Minor league thread 2022

AlNipper49

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Both Mayer and Jordan are playing today. Mayer is batting #2 after Yorke and Jordan is batting #5, following Kavadas.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Bonaci is 1/1 with a HR and a BB.
Meidroth hit his first HR, 1/1 and is up now... got a single. 2/2.

Also, Paulino is back at SS with Mayer in Greenville. At least today.
 

AlNipper49

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Marcelo kinda looked out of it his first at bat, full count looking at something I could have hit. Jordan grounded out but man did he look goood grounding out. Completely smashed.
 

AlNipper49

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And then Mayer throws a routine grounder about 30 feet out of Kavadas’ reach. Not a good game for him this far (through 2)
 

Cesar Crespo

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As far as I can tell
Romero: FCL
C Coffey: FCL
Anthony: FCL
Rogers: -
Meidroth: FCL to Salem
Dean: -
Hoppe: FCL
Bolden: -
Brand: FCL
Brannon: FCL
I. Coffey: FCL
Johnson: -
Mullins: -
Landry: -
Ramsey: -
Jones: -
Godman: -
Butler: -
Donlan: - Salem (UDFA)
Zayas: FCL (but hasn't played yet.) He was assigned there on 7/23/22.

Am I missing anyone's location?
 
Last edited:

Manzivino

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As far as I can tell
Romero: Salem
C Coffey: Salem
Anthony: Salem
Rogers: -
Meidroth: FCL to Greenville
Dean: -
Hoppe: FCL
Bolden: -
Brand: FCL
Brannon: -
I. Coffey: FCL
Johnson: -
Mullins: -
Landry: -
Ramsey: -
Jones: -
Godman: -
Butler: -
Donlan: - Salem (UDFA)
Zayas: FCL (but hasn't played yet.) He was assigned there on 7/23/22.

Am I missing anyone's location?
Few corrections - Romero, Coffey and Anthony are in the FCL and Meidroth is in Salem. Nobody else has debuted that I’ve seen.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Brainer and Blaze must have read my posts today.

Brainer is currently 1/2 with 2bb and a HR.
Jordan is currently 2/3 with 2 mentioned HRs.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Brainer's first 56 games this year: 264 PA, .244/.371/.304, 44bb/47k, 10 xbh/0 HR.
Last 31 (including tonight): 133 PA, .313/.466/.566, 30bb/26k, 15xbh/3 HR.

Probably a hot stretch but something to watch.
 

simplicio

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Can someone talk Kavadas to me? I'm surprised he's not higher in organizational rankings given the numbers. Is it the lack of pedigree? Track record? Wrong level?
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Can someone talk Kavadas to me? I'm surprised he's not higher in organizational rankings given the numbers. Is it the lack of pedigree? Track record? Wrong level?
As a 4 year college guy who may or may not have a position he will have to keep mashing through the higher levels to prove worthy of higher consideration. It's a little bit of position bias and college/age bias so we just have to wait and see. You couldn't really ask for more from any prospect to this point, except fewer strikeouts I guess.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Thanks, I appreciate the explanation.
Age and level matter so much. 282 of his PA have come against younger pitchers, only 105 against older pitchers.

Then you have Marcelo Mayer at 11 PA vs younger pitchers, 302 vs older.

Niko is so much further along in development and he's feasting off of players right out of HS or the DSL. Less so in Greenville, but still younger players. He will be somewhat old for AA next year too, at 24. But it's not too bad and the development advantage is mostly gone.
 

TimScribble

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Mayer K in his first at-bat tonight. Kavadas and Jordan back-to-back singles to start the second. That’s a fun 4-5 in the batting order.
 

BigSoxFan

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Age and level matter so much. 282 of his PA have come against younger pitchers, only 105 against older pitchers.

Then you have Marcelo Mayer at 11 PA vs younger pitchers, 302 vs older.

Niko is so much further along in development and he's feasting off of players right out of HS or the DSL. Less so in Greenville, but still younger players. He will be somewhat old for AA next year too, at 24. But it's not too bad and the development advantage is mostly gone.
Wouldn’t that support being aggressive with promotions with Kavadas? What’s the point of him spending much more time in A+ ball? He’s owned it just like A ball.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Wouldn’t that support being aggressive with promotions with Kavadas? What’s the point of him spending much more time in A+ ball? He’s owned it just like A ball.
Maybe, but players don't really play 3 levels in a season and even if he were to get to AA this year, he'd probably be starting there next year anyway.

There could also be something they don't like that they are having him work on.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Thad Ward with 5 scoreless tonight, 3h, 4k, 2bb and hasn't yielded a run in his first two AA appearances this year.
 

TimScribble

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Mayer with his first hit since the call-up. Blaze 2/2 so far on the night.
 

AlNipper49

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This is where I wish Detts was still here. He’d make me be able to sound smart by letting me regurgitate what he says without calling me out on it.

Kavadas hits the ball really fucking hard. In my 7 years of watching baseball here the only one with the same sound off of his bat was Moncada.

