Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Syracuse | Lost, 4-3 (10 inn.) |
@ Syracuse, 7:05 p.m. |
Dragmire (0-3, 7.13) vs. Waguespack (0-4, 5.13) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 7-6 (10 inn.) |
@ Bowie, 6:35 p.m. |
Sharp (1-1, 9.00) vs. Binford (1-2, 4.09) |
| Potomac | Lost, 3-0 | vs. Salem, 6:35 p.m. |
DeRosier (0-1, 10.80) vs. Gonzalez (7-1, 2.91 |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 8-3 | @ Delmarva, 7:05 p.m. |
Hill (0-1, 2.19) vs. Dietz (6-2, 3.56) |
| Auburn | Won, 4-1 | vs. State College, 6:30 p.m. |
Karp (0-0, 0.00) vs. Voyles (0-1, 4.85) |
| GCL Nationals | Won, 4-2 | OFF DAY |
Lehigh Valley 4 Syracuse 2 (10 inn.)
• Stevenson 3-5, 2B
• Marmolejos 1-4, 2K
Harrisburg 7 Richmond 6 (10 inn.)
• Mapes 5⅓ IP, 10H, 5R, 5ER, BB, 6K, HR, HBP; 1-2, RBI
• Bacus (W, 1-1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Collier 2-4, R, 2B, SF, 2RBI
• Kieboom 2-5, R, RBI
• Lowery 0-2, R, 2BB
Harrisburg missed an extra point in the 1st inning and needed an extra inning to get it back on a Zach Collier sac fly and a 7-6 win over Richmond in 10 innings. Tyler Mapes was strafed for ten hits and five runs over five and a 1/3rd innings. Derek Self let one fly by the Squirrels’ Dylan Davis for the game-tying HR and a a blown save. Dakota Bacus picked up the win with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and fanning two. Carter Kieboom led the Sens hit column with another two singles and an RBI as the Senators took advantage of two errors to scored seven times on just seven hits. Roster moves: 1B-OF Matt Adams assigned from Washingto for MLB rehab.
Myrtle Beach 3 Potomac 0
• Braymer (L, 3-2) 7IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 1K, HBP
• Guilbeau 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Wiseman 2-4, 1K
• Sundberg 1-3, 2K
The pitching was good enough, but the five hits (all singles) weren’t as the Pelicans shut out the P-Nats again, 3-0 to complete the sweep. It was the fifth straight loss for Potomac. Ben Braymer gave up all three Myrtle Beach runs on five hits and four walks for his fourth quality start and his second loss. Taylor Guilbeau followed with a three-up, three-down 8th. Rhett Wiseman was the sole batter to reach base twice as the P-Nats went just 1-for-7 with RISP and drew only one walk.
West Virginia 8 Hagerstown 3
• Romero 5IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 8K, 79-51 PIT-K
• C. Pena (L, 0-1) 2IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 4BB, 1K, HR
• Scudder 3-5, R, 2RBI
• Esthay 2-3, 2B, BB
Seth Romero went five innings for just the second time in his career and the Hagerstown ‘pen collapsed again for an 8-3 loss to West Virginia. Romero struck out eight and walked three and gave up a run and one hit in the no-decision. Carlos Pena took the loss as he was shocked byt the Power for five runs on six hits, including a three-run HR, over two innings. Jack Scudder reached base with three singles while Kameron Esthay singled, doubled, and walked to lead the Suns offense.
Auburn 4 Williamsport 1
• Cate 3IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Teel (W, 1-0) 3IP, 5H, R, ER, 0BB, 0K
• German (SV, 2) 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
• Pineda 2-4, 2R, 2B, HR, RBI
• Carrillo 2-4, RBI
Jose Sanchez’s two-run single in the 7th broke open a 2-1 game as Auburn rolled to its third straight series sweep and ninth win in a row, 4-1 over Williamsport. Tim Cate struck out three and walked one over three hitless and scoreless innings. Carson Teel scattered five hits and allowed the ‘Cutters run over three innings to win his NYPL debut. Jhonatan German was prefect over three to pick up the save, his second. Israel Pineda doubled and homered and scored twice while Adalberto Carillo singled twice and drove in a run to lead the Doubledays attack, which also included 12 batting strikeouts. Roster moves: IF Carson Shaddy assigned from Washington.
