AFL Update: Oct. 11, 2018
Luis Reyes was misinformed as to when BP ended and the game began as he was lit up for seven runs in an 11-9 Salt River loss to Saguaro last night.
Reyes walked two and struck out two but gave up seven hits to 14 batters faced over an inning and 2/3rds as he was tagged with the loss. Jordan Mills also made his first appearance of the fall, allowing a run on two hits over two innings.
Daniel Johnson got the start in centerfield and drove in a run while going 0-for-3 with two walks and a strikeout out. He matched his two errors from last fall with two mishandled singles and made one putout.
Tres Barrera also started and was also hitless, reaching base on a Victor Robles and scoring a run. He failed to throw out any of the four base thefts against him, all of them with either Reyes or Mills as his batterymate. Jake Noll remains the only National yet to appear in a game.
The Rafters remain home tonight and host the Scorpions.
I’ve never understood what the big deal was supposed to be about Reyes. If you look at his numbers, all across his career, you wonder why he has even gotten promoted. He’s supposed to have a big arm but struck out only 5.0 per 9 at Harrisburg this year. His career K/9 is only 6.8, career WHIP 1.40, career ERA 4.35. He’s just turned 24, and I’m not saying at all that the Nats should give up on him, just that there’s never been much to back up the “prospect” treatment he’s gotten from the organization.
Hope DJ can get it together and show well in AZ. If the Nats trade Taylor, there may be a bench OF slot open with the big club. Stevenson would figure to have first dibs, but Johnson may have a higher eventual upside. I guess Yadiel Hernandez could get into that conversation as well.
When I see any player not named Yasel Antuna make two errors in a game, my first thought is “was he sick?” Even just a head cold can throw your sense of balance off juuuuust enough.
Who knows, though. The box score for yesterday’s game is nuts.
I never understood the hype with Reyes. I think he is organization depth. Not really a prospect. I remember Mlb pipeline had him at the start of the year as the No.14 prospect in the organization and I think he might have got as high as No.11. I always thought they must have placed him there or didn’t go by any reports because he didn’t even deserve Top 30 consideration to me.
On a higher note worth mentioning Catcher Israel Pineda was listed as the 9th best prospect in the NY-Penn according to BA.
I’m dying to see what Pineda can do next year. He seems worth a trip to Hagetstown.