But it’s A+ so who knows.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Who was the guy who hit 6 HRs in a game, including the HR cycle? It was awhile back. I want to say McDougal but it's not. Or his name was Mike.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Rafaela was 2/4 with HR 9 and a CS today at Portland, 18 for the year. He's almost at equal playing time for the levels. Looks like he might be heating up again. He's had a rough August to date but mostly luck related.
AA:204 PA, .286/.345/.524, 10sb/13sba, 23xbh/9 HR, 12bb/42k. .326 BAbip, 5.9% BB%, 20.6% K%, .238 ISO
A+:209 PA, .330/.368/.594, 14sb/16sba, 30xbh/9 HR, 10bb/51k. .409 BAbip, 4.8% BB%, 24.4% K%, .264 ISO

Pretty bunch been the same player in AA as he was in A minus luck. He's even managed to improve his BB% and lower his K%.

On a side note, he has 4bb/3k in his last 5 games, 21 PA.


Tyler Dearden was 1/2 with a BB. Before today, he came into the year slashing .265/.371/.391, 37bb/73k in 283 PA. For some reason, I thought he was older than he is but he just turned 24 a month ago. Not exactly young for AA but not super old. He had a really good year last year in Greenville too (.261/.368/.523). Over his last 19 he's slashing .303/.403/.500 with 11bb/20k in 77 PA. 7 xbh/3 HR. Wonder if the power is about to come back. DH type, probably won't come close to hitting enough.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Valdez is currently 2/2 with HR #3.
Casas is 0/0 with 2bb.

in AA, Mata is at 6.0 ip, 5 hits, 0r/0er, 0bb/6k.
Rafaela is 1/2 with a bb/k.
 

CarolinaBeerGuy

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I don't know if they have the pitch clock whete you are, but it is life changing. Especially if you are a part timer at a stadium, LOL
We went to a Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox High A) game last night and the pitch clock was a revelation. I already knew I’d love it, but my wife was amazed at how fast the game moved. This can’t happen soon enough at the MLB level.
 

Cesar Crespo

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This is a fun tool that I linked to in the draft thread. Unfortunately it doesn't go that far back.

I didn't realize Nathan Hickey got 2nd/3rd round money last year ($1 million, 2nd highest among Sox). I guess I was so focused on Marcelo Mayer. That makes me like Nathan Hickey even more. I haven't really heard any updates about his progress at C. Hopefully he can stick at the position because the Sox have a glut of 1b/3b prospects and his bat probably isn't good enough for either.

Greenville: 71 PA, .250/.394/.446, .316 BAbip, 13bb/17k., 23.9% k%, 18.3% BB%, .196 ISO.
Salem: 182 PA, .271/.429/.507, .323 BAbip, 39bb/39k. 21.4% K%/21.4% BB. .236 ISO.

Surprised there isn't more hype about him but college biases apply. He's 22 so he's old for A/A+ and is expected to hit. While doing well, he's not exactly raking. His K% is almost high enough where you'd worry about some of the walks converting to Ks, but that's in a limited sample size of 71 PA at A+, and it's an "almost." When someone has a 26%+ K% coupled with a 15%+ BB%, (see Niko) I worry that player will struggle at AA and AAA. Hickey's K% in A was perfectly fine so I'm not to worried about it. Oddly enough, I'd be less worried about it if was coupled with a 10.2% BB% instead of an 18.3% BB%.

Average hit tool, average power, willing to take a walk. Below average C if he sticks, decent arm. Guess it depends how much the Sox value defense from the C spot.

A very interesting Nathan Hickey split
vs R: 202 PA, .260/.436/.480, 21xbh/6HR, 48bb/39k, .220 ISO, 23.8% BB%, 19.3% K%.
vs L: 51 PA, .283/.353/.522, 5xbh/2HR, 4bb/17k, .239 ISO, 7.8% BB%, 33.3% K%.

That is so weird. I'm sure sample sizes are playing apart and his performance will dip vs L. That 48bb/39k vs R makes me feel very optimistic about his performance going forward in AA/AAA, at least vs R.

I don't think I've ever seen BB%/k% splits so drastic. 3 times more BBs and about half the Ks vs R. It's especially odd when looking at the actual performances but that's a SSS issue.

