Beck's Minor League Threecap: 6/11/2024
Beck breaks down three major things you need to know from yesterday's MiLB action.
Hey all, I skipped Monday’s Threecap because I was focused on getting the May Prospect Team of the Month pulled together for you (go check it out). Today we’ll be covering the biggest performers and/or most interesting players from the DSL and Complex. Let’s jump in!
Seeing Triple.
There’s a third Acuña? Bryan Acuña (MIN) is the younger brother to Ronald and Luisangel and inked a $650K signing bonus in 2022. He had a fine campaign in the DSL later that summer, finishing with a .310/.409/.393 slash and a 21.1% strikeout rate, but lacked real impact with just 12 extra-base hits and no home runs. He measured 5-foot-11 then but has grown a few inches and is more physically imposing, so it’s possible power is still coming. He scuffled through 147 plate appearances in the FCL last year but has rebounded in a big way in 2024, putting together a .429/.586/.571 slash through his first eight games. Obviously it’s a small sample, you know how numbers work, and I’m not suggesting you run out and get him, but his value could get inflated very quickly based on his last name alone.
Felnin Celesten (SEA) signed for a club-record $4.7M bonus in January of 2023 but missed the entirety of the DSL season with a grade two hamstring strain. The game action he’s seen in the ACL thus far has been his only professional experience and he’s handling it with aplomb. He started his professional career with a 10-game hitting streak and currently sports a .309/.398/.485 slash with two home runs and four stolen bases through 25 contests. That performance has led to speculation – or outright expectation – from Seattle-area outlets that he’ll be promoted to Single-A Modesto in the near future. He was regarded as having one of the highest ceilings of the past few international classes at the time of signing and has added 10-15 pounds of muscle since. His swing is pretty from both sides, more powerful from the right than the left at present, and the small concern over his plate approach hasn’t materialized yet.
The Strikeouts Will Come Tomorrow, Tomorrow.
Alright, I don’t really feel like writing about DSL and Complex arms – frankly I don’t find much utility in it until they’re in full-season ball – so instead here are some arms I’m targeting that can help you over the summer or down the stretch (non-debuted):
Jackson Jobe, RHP, DET (Late season)
Cade Horton, RHP, CHC (Midseason)
Rhett Lowder, RHP, CIN (Late season)
Zebby Matthews, RHP, MIN (Late season)
David Festa, RHP, MIN (Midseason)
Blade Tidwell, RHP, NYM (Late season)
Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, TOR (Late season, potentially in relief)
Cade Cavalli, RHP, WSH (Late season)
Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, SFG (Late season)
Hayden Birdsong, RHP, SFG (Late season)
Marco Raya, RHP, MIN (Late season)
Yilber Diaz, RHP, ARI (Late season, potentially in relief)
Ty Madden, RHP, DET (Midseason)
AJ Blubaugh, RHP, HOU (Late season)
Mick Abel, RHP, PHI (Late season, potentially in relief)
Stockpiling.
I didn’t put together a viewing guide for Tuesday largely because I didn’t do a Threecap on Monday primarily because I did the May Prospect Team of the Month instead. Boy, that sentence was meandering, eh? We’re back to stocking the pond.
Here’s Wednesday’s viewing guide with my recommendations italicized, as usual:
Parker Messick (3.30 ERA) for the Lake County Captains (CLE) at 12:05 ET
Noah Cameron (3.03 ERA) for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KCR) at 12:15 ET
Trystan Vrieling (4.88 ERA) for the Somerset Patriots (NYY) at 6:35 ET
Ty Madden (9.30 ERA) for the Toledo Mud Hens (DET) at 7:05 ET
Jacob Misiorowski (2.98 ERA) for the Biloxi Shuckers (MIL) at 7:35 ET
Jack Leiter (4.63 ERA) for the Round Rock Express (TEX) at 8:15 ET
Spencer Giesting (1.70 ERA) for the Hillsboro Hops (ARI) at 9:35 ET