Beck's Minor League Threecap: 7/3/2024

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

Is this what too much rest feels like? Am I now sympathetic to the Braves losing back-to-back divisional series because they were too well-rested? I didn’t publish a Threecap on the first because it was Team of the Month day and I took a scheduled day off yesterday, so I’m a little rusty. Nevertheless baseball persisted and there’s plenty to cover. Let’s jump in!

The Duke of Yorke.

I’m a little surprised I haven’t written about Braylin Morel (TEX) yet this year. He’s following up a rather excellent DSL campaign (.344/.417/.644 with seven home runs in 204 plate appearances) with a very strong stateside debut at just 18 years old, and I don’t see many writers in the space paying him attention (myself included). He was 2-for-4 with two home runs on Tuesday and has been on a tear over his last ten games in which he’s slashed .438/.578/.844. He came into the year with some room to fill out, and while it’s based on my eyes alone, he looks much more explosive this year. He’s a name to keep an eye on and perhaps scoop before the hype picks up.

What a ride it’s been for Nick Yorke (BOS). He hit the cover off the ball with Salem and Greenville after the draft, ultimately finishing with a .928 OPS in 2021 with the majority of the production coming at Single-A but even stronger performance in 96 plate appearances after a late-season promotion. Then he stumbled to a .668 OPS with Greenville in 2022, presumably as the result of a slew of injuries (turf toe, back stiffness, and wrist soreness), but dominated in the arid Arizona Fall League environment to cap off his season. Last year was just fine (13 home runs, 18 stolen bases, and a .785 OPS at Double-A), but he’s back to mashing again this year. What do we make of all of it? That’s a lot of up-and-down in just a few years. I’ve landed in a place where I think he’s got a shot to be an average regular. He’s running a 105.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, 89.3% zone contact rate, and 24.2% chase rate over 92 plate appearances at Triple-A, all of which grade out pretty favorably. I can’t speak much to whether they constitute a departure from his career underlying data, but I have to admit I’m pretty encouraged by it. He was 3-for-5 with two home runs and a walk on Tuesday.

Dollander Parton.

I was on the RotoWire Prospect Pod with James Anderson in May and voiced that I felt Chase Dollander (COL) was exceptionally undervalued. It was probably a little early at the time, but he had the stuff and pedigree to warrant enthusiasm despite his organization and future home park. He’s pitching like he wants to break the Colorado pitching stereotype and is currently rocking a 2.82 ERA, 35.7% K-rate, and a 9.1% walk rate, all while managing an unwieldy .361 BABIP. He went 5.0 solid innings without allowing a run, again facing unfortunate circumstances with regard to BABIP, and struck out 10 on Tuesday. He’s overdue for a promotion to Double-A in my opinion, and he’s clearly a top 100 prospect.

Travis Sykora (WSH) isn’t that far off top 100 status himself. The obvious caveats apply; he’s young, he’s far away from the majors, and those compound on each other to heighten the risk that is already present for any pitching prospect. With that out of the way – what a season he’s having so far. Through 40.1 innings with Single-A Fredericksburg, he’s compiled a 3.12 ERA, a 35.2% K-rate, and an 8.2% walk rate. He’s a big kid for just 20 years old, standing 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, and is already firing a mid-90’s fastball that can be dialed up when necessary. The slider doesn’t have exceptional shape, more visual drop than sweep for certain, but tunnels well off the fastball and offers 10 mph of velo separation. He went 5.0 innings of one-hit, one-run ball and struck out nine on Tuesday. I’m excited about him and I think Nats fans should be too.

Revisionist History. 

Alright, we’re doing the weird pseudo-table thing where I’m basically just collecting the lines I think are interesting. No reason to judge the performance of the table writ large, but we got a lot of really great outings on Tuesday. Jaden Hamm and Jonah Tong (both five-letter ‘J’ first names and four-letter last names) pitched well in High-A, Chase Dollander managed to throw zeroes despite a .600 BABIP against on the day, and Travis Sykora continued his ascendance.

Here’s Thursday’s viewing guide with my recommendations italicized as usual:

• Ty Madden (8.51 ERA) for the Toledo Mud Hens (DET) at 4:05 ET

• Joey Cantillo (3.52 ERA) for the Columbus Clippers (CLE) at 4:05 ET

• Brandon Sproat (1.94 ERA) for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) at 6:10 ET

• Hunter Barco (3.16 ERA) for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (PIT) at 6:30 ET

• Noah Cameron (3.13 ERA) for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KCR) at 6:35 ET

• Mick Abel (6.79 ERA) for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) at 6:35 ET

• Thomas Harrington (3.16 ERA) for the Altoona Curve (PIT) at 7:00 ET

• Trystan Vrieling (5.88 ERA) for the Somerset Patriots (NYY) at 7:00 ET

• Payton Martin (2.87 ERA) for the Great Lakes Loons (LAD) at 7:05 ET

• Logan Henderson (1.66 ERA) for the Biloxi Shuckers (MIL) at 7:05 ET

• Ian Seymour (1.96 ERA) for the Montgomery Biscuits (TBR) at 7:35 ET