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AFL Update: Oct. 21, 2022

Drew Millas (pictured above) doubled with one in the bottom 9th for his third hit and second RBI but got no farther than third base as the Javelinas dropped their fifth straight game, 4-3.

Millas also had a safety in the 1st and an RBI single in the 5th to go 3-for-5 on the afternoon, improving his Fall line to .375/.412/.706. Defensively, he threw out one of three basestealers.

Lucas Knowles (pictured below) also appeared in the game. He struck out five of seven batters faced over two innings but also gave up a one-out solo HR in the 6th that proved to be the deciding run. That still lowered his Fall ERA from 7.11 to 6.48 as he’s given up six runs on five hits (two HR) over eight and a 1/3rd innings across six appearances.

Peoria (7-9) heads to Mesa (7-7) this afternoon.

15 Commments

  1. Is Millas playing himself into consideration for Rule 5 protection? I know that suggestion doesn’t make much sense based on his 2022 regular-season production (.225/.340/.350 across three levels, including .211 BA at AA). But the Nats have been known to make mysterious 40-man additions due to performance outside of regular-season circumstances (see Antuna and Adon as recent examples). They already have four catchers on the 40-man, including Pineda, who is two years younger than Millas and still has three options left. They’re already carrying two “shuttle” catchers in Barrera and Pineda.

    1. Does Barrera have a future with the Nats? I think not. I’d drop him from the 40-man and add Millas.

      1. I’d sign veteran backup for Ruiz, let Pineda play in AAA and Millas in AA. They can hang on to Barrera or Riley as insurance. I’m doubting either is in their long term plans

        2. I wonder if there are any Rays PD guys who date back to the days Davey with Joe Madden who yearn for a fresh start in a new org to teach and spin experience on youngsters .

      2. According to FanGraphs, Barrera still has an option left. I’m not sure how that is true since he was optioned in ’20, ’21, and ’22. If he is out of options, then he wouldn’t appear to have a lot of future left with the organization, unless they can pass him through waivers and get him to accept assignment.

    2. Millas is interesting, for sure, and his great AFL certainly hasn’t been a bad thing. But with our strangely good depth at catcher renders him pretty useless to the team. You’ve got Ruiz, Adams and Pineda (and Barrera too) all ahead of him, so it would take a pretty awful scenario (serious injuries or pretty bad regression) for Millas to be of much use to the club. Catchers are the easiest players to stash on a major league roster for a whole year, but we’ve seen with Ruiz and Adams that decent minor league production doesn’t translate to decent major league production, so I’d be surprised if Millas could turn pretty poor minor league production into anything better than that at the major league level.

      I haven’t done the math, but with how many interesting R5 eligible players coming up, Millas is one I’d probably be willing to risk. Another interesting question is whether Knowles, Ribalta or Willingham have warranted protection and whether Cate has played himself out of a roster spot.

      2. The Nats have a truckload of guys hitting Rule 5 eligibility this year. Since Pineda has already been added to the 40-man, the biggest decisions will be on Rutledge and Denaburg. Cronin seems a likely add. Knowles and Willingham will be becoming eligible, among others. There are a few like Troop who have already been eligible but have made themselves into interesting candidates. Cate seems to have played himself out of being one.

        The Nats will have a number of free agents but also have several guys coming off the 60-day IL (NINE of them, although some are FAs) who will have to be readded. They also have some non-tender candidates, so there will be a lot of moving parts in November.

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