Beck's Minor League Threecap: 4/17/24
Beck breaks down three major things you need to know from yesterday's MiLB action.
We’re so back. Mondays are terrible because there are no minor league games (among other, more common complaints) but the action resumed today. It’s a good reminder that the season is a grind – these players are on the field six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. I’m gassed and all I’m doing is spending an hour or two a day writing! Anyway, we’re off to Tuesday’s standouts.
BAL-PIT! BAL-PIT! (Common Refrains at a Chuck E. Cheese for 500, Alex).
We’ve got two birds and a swashbuckler in the hitting section today! It’s been a slow start for Samuel Basallo (BAL) thus far, which isn’t particularly surprising given he was dealing with a stress fracture in his right elbow during spring training. I’m not concerned about him long-term in the slightest, and the O’s returned him to Double-A as a 19-year-old, so they must not be either. He belted his first home run of the year on Tuesday in a 2-for-5 effort. It was his second extra-base hit in nine games. It seems like he might be pressing a bit at the plate – he hasn’t walked at all, and his OBP is actually lower than his batting average – but I expect this course to reverse shortly.
Our second bird is Dylan Beavers (BAL), a player I quite enjoyed before he spread his wings in Baltimore’s system, who logged a 3-for-4 effort on Tuesday, including his first home run of the year. He tacked on two stolen bases to boot, demonstrating some of the athleticism that made him a power/speed threat at the University of California. His hit tool was a big question at draft time, but he’s run very manageable strikeout rates (22.1% in 2023, 22.0% in nine games this year) and higher batting averages than I had expected. He remains an intriguing, somewhat under-the-radar guy for dynasty percolating in the #100-150 prospect range.
Nick Gonzales (PIT) swindled his way onto today’s Threecap with a 4-for-5 night that included a double, a triple, a run scored, and an RBI. I try not to feature players that have made Major League appearances, but (1) Tuesday was kind of a down night for outstanding performances, and (2) Gonzales was one of the spare outstanding performances. He had an outside shot at making the big league roster out of Spring Training but was ultimately optioned to Triple-A on March 21st to make way for Jared Triolo (who leads the Pirates’ position player group in bWAR) and Alika Williams. Gonzales could make his way back to the Majors at any moment.
Christopher Suero (NYM) is a relatively unknown prospect who did not make the top-5 catching prospects in the Mets system in a January ranking produced by MetsMinors.net. He only has 70 games played in his minor league career, the majority of which (38) came in the DSL in 2022. He had a particularly strong bounceback as a 19-year-old in Rookie Ball last year, posting an .891 OPS with three home runs and three stolen bases in 22 games. He posted a 5-for-5 evening on Tuesday, scoring three times and driving in one.
Last night wasn’t spectacular, but Ralphy Velazquez (CLE) is hitting the cover off the ball in the early going. He’s carrying a 1.126 OPS for Single-A Lynchburg and has driven in 10 in just eight games played. I’m a big, big fan of his swing and further impressed with his track record as an amateur. He finished Tuesday with a two-run homer in a 1-for-5 night.
Cade, Cade, and Caden, Attorneys at Law.
The first lawyer in the rundown is a partner at the firm. He’s who you send in when, say, Justin Steele is hurt, and Kyle Hendricks looks kicked. Cade Horton (CHC) has a 1.13 ERA through two starts and has struck out nine while walking just one. He faced 28 batters at that time, and just seven reached base, five via base knock, one via traditional walk, and one hit-by-pitch. He went 4.0 innings on Tuesday against Montgomery and struck out five while allowing just one hit and surrendering one walk. He did not cede an earned run. I have to imagine it’s only a matter of time before he’s in Chicago.
Lawyer number two is an up-and-coming associate. He was highly sought after for his flashy stuff in college and was ultimately snapped up in the second round of the 2023 draft. Cade Kuehler (ATL) went 6.0 innings on Tuesday while allowing just four base runners (three via hit and one walk). He did not allow an earned run in the contest and has yet to do so through 10.0 innings this year. He’s got a big fastball that tops out at 98 mph and has exceptional ride, a mid-80’s slider, and a changeup. He may ultimately be a reliever as he worked in the role in college, but it’s encouraging to see him go six innings and turn the lineup over three times.
Caden Dana (LAA) is… the third lawyer here. He’s by far the most fantasy-relevant minor league arm in the Angels’ system, followed by Barrett Kent, who was a 2023 draftee. Dana has been solid for Rocket City thus far, totaling 11.1 innings in two outings and allowing three earned while striking out 11 in that time. He went 6.2 on Tuesday and threw 96 pitches, signaling to me that he’s stretched out should he get a shot with the big league club at some point, though he’s likely on an innings restriction after throwing just 68.1 last year. He finished the night with one earned run on three hits and two walks and struck out four.
Blade Tidwell (NYM)’s 2023 was a weird one. He had significant, almost cartoonishly bad control problems to kick off the year but locked in over his last 13 games to walk a respectable 3.7 per 9 and manage a 3.36 ERA while striking out 78. His command/control remains shaky – there are some outings where he just issues five or more free passes, but there is mid-rotation upside in the profile. He tossed 5.0 innings of two-run ball while striking out 10 and walking three on Tuesday. He threw 34.1 innings at Double-A last year and is returning to the level in 2024. He may find himself in line for Major League innings over the summer or in the back half of the year.
Braeden Fausnaught (PHI) is a 6-foot-3 lefty who was an undrafted free agent following the 2022 draft, and the Phillies snapped him up and assigned him to Rookie Ball, where he threw just 2.0 innings that fall. He’s since progressed to High-A Jersey Shore where he’s off to a splendid start, allowing just one earned run over his first 11.0 innings (two starts). I haven’t had a chance to see him pitch yet (transparently), but it appears he has some issues with command/control and has already appeared in relief more often than he’s started. He twirled a gem on Tuesday, though, going 6.0 innings on 77 pitches and striking out nine while allowing his only run of the evening on a solo homer.
Has the Milwaukee pitching lab done it again? Manuel Rodriguez (MIL) signed with the Brewers in 2022 and pitched 35.2 innings in the DSL as a 16-year-old. He now finds himself with Single-A Carolina as an 18-year-old. The 6-foot-2 youngster went 5.0 innings on Tuesday and struck out seven while allowing just one earned run, ultimately throwing 75 pitches in the contest. He looks pretty slight at present and is a long way from MLB contribution but might be a name to follow as a player with an aggressive assignment. Rodriguez was born in 2005.
What to Watch on Wednesday.
I like to watch pitchers dealing. You like to watch pitchers dealing. Should we call it a date?
Keider Montero in his fourth start for the Toledo Mud Hens at 11:05 ET
David Festa in his fourth start for the St. Paul Saints at 12:05 ET
AJ Smith-Shawver in his third start for the Gwinnett Stripers at 12:05 ET
Ricky Tiedemann in his third start for the Buffalo Bisons at 12:05 ET
Justin Wrobleski in his third start for the Tulsa Drillers at 1:05 ET
Logan Evans in his third start for the Arkansas Travelers at 7:35 ET
Jacob Misiorowski in his third start for the Biloxi Shuckers at 7:35 ET
Yu-Min Lin in his third start for the Amarillo Sod Poodles at 8:05 ET