Thurs. 6/26 - Will RHP Melvin Hernandez 'Wow' Again?

[Joseph Zarr]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Thursday. 

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[Joseph Zarr]

Really nice to see Jadyn Fielder get some well-deserved recognition. One of the more pleasantly surprising stories in the system in 2025:

 

[Ro Mueller]

It’s Offensive Explosion Day in the DSL, as both squads (Blue, Gold) scored 13 runs.

The Blue men came back from an early 4-0 deficit and final inning 11-7 deficit, scoring 6 in the 9th for a 13-11 victory over DSL CLE Mendoza. Four Brewers had multi-hit, multi-RBI games: Antunez, Polanco, Lafond, Lista.

The Golden Guys fell behind 6-0, but cut the deficit to 6-4 and 8-6 before conceding an 8-run 6th inning, ultimately falling 19-13 to DSL Pirates Gold. The team had 5 extra-base hits, 5 players with multi-hit games and 3 players who notched 3 RBIs each, led by Chavez, Rangel and Martinez.

[Joseph Zarr]

41 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

It’s Offensive Explosion Day in the DSL, as both squads (Blue, Gold) scored 13 runs.

The Blue men came back from an early 4-0 deficit and final inning 11-7 deficit, scoring 6 in the 9th for a 13-11 victory over DSL CLE Mendoza. Four Brewers had multi-hit, multi-RBI games: Antunez, Polanco, Lafond, Lista.

The Golden Guys fell behind 6-0, but cut the deficit to 6-4 and 8-6 before conceding an 8-run 6th inning, ultimately falling 19-13 to DSL Pirates Gold. The team had 5 extra-base hits, 5 players with multi-hit games and 3 players who notched 3 RBIs each, led by Chavez, Rangel and Martinez.

You have to admire the DSL deep cut when two clubhouses unite to honor the Indianapolis Streetcar Strike of 1913. Someone has to Lose in such a patriotic tip of the hat.

[Joseph Zarr]

50 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

It’s Offensive Explosion Day in the DSL, as both squads (Blue, Gold) scored 13 runs.

The Blue men came back from an early 4-0 deficit and final inning 11-7 deficit, scoring 6 in the 9th for a 13-11 victory over DSL CLE Mendoza. Four Brewers had multi-hit, multi-RBI games: Antunez, Polanco, Lafond, Lista.

The Golden Guys fell behind 6-0, but cut the deficit to 6-4 and 8-6 before conceding an 8-run 6th inning, ultimately falling 19-13 to DSL Pirates Gold. The team had 5 extra-base hits, 5 players with multi-hit games and 3 players who notched 3 RBIs each, led by Chavez, Rangel and Martinez.

I did not have 5 Rangel triples at this point of the DSL season in my contemplations. Quite impressive.

[Ro Mueller]

After 2 exciting games. RHP Sam Garcia (3.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 in 49 IP) and the High-A Udder Tuggers look to take a 2-1 home series lead over Quad Cities. After his 27-game on-base streak, CF Eduardo Garcia has fallen into a small rut (3-for-23 - all singles, 11 Ks, 0 BB).

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Alexander Cornielle is coming off 2 strange outings (9.2 IP, 8 ER, 10 Ks), so looks to get back to his prior effectiveness (2.05 ERA in prior 52.2 IP) and lead Biloxi to a 2-1 series lead at Columbus. 2B Ethan Murray (.930 OPS in 133 PAs) has homered in 2 of his last 3 games.

[Ro Mueller]

18-year old RHP Melvin Hernandez had his best start of 2025 last week (6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 8 Ks) and Low-A Carolina looks to him to guide the squad to a 2-1 series lead at Delmarva. CF Jose Anderson has been making louder contact (9-for-last-34 with 5 XBHs), but is still K’ing too much (15 Ks in last 37 PAs).

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville is even 1-1 in this week’s series at Jacksonville. LHP Bruce Zimmermann has been rather effective his last 2 starts (9.2 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 13 H, 3 BB, 5 Ks). C Jorge Alfaro is 7-for-17 with 4 XBHs in his last 4 games. 

[Joseph Zarr]

The answer to my thread title is a resounding 'YES'. Hernandez is just coming on! I LOVE it! Muddies lead 8-0. Lot of contributions including Tyler Rodriguez's first HR at Low-A. C Yannic Walther does appear to have exited early in the bottom of the 4th for an 'Injury Delay'? I'll have to go back and look. That was before a pitch was thrown in the inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

They are in a weather delay in the top of the 6th. T-Rats trail 1-0. Fantastic bounce back performance from LHP Sam Garcia - 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 1 HR, 6 K. 

[Joseph Zarr]

OK. Second pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning. Walther took a foul ball directly off the top of his throwing hand. Good gracious. Directly onto the top of his hand. 2:28:02 on the replay for those interested. That ball caroms smack dab off the top of his knuckles. Just brutal. He tried a couple warm-up pitches to the mound. Stanley saw him air mail his last throw high and over the left side of the mound and motioned to the dugout. Good grief. 

[biedergb]

Wow Melvin Hernandez with two stellar outings in a row. 7 IP!  4K, 0 BB.

