and the sixth most since 2017.
20. Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Team: High-A Eugene (Northwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Harrison’s season has been impeccable. The lefthander has taken the outrageous stuff he showed in his pro debut in 2021 and amplified it through better command and control at High-A. He’s been exceptionally effective in May. Through three starts he’s spun 14 shutout frames while allowing just eight hits, five walks and striking out 27. In other words, of the 42 outs he’s recorded in May, 64.2% have come via strikes. The jump he’s taken has been big enough to vault him up not only the Giants’ Top 30, but also into the realm of one of the game’s best overall prospects.
7. Antoine Kelly, LHP, Brewers
Team: High-A Wisconsin (Midwest)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 3.00, 12 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 18 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Making two starts this week for the Timber Rattlers against the South Bend Cubs, Kelly was very good in both turns and electric over the first five innings of each. On Tuesday, Kelly went 6.1 innings and didn’t allow a hit until the sixth. On Sunday, he struck out the first six batters he faced and 11 over the first five innings. In each of his starts he ran into trouble in his final inning as three inherited runners scored in the sixth inning of Sunday’s contest. One other note, on Sunday, Kelly induced 30 swings and misses, the most whiffs in a minor league game this season and the sixth most since 2017.
20. Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Team: High-A Eugene (Northwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Harrison’s season has been impeccable. The lefthander has taken the outrageous stuff he showed in his pro debut in 2021 and amplified it through better command and control at High-A. He’s been exceptionally effective in May. Through three starts he’s spun 14 shutout frames while allowing just eight hits, five walks and striking out 27. In other words, of the 42 outs he’s recorded in May, 64.2% have come via strikes. The jump he’s taken has been big enough to vault him up not only the Giants’ Top 30, but also into the realm of one of the game’s best overall prospects.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Some odds & ends from the past week...
Bradley allows one hit over four innings (May 26)
Another day, another strong outing for Taj Bradley.
The No. 3 prospect allowed just one hit and two walks across four scoreless innings in Double-A Montgomery’s 4-3 loss to Biloxi, tossing 49 of his 80 pitches for strikes. After allowing a leadoff single to begin the game, the 21-year-old retired 11 of the final 14 batters and racked up six strikeouts, five swinging and one looking. Bradley lowered his ERA to 2.31 and is holding opponents to a .180 batting average while racking up 42 K’s in 35 innings.
https://www.mlb.com/news/tampa-bay-rays ... e-coverage
Brown racks up 10 strikeouts in sparkling effort (May 26)
Hunter Brown allowed five hits, but it was what he didn't allow that was most impressive. Baseball's 100th overall prospect struck out a season-high 10 and did not issue a walk over seven scoreless innings as Triple-A Sugar Land blanked El Paso, 7-0.
Brown, who has been virtually unhittable in May with a 1.21 ERA, completed seven innings for the first time as a professional. The 23-year-old fanned eight in his final four frames, including the last four batters during his 88-pitch outing.
Brown has tossed 11 consecutive scoreless innings and improved his record to 3-3 with a 2.01 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings across nine appearances (six starts) for the Space Cowboys. The Wayne State product went 6-5 with a 4.04 ERA and 131 whiffs across 100 1/3 innings across two Minor League levels in 2021.
https://www.mlb.com/news/houston-astros ... e-coverage
Harrison fans nine in Double-A debut (May 27)
No matter what level Kyle Harrison is pitching at, he racks up the strikeouts.
The No. 2 prospect fanned nine -- six swinging and three looking -- across 5 2/3 innings in his debut for Double-A Richmond, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. Harrison fired 59 of his 86 pitches for strikes while amassing 17 swings-and-misses. The 85th overall pick of the 2020 Draft, Harrison is in the midst of a breakout sophomore season with a 1.82 ERA and 68 whiffs in 34 2/3 innings across two levels. -- Stephanie Sheehan
Harrison, Black earn promotions (May 24)
Left-hander Kyle Harrison, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Giants' No. 2 prospect, continued to show he's on the fast track, earning a promotion to Double-A Richmond on Tuesday after logging a 1.55 ERA with 59 strikeouts over 29 innings in seven starts for High-A Eugene. The 20-year-old struck out 50 percent of the batters he faced in High-A while walking 10 and holding opposing hitters to a .179 clip. Harrison is expected to make his Double-A debut on Friday against Hartford.
https://www.mlb.com/news/san-francisco- ... e-coverage
Bradley allows one hit over four innings (May 26)
Another day, another strong outing for Taj Bradley.
The No. 3 prospect allowed just one hit and two walks across four scoreless innings in Double-A Montgomery’s 4-3 loss to Biloxi, tossing 49 of his 80 pitches for strikes. After allowing a leadoff single to begin the game, the 21-year-old retired 11 of the final 14 batters and racked up six strikeouts, five swinging and one looking. Bradley lowered his ERA to 2.31 and is holding opponents to a .180 batting average while racking up 42 K’s in 35 innings.
https://www.mlb.com/news/tampa-bay-rays ... e-coverage
Brown racks up 10 strikeouts in sparkling effort (May 26)
Hunter Brown allowed five hits, but it was what he didn't allow that was most impressive. Baseball's 100th overall prospect struck out a season-high 10 and did not issue a walk over seven scoreless innings as Triple-A Sugar Land blanked El Paso, 7-0.
Brown, who has been virtually unhittable in May with a 1.21 ERA, completed seven innings for the first time as a professional. The 23-year-old fanned eight in his final four frames, including the last four batters during his 88-pitch outing.
Brown has tossed 11 consecutive scoreless innings and improved his record to 3-3 with a 2.01 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings across nine appearances (six starts) for the Space Cowboys. The Wayne State product went 6-5 with a 4.04 ERA and 131 whiffs across 100 1/3 innings across two Minor League levels in 2021.
https://www.mlb.com/news/houston-astros ... e-coverage
Harrison fans nine in Double-A debut (May 27)
No matter what level Kyle Harrison is pitching at, he racks up the strikeouts.
