It’s back! Your semi-monthly look at who’s hot, who’s not, and who’s (or what’s) surprising in the Nationals minors.
For anyone not familiar… This is something that was stolen from that’s named after comedian Demetri Martin’s segment of the same name from his TV show from about eight years ago (i.e. around the time this site was born).
Invariably, it seems that whenever a player makes this list—good or bad—his fortune turns. Of course, that’s merely coincidence, but as much as we (OK, some more than others) embrace analytics and statistics, superstition will always have a place in baseball narrative. Therefore, this effect is known as “the curse of the GBI.”
Now, for the usual disclaimers… it’s early, sample sizes are small, stats in the minors aren’t as meaningful as we think, void where prohibited, do not taunt Happy Fun Ball, etc.
And the usual reminders: The guys, their families, their significant (and perhaps insignificant) others, and their agents reading this, too. So keep it clean in the comments. This is just for fun.
SYRACUSE CHIEFS
8-11, 6th place International League North, 4½ games behind
| Good | Bat: Rafael Bautista .291/.325/.354, 14R in 19G Arm: Austin Adams 2-1, 0.82/2.34/1.00 in 11IP (7G) |
| Bad | Bat: Grant Green .390 OPS, 3E in 7G Arm: Taylor Hill 1-2, 8.14/7.25/1.81, 7HR, 11K in 21IP (4GS) |
| Interesting | (Since 2014) Home: 122-101, .547 W% Away: 95-132, .419 (H/T Syracuse PR) |
HARRISBURG SENATORS
10-9, T2nd place Eastern League Western Division, ½ game behind
| Good | Bat: Andrew Stevenson .361/.439/.458, 14R, 11RBI, in 18G Arm: Erick Fedde 1.80/3.48/0.96 in 4GS (25IP) |
| Bad | Bat: Stephen Perez .380OPS, 16K in 14G Arm: Jimmy Cordero 0-1, 21.94/11.74/4.50 in 6G (5⅓ IP) |
| Interesting | Bat: Raudy Read .345/.377/.569 in 15G Arm: Jaron Long 2-2, 1.57/2.59/1.13 in 4GS (23IP) |
POTOMAC NATIONALS
11-9, 2nd place Carolina League Northern Division, 1½ games behind
| Good | Bat: Edwin Lora .364/.442/.530in 19G Arm: Matt Crownover 3-0, 0.68/2.99/1.13 in 4G (13⅓ IP) |
| Bad | Bat: Telmito Agustin .461 OPS in 17G Arm: Joan Baez 0-3, 8.27ERA, 21BB in 16⅓ IP (4GS) |
| Interesting | Bat: Taylor Gushue .302/.371/.642, 5HR in 15G Arm: Jefry Rodriguez 4.30 ERA, 2.69 FIP in 4GS (23IP) |
HAGERSTOWN SUNS
13-9, 1st place South Atlantic League Northern Division, 1½ games ahead
| Good | Bat: Juan Soto .359/.432/.526, 13RBI in 21G Arm: McKenzie Mills 3-1, 2.18/2.31/0.77 in 4GS (20⅔ IP) |
| Bad | Bat: Anderson Franco .456OPS, 18K in 19G Arm: Mick VanVossen 2-1, 6.35/4.65/1.59 in 11⅓ IP (5G) |
| Interesting | Bat: Daniel Johnson .296/.351/.606, 6HR in 20G Arm: Sterling Sharp 0-1, 3.50/3.36/0.89 in 18IP (4G, 3GS) |