I wonder when they move German up, he is striking out 2 batters an inning and basically unhittable so far while repeating AA.
Permanent move to the pen has been very kind to him so far.
If he keeps it up, by mid May at the latest. As you said, he's repeating the level so there's no reason for them to not pull the trigger.
His last 4 games, he's at 6.0 ip, 0 hits, 1 hbp, 0bb/13k, 1r/0er. 19 batters faced. 68.4% K%. 15% Strikes looking, 21% strikes swinging. I also need to stop calling him Frankyln German. Totally different guy.
Andrew Politi is mowing people down too and is also repeating AA. 5.2 ip, 1 hit, 2 hbp, 0bb/12k. 0r/0er.
Everyone in Portland seems to be pitching well though. I have only browsed this thread so apologies if Chris Murphy has been brought up. Bello and Walter tend to get all the press but Murphy is very interesting. If he stays healthy, he's going to be in pretty much every Sox top 10 list. How far he goes depends on how he fairs against RHH, but he's a lefty who sits around 93-94 and tops out at 96-97. From what I saw (last year, not yesterday), he has 1 plus pitch, 2 average ones and a show me pitch. Last night, he went 6.0 ip, 2 hits, 1bb/6k.
For the year, he's at 4 GS, 2.25 era, 20.0 ip, 5 hits, 5r/5er, 1 HRA, 7bb/24k. He has faced 78 batters, 30.8% K rate.
vs R: .143/.217/.238 in 46 PA, 4bb/13k, .207 BAbip
vs L: .214/.313/.321 in 32 PA, 3bb/11k. .313 BAbip.
Last year:
vs R: .277/.342/.572, .326 BAbip, 86k/25bb, 314 PA
vs L: .134/.236/.165, .236 BAbip, 42k/11bb, 110 PA
Good to see the early results vs R. Obviously, we are in SSS season and I'm "sampling" those. I'm just reporting what has happened, not what is going to.
I didn't have much of an opinion on David Hamilton prior to this season, but I'm giddy in the early going. I'd like to see him get some reps in the OF too, prepare him for a super sub role a la Brock Holt. His speed is legit, his eye looks discerning and he should be an averagish defender at multiple positions (I'm guessing he could play all 3 OF spots but that's a guess). Careers have been made from less. If he hits for any power, he's an every day player. 12 sb/2cs in the first 14 games. In 33 AA games last year, he had 11 sb/3cs. I'll make the Tony Phillips with better speed comp even if I don't necessarily buy it. Just the last time a player was compared to Tony Phillips, it was Mookie Betts. Here's hoping for the rub.
Binelas, Caddenne, and Lugo have been covered. It's nice to see Gilberto hitting for some power in the early going. 4 doubles/2 HRs in his first 11 games. Last season, he had 3 HRs in 94 games. The season before that, 3 in 59.
I know he hasn't played since 4/17, but Brainer Bonaci gets mentioned a lot by what I assume are opposing scouts. Either that or super fans who somehow know who Brainer Bonaci is. They don't compare him to Dustin Pedroia but he gets the same kind of comments. "Plays above his ability." "Hustle player." "Knows how to play the game." Now that Brayan Bello is a legit prospect, Bonaci is my super binky. Through 7 games, he's hitting .318/.571/.318 with 13bb/5k in 35 PA.
Really though, this minor league season couldn't have started much better.
edit: It's also weird writing "Bello and Walter get all the press." They aren't your typical top prospects.