Cleveland Sports Forum

Wednesday:

CLE AAA #1 Tyler Freeman, SS 4 0 2 1 0.267
CLE AA #3 Brayan Rocchio, SS 2 0 0 0 0.268 2 BB (35),
CLE AA #4 George Valera, SS 4 0 0 0 0.275
CLE AAA #5 Gabriel Arias, SS 3 0 0 0 0.191 BB (9),
CLE MAJ #6 Nolan Jones, 3B 4 3 3 1 0.316 2 2B (11),
CLE HiA #10 Angel Martinez, SS 3 0 1 0 0.277
CLE AA #11 Jose Tena, SS 5 0 1 0 0.268
CLE AAA #13 Richard Palacios 3 0 0 0 0.266 BB (28),
CLE AA #16 Bryan Lavastida, C 4 0 1 0 0.206
CLE HiA #18 Gabe Rodriguez, 3B 3 0 1 1 0.270 2B (12), BB (26),
CLE AA #20 Jhonkensy Noel, 3B 4 0 1 0 0.215 2B (11),
CLE HiA #22 Petey Halpin, OF 4 2 2 0 0.255 [ops over 1000 for July]
CLE HiA #25 Aaron Bracho, 2B 1 0 0 0 0.171
CLE MAJ #27 Steven Kwan, OF 5 0 1 1 0.289 2B (15), E (4),
CLE HiA #33 Milan Tolentino, 2B 4 0 0 0 0.293 BB (49),
CLE LoA #38 Yordys Valdes, SS 4 0 0 0 0.235
CLE AAA #39 Will Brennan, OF 4 0 1 0 0.322
CLE LoA #40 Jake Fox, SS 4 1 1 1 0.265 2B (16),

Columbus Clippers 1, Louisville Bats 5 Clippers fall to 53-41

The good news is that Logan Allen had his best start since being promoted to Triple-A. The bad news is the offense didn’t give him enough run support to prevent him taking another loss.

Allen struck out seven in 4.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and walking two.

The lone offensive highlight of this game was Will Benson, who has been scorching hot this entire past month. Benson went 2-4 with a double and a triple, raising his season batting average at Triple-A to .277 and his OPS to .946 in the process. Of note, Benson also played first base for the second game in a row.

Akron RubberDucks 0, Bowie Baysox 2 RubberDucks fall to 48-42

A brilliant start from Tanner Bibee was wasted by the Akron bullpen, which has struggled for about a month straight ever since several of its best arms were promoted to Columbus. Bibee tossed 6.0 shutout innings on two hits with four strikeouts and no walks. He was flat out dominant. In his four starts since being promoted to Double-A, he has a 1.25 ERA.

Lake County Captains 4, South Bend Cubs 3 Hillcats [sic; they are the Captains] improve to 49-41

Lake County won on the back of 10 hits on offense and some excellent bullpen play. Johnathan Rodriguez led the way offensively, going 2-3 with a home run and a hit by pitch. Rodriguez is having a breakout campaign in High-A, raising his season OPS to .857.
Rodriguez has been on a heater for almost two months now. He had an .859 OPS in June and 1.152 OPS in July. 5 of his 12 homers have come in July.
Petey Halpin went 2-4 and catcher Micael Ramirez went 3-4. Gabriel Rodriguez also walked and doubled. Anyone who was worried about Angel Martinez going on the injured list earlier this month can be comforted to know he returned after just a week and went 1-3.

Starting pitcher Tommy Mace gave up three runs on three hits in 4.0 innings. Command continues to be an issue for him as he walked four and struck out just one. Thankfully, the bullpen saved the day as Alaska Abney tossed one scoreless inning, Mason Hickman tossed two and Davis Sharpe closed out the win with two shutout innings of relief.

Lynchburg Hillcats 4, Delmarva Shorebirds 3 [The Real] Hillcats improve to 46-46

Reid Johnston has been on fire as of late, striking out 10 and 11 batters in his previous two starts heading into Wednesday. This time around, while he didn’t crack double digits, it was still a strong showing as he whiffed eight batters and walked none in 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits.

Junior Sanquinton led the way offensively, going 2-3 with a triple, a double and a walk. Jake Fox also doubled.

a few notes on Thursday games


Lynchburg
Jake Fox single walk steal and a caught sealing

Lake county
Tolentino double and walk
J. Rod homer #13 2 singles for July: 7 homers OPS 1259. Another 40 man roster candidate
Boone better than usual at LC: 4 3 1 1 3 1

Akron
Rocchio double and walk
Tena single
Noel 9th AA homer; 28th overall; overall batting avg 216

Columbus, 5 inning game
Benson triple and walk OPS 955
Freeman 2 singles steal
Naylor single 2 rbi steal

Top 60 MLB prospects: Keith Law’s updated 2022 midseason ranking
Keith Law
Aug 1, 2022


20 George Valera, OF, Cleveland Guardians
Previous ranking: No. 29

Valera continues to show power and patience as a 21-year-old in Double A, while even improving his results against left-handed pitching (in a small sample). He still has projection left, with a swing that will let him get to 30-homer power at his peak, and he plays solid-average defense in right field. With his patience, he should end up a middle-of-the-order bat once he finishes filling out.

