Minor League game thread 4/18 thru 4/23/23

[BimboColesHair]

Is it common to have three guys with live arms the variety of Bibee, Williams, and Espino all coming up so tightly packed? What’s an example elsewhere in MLB of three true FOR types all coming up at the same time in the past 5-10 years?

I know Espino is behind the curve with the injury, but realistically, all three of them could be ready for MLB in ‘24(not saying they will all break camp)

And then in terms of potential top of rotation stuff, is there anyone coming behind them in the lower levels that has stuff potentially on par with those three?

If we're taking injury concerns out of the equation just for discussions sake, you can't forget Cantillo.

He's been just a tick behind Williams, Bibee, and Espino at the AA level, and it's not by much. And I'd put his raw stuff as equal to Williams and Bibee.

A guy spattering a low 2 ERA over 75 innings at the AA level while putting up a 13 K/9 in that level by the age of 23 would be most organizations top pitching prospect. Never mind that he is a lefty touching 97 with maybe the best secondary pitch out of those 4 save for Espino's slider.

 

[CDAV45]

Will need to see a lot more from Hankins before lumping him in with the other 3, he has a lot to prove with command. Allen is clearly much ahead of him and I wouldn't worry much about putting some kind of "ceiling" on him either, Bieber is a FOR guy without much velo and Allen is a lefty. I think we have more of a big 4 with some other guys like Hankins who can work their way in there if they put aside red flag concerns. I'm even watching Allen's walk rate closely because he was supposed to be a command guy an he's walked about 4 per 9 in AAA.

Allen is ahead of him developmentally because he's been pitching, but Hankins exceeds him in talent. What "red flag" concerns are there with Hankins? 2020 was lost with all prospects and then he required TJS shortly into the 21 season which has kept him out until recently. He actually pitched an inning at the end of last season.

Allen's control issues last season came with the addition of his cutter. It was a work in progress so I wouldn't be too concerned with that. Right now he's at 3.1 BB9 which is damn close to the 2.7 he displayed prior to the cutter. His slider is his bread and butter strikeout pitch. He's not going to throw the FB by guys at the rate Espino, Bibee, Williams and Hankins can IMO. At least not without setting it up well.

I'm not arguing that any of these guys are better than the other. I'm basing what I'm saying solely on "stuff" and ability. We'll see how good they become as they get their ML careers going. There isn't a damn one of them that doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling TBH.

 

[KluberSociety]

Allen is ahead of him developmentally because he's been pitching, but Hankins exceeds him in talent. What "red flag" concerns are there with Hankins? 2020 was lost with all prospects and then he required TJS shortly into the 21 season which has kept him out until recently. He actually pitched an inning at the end of last season.

Allen's control issues last season came with the addition of his cutter. It was a work in progress so I wouldn't be too concerned with that. Right now he's at 3.1 BB9 which is damn close to the 2.7 he displayed prior to the cutter. His slider is his bread and butter strikeout pitch. He's not going to throw the FB by guys at the rate Espino, Bibee, Williams and Hankins can IMO. At least not without setting it up well.

I'm not arguing that any of these guys are better than the other. I'm basing what I'm saying solely on "stuff" and ability. We'll see how good they become as they get their ML careers going. There isn't a damn one of them that doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling TBH.

Red flags are walks and injuries, enough pitchers can through mid 90s heat when they're healthy but where is it going (See C Vargas) and can they stay healthy?

 

[CDAV45]

Red flags are walks and injuries, enough pitchers can through mid 90s heat when they're healthy but where is it going (See C Vargas) and can they stay healthy?

It is said that there are those that have had TJS and those that will.

Vargas was never the SP prospect that Hankins is, and Hankins has much more than just a high velo, hard running FB. There's no point in going back and forth about him, just watch what happens if he stays healthy(that goes for any pitching prospect/player).

 

[sportscoach]

If we're taking injury concerns out of the equation just for discussions sake, you can't forget Cantillo.

He's been just a tick behind Williams, Bibee, and Espino at the AA level, and it's not by much. And I'd put his raw stuff as equal to Williams and Bibee.

