4/14 Minor League Player Hot Sheet

P

Preacher

Where's My Cup of Coffee?
Taking a look at the best and worst from the first week and a half of the minors - I'll keep this updated every week or so. I'm going to factor in age vs level and will tilt towards players who are prospects and not just filler.

The best;

1. Mike Soroka - 5 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 BB, 7 SO, .40 WHIP
Soroka ACED his first AA test.

2. Randy Ventura - .409/.480/.455, 1 2B, 3 BB, 3 SO, 6 SB, 0 CS
There's the RV we all know and love, Ventura is tied for the league lead with 6 stolen bases and more importantly is doing it without getting caught.

3. Travis Demeritte - .308/.400/.577, 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 5 SO, 1 CS
Couldn't really ask for a more encouraging start from TD, he's kept the SOs under control - while still doing the things he's known for (HRs/BBs). Long ways to go - but this could be one of Coppy's best moves.

4. Alex Jackson - .323/.344/.677, 2 2B, 3 HR, 1 BB, 8 SO
People who have seen him have been unimpressed, but the power is obviously there. If he can improve his BB/SO ratio a little bit we could have something big on our hands.

5. Ozzie Albies - .297/.308/.432 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 BB, 6 SO, 4 SB, 0 CS
Playing into this is obviously the fact that Albies is doing this as a 20 year old in AAA - I like that he seems to be more aggressive on the basepaths this year. Want to see the walks come up a little bit, but he's never been a guy who's walked a ton anyway.

6. Kolby Allard - 10 IP, 1.80 ERA, 3 BB, 8 SO, 1.20 WHIP
19 year old is more than holding his own at AA, remember he was considered a top of the draft type talent before injuries drove his stock down. He's the real-deal.

7. Patrick Weigel - 9 IP, 2.00 ERA, 11 SO, 4 BB, 1.33 WHIP
First start was a 5 inning gem with 7ks.

8. Luiz Gohara - 9 IP, 2.00 ERA, 9 SO, 0 BB, 1.00 WHIP
First start was a complete gem, 9/0 SO/BB ratio certainly works just fine.

9. Anfernee Seymour - .348/.423/.522, 4 2B, 3 SB, 1 CS
What a nice start for the little speedster - he's got lightning speed so if the bat can come along, he's going to play. Also 0 errors so far for him.

10. Touki Toussaint - 5 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 BB, 6 SO, .80 WHIP
Needs to throw more strikes (79/46 netpitches/strikes) but batters can't square him up and the SOs are there.

11. Luis Valenzuela - .333/.375/.567, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 BB, 1 SO
Not a big prospect, but a guy who's always hit for a decent average in the minors - could maybe be a utility guy at the majors. Playing well so far.

12. Akeel Morris - 4 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 BB, 3 SOs, .25 WHIP
The knock on Morris has always been control -- he gets that in line and he's a major leaguer. 0 BBs so far in 4 innings is a good start.

The Bad;

1. Brett Cumberland - 19 ABs, .105/.292/.158, 1 2B, 3 BB, 13 SOs
Yikes. For a guy whose bat was supposed to be his carrying tool......

2. Braxton Davidson - 24 ABs, .208/.269/.250, 2 BB, 12 SOs
In what many see as a 'make or break' season for the former first rounder.... Davidson is striking out in 50% of his ABs. That. Will. Not. Work. Out.

3. Corbin Clouse - 3.1 IP, 16.20 ERA, 7 BBs, 4 SOs
Remember when Clouse was a dominant relief pitcher striking out nearly 2 batter every inning? Yea that was fun...

4. Jonathan Morales - 23 ABs, .217/.217/.217, 0 BB, 8 SO
Empty BA with zero power or walks so far.

5. Dylan Moore - 19 AB, .053/.217/.105, 1 2B, 4 BB, 6 SO

6. Rio Ruiz - 34 AB, .235/.278/.324, 3 2B, 0 HR, 2 BB, 10 SO
Too many strikeouts for the young third baseman.

7. Aaron Blair - 8 IP, 7.88 ERA, 5 BB, 9 SO, 2.00 WHIP
Terrible first start, walking too many batters, second start was better - but still ran up a high pitch count and didn't get out of the 5th.

(dis)HM
Pache, Cruz, Pike, Herbert, Acuna,
 
Great list Preacher. Really hard to keep this from being a mile long.

I might add Sims in the Good. 5ip 1H 1ER 3BB (2 were his last 2 batters faced), 5Ks.

HM
(Gwinnett: Dirks --good, Adam Walker -- bad)
(Mississippi: Curcio, Scivicque (.533 avg) --good)
(Frogs: Castro (bit old for A+ but killing it), Minter -- Good.. Riley .233 with 30% K rate, but 9 rbi's.. hard to put in bad but definitely not good)
(Rome: Anderson, Burrows -- good Walker, Wentz -- bad)

also glad you mentioned Valenzuela.. He really didn't play last year but has done exceptional work since putting on a Braves uni. can't believe we got this kid for Gomes.
 
Didder is off to a bad start with the bat in Florida. Walking a lot, but striking out at a rate that won't work for a guy with little power.
 
50PoundHead said:
Didder is off to a bad start with the bat in Florida. Walking a lot, but striking out at a rate that won't work for a guy with little power.
Click to expand...