21 Brayan Rocchio, SS, Cleveland Guardians
Previous ranking: No. 22

Rocchio is another member of the slow-start club this year, but has returned to form recently, once again making a ton of contact while hitting for power and playing strong defense at short. He’s a switch-hitter and above-average runner, although once again, he’s been below par as a base stealer (9 for 15 this year). Even with the disappointing first two months, he’s still at .269/.357/.442 as a 21-year-old in Double A, and likely to improve on that before the year is out.

24 Daniel Espino, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
Previous ranking: No. 51

Espino would be higher on the list if he hadn’t spent almost this whole year on the IL with patellar tendinitis in his left knee, making just four starts in April. When he pitched, he looked like a future No. 1 starter, working in the upper 90s with a slider that would show plus, although his changeup still lags behind. He also walked just four batters in those four starts and was throwing more strikes in general, although it’s too small a sample to draw a conclusion yet. We just need to see him pitching again, and to know this knee injury isn’t a long-term concern.

37 Gavin Williams, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
Previous ranking: Unranked

Williams was the 23rd pick in 2021, but has exploded since then, striking out 40 percent of batters in High A. He has a fastball he runs up to 98 mph that misses bats and a four-pitch mix that should leave him with at least one plus secondary pitch, with the changeup the laggard right now. He’s been durable so far in pro ball, with a short arm action he repeats well, although his strike-throwing has taken a hit after a recent promotion to Double A. He’s definitely a starter if he stays healthy, at least a mid-rotation guy, but could end up a No. 1 depending on how good his offspeed stuff gets.

48. Tanner Bibee, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
Previous ranking: Unranked

The Guardians’ fifth-round pick from 2021, has added at least 7 mph to his fastball in the last 12 months, now hitting 99 mph regularly without any loss of the command or control that made him a prospect in college despite just fringy velocity. He’s walked under 5 percent of batters this year, even with a recent promotion to Double A, and is showing a plus changeup. I think the Guardians should keep drafting California college pitchers with good command and last names that start with B.

That's a very solid representation. It would be nice if Espino actually pitched again.

I think Bo Naylor should be close behind. Good defensive catcher who is hitting as well in AAA as in his bounce back AA 1/2 year. Great patience Some power. Unusual base running ability. I'd like to see hm this year.

Meanwhile Will Benson and Johnnathan Rodriguez continue to shine in their "it took years but suddenly they've taken off" years. Rodriguez finished July with 9 homers for the month. Benson is among the top few in the IL in OPS due to power, lots of walks and an average that soared in July. And he's a base stealer. And has always been a solid defender. And just played his first pro games at 1st base.

And just got promoted. Hurray Will. He usually starts very slowly at each new level. Hope he can debut in style.

Finally

Hankins tosses clean inning in first action since '19 (Aug. 1)
Pitching in a competitive game for the first time Aug. 29, 2019, Ethan Hankins turned in a perfect frame in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The 22-year-old right-hander, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2021 following the canceled 2020 Minor League season, struck out one batter and induced two ground-ball outs in the ACL Guardians' 11-7 loss to the ACL Brewers Blue.

Hankins was a first-round compensation pick (No. 35 overall) in the 2018 Draft and after a couple Rookie-level starts that summer posted a 2.55 ERA over 14 games -- 13 starts -- between Class A Short-Season Mahoning Valley and Class A Lake County in 2019. Before his surgery, Hankins had impressed with an electric fastball and an advanced but still improving four-pitch mix. -- Josh Jackson

[Hankins and Espino were rated nearly equal before the injury]

7 shutout innings by the X man, Xzavion Curry in AAA last night.
7th round pick in 2020 has moved up very quickly. kind of typical Guardians pitcher: lots of Ks, few BBs. kind of a lot of homers.

and same qualities for Tanner Bibee 5th rounder in 2021 who is now in Akron. 4 innings, 2 solo homers last night,

4 5 2 2 1 6 1,75 ERA in Akron

Johnnathan Rodriguez continues with his nearly homer a day for Lake County, that's 16 now.

Micah Pries a 1b/OF in Akron I never post about hit his 15th homer for the Ducks.

Move them both up!