------
Looking at the 2021 draft:
1. Mayer: Struggling in the early going at Greenville. .056/.105/.056 in 19 PA. 1bb/6k. A lot of swing and misses too. Not that uncommon for a player to struggle the first handful of PA at a new level though.
2. DNS
3. McDonough: Not off to a promising start to his career. He's already 23 and is only hitting .238/.326/.368 in Greenville with 44bb/129k in 433 PA.
4. Rodriguez-Cruz: The 18 year old is off to a great start in the FCL. 1.33 era, 27.0 ip, 26 hits, 9r/4er, 7bb/31k. Sits around 92 and tops out at 95. Could add some velocity with age. Needs experience and possibly some worth with his delivery. It's medium effort.
5. Hickey: Covered
6: McElveny: The 19 year old started the year in the FCL but was quickly promoted to Salem. He's off to a mixed?!? start, slashing .095/.344/.191. He has 8bb/10k in 32 PA. Both leagues combined: 112 PA, .212/.384/.379, 23bb/36k, 5sb/0cs.
7. Olds: Getting rocked in Greenville. 6.70 era, 82.0 ip, 83 hits, 70r/61 er, 55bb/103k, 22 HBP, 18 WP. Opposing batters must have mixed feelings. Good chance they get a hit or get hit.
8. Dobbins: Binky of mine and I think the reports haven't caught up to the stuff. Sitting in the mid 90s and topping out around 97-98. Year to date: 3.83 era, 49.1 ip, 51 hits, 24r/21er, 2 HRA, 12bb/51k. Had 2 rough starts prior to last night but rebounded well. 5.0 ip, 4 hits, 2r/2er, 0bb/4k. Had TJS in March 2021, so I'd expect even more next year.
9. Miller: Struggling as a 22 year old in Salem. .209/.290/.336 in 384 PA. 35bb/109k.
10. Litwicki: Hasn't played.
11. Kavadas: He's been covered a lot. Across 2 leagues he's at 400 PA, .300/.468/.620 with 84bb/107k, 47xbh/24 HR. He will have to prove himself in AA next year at a more age appropriate level. I think contact will be a huge concern but he did cut his K% and lowered his BB% moving up to Greenville and has put the ball in play 2% more often.
12. Troye: 23 year old getting lit up in Salem. 7.32 era, 19.1 ip, 11 hits, 19r/16er, 20bb/33k. More ER than hits. Niiice.
13. DNS.
14. Webb: 23 year old who started the year in Salem and was promoted to Greenville. He's had an interesting year. Combined, 4.15 era, 42.0 ip, 35 hits, 20r/14 er, 27bb/67k. 35.1% K%, 14.1% BB%. I wonder if he's sitting in the mid 90s and touching 100 again. That would change things a lot. Last I knew he was sitting around 92-94 and topping out in the mid 90s.
15. DNS
16. BJ Vela: Repeating the FCL for a 2nd year despite being 22. He's hitting well anyway. .359/.479/.460 in 48 PA. Makes good contact and doesn't strike out a lot. No power.
17. Guerrero: Just turned 22. Started in the FCL but was quickly moved up to Salem. 2.88 era, 25.0 ip, 12 hits, 10r/8er, 13bb/38k. 36.9% K%, 12.6% BB%. Sits around 92-93 and tops out at 95-96.
18. Sikes: Having a great year across 2 levels with no dip in results. 296 PA, .262/.372/.520, 37bb/74k, 39xbh/10 HRs, 10sb/11 sba. Probably organizational filler but we'll see how he does in AA.
19. Uberstine: Started in Salem, now in Greenville: YTD: 4.41 era, 87.2 ip, 77 hits, 43r/38er, 33bb/95k. Sits 90-92 tops out around 94.
20: DNS

Mayer is obviously the gem of the group. Hickey is my clear #2 atm. Dobbins, Rodriguez-Cruz have intriguing stuff. Webb is interesting, and much more interesting with a return in velocity. Kavadas is hitting beyond what is expected of a college player so deserves watching. McElveny has shown some promise and has youth on his side. Guerrero needs some work but has the raw stuff.

McDonough might be worth watching because of his 2nd round pick status but meh. Sikes might be worth watching because he's hit a little, but not enough given the defensive profile.
Olds, Miller, Litwicki, Troye, BJ Vela, Uberstine can probably be written off. College players not performing at the A level. I would personally add McDonough to this group but I can see why some wouldn't.

The 2021 draft is looking like a pretty big hit in the early going and it's not all Marcelo Mayer.

The 2020 draft was only 5 rounds and the Sox only had 4 picks so I'll do that really quick.
1. Nick Yorke: Had a great year last year which saw him rank as a high as 31st (BA) in all of MLB. He's fell on his face this year, but some could be due to injury. (.229/.298/.357).
2. Forfeited-sign stealing
3. Blaze Jordan: Has mostly had a solid year but some have questioned if some of his power was lost due to the weight loss and if he can catch up to velocity. He's already earned a promotion to A+ and hit 2 HRs in his first game.
4. Jeremy Wu-Yeilland: Hasn't pitched this year. Got TJS on 4/28/22. Was off to a promising start last year, sitting at 93-95 and topping out at 97.
5. Shane Drohan: Had that monster 14k game earlier this year. Lefty who sits around 90-92, tops out at 94. Or was. He had some room for improvement, not sure if he has.

2020 draft will largely depend on Yorke and Jordan. If both work, that's a huge hit too. Especially since they only had 4 picks.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Romero was 0/4 with a bb, k.
Anthony was 1/5 with a double and a k
Coffey was 0/1 with 2bb.
Brannon was 1/2 with a bb, k. Debut game.

That leaves Rogers, Dean, Bolden, Johnson, Mullins, Landry, Ramsey, Jones, Godman, Butler to make their debut. Very possible I missed some debuts.

On another note, Casas since returning from his injury: 97 PA, .293/.393/.573, .339 BAbip. 15 xbh/4 HR, 13bb/20k.
Year: 253 PA, .265/.372/.502, .307 BAbip. 30xbh/10 HR, 36bb/55k.