Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Matchup |
| Fresno | Lost, 9-1 | vs. Sacramento, 10:05 p.m. | Crowe (0-0, 3.38) vs. D. Rodriguez (2-0, 5.40) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 5-3 | @ Portland, 7:00 p.m. | A. Lee (0-0, 2.77) vs. McGrath (2-0, 1.64) |
| Potomac | Lost, 3-2; Won, 3-2 |
@ Wilmington, 6:35 p.m. | Johnston (9-8, 4.22) vs. Tillo (6-8, 4.04) |
| Hagerstown | Won, 6-1 | @ Rome, 7:00 p.m. | TBD vs. Rangel (9-5, 4.70) |
| Auburn | Won, 3-1; Lost, 7-1 |
@ Williamsport, 7:05 p.m. | Romero (0-1, 3.10) vs. Aponte (0-1, 4.71) |
| GCL Nationals | Lost, 9-1 | @ GCL Astros, 12:00 p.m. |
Sacramento 8 Fresno 6
• Braymer (L, 0-3) 6IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, HR
• Guilbeau 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Noll 1-3, BB
• C. Kieboom 1-4, R
Fresno dropped its second straight to Sacramento, 9-1, to fall four games back and just a game over .500. Ben Braymer lost for the third time in six starts with three runs let in on six hits (one HR, #9 in 27IP) and three walks. He struck out four while posting his first AAA quality start. After a scoreless 7th from Taylor Guilbeau, Justin Miller (two HR), Dakota Bacus (3H, 2BB, 5BF), and Joan Baez (3-2 IR-S) all had a hand in letting a 3-1 game become an easy decision to leave early for fans at Chukchansi Park. Jake Noll singled and walked while Carter Kieboom singled and scored the lone run. The rest of the Grizzlies lineup went 0-for-25.
Roster moves: C Raudy Read recalled to Washington; RHP Erick Fedde optioned from Washington.
Harrisburg 5 New Hampshire 3
• Tetreault 6IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K
• Bonnell (W, 2-1) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Barrett (SV, 21) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Barrera 2-3, R, BB, RBI
• Bichette 2-4, R, 2B
• Banks 1-4, R, 3B, 2RBI
All five Sens runs came in the top of the 9th as they rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take the game, 5-3 and complete the series sweep, Harrisburg’s first since they defaced New Hampshire for three on May 28-30. Nick Banks’s two-run triple one out was the killshot as Harrisburg got four straight hits to open the frame and were aided by two wild pitches. The rally made a winner out of Bryan Bonnell who struck out two and gave up a hit in the 8th. Aaron did the same in the 9th for his 21st save. Jackson Tetreault was on the hook for the loss despite turning in a quality start of three runs on three hits and three walks while fanning four.
Roster moves: UT Adrián Sanchez recalled to Washington.
Wilmington 3 Potomac 2 – COMP.
• Istler (L, 1-2) 2⅓ IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K
• Masters 2-4, R, 2B
In the continuation from Tuesday night, Andrew Istler took the ball and tossed two scoreless before losing in the 10th on a sacrifice then a single. Potomac mustered just one more hit, a one-out single in the 9th by David Masters, who had doubled in the 7th and scored to tie it.
Potomac 3 Wilmington 2 – GAME TWO
• Teel (W, 5-2) 5IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 3K
• Howard (H, 4) 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Bartow (SV, 5) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Harrison 3-4, R, 2B
• Meregildo 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI
The P-Nats never trailed in this one, edging the Blue Rocks, 3-2 to split the de facto doubleheader. Carson Teel picked up his fifth win with five innings of two-run ball on six hits and a walk while striking out three. Hayden Howard tossed three scoreless for his fourth hold while Frankie Bartow worked around a single in the 9th for his fifth save. K.j. Harrison singledtwice and doubled once while Omar Meregildo doubled, walked, and singled to lead the Potomac offense, which plated two runs in the 5th on two bunt singles and a two-run single by Aldrem Corredor to climb back into a tie for the most RBIs in the Carolina League (69).
Hagerstown 6 Rome 1
• Irvin (W, 6-7) 6IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 6K
• Klobosits 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Marinconz 1-2, 2R, 2BB
• Rhinesmith 2-5, 2R, 2B, SB
• Upshaw 2-4, RBI, SB
Jake Irvin gave his teammates six strong innings, they gave him six runs, and the bullpen didn’t collapse as Hagerstown downed Rome, 6-1. Irving gave up neither a run nor a walk, just four hits while fanning six to get his sixth win. Angel Guillen lost the shutout with homer in the 7th and wobbled through the 8th unscathed before giving way to Gabe Klobosits, who dispatched the Barves in order on 11 pitches. Three errors and two stolen bases helped mask a 2-for-15 mark with RISP, though the Suns did rack up 10 hits with Jacob Rhinesmith, Armond Upshaw, Cole Daily, and Trey Vickers each collecting two.