Right; I looked at Didder's line -- certainly not good -- but he's getting on base well enough for now that I left him off the bad list.

Keep in mind that I didn't dig too deep on any of this; I didn't look for BABIP or LD% type numbers, this was more just basic stat-line scouting.
 
Preacher said:
Right; I looked at Didder's line -- certainly not good -- but he's getting on base well enough for now that I left him off the bad list.

Keep in mind that I didn't dig too deep on any of this; I didn't look for BABIP or LD% type numbers, this was more just basic stat-line scouting.
Click to expand...

This is how I felt about Didder as well. not good, but doing enough to stay off the Bad list. much like Riley.
 
my fault for doing this list before Ian's second start.

Lets go ahead and add Ian Anderson.

16ks and 1 ER through two starts.
 
Really nice to see most of the top prospects off to solid starts. Hopefully Soroka and Allard keep steamrolling so we can see them in the majors by the All-star break next year.
 
just updating slightly - typos are going to happen :)

The Good - Hitters (in no real order)

1. Ronald Acuna - .317/.366/.545, 3 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 9 BB, 41 SO, 16 SB, 4 CS
Already in AA at the age of 19, hitting for power and showing big-time speed, this kid has phenom potential. Strikeouts are a little high still.

2. Kade Scivicque - .354/.395/.456, 5 2B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 SO
All he's done this year is hit, not great power - but he's getting on base plenty.

3. Austin Riley - .288/.345/.477, 4 2B, 7 HR, 9 BB, 36 SO.
Riley is 4th in the FSL in total bases and after a slow start he's really turned it around.

4. Alex Jackson - .300/.355/.600, 9 2B, 10 HR, 36 SO, 7 BB
Look we know he needs to prove himself defensively and we know the BB/SO ratio needs to get better. But he's mashing. Can't help but get excited here.

5. Carlos Castro - .345/.377/.534, 4 2B, 6 HR, 4 BB, 26 SO
Numbers are a little inflated after a 5-5/3 HR game and he's a little older, but he's not ancient (22 years old), need to move him up and see what we have.

6. Anfernee Seymour - .297/.349/.356, 5 2B, 1 3B, 25 SO, 9 BB, 9 SB, 3 CS
Good bounce back year for Seymour - just needs to keep getting on base to utilize his 80 speed.

7. Juan Yepez - .291/.328/.418, 11 2B, 1 HR, 28 SO, 7 BB
He's cooled off somewhat, but the first 100+ ABs of his season are still really encouraging, like many - he could improve the SO/BB rate. But we are seeing some signs of the expensive bat the Braves bought years ago.

8. Randy Ventura - .358/.410/.387, 3 2B, 10 BB, 20 SO, 13 SB, 1 CS
zero power here, but he's first in the SAL with 13 stolen bases and he's been remarkably efficient only getting caught once. The .410 OBP is superb.

The Bad - Hitters (in no real order)

1. Ozzie Albies - .246/.281/.377, 8 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 7 BB, 32 SO, 9 SB, 1 CS
He's still obviously so young for this level, but at some point if he's 'special' he needs to start hitting and getting on base. A sub-.300 OBP isn't going to cut it, he needs to hit more, walk more and strike out a little less.

2. Dylan Moore - .137/.234/.200, 3 2B, 1 3B, 10 BB, 24 SO
Considered a fringy prospect by some, its been a disastrous season for Moore.

3. Ray-Patrick Didder - .208/.329/.292, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 18 BB, 42 SO, 10 SB, 3 CS
The OBP is pretty good considering he's not hitting, but thats the problem - he's not hitting. He's efficient and dangerous on the bases when he gets there, but he's striking out about 33% of the time.

4. Derian Cruz - .170/.212/.236, 5 2B, 1 3B, 3 BB, 30 SO, 3 SB, 2 CS
The touted speedster is off to a horrendous start, he's not hitting, he's not walking, he's striking out a ton and he's got 13 errors in the field.

5. Lucas Herbert - .203/.253/.432, 1 3B, 5 HR, 4 BB, 23 SO
Last 10 games, Herbert is hitting .290 with 4 bombs, so maybe he's coming out of this funk - worth noting that he gets a lot of praise for his defensive ability, so if he can hit just OK with some power he'll be fine.

6. Brett Cumberland - .185/.411/.354, 5 2B, 2 HR, 14 BB, 28 SO
Bizarre slash line to say the least, but unlike Herbert - Cumberland ins't lauded for his defensive ability, he needs to hit - and he's also a little older for this league. The strikeouts are WAY to high, even if you think SO numbers can be overrated - he's striking out 43% of the time.
 
also out on Cumberland, for a guy who's bat was supposed to be his carrying tool....... second round pick and OVERSLOT deal.
 
Interesting that our first round draft pick from 2014 Braxton Davidson is not included in your list - perhaps because he might now be considered "filler?" If still considered a prospect (#27 in the Braves system), he would certainly be in your "The Bad" category.

.229/.367/.343, 3 2B, 3 HR, 22 BB, 48 SO

46 % strikeout rate with no real power numbers, no speed, and nothing special defensively says he is trending his way out of the system (and maybe professional baseball).
 
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