GCL Nationals 4 GCL Marlins 2
• R. Gomez (W, 1-1) 5IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, BB, 3K
• Cuello (H, 1) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, HBP
• W. Perez 4-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Aquino 2-2, R, 2SB
The G-Nats had a one-hit shutout through eight innings and survived a late rush by the G-Marlins for a 4-2 win. Rafael Gomez spun five hitless innings for his first win, issuing one walk and fanning three. Carlos Cuello (2IP) lost the no-no and combined with Joan Adon (1IP) with three scoreless to each earn holds. Wilmer Perez singled three times, doubled once, scored once, and drove in a run while Luis Aquino turned two singled into doubles with a pair of stolen bases to pace the G-Nat offense.
There’s a lot to like in the shortened seasons leagues, especially compared to the dearth of talent in A ball (both High and Low A).
Some interesting players at Auburn:
Rhinesmith and Canning have been discussed plenty already
Kyle Marinconz (24th rd pick) has started strong after a one game stint in the GCL: .389/.542/.444
Israel Pineda (18 year old catcher, who played really well for GCL last season): .298/.346/.489
Jose Sanchez (who’s still only 17 and struggled mightily in the GCL last year) has started promisingly: .265/.321/.367
Malvin Pena: 20 IP, 1.80 ERA, 20:3 K:BB (21 years old)
Angel Guillen: 8 IP, 2.25 ERA, 9:1 K:BB (21 y.o)
Carson Teel (16th rd pick) after a quick stint in GCL has been promoted and posted 3.38 ERA across both levels
GCL:
Pablo O’Connor (27th rd pick) batting an impressive .324/.351/.441
Alfonso Hernandez (only 18) 8.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 10:1 K:BB
Leif Strom (injured all last season) 7 IP, 0.00 ERA, 7:1 K:BB
DSL:
Braian Fernandez has been discussed plenty already, but after a red-hot start, he’s still hitting .388/.451/.550
Jorge Hurtado (17 y.o.): .342/.398/.506
Geraldi Diaz (17 y.o. catcher): .304/.444/.464
Viandel Pena (17 y.o.): .277/.409/.447
Pedro Gonzalez (has also been discussed quite a bit) but has been extremely impressive at only age 17: 26 IP, 0.35 ERA, 33:4 K:BB, 0.81 WHIP
Jose Ferrer (18 y.o. deserving a lot more attention): 9 IP, 1.00 ERA, an outrageous 21 K in 9 IP. That’s a 54% K%!! (by comparison, Scherzer’s K% this season is 37%)
Carlos Romero (18 y.o.): 25 IP, 1.14 ERA, only 9 H allowed!, 21:9 K:BB, 0.72 WHIP
Abrahan Hiraldo (19 y.o.): 11 IP, 1.64 ERA, 11:6 K:BB
It’s been a lot more fun keeping up with the shortened seasons teams than in past years. I hope they give quick promotions to some of these guys that are showing they need a tougher challenge.
Pineda is definitely one to watch. This organization certainly could use a catcher who can hit, all the way to the top!
Follow the 100 AB rule for hitters. Dominance at 100 AB suggests readiness.
That, and opportunity above.
The Nationals are it going to give up on Upshaw (so soon). And Esthay has given them good power, enough to keep giving him chances. Choruby was only recently promoted. So we have to be patient with some of those who are playing lower than their experience and success dictates.
Jake Scudder is showing the benefits of patience.
Gil. On Father’s Day Scudder had a great AB vs a tough lefty where he stayed back serving the ball to LF.
One could also say 100 ABs on the road to 1,500 ABs to season into MLB ready
Nice job by scouts mixing the infield and outfield lefty / righty bats. Shaddy , Sanchez , the two NCAA grads hitting lefty , Caufeld. Yes push the numbers into the meat grinder then see what churns out @ A plus and AA in time
It’s worth noting that many of the DSL players noted above have reached 100 PA or are just a handful shy. With that said, the DSL is notoriously difficult to make conclusions based on stats. For example, if you go back and look at all the batters that had an OPS of 1.000 or more from 2013-2015 in the DSL (only 3), one is no longer in professional baseball, one is currently hitting .000 in the NYPL, and the other is hitting a respectable .270/.340/.394 in AA.
That noted, there is a serious offense gap at Low and High A, and a number of outfielders at Rookie and Auburn that ought to see the field and cannot get a chance until promotions happen. Somethings gotta give.
These days I am watching Romero, because I feel like he is going to get bumped to Potomac soon.
His wipe out slider is coming along with the Houston heat.
Today an interesting list of kids on the farm Marquee grabbing the ball: Sharp vs Bowie and Young Karp in lower level.