Auburn 3 Williamsport 1 – GAME ONE
• Dyson 3IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 0K, BK
• McMahan (W, 1-0) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, HBP
• Dunn 2-3, R, RBI
• Alu 2-3, RBI
Back-to-back RBI singles by Jack Dunn and Jake Alu in the 7th pushed the Doubledays past the Crosscutters to take the opener, 3-1. Tyler Dyson threw three no-hit innings in his third start, issuing just one walk. Evan Lee followed with one run over two frames while the win went to Pearson McMahan with two goose eggs to close out the game. Dunn and Alu both went 2-for-3 with an RBI while third run came courtesy of Rhett Wiseman’s 2nd HR since his rehab stint began.
Williamsport 7 Auburn 1 – GAME TWO
• N. Gomez 4IP, 9H, 7R, 3ER, BB, 6K
• Segura 1IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Wiseman 1-3, R, HR, RBI
• Carrillo 1-2, 2B, BB
Wiseman led off the nightcap with HR #3 and then the both the Doubledays offense (four hits) and defense (four errors) took the night off as the Crosscutters triumphed, 7-1. Niomar Gomez was chopped for seven runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk over six innings for his second loss. Eric Senior collected two of those aforementioned four hits (five total) while Adalberto Carrillo doubled and walked, one of just two on the night for Auburn.
GCL Cardinals 9 GCL Nationals 1
• Ferrer (L, 1-1) 3IP, 1H, R, ER, 2BB, 2K
• Cuevas 1IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 0K
• Turbi 3-4, R
• De La Rosa 1-2, R, BB, RBI
Braymer’s experience with Fresno looks like a good indicator of why it can’t be particularly productive to expose up-and-coming starters like Braymer and Crowe to the PCL. I would consider what he posted last night as a good start. Fedde and Ross have had a lot worse there!
Solid starts from Tetreault and Teel as well, both of whom are pitching at advanced levels from where they started this season (as is Braymer). Excellent start from Irvin, who seems to have some real talent but is still searching for the consistency to do it every time out. Also an excellent start from Dyson, who was thought to be a potential high first-rounder going into this season. He’s a real potential sleeper if the Nats straighten out whatever was befuddling him in Gainesville this spring.
Both the Braymer and Tetreault promotions were very aggressive and I’m very pleased that they’ve held their own so far. Great to see.
Let’s talk about Michael Cuevas. He is someone who didn’t even get a Division 1 scholarship offer in High School and just turned 18 last month. Some scout saw something and the Nats gave him $125,000 to sign as a 23rd round pick. So far in 3 appearances he has not given up a run yet and has a WHIP of 1.33. Someone to root for.
Just another reason why it sucks to have the Nats’ AAA affiliate in the PCL. Really hard to know how good or bad your pitchers and hitters are.
We may reflect on this season like brass will in their autumn group wrap ups with the thought.: too bad Glover wasn’t 100 pct healthy
At what point should we allow ourselves to start believing in Nick Banks? He’s kept hitting after his promotion. As couple of folks mentioned yesterday in reference to Rhinesmith, there aren’t a lot of hitters in the organization beyond C. Kieboom and Garcia (and now presumably Mendoza) about whom to get excited. I would still like to see more power from Banks, particularly from a corner OF, and I think Luke still had some questions about his defense from his (long) time at Potomac. He was a touted player in college, though, Team USA OF starter the summer after his sophomore season.
So . . . has he finally turned himself into a very competent minor-league hitter, or is there some real MLB reserve potential there?
Give me one season of above-average play from Banks and I might start buying into the hype. Even so, there’s still some pretty big flaws in his game.
So far, he’s had 3 good months this season, but his plate discipline is worrying. His K% is just shy of 20%, which isn’t too concerning, except that he’s hardly walking (5.7%). That’s a BB/K of only 0.31. He’s also been extremely lucky in his small sample at Harrisburg, with an unsustainable .484 BABIP. Couple that with his below average corner outfield defense and weak power, I just can’t see how he ever amounts to anything of use.
Look at these two Nats minor leaguers career stats and tell me which you prefer:
Player A: .283/.342/.386
Player B: .266/.313/.386
Can you guess which is Banks? The other is Andrew Stevenson.
Still can’t figure out who is who? Banks is player B.
Want to hear something crazier? Stevenson is only 6 months older than Nick Banks, and can also play good CF defence and can steal a bunch of bases. And I don’t think any of us are particularly excited about Stevenson right now.
If you saw Stevenon’s at bat against the Rockies you might change your tune a little. Worked 10 pitches before walking to keep a rally going. A great professional’s hitter at bat. As for his defense, there was a reason his nickname was Spiderman.
Diekmann needed for late gigs , Rizzo
Man, the GCL Nats have really dropped off. After starting 8-4, they’ve gone 3-10 since then.
On the offensive side, they’ve got a few very interesting prospects. Junior Martina (21, .400/.494/.585) and Leandro Emiliani (19, .290/.436/.548) lead the pack. But Mason Doolittle (20, .357/.419/.679), Jorge Hurtado (18, .270/.329/.444), and Kevin Strohschein (21, .302/.373/.434) have each been impressive too (Hurtado being only 18 with those numbers is especially noteworthy).