The No. 2 prospect fanned nine -- six swinging and three looking -- across 5 2/3 innings in his debut for Double-A Richmond, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. Harrison fired 59 of his 86 pitches for strikes while amassing 17 swings-and-misses. The 85th overall pick of the 2020 Draft, Harrison is in the midst of a breakout sophomore season with a 1.82 ERA and 68 whiffs in 34 2/3 innings across two levels. -- Stephanie Sheehan
Harrison, Black earn promotions (May 24)
Left-hander Kyle Harrison, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Giants' No. 2 prospect, continued to show he's on the fast track, earning a promotion to Double-A Richmond on Tuesday after logging a 1.55 ERA with 59 strikeouts over 29 innings in seven starts for High-A Eugene. The 20-year-old struck out 50 percent of the batters he faced in High-A while walking 10 and holding opposing hitters to a .179 clip. Harrison is expected to make his Double-A debut on Friday against Hartford.
https://www.mlb.com/news/san-francisco- ... e-coverage
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-53122/
6. Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros
Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: After struggling with his control the first six weeks of the season, Brown appears to have turned a corner. The hard-throwing but enigmatic righthander pitched four perfect innings in a relief appearance against Oklahoma City on May 20 and celebrated his return to the rotation in style on May 26, tossing seven scoreless innings with five hits allowed, 10 strikeouts and, most importantly, no walks against El Paso. Brown has long possessed elite stuff but struggled to harness it. If the control gains over his last two outings hold, it won’t be long before he’s in Houston. (KG)
6. Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros
Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: After struggling with his control the first six weeks of the season, Brown appears to have turned a corner. The hard-throwing but enigmatic righthander pitched four perfect innings in a relief appearance against Oklahoma City on May 20 and celebrated his return to the rotation in style on May 26, tossing seven scoreless innings with five hits allowed, 10 strikeouts and, most importantly, no walks against El Paso. Brown has long possessed elite stuff but struggled to harness it. If the control gains over his last two outings hold, it won’t be long before he’s in Houston. (KG)
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BP's MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... o-impress/
Pitcher of the day:
Taj Bradley, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Taj Bradley’s minor-league ascent has continued this season at Double-A, where the 21-year-old righty has built upon his breakout 2021 campaign, combining an efficient ability to induce soft contact and a good deal of strikeouts. Bradley’s arsenal features a mid-90s fastball and high-80s slider, which are easily Bradley’s two best offerings, a 12-6 curveball, and a changeup which are useful change of pace looks for hitters. On Wednesday, Bradley had his best overall performance of the season against Mississippi, needing just 73 pitches (51 strikes) to cruise through 6 innings while racking up 9 strikeouts and surrendering just 1 run on 4 hits (including a solo homer) and a walk. Coming off a May when Bradley recorded a 1.06 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 17 innings across four starts, he’s affirming his status as one of Tampa’s most exciting pitching prospects.
Pitcher of the day:
Taj Bradley, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Taj Bradley’s minor-league ascent has continued this season at Double-A, where the 21-year-old righty has built upon his breakout 2021 campaign, combining an efficient ability to induce soft contact and a good deal of strikeouts. Bradley’s arsenal features a mid-90s fastball and high-80s slider, which are easily Bradley’s two best offerings, a 12-6 curveball, and a changeup which are useful change of pace looks for hitters. On Wednesday, Bradley had his best overall performance of the season against Mississippi, needing just 73 pitches (51 strikes) to cruise through 6 innings while racking up 9 strikeouts and surrendering just 1 run on 4 hits (including a solo homer) and a walk. Coming off a May when Bradley recorded a 1.06 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 17 innings across four starts, he’s affirming his status as one of Tampa’s most exciting pitching prospects.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BA's Prospect Breakthroughs: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... s-in-2022/
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Harrison’s first season as a pro, in 2021, was eye-opening. The lefthander showed electric stuff all season long at Low-A San Jose and finished the year with 157 strikeouts, tied for seventh-most in the minors. His command and control, however, needed to be tightened. Harrison worked hard to address timing issues in his delivery that were leading to more scattershot command of the zone, and the results in 2022 have been loud. He blitzed the High-A Northwest League with 59 strikeouts in 29 innings before earning a promotion to Double-A. His fastball-slider-changeup mix played well in his debut at the next level, too, further cementing his status as not only the top pitching prospect in San Francisco’s system, but one of the best overall pitching prospects in the game.
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Harrison’s first season as a pro, in 2021, was eye-opening. The lefthander showed electric stuff all season long at Low-A San Jose and finished the year with 157 strikeouts, tied for seventh-most in the minors. His command and control, however, needed to be tightened. Harrison worked hard to address timing issues in his delivery that were leading to more scattershot command of the zone, and the results in 2022 have been loud. He blitzed the High-A Northwest League with 59 strikeouts in 29 innings before earning a promotion to Double-A. His fastball-slider-changeup mix played well in his debut at the next level, too, further cementing his status as not only the top pitching prospect in San Francisco’s system, but one of the best overall pitching prospects in the game.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Another batch of updates from the past few days...
Monday's BA Prospect Report: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ficial-ab/
Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds: After an ugly start to his big league career, the flamethrowing rookie righthander is starting to find his groove. Greene pitched seven scoreless innings with one hit allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts to lead the Reds to a 7-0, rain-shortened win over the D-backs on Monday. The only hit Greene allowed was a bunt single by Daulton Varsho to lead off the game. He then retired the next 20 batters and faced the minimum after Varsho was erased on a strike him out, throw him out double play. Most encouraging, Greene got 12 swings and misses on his fastball, a pitch that previously had been getting torched despite its easy, 98-102 mph velocity. After getting torched for an 8.71 ERA and .311 opponent average in his first five starts, Greene has a 3.41 ERA and .176 opponent average in his last six starts.
Tuesday's BA Prospect Report: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... or-dayton/
Drew Waters, OF, Braves: The 23-year-old outfielder started his series strong on Tuesday by going 4-for-5 against Jacksonville. Waters collected his third home run of the season as part of the effort.
BA's June NL Central Prospect Notebook: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -for-june/
Brewers’ Antoine Kelly Gets A Boost From Health, Confidence
The needle is once again pointing up for 22-year-old lefthander Antoine Kelly.
Fully recovered from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he had in November 2020, Kelly was dealing at High-A Wisconsin.
In one late-May start, Kelly generated 30 swinging strikes against South Bend and finished the game with a career-high 13 strikeouts. Brewers player development tweeted that 30 swings-and-misses was the most by a minor league pitcher in one appearance this season.
Three starts earlier, Kelly had fanned 10 against Fort Wayne.
Through his first nine starts, Kelly posted a 3.27 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 23 walks in 44 innings.
Perhaps most important was the fact Kelly, a 2019 second-rounder out of Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC, now appears to have his command dialed back in after having almost completely lost it during a tough 2021 campaign.
Kelly returned from his surgery in mid July last year and in nine appearances ran up a 9.78 ERA while walking 19 in 19.1 innings.
“The surgery that Antoine underwent was significant,” Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan said, “so getting back on the mound in 2021 post-surgery was important, but getting through 2021 and finishing the year healthy was most important.
“It allowed him to have a normal offseason and come into camp knowing he was basically 100% from a health standpoint.”
Kelly’s calling card has always been his fastball, which peaks in the high 90s. As with any pitcher, controlling his secondary pitches—in Kelly’s case a slider and a changeup—is key.
So is confidence, which Kelly himself said he had been lacking early this spring.
Expect the Brewers to continue to take it slow with the 22-year-old, who pitched into the seventh for the first time in his career and has already set a new career high in innings.
“This year, he has continued to make some big strides,” Flanagan said. “He’s pitching with a better tempo and each start has seemed to be a bit better than the last one.”
