Midseason-ish Form (Position Players)

[sveumrules]

It's the first of the month and a day off and maybe a little past midseason for most of the affiliates, but thought now might be a good time to check in on a few things across the system. So here's a little around the horn...

CATCHER

Jeferson Quero's injury was a blow right off the bat, have to wait and see how he looks next spring. Darrien Miller (136 wRC+| 38 BB | 39 K) and Matthew Wood (118 wRC+ | 29 BB | 25 K) are both having solid seasons at the plate with nice BB/K ratios, though neither hits for much power (.094 and .110 ISOs, respectively) or has had much success limiting the running game (18.3 and 23.6 CS%, repsectively).

David Garcia has also been solid at the plate (117 wRC+ | 29 BB | 34 K) and does have a shinier 34.6 CS%, but he is also a year older than Wood/Miller and still in Carolina. Edgardo Ordonez has shown some thump in Arizona (119 wRC+ | 7 HR) but might not be long for catcher with 66 SB / 7 CS (9.6 CS%) in only 190 innings this year.

FIRST BASE

Tyler Black has pretty much been doing Tyler Black things at Nashville with a 120 wRC+ and 11 SB / 2 CS. Ernesto Martinez Jr. has come up with some big hits and even played some CF again for Biloxi, but his current 108 wRC+ at age 25 probably has the arrow pointing more toward org soldier than fringe prospect. 

Tayden Hall dominated Carolina (192 wRC+), but is still trying to figure out Wisco (68 wRC+). Former big bonus recipient Johan Barrios has shown some occasional signs of life in Arizona with a 112 wRC+ in the early going.

SECOND BASE

Dylan O'Rae put up a 120 wRC+ and 33 SB / 5 CS at Wisco earning a bump to Biloxi where his slap dash run like crazy skillset should see its first considerable challenge. Jadher Areinamo has played more second (32 GS) than short (20 GS) and has ridden his .305 batting average and paltry 11.9 K% to a 121 wRC+ with 25 SB / 6 CS at Wisco.

Fillipo Di Turi was playing mostly SS in Arizona (153 wRC+ in 106 PA), but has switched to primarily 2B in deference to Cooper Pratt after his promotion to Carolina (85 wRC+ in 87 PA). 2023 15th rounder Josh Adamczewski might be next in line for promotion with a 162 wRC+ and more walks than strikeouts over his first 66 PA in Arizona.

THIRD BASE

Mike Boeve obliterated Wisco (255 wRC+) and has settled in nicely at Biloxi with a 121 wRC+. Brock Wilken took a fastball to the face, but has started to come around a little bit with a 144 wRC+ over 99 PA since June 6th versus an 87 wRC+ over his first 144 PA of the season.

Luke Adams keeps doing Luke Adams things with a 142 wRC+ | 48 BB | 55 K and 18 SB / 8 CS at Wisco. Juan Baez was also doing Juan Baez things at Carolina (123 wRC+ | 12 BB | 12 SO | 7 SB / 9 CS) before getting injured. Eric Bitonti has been making a big noise (154 wRC+ | 6 HR) in Arizona, have to imagine he is Carolina bound in short order.

SHORTSTOP

Eric Brown Jr. has been injured and bad (51 wRC+) when healthy, probably needs a big second half more than any other Brewers prospect at this point. Gregory Barrios has put up a 116 wRC+ for Wisco in his age 20 season with a minuscule 9.3 K%, though an even more minuscule 5.3 BB%. Cooper Pratt has raked to the tune of a 142 wRC+ with 17 SB / 2 CS at age 19 for Carolina.

OUTFIELD

Brewer Hicklen (138 wRC+) and Isaac Collins (134 wRC+) are putting up big numbers as non-40 man depth for Nashville. Carlos Rodriguez (126 wRC+) has had a resurgent season in Biloxi with Noah Campbell (146 wRC+) also answering the call primarily from LF. 

