Minor League Week 4 games (5/25 - 5/30/21)

[MadThinker88]

Ok, its time for another week of games to begin. Here are the match-ups for this week:

AAA: Columbus (8-9) hosts Nashvile (12-5, Milwaukee affiliate)
AA: Akron (12-5) at Binghamton (2-15, NY Mets affiliate) <--- Rematch of opening season series won by Akron at Akron (5-0)
High A: Lake County (11-7) at West Michigan (8-9, Detroit affiliate)
Low A: Lynchburg (13-5) at Delmarva (13-5, Baltimore affiliate)
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Info pieces from Indians Prospective Twitter:

#Indians minor league leaders in (SO/BB) after week 3: Tanner Burns (Lake County) 8.00 Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 7.67 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 7.33 Thomas Ponticelli (LC/Akron) 5.00 Jaime Arias (Lynchburg) 4.25 Mason Hickman (Lake County) 4.00	#Indians minor league leaders in (FIP) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 1.74 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 2.02 Thomas Ponticelli (LC/Akron) 2.19 Daniel Espino (Lynchburg) 2.38 Jaime Arias (Lynchburg) 2.46 Zach Hart (Lynchburg) 3.01 Eli Morgan (Columbus) 3.16 * 12+ IP	#Indians minor league leaders in (SO%) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 42.6% Mason Hickman (Lake County) 37.7% Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 35.5% Daniel Espino (Lynchburg) 32.1% Zach Hart (Lynchburg) 32.1% Tanner Burns (Lake County) 32.0% * 12+ IP
#Indians minor league leaders in (SwStr%) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 21.1% Jaime Arias (Lynchburg) 17.9% Daniel Espino (Lynchburg) 16.8% Zach Hart (Lynchburg) 15.9% Eli Lingos (Akron) 15.6% Logan T Allen (Lake County) 15.3% Thomas Ponticelli (Akron) 15.1% * 12+ IP	#Indians minor league leaders in (SO/9) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 13.50 Mason Hickman (Lake County) 13.17 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 12.64 Daniel Espino (Lynchburg) 12.15 Tanner Burns (Lake County) 11.37 Zach Hart (Lynchburg) 11.20 * 12+ IP	#Indians minor league leaders in (IP) after week 3: Kirk McCarty (Columbus) 23.2 Juan Hillman (Akron) 21.1 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 15.2 Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 15.1 Alex Royalty (Akron) 15.0 Jaime Arias (Lynchburg) 14.2
#Indians minor league leaders in (IP) after week 3: Kirk McCarty (Columbus) 23.2 Juan Hillman (Akron) 21.1 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 15.2 Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 15.1 Alex Royalty (Akron) 15.0 Jaime Arias (Lynchburg) 14.2	#Indians minor league leaders in (AVG) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) .080 Shane McCarthy (Akron) .125 Jaime Arias (Lynchburg) .154 Zach Hart (Lynchburg) .174 Nathan Ocker (Lake County) .178 Kirk McCarty (Columbus) .183 * 12+ IP	#Indians minor league leaders in (WHIP) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 0.46 Jaime Arias (Lynchburg) 0.82 Kirk McCarty (Columbus) 0.85 Mason Hickman (Lake County) 0.88 Erick Mock (Lynchburg) 0.88 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 1.02 * 12+ IP
#Indians minor league leaders in (ERA) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 0.00 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 1.15 Thomas Ponticelli (LC/Akron) 1.35 Mason Hickman (Lake County) 1.98 Erick Mock (Lynchburg) 1.98 Shane McCarthy (Akron) 2.13 Juan Hillman (Akron) 2.53 * 12+ IP	#Indians minor league leaders in (Strikeouts) after week 3: Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg) 23 Logan T. Allen (Lake County) 22 Mason Hickman (Lake County) 20 Andrew Misiaszek (Lynchburg) 19 Francisco Perez (Akron) 18 Daniel Espino (Lynchburg) 18	#Indians current minor league hitting streaks Nolan Jones (Columbus) 6 Daniel Johnson (Columbus) 6 Ernie Clement (Columbus) 6 Will Brennan (Lake County) 6 Julian Escobedo (Lynchburg) 6 Ryan Lavarnway (Columbus) 5