Monday's BA Prospect Report: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ficial-ab/
Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds: After an ugly start to his big league career, the flamethrowing rookie righthander is starting to find his groove. Greene pitched seven scoreless innings with one hit allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts to lead the Reds to a 7-0, rain-shortened win over the D-backs on Monday. The only hit Greene allowed was a bunt single by Daulton Varsho to lead off the game. He then retired the next 20 batters and faced the minimum after Varsho was erased on a strike him out, throw him out double play. Most encouraging, Greene got 12 swings and misses on his fastball, a pitch that previously had been getting torched despite its easy, 98-102 mph velocity. After getting torched for an 8.71 ERA and .311 opponent average in his first five starts, Greene has a 3.41 ERA and .176 opponent average in his last six starts.
Tuesday's BA Prospect Report: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... or-dayton/
Drew Waters, OF, Braves: The 23-year-old outfielder started his series strong on Tuesday by going 4-for-5 against Jacksonville. Waters collected his third home run of the season as part of the effort.
BA's June NL Central Prospect Notebook: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -for-june/
Brewers’ Antoine Kelly Gets A Boost From Health, Confidence
The needle is once again pointing up for 22-year-old lefthander Antoine Kelly.
Fully recovered from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he had in November 2020, Kelly was dealing at High-A Wisconsin.
In one late-May start, Kelly generated 30 swinging strikes against South Bend and finished the game with a career-high 13 strikeouts. Brewers player development tweeted that 30 swings-and-misses was the most by a minor league pitcher in one appearance this season.
Three starts earlier, Kelly had fanned 10 against Fort Wayne.
Through his first nine starts, Kelly posted a 3.27 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 23 walks in 44 innings.
Perhaps most important was the fact Kelly, a 2019 second-rounder out of Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC, now appears to have his command dialed back in after having almost completely lost it during a tough 2021 campaign.
Kelly returned from his surgery in mid July last year and in nine appearances ran up a 9.78 ERA while walking 19 in 19.1 innings.
“The surgery that Antoine underwent was significant,” Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan said, “so getting back on the mound in 2021 post-surgery was important, but getting through 2021 and finishing the year healthy was most important.
“It allowed him to have a normal offseason and come into camp knowing he was basically 100% from a health standpoint.”
Kelly’s calling card has always been his fastball, which peaks in the high 90s. As with any pitcher, controlling his secondary pitches—in Kelly’s case a slider and a changeup—is key.
So is confidence, which Kelly himself said he had been lacking early this spring.
Expect the Brewers to continue to take it slow with the 22-year-old, who pitched into the seventh for the first time in his career and has already set a new career high in innings.
“This year, he has continued to make some big strides,” Flanagan said. “He’s pitching with a better tempo and each start has seemed to be a bit better than the last one.”
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
BP's Wednesday MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... g-hitters/
Hunter Brown, RHP, Houston Astros (Triple-A Sugar Land): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER 1 BB, 9 K.
There’s no doubt that Brown’s stuff is good enough to get major league hitters out. His high octane heater, biting curve, and power slider have helped him hold opposing hitters to a .197 average this season. It’s the command that will need to be improved if he’s to carve out a future starting role.
Drew Waters, OF, Atlanta Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 4-5, 2 R, HR, RBI, K.
Mitchell Parker, LHP, Washington Nationals (High-A Wilmington): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K.
BP's TMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... as-rising/
Miguel Bleis, CF, Red Sox (FCL Red Sox)
Bleis was a January 2021 signee for the Red Sox who the same year played in the Dominican Summer League, holding his own against other players who’d been at the complex for far longer. He began 2022 in extended spring before making his stateside debut Monday afternoon in the Red Sox’s complex league opener against the Braves. The reality here is we don’t have enough data points to place anything close to solidified grades on Bleis, but both the Red Sox and other teams have prioritized him ahead of the deadline. The consensus among Red Sox personnel is that Bleis is the most intriguing international prospect the team has signed in quite some time, and it’s easy to see why.
Bleis is a quick-twitch athlete with an ideal frame for the position; his build reminds me of another centerfielder I saw earlier this year, Johan Rojas. Perhaps Bleis’ most tantalizing quality is his easy plus bat speed: he can whip it through the zone, as he made hard contact a couple of times during my look. He currently lacks the strength to transmute his bat speed into home run power, and I’m unsure whether this’ll change over time (I don’t know how much physical maturation is left). As you would expect with an 18-year-old making his stateside debut, the pitch recognition–particularly against breaking pitches—is not there, but he does have a pretty good sense of the strike zone and should garner his fair share of walks. Though he isn’t the best defender in center, I think there is potential to be average with the glove thanks to his good first step and plus speed.
I asked several Red Sox personnel where they’d rank Bleis within their prospect pool; the consensus was anywhere in the 6-10 range, which I felt was about right. Don’t be shocked if Bleis explodes with more stateside experience, as we’ve seen what uber-athletic players have been able to accomplish in a relatively short period. That said, we’re still talking about an OFP 5 with extreme risk.
Hunter Brown, RHP, Houston Astros (Triple-A Sugar Land): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER 1 BB, 9 K.
There’s no doubt that Brown’s stuff is good enough to get major league hitters out. His high octane heater, biting curve, and power slider have helped him hold opposing hitters to a .197 average this season. It’s the command that will need to be improved if he’s to carve out a future starting role.
Drew Waters, OF, Atlanta Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett): 4-5, 2 R, HR, RBI, K.
Mitchell Parker, LHP, Washington Nationals (High-A Wilmington): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K.
BP's TMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... as-rising/
Miguel Bleis, CF, Red Sox (FCL Red Sox)
Bleis was a January 2021 signee for the Red Sox who the same year played in the Dominican Summer League, holding his own against other players who’d been at the complex for far longer. He began 2022 in extended spring before making his stateside debut Monday afternoon in the Red Sox’s complex league opener against the Braves. The reality here is we don’t have enough data points to place anything close to solidified grades on Bleis, but both the Red Sox and other teams have prioritized him ahead of the deadline. The consensus among Red Sox personnel is that Bleis is the most intriguing international prospect the team has signed in quite some time, and it’s easy to see why.
Bleis is a quick-twitch athlete with an ideal frame for the position; his build reminds me of another centerfielder I saw earlier this year, Johan Rojas. Perhaps Bleis’ most tantalizing quality is his easy plus bat speed: he can whip it through the zone, as he made hard contact a couple of times during my look. He currently lacks the strength to transmute his bat speed into home run power, and I’m unsure whether this’ll change over time (I don’t know how much physical maturation is left). As you would expect with an 18-year-old making his stateside debut, the pitch recognition–particularly against breaking pitches—is not there, but he does have a pretty good sense of the strike zone and should garner his fair share of walks. Though he isn’t the best defender in center, I think there is potential to be average with the glove thanks to his good first step and plus speed.