CLE AAA #1 Tyler Freeman, SS 3 1 1 0 0.274
CLE AA #3 Brayan Rocchio, SS 3 1 0 0 0.264 2 BB (40),
CLE AA #4 George Valera, SS 4 0 0 0 0.269 BB (47),
CLE AAA #5 Gabriel Arias, SS 4 1 1 0 0.200
CLE MAJ #6 Nolan Jones, 3B 1 0 0 0 0.299
CLE HiA #10 Angel Martinez, SS 4 0 1 0 0.278
CLE AA #11 Jose Tena, SS 4 0 0 1 0.267 BB (15),
CLE AA #16 Bryan Lavastida, C 3 1 3 0 0.211 BB (20), SB (3),
CLE HiA #18 Gabriel Rodriguez, 3B 4 1 2 2 0.276 HR (8), E (7),
CLE AA #20 Jhonkensy Noel, 3B 5 0 0 0 0.215
CLE HiA #22 Petey Halpin, OF 3 1 1 0 0.258 2B (16), BB (34),
CLE MAJ #27 Steven Kwan, OF 3 1 1 0 0.293 2B (17), BB (36),
CLE LoA #32 Isaiah Greene, OF 5 0 0 0 0.219
CLE HiA #33 Milan Tolentino, 2B 4 0 0 0 0.291 E (9),
CLE R #35 Jose Pastrano, 2B 2 1 1 3 0.179 HR (1), E (4),
CLE LoA #38 Yordys Valdes, SS 4 0 1 0 0.242 BB (27), SB (12),
CLE AAA #39 Will Brennan, OF 4 0 1 0 0.323

CLE AA #26 Carlos Vargas, RHP 2.0 2 0 0 2 3 5.79 [does he rally stay on the 40 man roster?]
CLE AAA #28 Xzavion Curry, RHP 7.0 3 0 0 2 4 3.69 W (7-4)
CLE HiA #29 Tommy Mace, RHP 4.2 2 2 1 4 7 5.17 [not your standard stats line for one of our pitchers]

from BA with it's preseason rankings noted, although they've all been updated since

CLE AAA #15 Cody Morris, RHP 2.2 2 2 2 1 6 3.60 first action of the summer after a couple rehab outings in Arizona rookie legue

CLE MAJ #1 Tyler Freeman, SS 3 0 1 0 0.275 BB (26),
CLE AA #3 Brayan Rocchio, SS 4 2 2 1 0.267 2B (18), HR (12),
CLE AA #4 George Valera, SS 4 0 0 0 0.266 in a slump
CLE AAA #5 Gabriel Arias, SS 4 1 1 0 0.201
CLE HiA #10 Angel Martinez, SS 5 0 2 0 0.280 E (10), surprised he has not been promoted
CLE AA #11 Jose Tena, SS 4 0 1 0 0.267
CLE AA #16 Bryan Lavastida, C 4 0 0 0 0.207
CLE HiA #18 Gabe Rodriguez, 3B 4 1 1 1 0.276 2B (13),
CLE AA #20 Jhonkensy Noel, 3B 4 0 0 0 0.212
CLE HiA #22 Petey Halpin, OF 4 1 3 0 0.265 2 2B (18), SB (14), been on fire since the first of July
CLE HiA #25 Aaron Bracho, 2B 3 1 0 0 0.158 BB (17),
CLE MAJ #27 Steven Kwan, OF 4 1 1 0 0.293
CLE LoA #32 Isaiah Greene, OF 2 2 1 1 0.221 4 BB (68), SB (26),
CLE LoA #38 Yordys Valdes, SS 4 1 2 0 0.245 2 BB (29), CS (6), E (12),
CLE AAA #39 Will Brennan, OF 4 0 1 0 0.322

Somehow got a free sample of MILB.TV last night and on popped the Akron game.

#1 observation? Noel looked completely lost. I mean, the pitcher for Altoona, Ortiz, was good this day but still....

He's been hitting home runs at the same rate as in Lake County but his average slipped below 200. He's only 20, has no real defensive position, and his development is most likely to suffer among all the young guys added to the 40 man roster last winter

In contrast: what did you think of Rocchio; his bat has been solid for the past month; how's he look in the field? How about Valera? He's been slumping but still getting very laudable prospect reports

Here are all the catchers with a strikeout rate under 21 percent, a walk rate over 10 percent, and an isolated slugging percentage over .200 this season:

Hard to read, sorry, but these are the top minor league catchers and the three categories listed underneath each of them (descending in order) is for: Walk % K% ISO slugging Only Logan O'Hoppe higher than Bo and he was just traded in MLB for Brandon Marsh (to Phils) one for one

Offensive-minded minor league catchers
Logan O'Hoppe
Angels
13.0%
16.5%
0.221

Bo Naylor
Guardians
20.5%
20.9%
0.200

Raudy Read
White Sox
12.9%
18.8%
0.263

Paul McIntosh
Marlins
14.1%
20.3%
0.206