#Indians minor league leaders in (Runs) after week 3: Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 19 Alex Call (Akron) 15 Richie Palacios (Akron) 14 Will Benson (Akron) 12 Bobby Bradley (Columbus) 11 Owen Miller (Columbus) 11 Angel Martinez (Lynchburg) 11	#Indians minor league leaders in (BB%) after week 3: Will Benson (Akron) 21.3% Angel Martinez (Lynchburg) 20.8% Trenton Brooks (Akron) 20.3% Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) 19.6% Richie Palacios (Akron) 18.6% Nolan Jones (Columbus) 16.4% Bo Naylor (Akron) 16.0% * 50+ PA	#Indians minor league leaders in (wRC+) after week 3: Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) 197 Owen Miller (Columbus) 188 Will Brennan (Lake County) 178 Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 177 Trenton Brooks (Akron) 168 Tyler Freeman (Akron) 160 Micah Pries (Lynchburg) 155 * 50+ PA
#Indians minor league leaders in (SLG) after week 3: Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) .672 Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) .614 Owen Miller (Columbus) .611 Oscar Gonzalez (Akron) .576 Micah Pries (Lynchburg) .542 Trenton Brooks (Akron) .532 * 50+ PA	#Indians minor league leaders in (OPS) after week 3: Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) 1.096 Owen Miller (Columbus) 1.067 Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 1.052 Trenton Brooks (Akron) .969 Will Brennan (Lake County) .958 Micah Pries (Lynchburg) .934 Tyler Freeman (Akron) .931 * 50+ PA	#Indians minor league leaders in (OBP) after week 3: Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) .482 Will Brennan (Lake County) .468 Owen Miller (Columbus) .457 Trenton Brooks (Akron) .438 Angel Martinez (Lynchburg) .423 Tyler Freeman (Akron) .422 * 50+ PA
#Indians minor league leaders in (AVG) after week 3: Owen Miller (Columbus) .406 Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) .358 Will Brennan (Lake County) .353 Tyler Freeman (Akron) .351 Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) .341 Yainer Diaz (Lynchburg) .340 Micah Pries (Lynchburg) .333 * 50+ PA	#Indians minor league leaders in (SB) after week 3: Raynel Delgado (Lake County) 7 Angel Martinez (Lynchburg) 5 Seven players tied w/ 4	#Indians minor league leaders in (BB) after week 3: Will Benson (Akron) 13 Trenton Brooks (Akron) 13 Richie Palacios (Akron) 13 Nolan Jones (Columbus) 11 Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) 11 Angel Martinez (Lynchburg) 11 Four players tied w/ 9
#Indians minor league leaders in (XBH) after week 3: Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 11 Owen Miller (Columbus) 8 Micah Pries (Lynchburg) 8 Ernie Clement (Columbus) 7 Will Brennan (Lake County) 7 Andres Melendez (Lynchburg) 7 10 players tied w/ 6	#Indians minor league leaders in (HR) after week 3: Bobby Bradley (Columbus) 6 Ryan Lavarnway (Columbus) 5 Oscar Gonzalez (Akron) 5 Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 5 Daniel Johnson (Columbus) 4 Jose Tena (Lake County) 4 Will Benson (Akron) 3 Trenton Brooks (Akron) 3	#Indians MiLB leaders in (RBI) after week 3: Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 21 Bobby Bradley (Columbus) 15 Ryan Lavarnway (Columbus) 15 Trenton Brooks (Akron) 13 Oscar Gonzalez (Akron) 13 Jose Tena (Lake County) 11 Yainer Diaz (Lynchburg) 11 Johnathan Rodriguez (Lynchburg) 11
#Indians minor league leaders in (OBP) after week 3: Will Bartlett (Lynchburg) .482 Will Brennan (Lake County) .468 Owen Miller (Columbus) .457 Trenton Brooks (Akron) .438 Angel Martinez (Lynchburg) .423 Tyler Freeman (Akron) .422 * 50+ PA	#Indians minor league leaders in (Doubles) after week 3: Will Brennan (Lake County) 7 Micah Pries (Lynchburg) 7 Ernie Clement (Columbus) 6 Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 6 Owen Miller (Columbus) 5 Alex Call (Akron) 5 Andres Melendez (Lynchburg) 5	#Indians minor league leaders in (Hits) after week 3: Owen Miller (Columbus) 26 Jhonkensy Noel (Lynchburg) 24 Tyler Freeman (Akron) 20 Johnathan Rodriguez (Lynchburg) 20 Oscar Gonzalez (Akron) 18 Will Brennan (Lake County) 18 Yainer Diaz (Lynchburg) 18

Announced Roster Transactions:

Columbus Clippers transaction LHP Tanner Tully promoted from (AA) Akron and will start make the start on Tuesday for the Clippers	Note from Tribeinsider Twitter: +RHP Triston McKenzie slated to start Wednesday @CLBClippers
Akron Rubberducks transaction RHP Alec Wisely promoted from extended spring training	Akron RubberDucks transaction RHP Eric Mock promoted from Lynchburg

Pitching Matchups:
#Indians MiLB affiliate probable starters for Tuesday
Columbus - LHP Tanner Tully
Akron - RHP Thomas Ponticelli
Lake County - RHP Hunter Gaddis
Lynchburg - RHP Xzavion Curry

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Appreciate the work - you're single-handedly keeping us up on what's happening on the farm. But for the Indians it's more about how many prospects are showing serious major league potential as opposed to the W-L records of the affiliates. It's better for the Indians if Columbus finishes in last place with three star players than if they finish first mostly due to the 30-somethings like Lavarnway and Blake Parker.

So here's my list of the farmhands who have stood out so far as potential major league players. Let me know if you agree or disagree and who you would add to the list. Obviously we're a little early for this so it's just for fun.

AAA

Owen Miller: .406 BA and already up with the big club
J.C. Mejia: 2.00 ERA and called up
Kirk McCarty: 2.66 ERA and .183 BAA. However, McCarty is 25 years old and 5'8" tall. He has only 14 K's in 23 innings. Lefties are hitting .111 (3-for-27) against him so even though he's starting in Columbus I think he might end up being a LOOGY in the majors and that's a dying breed.

AA

Tyler Freeman: .351 BA, .931 OPS
Oscar Gonzalez: .305/.904, 5 HR in 59 AB's. (Could we finally be developing an outfielder?)
Francisco Perez: 11 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 18 K's. A lefty reliever, age 23.
Nick Mikolajchak: 8.1 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 15 K's. Right-handed reliever. Him and Karinchak can be the Chak brothers.

A+

Will Brennan CF: .353/.958 (Wait, we might have TWO outfielders?)
Logan Allen: 1.15 ERA, .220 BAA (Wait, TWO Logan Allens?)
Nick Gallegher: 9.2 IP, 1.86 ERA, .156 BAA, 16 K's
Mason Hickman: 13.2 IP, 1.98 ERA, .146 BAA, 20 K's

A- (here is where it gets fun)

Will Bartlett 1B: .341/1.096. Check this out - 44 AB's, 20 K's, 15 hits, 11 walks, .482 OBP. Ever see a guy with a 45% strikeout rate and just under a .500 OBP? 55 PA's, 20 K's, 26 hits and walks, and 9 times hitting into an out. Weird.

Johnkensy Noel 1B: .358/1.052. 21 RBI's in 67 AB's, on pace for 188 RBIs in 600 AB's. Either Noel or Bartlett should be moved up soon - they both are listed as first basemen.

Yainer Diaz C: .340/.793 (Wait, we have a catcher who can hit?)
Johnathan Rodriguez RF: .328/.872 with a .397 OBP. No way - another outfielder?
Xzavion Curry: 15.1 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, 23 K's. Those are good numbers, right?
Andrew Misiaszek: 11.1 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs 2 walks, 19 K's (The list of dominating relievers with difficult last names continues)
Jerson Ramirez: 9.0 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 15 K's. (Either the batters in Lynchburg's league are awful or we've got a shitload of pitching talent in low A. Lynchburg has six pitchers with ERA's below 2.00 but I just highlighted the ones with a lot of K's.

 

[sportscoach]

Oscar Gonzalez feels like an OF version of Tim Anderson, so it's hard to say about him since success in that style in the pros isn't on the high side...

 

[thestatman]

Oscar Gonzalez feels like an OF version of Tim Anderson, so it's hard to say about him since success in that style in the pros isn't on the high side...

When I was at a Duck game Oscar wailed away at the hard curve ball down and away that night. I dunno, there are always over achievers that surprise in pro sports. I'm rooting for the guy. He's a big strong dude.

 

[Criznit]

Oscar Gonzalez will never take many walks, his BA/OBP are pretty much the same. The difference this year and it maybe a mirage, is his HR power. He has never hit them at a clip like this.

He is a fringe/inventory guy but still young enough to figure it out.. He really doesn't have many tools (avg. speed/def/etc) but can "hit" and if he continues his power surge... Who knows.. I believe he is going to be a MILB FA as well at the end of the season as well.