I asked several Red Sox personnel where they’d rank Bleis within their prospect pool; the consensus was anywhere in the 6-10 range, which I felt was about right. Don’t be shocked if Bleis explodes with more stateside experience, as we’ve seen what uber-athletic players have been able to accomplish in a relatively short period. That said, we’re still talking about an OFP 5 with extreme risk.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Life's been a bit hectic the last few weeks, but we're back (at least in part) with some updates!
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... week-7622/
7. Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros
Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: The Astros top prospect continues to be one of the most impressive pitchers in the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. In his June 30 start at Albuquerque he went six innings, allowing a pair of hits and a walk, while striking out seven. He generated 10 swinging strikes, 17 looking strikes and 10 ground balls as Brown showed a variety of ways to generate outs against the Isotopes. He hit 98 mph six times on his fastball and got multiple whiffs against his fastball, slider and curveball. Brown has taken a step forward with command and pitch execution this season and he’s seen a sizable jump in performance and production. Facing a 40-man roster decision this upcoming winter Brown is forcing the issue for a callup and in most organizations would likely already be making starts in the majors.
13. Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Bradley is one of the very best pitching prospects in the game. He earned that rep in 2021 and is reinforcing it in 2022. His ERAs in both May and June were under 1.50, and his overall line since May 1 is pure comedy: In 47.1 innings he’s allowed just 27 hits and walked 14 while striking out 57 hitters. Those with access to calculators know those numbers equal a strikeout rate of just better than 40%. In other words, the man has been nasty as all get out.
16. Nolan Jones, OF, Guardians
Team: Triple-A Columbus
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .400/.516/.760 (10-for-25), 9 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBIs, 6 BB, 5 SO, 3-for-4 SB
The Scoop: Jones missed the first two months of the season due to offseason ankle surgery and a lower back injury, but he’s been a force since he returned to Columbus’ lineup. Jones homered in back-to-back games, including hitting a grand slam, against Iowa last week and ripped off 10 hits in his first 18 at-bats of the series. He is now batting .314/.423/.512 for the Clippers in 22 games since coming off the IL, a welcome turnaround after he suffered through a miserable season at the level last year.
And from MLB Pipeline's Updated Top 100: https://www.mlb.com/news/updated-top-10 ... e-coverage
Moving Up
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants (No. 39 to No. 27): Harrison has reached Double-A in just his age-20 season and continues to display three impressive pitches to strike out 37.5 percent of his batters faced there. He becomes Pipeline’s top left-handed pitching prospect, having added significant power to his arsenal since the time he was taken in the third round of the 2020 Draft.
Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays (No. 61 to No. 35): Bradley led full-season Minor Leaguers with a 1.83 ERA last season. He’s somehow improved upon that mark with a 1.65 ERA through 65 1/3 innings at Double-A Montgomery this year. The 21-year-old relies on a mid-90s fastball and upper-80s slider that acts almost like a cutter to keep hitters off-balance, and his walk rate continues to shrink even in his first taste of the upper Minors.
Moving down (ruh roh raggy)
Brady House, SS, Nationals (No. 38 to No. 53): House is built like his last name at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, but only 11 of his 49 hits for Single-A Fredericksburg have gone for extra bases. That’s tough news for a player whose profile depended so much on his power. He appears to be struggling with the velocity of the pros, and he’ll need to make adjustments to catch up the remainder of the way in his first full season.
New faces
Owen White, RHP, Rangers (No. 97): Last year’s Arizona Fall League breakout pitcher has kept his momentum going into 2022, striking out 93 batters in 69 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A. All four of White’s pitches have above-average potential, and he typically sits in the mid-90s with his velocity. He could pass No. 82 Cole Winn to become Texas’ No. 2 pitching prospect behind Jack Leiter soon.
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... week-7622/
7. Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros
Team: Triple-A Sugar Land (Pacific Coast)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO
The Scoop: The Astros top prospect continues to be one of the most impressive pitchers in the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. In his June 30 start at Albuquerque he went six innings, allowing a pair of hits and a walk, while striking out seven. He generated 10 swinging strikes, 17 looking strikes and 10 ground balls as Brown showed a variety of ways to generate outs against the Isotopes. He hit 98 mph six times on his fastball and got multiple whiffs against his fastball, slider and curveball. Brown has taken a step forward with command and pitch execution this season and he’s seen a sizable jump in performance and production. Facing a 40-man roster decision this upcoming winter Brown is forcing the issue for a callup and in most organizations would likely already be making starts in the majors.
13. Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: Bradley is one of the very best pitching prospects in the game. He earned that rep in 2021 and is reinforcing it in 2022. His ERAs in both May and June were under 1.50, and his overall line since May 1 is pure comedy: In 47.1 innings he’s allowed just 27 hits and walked 14 while striking out 57 hitters. Those with access to calculators know those numbers equal a strikeout rate of just better than 40%. In other words, the man has been nasty as all get out.
16. Nolan Jones, OF, Guardians
Team: Triple-A Columbus
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: .400/.516/.760 (10-for-25), 9 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBIs, 6 BB, 5 SO, 3-for-4 SB
The Scoop: Jones missed the first two months of the season due to offseason ankle surgery and a lower back injury, but he’s been a force since he returned to Columbus’ lineup. Jones homered in back-to-back games, including hitting a grand slam, against Iowa last week and ripped off 10 hits in his first 18 at-bats of the series. He is now batting .314/.423/.512 for the Clippers in 22 games since coming off the IL, a welcome turnaround after he suffered through a miserable season at the level last year.
And from MLB Pipeline's Updated Top 100: https://www.mlb.com/news/updated-top-10 ... e-coverage
Moving Up
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants (No. 39 to No. 27): Harrison has reached Double-A in just his age-20 season and continues to display three impressive pitches to strike out 37.5 percent of his batters faced there. He becomes Pipeline’s top left-handed pitching prospect, having added significant power to his arsenal since the time he was taken in the third round of the 2020 Draft.
Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays (No. 61 to No. 35): Bradley led full-season Minor Leaguers with a 1.83 ERA last season. He’s somehow improved upon that mark with a 1.65 ERA through 65 1/3 innings at Double-A Montgomery this year. The 21-year-old relies on a mid-90s fastball and upper-80s slider that acts almost like a cutter to keep hitters off-balance, and his walk rate continues to shrink even in his first taste of the upper Minors.
Moving down (ruh roh raggy)
Brady House, SS, Nationals (No. 38 to No. 53): House is built like his last name at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, but only 11 of his 49 hits for Single-A Fredericksburg have gone for extra bases. That’s tough news for a player whose profile depended so much on his power. He appears to be struggling with the velocity of the pros, and he’ll need to make adjustments to catch up the remainder of the way in his first full season.
New faces
Owen White, RHP, Rangers (No. 97): Last year’s Arizona Fall League breakout pitcher has kept his momentum going into 2022, striking out 93 batters in 69 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A. All four of White’s pitches have above-average potential, and he typically sits in the mid-90s with his velocity. He could pass No. 82 Cole Winn to become Texas’ No. 2 pitching prospect behind Jack Leiter soon.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
Lots going on this week...
From MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week: https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-team- ... e-coverage
OF: Matt Wallner, Wichita Wind Surge, (Double-A)
Twins No. 8
.450/.542/.950, 5 G, 9-for-20, 3 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 5 K
Wallner has made himself at home on this year’s Prospect Team of the Week with this being his third selection of the season. The 24-year-old had hits in all five games he played against visiting Amarillo with a trio of multihit affairs. Wallner opened his series with a pair of homers on Independence Day and drove in three runs. The outfielder then closed his week with three hits and a homer in Sunday’s finale. The stretch pushed Wallner’s season-long OPS back over 1.000 with a .292/.430/.596 line in 76 games for the year.
OF: Kameron Misner, Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A)
Rays No. 13
.500/.636/.813, 5 G, 8-for-16, 1 HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 4 K, 3 SB
One game took Misner’s week from good to great. After starting Montgomery’s series against Biloxi 2-for-9, the outfielder went off in a 5-for-5 performance with two doubles and a pair of runs scored on Saturday night. It was the first game in Misner’s career with more than three hits, and it helped lift the Biscuits to a 7-6 win in extra innings. Trailing by two heading into the bottom of the 10th, Misner’s team mounted a two-out rally that included a Misner single through the left side. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Misner came home to score the game-winning run when Garrett Hiott was hit by a pitch.
RHP: Taj Bradley, Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A)
Rays No. 2, MLB No. 34
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K, 0.33 WHIP
Having not allowed an earned run over his previous three outings, Bradley kept that streak alive with six more stellar innings for Montgomery. The righty silenced Biloxi’s bats, allowing just two singles and no walks over his Thursday outing, and got six groundouts and four on the fly to go along with his seven strikeouts. Bradley has allowed more than one earned run just one start this year, when he gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits over four innings on April 27. When removing that start, the 21-year-old’s ERA is 0.94 in his other 14 outings this year.
From BP's MMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... ound-town/
Tyler Black, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers (High-A Wisconsin)
The post-draft numbers for Black were uninspiring, but could be chalked up to late-season weariness after playing an entire college baseball season. Back fresh in his first full professional season, he’s producing much more like how the Brewers envisioned when they made Black the 33rd overall selection last year out of Wright State: he’s walking more than he strikes out, hitting for average, and getting on base at a decent clip.
Black’s path to the major leagues lies squarely on the strength of the hit tool. He displays an elite zone awareness and patient approach, rarely chasing anything that is not a strike. The bat is quick, and there is an excellent amount of contact produced. While he hits the ball hard, it’s not a swing geared for over-the-fence power. He’s unlikely to produce much over the fence pop with his level swing, but he’s strong and the power will manifest in the form of gap-to-gap doubles.
The offseason for Black was spent becoming a better athlete, and the results can be seen on the field. He’s surprisingly quick and, while not a burner, has turned himself into an efficient base stealer. It’s also taken the form of more versatility in the field. During my look, he spent time in center field where he showed the promise of becoming an adequate defender there. The lack of power keeps the ceiling low, but Black’s newfound defensive versatility and advanced hit tool will help him carve out a future role on a major league roster.
From BP's Dynasty Curtain Call: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... l-week-14/
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG)
Depending on who you read and when you read them, Kyle Harrison might be the best pitcher in Double-A or the worst pitcher in the San Francisco organization. I tend to be more with the former than the latter these days and this is likely at odds with a fairly subpar June. Digging beyond the stat line, however, you’ll see that Harrison had a bad start (June 3 at Akron) followed by a start with a single bad offering to Dane Myers during an eight pitch battle that landed in the cheap seats. Harrison continues to pummel lesser foes with a plus slider that is absolutely devastating. He needs a decent third pitch if he’s going to avoid the bullpen because the changeup isn’t there yet. He shoves and sometimes too hard as exemplified by his walk issue (12.8 percent). Jesse and Bret have Harrison at 38 on their most recent dynasty prospect rankings, but this seems to be banking heavily on Harrison pulling it all together. If he does, that ranking might seem light. Until then, I think it’s a little aggressive.
And finally, from BA's Mid-Season Top 100 Update: https://www.baseballamerica.com/ranking ... prospects/
#18 - Taj Bradley (SP)
#22 - Kyle Harrison (SP)
#29 - Triston Casas (1B)
#54 - Hunter Brown (SP)
#68 - Liover Peguero (SS)
#83 - Shea Langeliers (C)
#86 - Owen White (SP)
From MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week: https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-team- ... e-coverage
OF: Matt Wallner, Wichita Wind Surge, (Double-A)
Twins No. 8
.450/.542/.950, 5 G, 9-for-20, 3 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 5 K
Wallner has made himself at home on this year’s Prospect Team of the Week with this being his third selection of the season. The 24-year-old had hits in all five games he played against visiting Amarillo with a trio of multihit affairs. Wallner opened his series with a pair of homers on Independence Day and drove in three runs. The outfielder then closed his week with three hits and a homer in Sunday’s finale. The stretch pushed Wallner’s season-long OPS back over 1.000 with a .292/.430/.596 line in 76 games for the year.
OF: Kameron Misner, Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A)
Rays No. 13
.500/.636/.813, 5 G, 8-for-16, 1 HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 4 K, 3 SB
One game took Misner’s week from good to great. After starting Montgomery’s series against Biloxi 2-for-9, the outfielder went off in a 5-for-5 performance with two doubles and a pair of runs scored on Saturday night. It was the first game in Misner’s career with more than three hits, and it helped lift the Biscuits to a 7-6 win in extra innings. Trailing by two heading into the bottom of the 10th, Misner’s team mounted a two-out rally that included a Misner single through the left side. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Misner came home to score the game-winning run when Garrett Hiott was hit by a pitch.
RHP: Taj Bradley, Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A)
Rays No. 2, MLB No. 34
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K, 0.33 WHIP
Having not allowed an earned run over his previous three outings, Bradley kept that streak alive with six more stellar innings for Montgomery. The righty silenced Biloxi’s bats, allowing just two singles and no walks over his Thursday outing, and got six groundouts and four on the fly to go along with his seven strikeouts. Bradley has allowed more than one earned run just one start this year, when he gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits over four innings on April 27. When removing that start, the 21-year-old’s ERA is 0.94 in his other 14 outings this year.
From BP's MMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... ound-town/
Tyler Black, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers (High-A Wisconsin)
The post-draft numbers for Black were uninspiring, but could be chalked up to late-season weariness after playing an entire college baseball season. Back fresh in his first full professional season, he’s producing much more like how the Brewers envisioned when they made Black the 33rd overall selection last year out of Wright State: he’s walking more than he strikes out, hitting for average, and getting on base at a decent clip.