Luis Lara has underwhelmed with only a 78 wRC+ in Wisco, but is also still only 19 playing against competition over three years older on average so there's still plenty of time there. Yophery Rodriguez (120 wRC+) has mostly held his own as an 18 year old with an aggressive placement straight to Carolina while minor league free agent Yhoswar Garcia has been a pleasant surprise with a 122 wRC+ and 38 SB / 6 CS.

[jay87shot]

Hopefully we can add some nice OF talent in the draft that can move up quickly and help out those lower levels. It is nice to see that we have solid talent at every position and some spots where there are multiple talents there is versatility to move spots if need be. It would be nice to add some power bats as well but I can't complain about the draft athletes that are more hit over power strategy.

[biedergb]

outfield is one of those positions where things can sort themselves out.

Some of the infielers in the system (ORae, Baez) could shift to the OF if they don't find a defensive home.

The team seems try to sign/draft CF and SS (I mean it seems half of the ACL and DSL squads were CF/SS at time of draft/IFA signing), and let them find a home if they hit.

But agree - another OF bat or two to push Yopehery and Lara, and eventually compete or replace the MLB OFs currently there. But it is not an area of "need" for the next couple of seasons given that Chourio is signed, Frelick/Perkins/Mitchell are pre-arb.

[jay87shot]

21 minutes ago, biedergb said:

outfield is one of those positions where things can sort themselves out.

Some of the infielers in the system (ORae, Baez) could shift to the OF if they don't find a defensive home.

The team seems try to sign/draft CF and SS (I mean it seems half of the ACL and DSL squads were CF/SS at time of draft/IFA signing), and let them find a home if they hit.

But agree - another OF bat or two to push Yopehery and Lara, and eventually compete or replace the MLB OFs currently there. But it is not an area of "need" for the next couple of seasons given that Chourio is signed, Frelick/Perkins/Mitchell are pre-arb.

Great point on some of the IF talent maybe moving to the OF. I was just thinking OF as a need to improve our minor league balance. I still think we take best players that fit our organizational goals and we can probably find some nice college bats that can push guys later(3rd or later).

[izzi]

Why not add Brewer Hicklen and his .964 OPS to the 40-man?? A right-handed power bat could help balance our left-handed heavy outfield, and help with the ongoing struggle against left handed pitching. Seems like a no-brainier. What gives??

[ClosetBrewerFan]

1 hour ago, izzi said:

Why not add Brewer Hicklen and his .964 OPS to the 40-man?? A right-handed power bat could help balance our left-handed heavy outfield, and help with the ongoing struggle against left handed pitching. Seems like a no-brainier. What gives??

I'm a fan of Hicklen and would love to see him get a shot, but who would you send down on the 26 man roster? We already have too many deserving OFs.  Who would you clear from the 40 man roster to make room for him?

[izzi]

18 hours ago, ClosetBrewerFan said:

I'm a fan of Hicklen and would love to see him get a shot, but who would you send down on the 26 man roster? We already have too many deserving OFs.  Who would you clear from the 40 man roster to make room for him?

Ya, I’ll concede it’s not an easy move to make, but we need a right handed power bat that can hit for a decent average. I’d almost be willing to give him Frelick or Mitchell’s spot on a short term trail, like if we face a couple southpaws in a row. For me it’s less about how deserving Hicklen is or how much I like him and more about what he could bring to the roster especially given our struggles against lefties..

[wiguy94]

8 minutes ago, izzi said:

Ya, I’ll concede it’s not an easy move to make, but we need a right handed power bat that can hit for a decent average. I’d almost be willing to give him Frelick or Mitchell’s spot on a short term trail, like if we face a couple southpaws in a row. For me it’s less about how deserving Hicklen is or how much I like him and more about what he could bring to the roster especially given our struggles against lefties..

I don’t know if this is just a one year thing, but he has a .689 OPS with a 36% K-rate against LHP this season. 

[izzi]

On 7/4/2024 at 6:11 AM, ClosetBrewerFan said:

I'm a fan of Hicklen and would love to see him get a shot, but who would you send down on the 26 man roster? We already have too many deserving OFs.  Who would you clear from the 40 man roster to make room for him?