But the bad certainly outweighs the good. Jeremy de la Rosa, a prospect touted to be very polished for a 2018 IFA, is batting merely .182/.379/.182. There’s another 8 players in addition to de la Rosa at or below the Mendoza line: B. Fernandez, Hubbard, Berrios, Arias, Antuna, Gomez, Matos, Quinn…
On the pitching side it’s worse. The standout best prospect, Mason Denaburg, has been less than impressive with a 4.60 ERA and 10 BB in 16 IP. Rutledge too scuffled, before getting a promotion and seemingly finding his form in Auburn.
Meanwhile, other interesting DSL products, Pedro Gonzalez (14.14 ERA), Jose Ferrer (3.72 ERA but 9 BB in 9.2 IP), Charls Jameson (6.97 ERA) and A. Hiraldo (5.40 ERA) have struggled.
Some decent highlights are Karlo Seijas (2.81 ERA, 17:4 K:BB, 0.94 WHIP in 16 IP), Bryan Pena (0.73 ERA, 13:5 K:BB, 1.38 WHIP in 12.1 IP), and Dylan Beasley (2.61 ERA, 8:4 K:BB, 1.26 WHIP in 10 IP), but there’s very few real standouts largely for the following reason…
Rather surprisingly, the Nationals seem to have taken a very different approach to player development this season. Up until last year, the GCL was used almost exclusively as the starting point for draft picks, whether they were HSers or college seniors. This year, a bunch were sent straight to Auburn (Bocko, Yankosky, McMahan, Willingham, etc.).
Wil perhaps the draft haul was more advanced to be be bumped to Auburn then Hags. Perhaps perhaps. Sounds like that one Broadway song…
so ready for Sipp and Rodney to be replaced …
Just a thought. With a less porous bullpen. One could imagine the Nats 2-5 games up on ATL… perhaps … perhaps … sweep LA…
Luke,
Any rationale behind the nats calling up raudy read?
Even though McGowin and Fedde were officially assigned to Fresno, they will be coming back to HBG for their next starts.
Read in Sept call ups will give the salty seasoned vets Suz and Yan some rest down the stretch after the hot July run
WHY. IS. ANDREW. ISTLER. STILL. IN. POTOMAC.
He was successfully playing in AAA just last year, and has been dominating A ball hitters all year. I cannot understand what the heck the team is doing with him. He’s an immediate solution to our big league roster and he’s inexplicably being used three levels lower.
While I’m at it. What’s Evan Lee still doing in Auburn? (Lee has been excellent so far, and is one of the last 2018 draftees still stuck in Auburn.)
What is Jake Irvin still doing in Hagerstown? (After a bad April, he has a 3.33 ERA, in 75.2 IP, 61:17 K:BB, 1.14 WHIP)
What is Jackson Stoeckinger still doing in Hagerstown? (This is his second full season there with very good numbers.)
What is Aaron Barrett still doing in Harrisburg? (Was Michael Blazek really a better addition to the Nats??)
What is Frankie Bartow still doing in Potomac? (I’m surprised Fletcher leapfrogged him, even it was the right decision. Bartow should get a promotion soon after impressing all season)
What is Matt Cronin still doing in Hagerstown? (I understand this one, as Cronin could still use some more experience in low A, just wanted to note how good he’s been so far: 13 K, in only 6 IP with a 1.50 ERA.
Stevenson could be a neat Mitch Webster ( ex- P.O. traded for Davey Skipper ) comp ??
Anything goes in minor league ball. David Masters cleanup tonight for Potnats
Kyle Johnston another QS tonight. Elder Boone. Can you hear the drum beating ??
Senator Johnston
Will — I hear you about Banks. I was excited when he fell to the Nats in the draft . . . and haven’t really been excited since. I’m not at all sure whether to believe Stevenson’s turbo-boosted PCL stats, either. I posted about that last week; his K rate is still the same (and higher than Banks’s) and his BABIP is outrageously high. I pretty much think that Stevenson has a low ceiling and that he’s reached it. With Banks, I don’t know. The last couple of months give some hope that he’s broken out of his plateau of mediocrity, but can he show enough to get into a real conversation about an MLB bench job over the next couple of years? Time will tell. He turns 25 in November.
Mark — the suspect part about Stevenson’s defense has always been his arm, with much thought that if he played longer term, it would need to be in LF. So he’s basically Ben Revere, albeit maybe with a little more pop. (Sorry for replying lower down the thread to these things. My browser is putting them here, not as immediate replies.)
I don’t know about Banks’s arms. I seem to recall that Luke didn’t think much of it, although it was better than Wiseman’s (a very low bar), or something to that effect.
Stevenson is not Revere–the latter could steal 40+ bases in a good year. Stecenson’s stolen bases numbers have dropped off to pedestrian. He’s strictly AAAA
Pretty much agree on Stevenson. Even with the PCL boost, it appears Stevenson has improved his hit tool, but he has a weak arm, and his SBs have dropped from 39 in 2016 to 10+ the last couple of years. So, AS is an OF with a below average bat, below average power, below average arm, but who can run a little, and play a solid OF in all 3 spots. Sounds like a 5th OF for the rare team that carries 5 OFs (like the Nats presently).