Black’s path to the major leagues lies squarely on the strength of the hit tool. He displays an elite zone awareness and patient approach, rarely chasing anything that is not a strike. The bat is quick, and there is an excellent amount of contact produced. While he hits the ball hard, it’s not a swing geared for over-the-fence power. He’s unlikely to produce much over the fence pop with his level swing, but he’s strong and the power will manifest in the form of gap-to-gap doubles.
The offseason for Black was spent becoming a better athlete, and the results can be seen on the field. He’s surprisingly quick and, while not a burner, has turned himself into an efficient base stealer. It’s also taken the form of more versatility in the field. During my look, he spent time in center field where he showed the promise of becoming an adequate defender there. The lack of power keeps the ceiling low, but Black’s newfound defensive versatility and advanced hit tool will help him carve out a future role on a major league roster.
From BP's Dynasty Curtain Call: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/fant ... l-week-14/
Kyle Harrison, LHP, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG)
Depending on who you read and when you read them, Kyle Harrison might be the best pitcher in Double-A or the worst pitcher in the San Francisco organization. I tend to be more with the former than the latter these days and this is likely at odds with a fairly subpar June. Digging beyond the stat line, however, you’ll see that Harrison had a bad start (June 3 at Akron) followed by a start with a single bad offering to Dane Myers during an eight pitch battle that landed in the cheap seats. Harrison continues to pummel lesser foes with a plus slider that is absolutely devastating. He needs a decent third pitch if he’s going to avoid the bullpen because the changeup isn’t there yet. He shoves and sometimes too hard as exemplified by his walk issue (12.8 percent). Jesse and Bret have Harrison at 38 on their most recent dynasty prospect rankings, but this seems to be banking heavily on Harrison pulling it all together. If he does, that ranking might seem light. Until then, I think it’s a little aggressive.
And finally, from BA's Mid-Season Top 100 Update: https://www.baseballamerica.com/ranking ... prospects/
#18 - Taj Bradley (SP)
#22 - Kyle Harrison (SP)
#29 - Triston Casas (1B)
#54 - Hunter Brown (SP)
#68 - Liover Peguero (SS)
#83 - Shea Langeliers (C)
#86 - Owen White (SP)
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BP's Midseason Top 50 Prospects: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... on-top-50/
16. Kyle Harrison, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Why he’ll succeed: After a 2021 velocity bump, Harrison’s heater ticked up again and now sits mid-90s. The slider has improved and has plus projection. The advanced changeup from his prep days looks above-average as well. It’s a premium three-pitch mix and Harrison has dominated the minors so far.
Why he might fail: He doesn’t always throw enough strikes, or enough good strikes, with his arsenal. Another grade of command would be the difference between a frustrating third/fourth starter type and top-of-the-rotation monster. His workload has been relatively sparse.
25. Taj Bradley, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Why he’ll succeed: A familiar refrain in this portion of the list: Mid-90s heat with a flat approach angle that gets whiffs on its own. A razor blade cutter that is a true swing-and-miss offering as well. He doesn’t need much more, but the curve flashes plus, and the change isn’t bad either.
Why he might fail: The top two pitches in the arsenal outpace the other two by enough that some reliever risk remains. Compounding that, he’s still averaging under five innings a start because yeah, it’s the Rays.
35. Liover Peguero, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
Why he’ll succeed: Peguero has sure-shot shortstop defense. He’s a plus runner. His swing is loose and fast. He has above-average power upside, and might get to an average-or-better hit tool outcome, too.
Why he might fail: His swing decisions might limit that hit tool rather substantially; Peguero needs to make more contact and take more walks. He’s had a particularly rough go of it since a brief cameo in Pittsburgh earlier this year as an emergency COVID IL replacement.
36. Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox
Why he’ll succeed: When you watch Casas, you come away thinking that he’s a pretty safe bet to hit .280 with 30 home runs while playing a solid first base.
Why he might fail: When you look at his player card, neither of those numbers appear anywhere outside of the Arizona Fall League.
16. Kyle Harrison, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Why he’ll succeed: After a 2021 velocity bump, Harrison’s heater ticked up again and now sits mid-90s. The slider has improved and has plus projection. The advanced changeup from his prep days looks above-average as well. It’s a premium three-pitch mix and Harrison has dominated the minors so far.
Why he might fail: He doesn’t always throw enough strikes, or enough good strikes, with his arsenal. Another grade of command would be the difference between a frustrating third/fourth starter type and top-of-the-rotation monster. His workload has been relatively sparse.
25. Taj Bradley, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
Why he’ll succeed: A familiar refrain in this portion of the list: Mid-90s heat with a flat approach angle that gets whiffs on its own. A razor blade cutter that is a true swing-and-miss offering as well. He doesn’t need much more, but the curve flashes plus, and the change isn’t bad either.
Why he might fail: The top two pitches in the arsenal outpace the other two by enough that some reliever risk remains. Compounding that, he’s still averaging under five innings a start because yeah, it’s the Rays.
35. Liover Peguero, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
Why he’ll succeed: Peguero has sure-shot shortstop defense. He’s a plus runner. His swing is loose and fast. He has above-average power upside, and might get to an average-or-better hit tool outcome, too.
Why he might fail: His swing decisions might limit that hit tool rather substantially; Peguero needs to make more contact and take more walks. He’s had a particularly rough go of it since a brief cameo in Pittsburgh earlier this year as an emergency COVID IL replacement.
36. Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox
Why he’ll succeed: When you watch Casas, you come away thinking that he’s a pretty safe bet to hit .280 with 30 home runs while playing a solid first base.
Why he might fail: When you look at his player card, neither of those numbers appear anywhere outside of the Arizona Fall League.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eek-71922/
17. Osleivis Basabe, 2B/3B, Rays
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .462/.516/.615 (12-for-26), 9 R, 4 2B, 4 RBIs, 4 BB, 3 SO, 2 SB.
The Scoop: Basabe was recently promoted to Double-A Montgomery, which has not done anything to slow down his high-average, high-contact approach. Basabe has a level swing that generates plenty of ground balls and line drives, but isn’t conducive to hitting home runs. He has hit just one home run since May 27, but he also has five three-hit games and a four-hit game since then. Defensively, he’s adequate at second and third base, and a little stretched at shortstop. That lack of productive power could eventually hold him back, but it’s easier to teach a hitter to hit for power than it is to teach a slugger how to hit.
19. Miguel Bleis, OF, Red Sox
Team: FCL Red Sox (Florida Complex)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .471/.471/.941 (8-for-17), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 4 SO, 4-for-4 SB
The Scoop: One of the top young talents in Boston’s system, Bleis started a little slow out of the gate this season but has been on fire in July. He’s a speedy center fielder with a knack for the barrel and solid plate approach considering his age and level. His in-game power is starting to show, with strong exit velocity numbers that would compare well against a majority of major league hitters. Last week he had three multi-hit games out of the four games played, and had a hit in each game. The signature game of the week came on Tuesday, when Bleis slugged two home runs including one that was hit at 102 mph off the bat. He’s a standout young talent to keep an eye on in the Red Sox system.