Ya, I’ll concede it’s not an easy move to make, but we need a right handed power bat that can hit for a decent average. I’d almost be willing to give him Frelick or Mitchell’s spot on a short term trail, like if we face a couple southpaws in a row. For me it’s less about how deserving Hicklen is or how much I like him and more about what he could bring to the roster especially given our struggles against lefties..

 

14 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

I don’t know if this is just a one year thing, but he has a .689 OPS with a 36% K-rate against LHP this season. 

I was just reading the article suggesting his being called up. I thought i was reading it wrong or it was a misprint, because it’s unusual to see that righty on lefty. That muddies the waters a bit. Hopefully not a show stopper though, because I’d LOVE to see Brewer as a Brewer! And regardless of splits, his OPS is undeniable.

[izzi]

Okay, maybe not a popular take, but I’d happily swap Hicklen in for Frelick. Sal’s sample size is small, but so is his bat.  Perkins and Monasterio (I realize some shuffling would be required with Mona) would also be bats I’d like to see us try to upgrade by giving Hicklen a shot. 

[LouisEly]

On 7/4/2024 at 3:13 AM, izzi said:

Why not add Brewer Hicklen and his .964 OPS to the 40-man?

To Hicklen's credit, he's forcing the issue.  The problem right now is figuring out the 40-man roster spots for the pitchers coming back from the 60-day IL first.

D.L. Hall is ready to come back, Ross just had his first rehab start (it was his back, not his arm, so I assume a quick ramp-up for rehab appearances), and Devin Williams will be back soon.  So who are the three who get DFA'd?  Herget, Capra (assuming Ortiz is back from the IL soon), and then one of Zastryzny, Keuchel (not until Ross is back), or possibly Junk?  Maybe Haase once Sanchez is back, but do you risk losing your catching depth if they DFA him?  Then you potentially have Bukauskas coming back, that's another spot.  Then you have possibly adding another pitcher at the trade deadline.

For Hicklen to be added, that means DFA-ing perhaps all three of Zastryzny, Keuchel, and Junk to make room for him.  I don't see that happening until September 1st when they can add another position player as it will likely take until then to sort the pitching out.

[Outlander]

It is tough to fit guys in this year but Isaac Collins may be nice to have in 2025 and beyond, could fit the back OF role well and might actually be a decent switch hit option off the bench. Would prefer him over Brewer if giving a 40 man spot after the season.

[CheezWizHed]

The trade deadline might sort some of this out.  Wouldn't surprise me at all to see an OFer go - Mitchell, Perkins, and Frelick are all very similar skillsets. 

[izzi]

On 7/7/2024 at 12:45 PM, LouisEly said:

To Hicklen's credit, he's forcing the issue.  The problem right now is figuring out the 40-man roster spots for the pitchers coming back from the 60-day IL first.

D.L. Hall is ready to come back, Ross just had his first rehab start (it was his back, not his arm, so I assume a quick ramp-up for rehab appearances), and Devin Williams will be back soon.  So who are the three who get DFA'd?  Herget, Capra (assuming Ortiz is back from the IL soon), and then one of Zastryzny, Keuchel (not until Ross is back), or possibly Junk?  Maybe Haase once Sanchez is back, but do you risk losing your catching depth if they DFA him?  Then you potentially have Bukauskas coming back, that's another spot.  Then you have possibly adding another pitcher at the trade deadline.

For Hicklen to be added, that means DFA-ing perhaps all three of Zastryzny, Keuchel, and Junk to make room for him.  I don't see that happening until September 1st when they can add another position player as it will likely take until then to sort the pitching out.

 You might be right about September. But another possibility once Joey Ortiz gets healthy is DFAing Vinny Capra. He’d likely clear waivers and be back on the Sounds roster. I know it works make the 40-man a little light on infielders, but that imbalance might be worth it to get a chance at seeing if Hicklen right-hand power bat could translate to the bigs.