Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-4-26

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (Central Time):

Iowa at Louisville, 12:05 pm
Knoxville at Birmingham, 6:00 pm
South Bend vs. Quad Cities, 3:05 pm
Myrtle Beach at Charleston, 5:05 pm

Probable Starters:

Iowa: RHP Jaxon Wiggins (4 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.92 FIP, 6 K, 2 BB)
Knoxville: RHP Luis Martínez-Gómez
South Bend: RHP Brooks Caple (2025: 98.1 IP, 4.48 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 74 K, 43 BB)
Myrtle Beach: RHP David Bracho

[craig]

Interesting that Martinez-G is getting start.  Not sure that means anything, other than may as well give the best young prospect careful, controlled, scheduled innings.  Relievers like Palencia and Little were starting through AA also.  In a sense, 1st-inning is always kinda higher leverage than a 6-1 game in the 8th inning.  Would be fun to see him show progress and have success.  

[CaliforniaRaisin]

45 minutes ago, craig said:

Interesting that Martinez-G is getting start.  Not sure that means anything, other than may as well give the best young prospect careful, controlled, scheduled innings.  Relievers like Palencia and Little were starting through AA also.  In a sense, 1st-inning is always kinda higher leverage than a 6-1 game in the 8th inning.  Would be fun to see him show progress and have success.  

It is interesting that they stretched out Riley Martin out. Wonder if they’re doing that with LMG.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Wiggins a bit unlucky in the first. He did walk two but they came in on a weakly hit fly ball double that was well placed towards the line in left.

[Bertz]

Re: LMG it probably doesn't hurt that Tenn's roster mostly sucks and the opportunity cost for letting him start is low

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Pedro Ramirez: unstoppable

2-run homer, 105 ev

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

KA with an absolute bomb for the back-to-back, 110 ev

[CaliforniaRaisin]

14 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

KA with an absolute bomb for the back-to-back, 110 ev

Off a RHP slider! His kryptonite!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I choose to ignore the Wiggins’ start.

[Bertz]

13 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

KA with an absolute bomb for the back-to-back, 110 ev

440 feet!

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

2 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

I choose to ignore the Wiggins’ start.

his command was just off, his misses were just too close to the middle of the plate. but yeah, not exactly great weather to pitch

[CaliforniaRaisin]

South Bend PPD again

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hartshorn with a single and a sac fly that just missed being a grand slam so far.

[Bertz]

He's another guy repeating, and unlike someone like Southisene isn't still young for the level regardless, but there's a noticeable drop in swing and miss from Lumpuy so far.  Great to see.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Jerzembeck was really good - 3.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (unearned), 0 BB, 3 K 

[craig]

I'm interested in Jerzembeck.  if anybody gets any velocity readings on him, I'd be really curious.  soft-toss finesse lefty?  Or at this point might he have a competitive fastball?

[craig]

interesting that Erian Rodriguez used in relief.  i'd thought he might be the only other young prospect beside Martinez-G. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

53 minutes ago, craig said:

I'm interested in Jerzembeck.  if anybody gets any velocity readings on him, I'd be really curious.  soft-toss finesse lefty?  Or at this point might he have a competitive fastball?

He’s a righty and he topped out at 98 in spring training.

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1 hour ago, craig said:

interesting that Erian Rodriguez used in relief.  i'd thought he might be the only other young prospect beside Martinez-G. 

I think Erian is a reliever in the big leagues if he makes it there but hopefully this is just a product of the weird early season schedule and he heads to the rotation next week. He should easily be one of the 6 best options for the Knoxville rotation.

[craig]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

He’s a righty and he topped out at 98 in spring training.

Wow!  I thought he's primarily a finesse curveballer, with some control.  If he's actually got good fastball, he's got a shot to be an actual prospect.  Then I'm fired up for sure!  I loved the pick, and was surprised he was available for only slot.  But yeah, if he's 3+ innings and almost 50 pitches already, he must be pretty healthy.  If he's an offspeed guy, but his fastball isn't bad, why not be good.

[JBears79]

Damn, I love that wind up. Super funky and weird arm action. I'm a fan. 

[Jason Ross]

10 hours ago, craig said:

Wow!  I thought he's primarily a finesse curveballer, with some control.  If he's actually got good fastball, he's got a shot to be an actual prospect.  Then I'm fired up for sure!  I loved the pick, and was surprised he was available for only slot.  But yeah, if he's 3+ innings and almost 50 pitches already, he must be pretty healthy.  If he's an offspeed guy, but his fastball isn't bad, why not be good.

Jerzembik was a big time recruit who went to South Carolina and then basically spent his entire time hurt. He didn't log an inning with USC in an official spring game since 2023. He's a complete dart throw, but the stuff on him was always big. If his arm lasts a few years he could be a fun thing.