From BP's Heat Check: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... t-wallner/
Matt Wallner, OF, Minnesota Twins (Triple-A St. Paul): .417 (10-24), 5 R, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 7 K.
Wallner’s cold start to the season is clearly in the rearview mirror. The bat has been on fire since the end of April and an OPS of 1.214 last month was enough to earn a promotion to the International League. There’s been a dramatic improvement in the swing decisions and he’s hitting the ball in the air more. That increased loft and high exit velocities have resulted in nearly half of all his hits this season going for extra bases. The strikeouts are always going to be part of his game, coming from in-zone misses, but the Twins will tolerate the K’s as long as the power continues.
Miguel Bleis, OF, Boston Red Sox (Rookie FCL Red Sox: .360 (9-25), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 K, 4 SB.
Lean, with some quick twitch athleticism, Bleis is giving us a glimpse of the high-upside tools that enticed the Red Sox to give him their highest bonus in the most recent international signing period. Like many young players, he’s still developing zone awareness and learning what pitches he can drive. If he gets it figured out, Bleis’ speed and power combination will make him an exciting follow.
17. Osleivis Basabe, 2B/3B, Rays
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Southern)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .462/.516/.615 (12-for-26), 9 R, 4 2B, 4 RBIs, 4 BB, 3 SO, 2 SB.
The Scoop: Basabe was recently promoted to Double-A Montgomery, which has not done anything to slow down his high-average, high-contact approach. Basabe has a level swing that generates plenty of ground balls and line drives, but isn’t conducive to hitting home runs. He has hit just one home run since May 27, but he also has five three-hit games and a four-hit game since then. Defensively, he’s adequate at second and third base, and a little stretched at shortstop. That lack of productive power could eventually hold him back, but it’s easier to teach a hitter to hit for power than it is to teach a slugger how to hit.
19. Miguel Bleis, OF, Red Sox
Team: FCL Red Sox (Florida Complex)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .471/.471/.941 (8-for-17), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 4 SO, 4-for-4 SB
The Scoop: One of the top young talents in Boston’s system, Bleis started a little slow out of the gate this season but has been on fire in July. He’s a speedy center fielder with a knack for the barrel and solid plate approach considering his age and level. His in-game power is starting to show, with strong exit velocity numbers that would compare well against a majority of major league hitters. Last week he had three multi-hit games out of the four games played, and had a hit in each game. The signature game of the week came on Tuesday, when Bleis slugged two home runs including one that was hit at 102 mph off the bat. He’s a standout young talent to keep an eye on in the Red Sox system.
From BP's Heat Check: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... t-wallner/
Matt Wallner, OF, Minnesota Twins (Triple-A St. Paul): .417 (10-24), 5 R, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 7 K.
Wallner’s cold start to the season is clearly in the rearview mirror. The bat has been on fire since the end of April and an OPS of 1.214 last month was enough to earn a promotion to the International League. There’s been a dramatic improvement in the swing decisions and he’s hitting the ball in the air more. That increased loft and high exit velocities have resulted in nearly half of all his hits this season going for extra bases. The strikeouts are always going to be part of his game, coming from in-zone misses, but the Twins will tolerate the K’s as long as the power continues.
Miguel Bleis, OF, Boston Red Sox (Rookie FCL Red Sox: .360 (9-25), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 K, 4 SB.
Lean, with some quick twitch athleticism, Bleis is giving us a glimpse of the high-upside tools that enticed the Red Sox to give him their highest bonus in the most recent international signing period. Like many young players, he’s still developing zone awareness and learning what pitches he can drive. If he gets it figured out, Bleis’ speed and power combination will make him an exciting follow.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
A couple of nice features on BA regarding one Taj Bradley:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -in-a-row/
Rays righthander Taj Bradley has a chance to lead the minors in ERA for two seasons in a row.
Bradley led the minors with a 1.83 ERA last year. This year, he’s been even better, posting a 1.59 ERA so far in 17 starts (16 at Double-A Montgomery and one at Triple-A Durham). That currently puts Bradley third in the minors. The Dodgers’ Gavin Stone leads the minors with a 1.50 ERA.
So with two months to go, Bradley still has a realistic shot of being the minors’ back-to-back ERA champ.
To post a sub-2.00 ERA for two seasons combined requires exceptional consistency. Bradley allowed six runs (five earned) in his fourth start of the season on April 27. That is the only time this year he’s allowed more than two runs in a start.
Bradley has allowed two or more runs only nine times in 40 games over the past two seasons. Over that same span, he has 18 starts where he allowed no runs.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... j-bradley/
A mea culpa. Our current scouting report at Baseball America describes Taj Bradley’s breaking ball as a slider.
It will look like a slider at times, but according to Bradley at the Baseball America/Louisville Slugger Prospect Pad, he doesn’t ever intentionally throw a slider. He throws a cutter.
“It’s never a slider,” Bradley said. “It’s just a cutter that was a little bigger.”
Bradley is one of the best pitching prospects and one of the best pitchers in the minors. He’s also the possessor of an extremely simple and effective array of pitches. As Bradley describes it, he has three pitches. And he throws all three like he’s throwing a fastball. He relies on the grip to do the work for his cutter and changeup.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -in-a-row/
Rays righthander Taj Bradley has a chance to lead the minors in ERA for two seasons in a row.
Bradley led the minors with a 1.83 ERA last year. This year, he’s been even better, posting a 1.59 ERA so far in 17 starts (16 at Double-A Montgomery and one at Triple-A Durham). That currently puts Bradley third in the minors. The Dodgers’ Gavin Stone leads the minors with a 1.50 ERA.
So with two months to go, Bradley still has a realistic shot of being the minors’ back-to-back ERA champ.
To post a sub-2.00 ERA for two seasons combined requires exceptional consistency. Bradley allowed six runs (five earned) in his fourth start of the season on April 27. That is the only time this year he’s allowed more than two runs in a start.
Bradley has allowed two or more runs only nine times in 40 games over the past two seasons. Over that same span, he has 18 starts where he allowed no runs.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... j-bradley/
A mea culpa. Our current scouting report at Baseball America describes Taj Bradley’s breaking ball as a slider.
It will look like a slider at times, but according to Bradley at the Baseball America/Louisville Slugger Prospect Pad, he doesn’t ever intentionally throw a slider. He throws a cutter.
“It’s never a slider,” Bradley said. “It’s just a cutter that was a little bigger.”
