Beck's Minor League Threecap: 5/29/2024

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

Hump day! Welcome back, folks. It’s nice to see you. I’m going to give it to you straight: there wasn’t a lot of notable action from yesterday’s slate. We’ll dive into a few new names, but the guys you know well weren’t showing up anywhere in box scores for the most part.

Let’s dive in with open minds and hearts, eh?

He’s No Quitter, He’s Ryan Ritter.

Ryan Ritter (COL) was a JUCO product who eventually transferred to Kentucky to test his mettle in the SEC and eventually found success in his second year in the program to the tune of a .283/.369/.469 slash, eight home runs, and 21 stolen bases in 59 games. He climbed three levels in 2023, absolutely decimating Single-A before earning a promotion to High-A and then Double-A to close the year. His short sample as a Yard Goat was tough – his below-average bat-to-ball looked like it might be catching up with him – but he’s settled in nicely so far this year. He went 4-for-4 with two home runs and a stolen base on Tuesday, bringing his OPS to a nice .878 figure.

Larry Martinez (TBR) was a small-bonus IFA in 2022 as a 16-year-old and actually repeated the level in 2023, though the entirety of his career spanned just 36 games entering 2024 (23 G in 2022, 13 G in 2023). He’s at the Florida Complex now and has been a hit machine with 14 hits in his first 28 at-bats (which of you geniuses can do the math on the batting average). He’s yet to show any over-the-fence ability, and given his listed height/weight is 5-foot-11, 170 lbs, it may not be in the cards for him. This is much ado about nothing – there’s almost no pro sample for this guy – but he’s playing well, and for that we salute him. He was 4-for-5 with two doubles on Tuesday.

Cacaw!

Hayden Birdsong (SFG)’s name just feels like he should be in the Orioles system. It’s a lot like how I can’t shake the feeling that Jameson Taillon is a lefty. I’m not sure what that’s all about, but it’s my own version of a baseball Mandela Effect. Birdsong climbed three levels last year and had no problem striking batters out at any of them (31.7% at A, 38.0% at A+, 31.7% again at AA), though run prevention evaded him at his final stop. The 6-foot-4 righty was a 6th round selection in the 2022 draft out of Eastern Illinois and has really blossomed into a potential rotation piece for the Giants, especially considering his start to the year at Double-A. He’s tossed 41.0 innings in total, has a 1.96 ERA following Tuesday’s start, and is continuing to strike out batters at a lofty rate. His fastball is above-average to plus, his curveball got wicked results last year, his slider could be above-average when all is said and done, and he throws a changeup on occasion. I’m a fan! He went 6.0 scoreless with six strikeouts yesterday.

Crazy how one letter can separate you from a lifetime of unwanted association, eh? Mark Manfredi (MIL) is not related to the current commissioner of baseball. He was a 9th rounder out of Dayton last summer but did not pitch after the draft, instead reporting directly to High-A to open the year. He’s a 6-foot-4 lefty who coils aggressively in his windup before unleashing from a low three-quarters slot, and he’s striking out 36.9% of batters to-date in a mix of starts and relief appearances. There isn’t much actionability here, though Milwaukee has been an arm factory over the last several years, so anybody showing strong results catches my eye (my fandom of the club also drags me in this direction from time to time). He struck out six over 4.0 scoreless innings in relief on Tuesday.

Chasing Birdsongs up a Hill. 

Not a lot to see here, folks. McDermott’s control has been on a tightrope walk and he allowed three bases on balls for the first time since April 27th. Birdsong was solid and threw zeroes, Gill Hill was brief but bright, and Medina dealt with a little bit of traffic while collecting his 11 outs.

Thursday’s viewing guide with my recommendation(s) italicized:

• Thomas Harrington (1.54 ERA) for the Altoona Curve (PIT) at 6:00 ET

• Travis Sykora (4.26 ERA) for the Fredericksburg Nationals (WSH) at 6:30 ET

• Jackson Ferris (5.59 ERA) for the Great Lakes Loons (LAD) at 6:35 ET

• Quinn Mathews (4.15 ERA) for the Peoria Chiefs (STL) at 7:05 ET

• Ian Mejia (1.69 ERA) for the Mississippi Braves (ATL) at 7:35 ET

• Jacob Misiorowski (2.55 ERA) for the Biloxi Shuckers (MIL) at 7:35 ET

• Royber Salinas (3.68 ERA) for the Midland RockHounds (OAK) at 8:00 ET

• Jairo Iriarte (2.77 ERA) for the Birmingham Barons (CHW) at 8:00 ET

• Justin Wrobleski (3.94 ERA) for the Tulsa Drillers (LAD) at 8:00 ET

• Tink Hence (2.76 ERA) for the Springfield Cardinals (STL) at 8:05 ET

• Sean Sullivan (2.68 ERA) for the Spokane Indians (COL) at 9:35 ET