Baseball America Prospect Report — July 29, 2020

Image credit: David Peterson (Adam Glanzman/Getty)

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Atlanta Braves

—Kyle Wright looked as if he was in line for his first major league victory on Tuesday. His team was up 1-0 and he retired six of the first seven batters he faced, two via strikeout. But Wright’s command faltered in the third inning as he issued three walks before giving up three straight singles in the team’s loss to the Rays. Wright’s slider, which had been effective through the first two innings, came up flat and his fastball, which was sitting at 96 mph in the first inning, was unable to cross the plate as he threw 34 pitches in the frame before being lifted.
Wright pitched 2.2 innings, allowed five runs on four hits, walked three and struck out three. The righthander has a career 3.1 walk rate per nine innings in the minor leagues, but a 6.7 mark in the majors coming into Tuesday’s game. If he can improve his command, the Braves’ No. 4 prospect could become a mid-rotation starter or better.

—Braves’ No. 18 prospect Alex Jackson on Tuesday smoked a double to left field for the first hit of his career in the team’s loss to the Rays. Jackson, who went 2-for-3, will need to show that his double-plus power can translate into games at the big league level after hitting a career-best 28 home runs at Triple-A in 2019.

 

 

Chicago Cubs

—Cubs’ No. 2 prospect Nico Hoerner has collected a hit in four straight games to start the season after going 1-for-3 and driving in two runs on Tuesday in the team’s win over the Reds. Horner, who hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, is 5-for-14 with three RBI in four games. 

Chicago White Sox

—Luis Robert on Tuesday had the second multi-hit game of his career, collecting two hits in four at-bats in the team’s loss to the Indians in the first game of a doubleheader. He got another hit in the second game to extend his hit streak to five games. Robert, the No. 2 prospect in baseball, also contributed two hits on July 24 and hit his first home run two days later. The outfielder has started the season 7-for-19.

Cleveland Indians

—Indians’ No. 26 prospect Daniel Johnson on Tuesday had his first career hit, recording one hit in two at-bats in the team’s win over the White Sox in the first game of a doubleheader. Johnson, who hit .306/.371/496 in 84 games at Triple-A in 2019, was hitless in his first start on July 25.

Indians’ No. 18 prospect James Karinchak on Tuesday made his second appearance of the season, pitching a scoreless seventh inning and striking out three batters while walking one. Karinchak mostly relied on his electric fastball, which sat 94-96 mph, but also threw a few curveballs for strikes. 

James Karinchak, Overpowering 96mph Fastball…then yells into his glove…and talks to himself all the way to the dugout. 😂 pic.twitter.com/jKnFJwRzU2

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 28, 2020

 

Colorado Rockies

—Rockies’ No. 7 prospect Sam Hilliard on Tuesday ended an 0-for-6 streak to start the season with a double in the team’s win over the Athletics. He later hit a two-run home run to dead center field. The outfielder in 2019 showcased his plus power in his big league debut, hitting seven home runs in 77 at-bats.

 

 

Kansas City Royals

—Royals’ No. 25 prospect Josh Staumont on Tuesday pitched a scoreless inning in the team’s loss to the Tigers, striking out a batter and walking one. Staumont, who sat 96-99 on his fastball, has appeared in three games, striking out five batters in three innings and allowing one run.

Los Angeles Angels

—Angels’ No. 7 prospect Patrick Sandoval on Tuesday made his first start of the season, pitching four-plus innings in the team’s win over the Mariners, striking out four batters, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and walking one. Sandoval sat 92-95 mph on his fastball and was able to pick his spots with it. His plus changeup was not at its best, leading to a solo home run in the fourth inning. Sandoval got five swinging strikes with his sharp 85-87 mph slider and showed good feel for the pitch. After allowing in the fourth inning the first two hitters to reach base via double and an error, Sandoval was quickly removed by manager Joe Maddon.

Los Angeles Dodgers

—Dodgers’ No. 3 prospect Brusdar Graterol on Tuesday made his third appearance of the season, striking out two batters in an inning of work, earning the victory in the team’s win over the Astros. The righthander’s plus-plus fastball reached 100 mph nine different times in the outing, topping out at 101 mph.

 

 

New York Mets

—Mets’ No. 13 prospect David Peterson made his major league debut on Tuesday in the team’s win over the Red Sox, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out three to earn the win. Peterson sat 91-94 on his fastball and mixed in his plus slider and changeup. Injuries to righthanders Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman have left the Mets without a fifth starter, but Peterson on Tuesday looked capable of taking that job.

 

 

 

 

Pittsburgh Pirates

—Pirates’ No. 28 prospect Nick Burdi on Tuesday earned his first career save in the team’s win over the Brewers. The righthander pitched one inning, walked a batter and struck another out while attacking hitters with a 97-99 mph fastball.

San Francisco Giants

—Giants’ No. 11 prospect Mauricio Dubon on Tuesday hit his first double of the season in the team’s loss to the Padres. The middle infielder has three hits in 17 at-bats this season.

