Beck's Minor League Threecap: 5/16/24

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

Welcome back, gang. Nice to see you! We’ve got some real weirdo stuff going on in today’s Threecap and I’m very excited for you to experience it. Enjoy!

Weird but Impressive Stuff, David.

Echedry Vargas (TEX) really popped last year by putting together an excellent stretch in the Arizona Complex after a rather successful stint in the DSL the year prior. He slashed .317/.388/.568 with 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases over 52 games before being promoted to Down East and suffering an undisclosed, season-ending injury. He returned to Single-A for a handful of games to open the year before missing roughly three weeks again and was activated on May 1st. He’s mostly treaded water in the 11 games since, but his best game of the year came on Wednesday as he went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and five RBIs. Though I’m a little skeptical that his high-effort swing mechanics will lead to struggles against more advanced pitching, it’s hard to argue with the production to-date. He put a lot of balls in the air to the pull side last year.

It’s not often a 20th round pick becomes a somewhat well-known prospect, but that’s how last year played out for Austin Charles (KCR) in his second year as a pro. As we’ve discussed, where you go in the draft is often less important than the financial commitment you command, and Charles pulled down $430K in a range that typically garners bonuses in the five-figure range. He’d played just two games at the Complex before being promoted to Single-A where he spent the remainder of last year and slashed a meager .230/.290/.356, but the reason for interest has less to do with the surface performance and more to do with his physical tools. He plays a solid shortstop and has above-average wheels in spite of his gangly 6-foot-5 frame, and the benefit of being so massive is that he can generate plus raw power rather effortlessly. He requires a lot of refinement – watching him makes it clear he hasn’t yet worked out his mechanics entirely, though he’s cleaned up a lot of his actions in the box year-over-year – and is doing so back at Single-A to open 2024. He’s off to a slow start but collected three hits in four plate appearances on Wednesday including his third home run of the campaign.

David Dahl (PHI) collected the third cycle in Lehigh Valley IronPigs history on Wednesday. Yes, that David Dahl.

Alright, Other David, That’s Just Weird.

We finally got the start we wanted to see from Hurston Waldrep (ATL). I was bullish on both Waldrep and Shawver having an impact in the big league rotation this year, especially considering the shakiness of the rotation early on, but both have struggled to varying degrees through the first month and a half. For an arm as talented as Waldrep, you’re really just looking for any flashes that remind you of the present upside and we got it from him on Wednesday. He went 8.0 innings of one-run ball and struck out eight, which is a fantastic outing in its own right, but most importantly he did not yield a walk for the first time all season. He’s been BABIP’d to death a little thus far (.345) which has been exacerbated by a bizarre lack of strikeouts.

An 11th rounder last summer, Brandyn Garcia (SEA) made the vast majority of his appearances for Texas A&M out of the bullpen including all 27 in his platform year. The Mariners are throwing him largely as a starter (five of seven appearances as the starter), which makes sense given his 6-foot-4 build and left-handed delivery, and Seattle has done more with less even in recent years. His low three-quarters release looks rather tricky for batters of the same handedness. He had his best outing as a professional (by far) yesterday, going 5.0 strong innings with 11 strikeouts. He conceded one run on four hits.

I watched a Jose Rodriguez (LAD) start a few weeks ago and came away with thoughts in a previous Threecap, here’s what I had to say:

“My head turned a little when watching Jose Rodriguez (LAD) for the first time yesterday. He’s a 6-foot-6, gangly hurler with an unusual windup that requires him to turn his back entirely to the batter, which may aid in deception but really hinder repeatability and strike-throwing. It wasn’t an issue on Sunday as he tossed 4.2 innings in relief and struck out 11 while employing a sinker that sat 93 mph and touched mid-90’s, changeup with nice fading action, and a slider. He’s on my watch list as a physical specimen in a good development org.”

He put together another excellent start on Wednesday, going 5.0 innings of one-run ball and striking out nine in the process. I’m watching him with a keen eye moving forward but not making any sudden moves yet.

What’s this all about, David Fletcher (ATL)? You’re pitching now? And throwing what appears to be knuckleballs? And being effective?

Friday Film.

The table is a little bigger today as all recommended arms actually made their scheduled starts!

Friday’s viewing guide. Italicized names are the ones I’m most interested in following:

• Jhancarlos Lara (1.35 ERA) for the Rome Emperors (ATL) at 6:35 ET

• Mick Abel (5.60 ERA) for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) at 6:35 ET

• Josh Knoth (3.32 ERA) for the Carolina Mudcats (MIL) at 7:00 ET

• Bubba Chandler (4.13 ERA) for the Altoona Curve (PIT) at 7:05 ET 

• Jarlin Susana (7.58 ERA) for the Fredericksburg Nationals (WSH) at 7:05 ET

• Marco Raya (3.38 ERA) for the Wichita Wind Surge (MIN) at 8:00 ET

• Jake Bloss (0.00 ERA) for the Corpus Christi Hooks (HOU) at 8:05 ET

• Robby Snelling (3.86 ERA) for the San Antonio Missions (SDP) at 8:05 ET

• Jaden Hamm (0.94 ERA) for the West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) at 8:05 ET

• Logan Evans (1.34 ERA) for the Arkansas Travelers (SEA) at 8:05 ET

• Sean Sullivan (1.95 ERA) for the Spokane Indians (COL) at 9:35 ET