AFL Update: Oct. 28, 2021
The Sagauros ran their win streak to four with a 5-1 win over the Javelinas.
Two Nationals were in the starting lineup:
- Jackson Cluff (right) continues to swing a hot bat [Insert Michael Scott joke here] as he went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a stolen base. He scored twice to take the AFL lead (11) despite having played just seven games. Defensively, Cluff had four assists and putout while turning a double play.
- Israel Pineda (below) was taken out of cold storage (last appearance Oct. 21) to serve as the Surprise DH. The 21-y.o. showed a little rust, going 1-for-4 to lower his Fall line to .455/.417/.636 in 12 PA’s
Surprise returns home this afternoon to host Salt River.
I hope Pineda gets a copy of that photo.
I always offer images to all of the players as well as filling them in on Luke’s extensive coverage on nationalsprospects.com
One has to wonder what the future is for Pineda in the Nat organization, and whether he might be being showcased in AZ for possible trade. (If so, he’s helping their cause.) With Ruiz and Riley seemingly ready at the MLB level, and Barrera looking pretty good in his MLB stint this summer, the catching position for the Nats looks settled for the foreseeable future. That’s a sentence I never thought I’d write! Even as Ramos was getting established, they still had to make the trade for Lobaton because of no credible backups.
Pineda’s power keeps him intriguing, but his all-around hitting at A+ this season was pretty bad: .208/.260/.389, 71 wRC+. Those are difficult numbers to see much “projection” in, even for a catcher. It was only his age-21 season, though, so he still has time to turn things around.
It will be interesting to see what the Nats do with Pineda and Millas next year. They will both need a lot of playing time next year.
Yes, that’s a good point; they’re essentially at the same level system-wise. Millas hit significantly better at A+ than Pineda did, albeit with less HR power and at two years older. Pineda probably is a good candiate to repeat A+ and Millas would get the primary reps at AA.
The other part of that equation is whether they keep Pineda at catcher, or perhaps try him some at 1B or LF and hope his bat can carry him. A move like that also should take place a Wilmington.