Keep cool and safe everybody
Happened to notice a familiar name with the IronPigs: Danny The K Espinosa. He’s 31 years old, just two seasons removed from hitting 24 homers in the majors. He’s with his third AAA team this season. With three hits over the last two days, his average at Lehigh Valley is now “up” to .115. Looks like the end is near for Espy. I know we all grew tired of what we perceived as his arrogance and stubbornness, but he’s also one we excitedly watch rise through the ranks, finishing with 28 homers in 2010 (six in the majors), 25 SBs, and some sterling leather. He now seems to be falling as quickly as he rose, which is sad.
Stubborn = too stupid to listen to anybody.
We all are guilty of that in some respects lol
Not about major shoulder injuries though–me thinks I’d have listened to the doctors and had the surgery.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that.
Best outing of Romero’s short and truncated career. Hope that he is getting his act together on the mound and off. If he can pitch to his talent, he would shoot up the prospect charts.
Romero has basically had one bad inning this year. In the third inning against Lakewood in his second start of the season, he plunked two batters, allowed 3 hits, two of which were homers, and 5 runs.
Now, I realize this is a little like “but other than the iceberg, the Titanic was fine…” but in the rest of his starts he’s thrown 22.1 innings, allowed 6 ER on 16 hits ( HR) and 8 BBs while fanning 30.
That’s a 2.42 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 12.1 K9 and a 12.09 K/9 and 3.7 K/BB rate. Those are numbers that get you promoted, especially when you’re a 6-3 lefty.
Jeff,
Although I have not studied it closely enough, the early returns are that the Nats drafted college arms are performing well, better than previous years.
Since expectations are low after the season, as the college products are already throwing more innings than they are used to, I wonder whether closer scrutiny shows the Nats drafted arms who are low mileage for the year or overall for their career, hoping to get a read on them this year without losing a year of development?
Encouraging overall early returns for this draft, but only relative to previous years, since no one other than Bartow has been placed at Hagerstown yet. Cannot appraise until once they hit Potomac and higher.
That’s why the 2016 draft is the best in recent memory.
Yes, Sharp hopefully in AA to stay, as well as Crowe. Mapes the lowest ceiling of the triumvirate.
Canning draws Adam Eaton comps. That’s value.
One other point- cannot trade Kieboom now. Too important for organization future.
With the lack of high ceiling lefty starters, I’m not interested in trading Romero either.
Herrera trade proves that other organizations value Nats prospects more than many of us do. So do the successes of previous prospects like Rivero and Ray.
Im all for a Harper deal if it is something that brings back catching. Otherwise Nats getting and staying healthy will make a difference, even if you can’t trade the manager.
With Murphy gone after this season and Rendon possibly departing after next year, they have a desperate need for an INF like Kieboom. It wouldn’t make much sense to give up a cheap, high-ceiling replacement at this juncture.
I would be surprised if Romero gets traded now simply because they would be selling so low. If they got a reasonable offer for him, though, I don’t think they would be sad to pass his knuckleheadedness on to another organization.
In other news, Jesus Luzardo continues to dominate.
In the past month, he’s allowed 1 ER in 25 IP (a 0.36 ERA), struck out 26 and walked 3 with a 0.60 WHIP along the way.
He’s still only 20.
By the end of the year, he might be in consideration for best pitching prospect in the game.
If only they had spent a little money to upgrade the bullpen during the previous offseason. The loss of Piveta, who’ll directly torture the Nats for years to come was due the same thing.
Don’t forget about McKenzie Mills too working his way up the Phillies farm system.
So a 17-YO DSL SS named Wilfrido Matos just hit for the cycle against the DSL Twins, raising his average from .235 to .262.
Doesn’t mean this kid is suddenly a hot prospect, but hitting for the cycle is cool at any level.
Of course, he also has two errors (and a teammate commited a third) and the baby Nats have walked nine (that’s less than some of son’s LL games!), hence they lost 13-7.
Of course, he also has two errors (and a teammate commited a third) and the baby Nats have walked nine (that’s less than some of son’s LL games!), hence they lost 13-7.
Canning promoted and in the lineup for Hagerstown tonight. In perhaps bigger news, Garcia has been promoted and is batting second for the P-Nats tonight. So much for Luke’s appeal that he get a full season at Hags.
Wow. Schlabach and co. Being very aggressive. Great news, we’ll deserved.
Oliver Ortiz out. That was inevitable. He had his chances in 2017 but this year, got outpaced by the newer OF in the system. Canning came out firing and now we get to see how he measured up against true age-appropriate peers. Still a lot more crowding to be relieved from below, especially on the GCL roster.
As for Garcia, his promotion cements him among the premier position prospects in the system. A lot of pop for an 18 year old middle infielder. Have to wonder if he is headed for the AFL.