Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 6-5-19

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (All Times Central):

 

Iowa vs. El Paso, 12:08 p.m.

Tennessee at Montgomery, 6:35 p.m.

South Bend vs. Bowling Green, 6:05 p.m.

DSL Cubs 1 vs. DSL Indians, 9:30 a.m.

DSL Cubs 2 at DSL Phillies White, 9:30 a.m.

 

Myrtle Beach has the day off

 

Probable Starters:

 

Iowa: RHP Alec Mills (36.1 IP, 6.69 ERA, 6.33 FIP, 5.04 xFIP, 40 K, 15 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Thomas Hatch (53.2 IP, 5.20 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 3.81 xFIP, 53 K, 16 BB)

South Bend: LHP Faustino Carrera (46.1 IP, 2.91 ERA< 4.97 FIP, 3.87 FIP, 41 K, 14 BB)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

17 YO Rafael Morel (brother of Christopher) has 6 hits, 4 for extra bases including a HR, over his last 9 PAs/2 games in the DSL. He and Pinango stand out early just checking box scores

 

Rafael was a double shy of the cycle yesterday.

 

José Lopez hasn’t popped up in a box score so far this DSL season.

[Bertz]

I know he had a HBP so it's sort of just semantics but this looks like Albertos' first outing without a walk since August 10 of 2017.

[CubsWin]

I know he had a HBP so it's sort of just semantics but this looks like Albertos' first outing without a walk since August 10 of 2017.

You are correct, sir. His last game without a walk occurred August 10th of 2017. Furthermore, prior to today, he's never had a 3 outing stretch in which he's walked just 2 batters.

 

The HBP wasn't terribly wild. It was a FB that nipped the batter near his foot.

 

All in all, he looked really good. Worked a lot off of his curve (77-80) that got a lot of swings and misses, at least of them to finish off a strikeout. His change up, as usual, looked good and was effective, getting a K on one of them. His FB (93 was the only reported velocity today) had some really nice movement (arm side run) back over the outside corner (to a right-handed hitter). He got a lot of weak ground outs, 4 Ks in 2.2 innings. HIs only hit was a sharply hit ground ball through his legs and into the CF off of Wander Franco (4th best prospect in all of baseball according to MLB).

 

I'm ready to say he's fixed. He completely revamped his wind up (South Bend announcer calls a hybrid between a full wind up and working out of the stretch). He's in much better shape and looks comfortable, under control and confident on the mound. And he's been consistent over his last 3 outings (6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K).

 

How good he can become is still very much in question, but he's back in my top 20 with some helium if he keeps this up.