Seattle Mariners

—Mariners’ No. 4 prospect Evan White on Tuesday made another defensive highlight to show off his plus-plus fielding ability in the team’s loss to the Angels. The first baseman made a diving catch on a line drive and stepped on first to double off a runner in the first inning to help Mariners’ No. 8 prospect Justus Sheffield in Sheffield’s first start of the season.

 

 

—Mariners’ No. 10 prospect Kyle Lewis on Tuesday extended his hit streak to five games with a 2-for-4 showing against the Angels. Lewis also made a diving catch in center field to prevent a hit. 

—Sheffield pitched three-plus innings on Tuesday, allowing four runs on three hits, walking four batters and striking out two. He sat 91-93 on his fastball while frequently mixing in his plus slider, especially after the first inning. The pitch moved in on righthanded hitters, including Trout, who struck out in the third inning. His changeup showed some fading life, but he still struggled to put away hitters, an issue that’s plagued him in the big leagues. Sheffield worked deep into counts, walked two hitters and threw 39 pitches in the third inning. 

Tampa Bay Rays

—Rays’ No. 10 prospect Yoshitomo Tsutsugo on Tuesday collected two hits, including a two-run single to right field, during the team’s win over the Braves. The outfielder, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal in December, now has a home run and five RBI in five MLB games.

 

 

 

Toronto Blue Jays

—Blue Jays’ No. 23 prospect Santiago Espinal on Tuesday picked up his first major league hit in the team’s win over the Nationals. Espinal in 2019 hit .287/.347/.393 with seven home runs between three levels.

 

 

HITTING STATS

TEAM	CLASS	PLAYER	AB	R	H	BI	AVG	NOTES
ATL	MAJ	Jackson, Alex C	3	0	2	0	.286	2B (1)
CHC	MAJ	Hoerner, Nico 2B	3	0	1	2	.357
CLE	MAJ	Chang, Yu 2B	3	0	0	0	.111
CLE	MAJ	Johnson, Daniel RF	2	0	1	0	.200
COL	MAJ	Hilliard, Sam LF	5	1	2	2	.182	2B (1), HR (1)
CWS	MAJ	Collins, Zack DH	4	0	0	0	.000
CWS	MAJ	Mendick, Danny 2B	3	0	0	0	.000
CWS	MAJ	Robert, Luis CF	4	0	1	0	.348
HOU	MAJ	Toro, Abraham PH-DH	2	0	0	0	.200
LAA	MAJ	Walsh, Jared PR-1B	0	0	0	0	.000
NYM	MAJ	Gimenez, Andres PR-2B	1	1	0	0	.000
OAK	MAJ	Allen, Austin C	4	0	0	0	.125
SD	MAJ	Olivares, Edward LF	0	0	0	0	.333
SEA	MAJ	Lewis, Kyle CF	4	0	2	0	.421
SEA	MAJ	White, Evan 1B	3	0	0	0	.200	BB (2)
SF	MAJ	Davis, Jaylin RF	3	0	0	0	.167
SF	MAJ	Dubon, Mauricio 2B-CF	3	1	1	0	.176	2B (1)
TB	MAJ	Tsutsugo, Yoshitomo LF-3B	4	1	2	2	.235
TOR	MAJ	Espinal, Santiago SS	4	0	1	0	.143
TOR	MAJ	McGuire, Reese C	4	0	1	0	.250

 

PITCHING STATS

TEAM	CLASS	PLAYER	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	ERA	NOTES
ATL	MAJ	Wright, Kyle	2.2	4	5	5	3	3	16.88	L (0-1)
CLE	MAJ	Karinchak, James	1	0	0	0	1	3	0.00
CWS	MAJ	Heuer, Codi	1	0	0	0	0	1	0.00
CWS	MAJ	Lambert, Jimmy	1	1	0	0	0	1	0.00
HOU	MAJ	Paredes, Enoli	0	2	2	2	1	0	10.80
HOU	MAJ	Rodriguez, Nivaldo	2	2	0	0	1	1	0.00
KC	MAJ	Staumont, Josh	1	0	0	0	1	1	3.00
LAA	MAJ	Sandoval, Patrick	4	4	2	1	1	4	2.25
LAD	MAJ	Graterol, Brusdar	1	0	0	0	0	2	3.86	W (1-1)
MIN	MAJ	Stashak, Cody	1	1	0	0	0	1	0.00
NYM	MAJ	Peterson, David	5.2	7	2	2	2	3	3.18	W (1-0)
PIT	MAJ	Burdi, Nick	1	0	0	0	1	1	0.00	Sv (1)
SD	MAJ	Guerra, Javy	1	1	0	0	0	1	3.38
SEA	MAJ	Sheffield, Justus	3	3	4	4	4	2	12.00	L (0-1)
SF	MAJ	Jimenez, Dany	1	0	0	0	0	0	6.75
SF	MAJ	Menez, Conner	3	0	0	0	0	3	4.50
TB	MAJ	Fairbanks, Peter	1	1	0	0	0	3	5.40	W (1-0)
WAS	MAJ	Bourque, James	0.1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00