As we’ve done now for the past five editions, let’s review the previous selections:
Alfonso Hernandez
2017: 1-1, 0SV; 12G, 12GS, 55⅔ IP; 2.10/2.53/1.17 in the DSL
2018: 2-0, 2SV; 13G, 0GS, 33⅔ IP; 2.14/2.71/1.10 in the GCL
1-0, 0SV; 3G, 0GS, 13IP; 2.77/3.79/1.00 in the NYPL → Made the ’19 Watchlist as a LHP
Rafael Gomez
2017: 6-3, 0SV; 11G, 11GS, 55 IP; 4.09/2.88/1.27 in the DSL
2018: 3-4, 0SV; 11G, 5GS, 42⅔ IP; 6.12/3.96/1.50 in the GCL
Joan Adon
2017: 2-1, 1SV; 13G, 2GF, 28 IP; 3.54/3.12/1.18 in the DSL
2018: 2-0, 2SV; 13G, 6GF, 19⅔ IP; 2.29/3.61/1.68 in the GCL
1-1, 0SV; 7.36/7.12/2.00 in the NYPL
Niomar Gomez
2017: 1-3, 0SV; 12G, 12GS, 55⅓ IP; 4.07/3.17/1.27 in the DSL
2018: 0-1, 0SV; 8G, 6GS, 31⅔ IP; 8.24/3.82/1.80 in the GCL
2-1, 0SV; 4G, 4GS, 21 IP; 3.00/3.15/1.29 in the NYPL
Pedro Gonzalez
2017: 1-3, 0SV; 12G, 12GS, 52⅔ IP; 5.30/3.51/1.63 in the DSL
2018: 3-1, 0SV; 7G, 7GS, 37 IP; 1.46/2.39/0.95 in the DSL
1-2, 0SV; 5G, 2GS, 15 IP; 9.60/6.73/1.67 in the GCL
On to the 2019 selections…
Pedro Gonzalez
POS: RHSP
JULY 1, 2019 AGE: 18
STATS: See above
Gonzalez repeated the level and the inference that the amount of innings he threw in 2017 was an indication of his 2018 breakout proved to be not wrong. Older hitters in the GCL had their way with him, as you might expect. Most likely, he’ll be back in WPB but every now and then you’ll see someone like him get challenged with the NYPL.
Jose A. Ferrer
POS: LHRP
JULY 1, 2019 AGE: 19
STATS: 1-1, 0SV; 14G, 0GS, 30 IP; 3.60/1.67/1.30
Fifty-three whiffs in thirty innings. Apparently, that’s due to a nasty curveball as his fastball is reportedly only in the upper 80s.
Carlos Romero
POS: RHSP
JULY 1, 2019 AGE: 19
STATS: 6-1, 0SV; 10G, 9GS, 55 IP; 1.19/3.10/0.87 in the DSL
0-0, 0SV; 2G, 1GS; 8 IP; 2.25/2.78/1.25 in the GCL
Like Gonzalez, Romero was repeating the level in ’18, though he was mostly used in relief in ’17. Tall (6’6″) but lean (179) so it’s the classic “let’s see what happens when he puts on some weight.”
Bryan Peña
POS: LHSP
JULY 1, 2019 AGE: 19
STATS: 3-2, 0SV; 12G, 12GS, 55⅓ IP; 2.93/3.23/1.32
Peña put up slightly better than average numbers while being slightly younger than his peers. However, he is left-handed.
Pedro Gonzalez
POS: RHRP
JULY 1, 2019 AGE: 18
STATS: 1-2, 2SV; 17G, 12BF, 29 IP; 0.31/3.19/1.14
Microscopic ERA, yes, but his K rate was well below-average (5.6 vs. 8.3) which goes a long way towards raising his FIP to the league average as his walk rate was good (2.5 vs. 4.3) and he didn’t give up a long ball.