A guy spattering a low 2 ERA over 75 innings at the AA level while putting up a 13 K/9 in that level by the age of 23 would be most organizations top pitching prospect. Never mind that he is a lefty touching 97 with maybe the best secondary pitch out of those 4 save for Espino's slider.

Morris and Cantillo to me are in the same category... If they can stay healthy, they will be at worst, solid RPs in the bigs. Both have the MOR potential if not higher. Just neither guy has shown they can hit 100 innings...

 

[BimboColesHair]

Morris and Cantillo to me are in the same category... If they can stay healthy, they will be at worst, solid RPs in the bigs. Both have the MOR potential if not higher. Just neither guy has shown they can hit 100 innings...

Cantillo hit 111 IP in 2019.

His body has changed so much since then, but he's been durable in the past. It's in there.

He is in dire need of a full healthy season to re-learn the movement on his pitches now that he throws significantly harder and reining in his stuff and getting his command back.

 

[Criznit]

Look at the start Nate Furman has had...

Wow. If he keeps this up, how long can you keep him in Low A?

 

[sportscoach]

Look at the start Nate Furman has had...

Wow. If he keeps this up, how long can you keep him in Low A?

Watch Lampe and Brito since I think if they get moved up, Lipscomb and/or Furman will get the promotion as well...

They also have DeLauter, Boyd, Cavenaugh, Genao, Antunez and Tucker out with injuries, so they aren't going to rush it.

 

[Criznit]

There is a lot of baseball today with the MLB doubleheader, 1 game for Lynchburg and Akron plus doubleheaders for Lake County and Columbus.

Hope we see a few farm boys have some HUGE days.

 

[petes999]

There is a lot of baseball today with the MLB doubleheader, 1 game for Lynchburg and Akron plus doubleheaders for Lake County and Columbus.

Hope we see a few farm boys have some HUGE days.

Was just going to check pitching match-ups, see which games to watch. LC has already been postponed. Guess they don't have the drainage as MLB team. So triple header tomorrow?

 

[Criznit]

Was just going to check pitching match-ups, see which games to watch. LC has already been postponed. Guess they don't have the drainage as MLB team. So triple header tomorrow?

Dammit. Sorry I jinxed it.

 

[CATS44]

Rocchio was 1 for 4 in the first game.

So far 2 for three in the second...with 2 SBs. He is now 7 for seven in SBs.

 

[thestatman]

If we're taking injury concerns out of the equation just for discussions sake, you can't forget Cantillo.

He's been just a tick behind Williams, Bibee, and Espino at the AA level, and it's not by much. And I'd put his raw stuff as equal to Williams and Bibee.

A guy spattering a low 2 ERA over 75 innings at the AA level while putting up a 13 K/9 in that level by the age of 23 would be most organizations top pitching prospect. Never mind that he is a lefty touching 97 with maybe the best secondary pitch out of those 4 save for Espino's slider.

I absolutely love Joey Cantillo and the numbers he's put up. Just hope he has put the injuty problems to bed.

 

[DerekG123]

Question for Bimbo, do you think its any chance that Gavin Williams doesnt reach Cleveland this year due to his rule 5 status and not being eligible?

 

[sportscoach]

Question for Bimbo, do you think its any chance that Gavin Williams doesnt reach Cleveland this year due to his rule 5 status and not being eligible?

I don't think he will end up answering this one because he cannot answer certain questions anymore...

If I am going by how Cleveland does things though, Williams is on the outside looking in for MLB in 23 at the moment. Now injuries and/or trades happen, which could change it, but with Cantillo being on the 40 man and Bibee in front of him on the depth chart, he's 3 back currently to be added to the MLB team. There is also the fact Cleveland has to find two spots mid season to add Morris and TMac, it's not a good probability Williams gets added. He's really number 14 for SPs go at the moment... Bibee is at 13... You could say number 2, TMac and 6, Morris are on the 60 day IL and number 4, Civale is on the 15 day IL. I have Cantillo at number 12 (since he's on the 40 man) Bibee at 13 and Williams at number 14. I am just not sure where he fits as a starter...

Though if he gets added into the bullpen to finish the season, I could see it, I just don't see, if everyone is healthy how he makes the roster.