Beck's Minor League Threecap: 4/28/24

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

Good evening y’all. This is the right place to chase the Sunday scaries away. I’ve got nine player write-ups for you and a rough prospect waiver priority list to sort out your claims before tonight’s deadline in weekly leagues. I hope you had a lovely and restful weekend. Let’s jump in!

Man on the Moon(ey).

I wasn’t familiar with Alex Mooney (CLE)’s game. He was a 7th rounder last summer out of Duke, where he went .315/.434/.504 with eight home runs and 21 stolen bases in 63 games his platform year. He was a highly-regarded prep in 2021 but opted to take his talents to Durham where he struggled as a true freshman initially. Now a pro, Mooney is a solid athlete with average to above-average tools across the board, albeit with one large exception in his expected power output. He ran very paltry exit velocities with aluminum that were representative of a 30-grade raw power tool. Perhaps the tide is turning as he has three home runs already this spring, but I don’t have exit velocity data to support a sudden jump in damage. He was 5-for-5 on Saturday with three doubles and three runs scored.

CJ Kayfus (CLE) has been one of the best hitters at High-A this year, full stop. He’s seventh in OPS among hitters with 50 or more plate appearances at the level and has swatted three home runs while carrying a .360 batting average. He was billed as a contact-oriented first baseman at draft time, so it only makes sense that Cleveland snapped him up in the third round last summer. Perhaps there’s more raw power here than initially thought, given that he’s pacing to outdo his home run total with aluminum last year, but it could also be small-sample variance. The offensive profile for a first baseman needs to be near-perfect for them to hold down the position at the big league level and return fantasy value, so while I’m intrigued by his early performance I’m probably not running out to grab him just yet unless it’s a very deep league.

It was a brutally slow start for Thayron Liranzo (LAD) to open the year as he found himself 1-for-25 with a single and 12 strikeouts through seven games. He’d initially caught my attention early last year as a switch-hitting behemoth with huge power and hit-tool concerns. He finished his age-19 season at Single-A with 24 home runs and a .956 OPS while nursing a 26.8% K-rate. I’m hopeful that his 3-for-6 effort that included a home run, a double, and five RBIs on Saturday represented a turning point for him.

Copy-paste for Agustin Ramirez (NYY). The guy went yard again.

Sweet Selvation.

I’m often accused of being a Yankee fan because I so often opine about the pitching in their system, but I promise I’m not (nor would I engage in such blatant homerism). That out of the way, we need to talk about Brock Selvidge (NYY). He tossed 7.0 shutty on Saturday while striking out 11 and allowing just two base knocks. He was pretty good last year while throwing 127.2 innings and striking out 137 en route to a 3.45 ERA across Single- and High-A, but didn’t quite have the stuff to get your blood pumping. He had demonstrated an increase in velocity year-over-year, bumping his average fastball velo to 92-93 mph from 89-90 mph the year prior, however it wasn’t clear if it would play as he progressed. That’s still a bit of an open question, though he does boast a very, very good sweeper. Have the Yankees pitching development group done it again?

Speaking of pitching development groups, Yorman Galindez (MIL) is officially a two-time Threecapper. He had previously appeared on the 4/22 edition for throwing 4.0 near-perfect innings with seven strikeouts, and he followed that performance by going 3.2 innings and striking out eight of 16 batters faced on Saturday. He was tagged with a solo home run, but has largely been excellent in terms of run prevention. He’s a 21-year-old in Single-A, and I know I’ve been all over guys much older at the same level (Klassen, Mathews, et al.), but I’m waiting a little longer before I’m putting him anywhere near a list. He’s someone I might circle for his next outing to get a better sense of his stuff.

Winston Santos (TEX), come on down! He should be near the top of your waiver priorities this week. He’s been lights out for Hickory over 20.2 innings and has shown significantly better stuff year-over-year. He went 5.0 shutout innings on Saturday, struck out seven, and walked three. His arsenal is mostly fastball/slider at present, but the good news is that the heater is a dandy that averages 96 mph and 19 inches of induced vertical break. Developing his changeup into a passable offer, especially against lefties, will be huge for his prognosis as a starting pitcher.

The first two outings for Luis Perales (BOS) weren’t great, as he went 1.0 and 4.0 innings and allowed three and two earned, respectively, while surrendering 10 hits in total. Saturday represented a bounce-back for him as he went 4.0 innings while striking out seven and allowing one unearned run. Perales has a three pitch arsenal featuring a heater that sits 95 mph but can be turned up to 99, a cutter that sits high-80’s/upper-90’s, and a changeup that can be stiff occasionally. It’s clear he’s still ramping up from the off-season – he threw 60 or more pitches in 18 of 21 starts last year and has maxed at 64 pitches early this year.

Usually the Threecap is reserved for standout performances, but I want to talk a little bit about Dylan Lesko (SDP). I ranked him #83 in my off-season top 100 despite some command/control issues following his return from Tommy John. That’s usually the last thing to come back as an injured pitcher ramps up, but I’m starting to get a little concerned about his progression. He walked six batters in 2.2 innings on Saturday, bringing his season total to 16 in 14.2 innings. He’d done fine in terms of run prevention despite all of the free passes, masking the control issues to an extent, but it’s not sustainable at this rate. I’m really hoping he can turn it around.

Waiver Wish List.

No games tomorrow, so instead of a viewing guide you’re getting a prospect waiver priority list. Here’s who I’m eyeing for the Sunday FAAB run:

• Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/C (CLE)

• Zyhir Hope, OF (LAD)

• Agustin Ramirez, C/1B (NYY)

• Jeral Perez, 2B (LAD)

• Owen Murphy, RHP (ATL)

• Colby Thomas, OF (OAK)

• Jonah Tong, RHP (NYM)

• Winston Santos, RHP (TEX)

• Quinn Mathews, LHP (STL)

• Luke Keaschall, 2B (MIN)

• Cristofer Torin, 2B (ARI)

• Mike Boeve, 3B (MIL)

• Ben Cowles, 3B/SS (NYY)