 

[MadThinker88]

@Wham with the Right Hand
1st: thanks for the kudos
2nd: as I noted in a different thread
"While winning is secondary to developing players in the minors, winning is important in its own right as it develops a culture of success, helps to focus players and hopefully produce post-season appearances in the minors (which results in more learning opportunities & development of the players)."

Please understand that it was communicated to me years ago that the CLE FO group wants to have an overall culture of winning (more than losing) coming thru the minors . It is felt that the success breds future success. Talented players that never learn how to win/ be successful in the minors face additional hurdles/ problems if they ever make it to the big leagues.

While you & I might disagree on the relevance of winning in the minors, if it didn't matter they would not keep score & teams would not work on culture.

3rd: Organizations go thru ebbs & flows of talent at different levels. While CLE is having an upswing in some parts, others (like Washington/ Philly/ NY Mets) are having some downturns. At this point Akron & Lynchburg have been able to take advantage of lesser squads to enhance their records.
Thru Sunday 5/23: Fredricksburg (WASH, Low A) is 1-17. Reading (Philly AA) is 3-15. Binghamton (NYMets AA) is 2-15

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

@Wham with the Right Hand
1st: thanks for the kudos
2nd: as I noted in a different thread
"While winning is secondary to developing players in the minors, winning is important in its own right as it develops a culture of success, helps to focus players and hopefully produce post-season appearances in the minors (which results in more learning opportunities & development of the players)."

Please understand that it was communicated to me years ago that the CLE FO group wants to have an overall culture of winning (more than losing) coming thru the minors . It is felt that the success breds future success. Talented players that never learn how to win/ be successful in the minors face additional hurdles/ problems if they ever make it to the big leagues.

While you & I might disagree on the relevance of winning in the minors, if it didn't matter they would not keep score & teams would not work on culture.

3rd: Organizations go thru ebbs & flows of talent at different levels. While CLE is having an upswing in some parts, others (like Washington/ Philly/ NY Mets) are having some downturns. At this point Akron & Lynchburg have been able to take advantage of lesser squads to enhance their records.
Thru Sunday 5/23: Fredricksburg (WASH, Low A) is 1-17. Reading (Philly AA) is 3-15. Binghamton (NYMets AA) is 2-15

Gotta feel for that 1-17 Fredericksburg team. Those guys are probably a bunch of 19-21 year olds.

 

[MadThinker88]

Gotta feel for that 1-17 Fredericksburg team. Those guys are probably a bunch of 19-21 year olds.

Avg player age in Fredericksburg is 21.8 per Baseball Reference.
But that seems low. When you pull up the actual team page via Baseball Reference, the 21 batters have a player avg age of 22.2 & the 18 pitchers have a player avg age of 22.2.

Either way, Washington seems to be in for a world of hurt in a few years.

2021 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates | Baseball-Reference.com Every Affiliates Statistics and the Stats for Every Player in the 2021 Washington Nationals Farm System www.baseball-reference.com

 

[MadThinker88]

Other Transaction news (via Indians Prospective Twitter)
#Indians minor league transaction
Signed free agent 30yr old RHP Kevin Herget & assigned him to (AAA) Columbus.

More info about the Tuesday games:

AAA Columbus Lineup

AA Akron Lineup

High A Lake County Lineup

Low A Lynchburg Lineup

 

[MadThinker88]

Game Updates:

AA Akron wastes little time. Gets 3 home before the 6th batter gets to the plate.. 3-0 going into bottom of 1.
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High A Lake County gets going to. Score 1 in top of 1st. Hunter Gaddis enters game & strikes out the side in the bottom of the frame. 1-0 entering the 2nd.

 

[Benway]

Damn! I was thinking about going to the game in Akron tonight! It's all about the Ponticelli!

 

[Criznit]

Oscar Gonzalez with another homer!!! This one a 2 run blast. Up to 6 on the year in 17 games!!! Where did this come from? Tyler Freeman with a BB and a run, Monasterio scored him with a 2B and was driven him on the OGonz blast.

Akron up 3-1 in the 2nd.

 

[Criznit]

Xzavion Curry watch 5/25.

1IP 0H 0BB 3K

Hillcats up 1-0. Micah Pries scores after hitting a triple.

 

[Criznit]

He is human...

Xzavion Curry so far 4.0 IP 2H 1ER 1BB 7K - solo homer scored the run

 

[MadThinker88]

Damn! I was thinking about going to the game in Akron tonight! It's all about the Ponticelli!

Except the RDucks are playing in New York this week.