Bradley is one of the best pitching prospects and one of the best pitchers in the minors. He’s also the possessor of an extremely simple and effective array of pitches. As Bradley describes it, he has three pitches. And he throws all three like he’s throwing a fastball. He relies on the grip to do the work for his cutter and changeup.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2022
From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... week-8222/
18. Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Team: Double-A Richmond (Eastern)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 14 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: When everything syncs up in his delivery, Harrison’s stuff is among the nastiest in the minor leagues. When it doesn’t, his stuff is still pretty darn nasty, but it’s not always near the strike zone. He works primarily with a three-pitch mix of fastball, slider and changeup and gets plenty of deception in his delivery thanks to a funky arm action and a low approach angle generated by how deep he sinks on the mound when he releases the ball. Harrison’s results in High-A were excellent and earned him both a berth in the Futures Game and an early bump to Double-A. Since the move up, he’s performed well but found upper-level hitters a bit more selective than the ones he faced at High-A. He’s walking 4.84 hitters per nine innings at Richmond but still whiffing nearly 14 hitters per nine.
From BP's MMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... ade-stock/
Kyle Harrison, LHP, San Francisco Giants (Double-A Richmond)
After striking out nine of the 10 batters he faced in his first outing since the All-Star break, Kyle Harrison had a tougher appearance this week against a strong Somerset lineup. Harrison still struck out five across three shutout innings, but surrendered three walks, three hits, and threw only 34 of his 60 pitches for strikes. Harrison’s fastball sat around 92-94 mph, but continued playing well above its radar gun readings, and induced several swing throughs at the top of the zone. Paired with a changeup and curveball that each consistently flash plus potential, Harrison has the arsenal to one day be an ace. However, his fastball command has a long way to go.
Compact is normally an adjective only used to describe swings, but Harrison has an interesting compact delivery which brings his leg high up to his chest before he explodes forward, finishing with an incredibly low release point that gives his fastball its unique rising action. Baseball America’s Josh Norris was on hand this week and got this great video—watch how close Harrison’s back knee gets to scraping the mound:
Harrison has incredible balance in his delivery, and it’s why most are bullish on his ability to develop good command. He had better feel for his offspeed offerings against Somerset than his fastball, which is not an uncommon occurrence. Still, even with those issues, his fastball’s unique traits can bail him out. If Harrison develops above-average command, he could be one of the best pitchers in MLB. However, even if it never takes a big step forward, a Blake Snell-type outcome is well within the realm of possibility.
From BP's Heat Check: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... -is-clear/
Drew Waters, OF, Kansas City Royals (Triple-A Omaha): .333 (11-33), 10 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 9 BB, 10 K, 7 SB.
Once a top prospect, Waters became the odd man out in a crowded Atlanta outfield and was shipped to Kansas City in a mid-July trade. There’s a more clear path to the big leagues now and he’s gotten off to a hot start in his new home. Just 23, he’s still young with plenty of upside. The change of scenery with new voices might be just what Waters needed to reach the next level.
And finally, from MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week: https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-team- ... e-coverage
LHP: Mitchell Parker, Wilmington Blue Rocks (High-A)
Nationals No. 15
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 13 K, 0.83 WHIP
For the first time this season, all three pitching honorees on this edition of the Pipeline Prospect Team of the Week made multiple appearances on the hill. All three dazzled, led by Parker. The southpaw has been one of High-A Wilmington’s most reliable arms this year and showcased why against Hudson Valley on July 22 and Jersey Shore on Thursday. Parker allowed one unearned run on two hits over six innings in the former, striking out six with two walks, and was even better in the latter, throwing shutout ball on three hits over six innings with seven strikeouts against three walks. In four starts in July, Parker went 2-0 with a 0.48 ERA, yielding one earned run over 18 2/3 innings. For the season, he’s 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 17 starts, boasting 93 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings.
18. Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Team: Double-A Richmond (Eastern)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 14 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: When everything syncs up in his delivery, Harrison’s stuff is among the nastiest in the minor leagues. When it doesn’t, his stuff is still pretty darn nasty, but it’s not always near the strike zone. He works primarily with a three-pitch mix of fastball, slider and changeup and gets plenty of deception in his delivery thanks to a funky arm action and a low approach angle generated by how deep he sinks on the mound when he releases the ball. Harrison’s results in High-A were excellent and earned him both a berth in the Futures Game and an early bump to Double-A. Since the move up, he’s performed well but found upper-level hitters a bit more selective than the ones he faced at High-A. He’s walking 4.84 hitters per nine innings at Richmond but still whiffing nearly 14 hitters per nine.
From BP's MMTP: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... ade-stock/
Kyle Harrison, LHP, San Francisco Giants (Double-A Richmond)
After striking out nine of the 10 batters he faced in his first outing since the All-Star break, Kyle Harrison had a tougher appearance this week against a strong Somerset lineup. Harrison still struck out five across three shutout innings, but surrendered three walks, three hits, and threw only 34 of his 60 pitches for strikes. Harrison’s fastball sat around 92-94 mph, but continued playing well above its radar gun readings, and induced several swing throughs at the top of the zone. Paired with a changeup and curveball that each consistently flash plus potential, Harrison has the arsenal to one day be an ace. However, his fastball command has a long way to go.
Compact is normally an adjective only used to describe swings, but Harrison has an interesting compact delivery which brings his leg high up to his chest before he explodes forward, finishing with an incredibly low release point that gives his fastball its unique rising action. Baseball America’s Josh Norris was on hand this week and got this great video—watch how close Harrison’s back knee gets to scraping the mound:
Harrison has incredible balance in his delivery, and it’s why most are bullish on his ability to develop good command. He had better feel for his offspeed offerings against Somerset than his fastball, which is not an uncommon occurrence. Still, even with those issues, his fastball’s unique traits can bail him out. If Harrison develops above-average command, he could be one of the best pitchers in MLB. However, even if it never takes a big step forward, a Blake Snell-type outcome is well within the realm of possibility.
From BP's Heat Check: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... -is-clear/
Drew Waters, OF, Kansas City Royals (Triple-A Omaha): .333 (11-33), 10 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 9 BB, 10 K, 7 SB.
Once a top prospect, Waters became the odd man out in a crowded Atlanta outfield and was shipped to Kansas City in a mid-July trade. There’s a more clear path to the big leagues now and he’s gotten off to a hot start in his new home. Just 23, he’s still young with plenty of upside. The change of scenery with new voices might be just what Waters needed to reach the next level.
And finally, from MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week: https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-team- ... e-coverage
LHP: Mitchell Parker, Wilmington Blue Rocks (High-A)
Nationals No. 15
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 13 K, 0.83 WHIP
For the first time this season, all three pitching honorees on this edition of the Pipeline Prospect Team of the Week made multiple appearances on the hill. All three dazzled, led by Parker. The southpaw has been one of High-A Wilmington’s most reliable arms this year and showcased why against Hudson Valley on July 22 and Jersey Shore on Thursday. Parker allowed one unearned run on two hits over six innings in the former, striking out six with two walks, and was even better in the latter, throwing shutout ball on three hits over six innings with seven strikeouts against three walks. In four starts in July, Parker went 2-0 with a 0.48 ERA, yielding one earned run over 18 2/3 innings. For the season, he’s 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 17 starts, boasting 93 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings.
