Beck's Minor League Threecap: 4/27/24

Beck breaks down three major things you need to know from yesterday's MiLB action.

Hello my friends! Welcome back, it’s nice to see you. Today’s Threecap is a little smaller as standout performances were a little harder to come by, so you’re getting seven player write-ups instead of the usual 10 or 12. If you don’t like it, take it up with the players!

Off we go!

The Big Apple and Porkopolis.

Porkopolis is a real, verifiable nickname for the city of Cincinnati, which is weird. I guess it was the prime destination for pork processing in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Quite the reputation. Anyway, Carlos Jorge (CIN) had a big day on Friday, albeit in Lansing which is decidedly not Porkopolis, by going 3-for-6 with a home run, a pair of doubles, and four RBIs. I was bullish on Jorge early last year after he had performed well in the DSL and ACL in back-to-back seasons while showing more game power than anticipated. Last year was a bit of a mixed bag for him from a surface perspective, but I was largely cooled by his lackluster exit velocity data. He’s returning to High-A again in 2024 but primarily playing CF, which is a positive development in terms of his big league viability.

Sal Stewart (CIN) is more intriguing to me than Carlos Jorge, at least offensively. He’s never struck out more than he’s walked (I’m choosing to disregard the 5:4 K:BB he had in 28 plate appearances in 2022) and he’s having a strong start to the season for Dayton. He went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, three walks, and four RBI on Friday, bringing his season line to .323/.455/.516 with 15 walks and 13 strikeouts (19.5% and 16.9%, respectively).

I think we’re looking at a top-100 prospect in Agustin Ramirez (NYY). Chris put him at 103 in his April update, which is probably fair, but I’m a little more bullish. He makes plus-plus swing decisions, has plus power, and makes enough contact for it to play regardless of his final positional landing spot. I think it’s likely he moves out from behind the dish to play first base or maybe a corner outfield spot in a pinch. He was 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two walks, and two RBI on Friday, bringing his season HR total to eight.

I’m happy to see Rowdey Jordan (NYM) perform well. His dad noticed me filming at an AFL game this year and came over to chat. Really, really pleasant guy who obviously cared deeply for his son. Rowdey has progressed slowly through the Mets’ system and is old for Double-A as a result. It may mean he’s headed toward non-prospect status, but I’m really pulling for him. He was 4-for-5 with a two-pack of doubles on Friday.

Crafty Lefty No More.

Quinn Mathews (STL) has been on the Threecap before and will likely be here again the next go through the rotation if he stays at Single-A. The big story for Mathews is his jump in velocity. He sat 90 - 92 mph at Stanford despite looking like there might be more in the tank (he’s a 6-foot-5 lefty), and it looks like St. Louis may have unlocked more life. He’s comfortably 94 - 96, T97 with ride early this year, which is helping garner huge results. Mathews has faced 71 batters through 18.0 innings in 2024 and disposed of 38 of them by strikeout, which translates to a 53.5% K-rate. He went 6.0 scoreless on Friday while allowing just three hits and striking out 13. He’s only a handful of dominant outings away from being in the mix for top pitching prospect in the system.

Thomas White (MIA) had his best outing of the year on Friday. He had been erratic and hittable thus far, with his first three outings culminating in a 5.91 ERA and a 2.34 WHIP in 10.2 innings. He righted the ship with 5.0 innings of one-run ball while striking out nine and walking just one. Neither of Miami’s first round prep arms have hit the ground running quite yet, but they represent massive upside when and if they hit a groove.

Oops! George Klassen (PHI) did it again. This time was a 6.0 inning outing with eight strikeouts and only two hit-me-baby-one-more-times. He’s been slowly stretching out with a few more pitches each outing, this time only requiring 78 to get through 21 batters, 52 of which were strikes (66.7%). Strike percentage is what I’ll be watching most intently, especially as he climbs levels and faces more competent competition that won’t give him swinging strikes out of the zone at quite the same rate. Thus far he seems to have locked in control much more than command by letting his stuff eat near the zone but without pinpoint accuracy.

Sunday Funday.

Strap in because I’m recommending eleven games in four hours for your Sunday afternoon. I’ll be paying special attention to McLean, Wrobleski, and Blubaugh in my film study. Have a great rest of your Saturday!

• Anthony Solometo (4.66 ERA) for the Altoona Curve (PIT) at 1:00 ET

• Carlos F. Rodriguez (8.34 ERA) for the Nashville Sounds (MIL) at 1:05 ET

• Blade Tidwell (1.84 ERA) for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) at 1:35 ET

• Nolan McLean (4.91 ERA) for the Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) at 2:00 ET

• Jake Bloss (2.19 ERA) for the Asheville Tourists (HOU) at 2:00 ET

• Justin Wrobleski (3.86 ERA) for the Tulsa Drillers (LAD) at 2:00 ET

• Logan Evans (1.86 ERA) for the Arkansas Travelers (SEA) at 2:05 ET

• David Sandlin (8.10 ERA) for the Greenville Drive (BOS) at 3:05 ET

• David Festa (1.46 ERA) for the St. Paul Saints (MIN) at 3:07 ET

• AJ Blubaugh (3.14 ERA) for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (HOU) at 4:05 ET

• Jacob Misiorowski (3.68 ERA) for the Biloxi Shuckers (MIL) at 5:05 ET