Mudcats with 13 hits in offense and all starters getting hits except Anderson (but only 1K for him so that’s still growth right?)

Shuckers bats go pretty quiet. 6 hits for the night total. Only 3 Shuckers reach base twice (Murray 2 walks, Spain 2 hits and Pratt walk+hit). Cornielle delivers what looks like a night that encapsulates his season, 5 IP but 86 pitches to get there, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3K, so a good night but not excellent nor was it bad.  Very Alexander Cornielle, which is not a knock, he is what he is and I still see a very reliable pitcher and the most likely DSL pitcher to contribute to the MLB in the near future.

Sounds win again. Zimmerman with maybe one of his best starts as a Sound, and the offense mostly driven by Dunn, Dalbec and Vaughn who all HR’d.

TRats are really quiet offensively - only 3 hits thru 8.  Down 2-0 so the pitching was good, but just 3 measly hits, no XBH and 3 walks to 9 K.  Yikes. Trying to keep it 2-0 in the 9th and hope for some offensive awakening in the 9th maybe please? It will be Areinamo, Dinges and Burke up if Langhorne can help,keep it 2–0.

[biedergb]

ACL Crew offense turns it up. Renz with an atypical 4 inning outing, 4 runs (3ER) on 3 hits and 2 BB and a WP. So on,y 6 base runners (1 via an error) but 4 score.

The Brew Crew score 4 in the first but get another 3 runs in the 4th/5th. Now up 7-5. Espinal in trying to hold the lead.

[biedergb]

And we are on to the bottom of the 9th in Wisconsin and down 2-0. Rally time boys!!!

[biedergb]

Areinamo flares one to short right. Ok First runner on

Alright! Dinges shoots one up the middle. Two on. Almost doubling the offensive output in two batters here. Burke up - let’s go Blake!

[biedergb]

Burke taps it just in front of home and it’s a 1-3 put out. Runners advance. Baez up. Burke was totally fooled on tow off speed and then held off on the third consecutive off speed pitch. Gets contact to avoid the K. And advances the runners.

Baez - he can be hero, but can be goat as he can be pretty wild. 

[biedergb]

Baez swings right through a 95 mph heater at the top of the zone. Herbert is our last hope. Down 0-2 count.

[biedergb]

Breaking ball - very good pitch right into the zone and it’s called strike 3. Herbert down looking, game over. Had tying run in scoring position couldn’t ask for more. Burke productive out, but Baez and Perez out with Ks.  So close. Ok. ACL game moving along still 7-5. I will read about it in the morning.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Out of town this week so haven't check mudcats since now! 2-1 so far is awesome! 

[LouisEly]

On 6/26/2025 at 10:06 AM, Joseph Zarr said:

Really nice to see Jadyn Fielder get some well-deserved recognition. One of the more pleasantly surprising stories in the system in 2025:

 

 

Is there any chance of Fielder playing anywhere other than LF?

[Joseph Zarr]

57 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

 

Is there any chance of Fielder playing anywhere other than LF?

Currently he's been playing LF over 2B at a 2:1 clip. It certainly appears, early at least, those are his primaries. I have no idea from there. The lack of ACL video, unfortunately, renders these types of questions mysteries. He certainly seems to have a little bit of get up and go in those legs. I think the logical next question might be does he have the arm or movement profile to try 3B? Does he offer anything of note at 1B?

[sveumrules]

1 hour ago, LouisEly said:

Is there any chance of Fielder playing anywhere other than LF?

He’s played a handful of 2B too, seven starts on the dirt versus seventeen in the grass.

Not a perfect comp, but the guy I’ve kinda had in my head as a physical point of reference since we signed Fielder is Willie Calhoun who was a Top 100 guy with the Dodgers/Rangers circa 2017/18.

Fielder’s not quite as short as Calhoun, but they’re both in that stocky LF/borderline 2B sort of bucket. Willie was also more of a high average/low K guy in the low minors where Jadyn has been more 3TO.

Looking through recent-ish stateside complex hitters similar to Jadyn’s 267/432/475 (145 wRC+) 17.4 BB% | 24.2 K% line maybe gives a couple more cloudy crystal balls…

2022 Carlos Jorge (5’9” 160 2B/OF) hit 261/409/525 (146 wRC+) 16.2 BB% | 26.2 K%. Little more power, not quite as many walks and lower listed weight, but pretty close. Was also two years younger. Currently on second go around in A+.

2021 Edgar Quero (5’10 200 C) hit 253/440/505 (148 wRC+). Two years younger again and playing at the top of the defensive spectrum instead of teetering near the bottom. Jadyn will need to hit like Edgar did (131 wRC+ in the minors post-2021) to keep moving up.

Going back to the pre-Covid rookie leagues found one more that’s pretty close, 2016 Khalil Lee (5’10 170 OF) hit 269/396/484 (144 wRC+) 14.9 BB% | 25.7 K%. Again two years younger and was playing some CF so starting from a higher athletic floor. Continued to hit (127 wRC+ from 2017-21) and got a couple cups of MLB coffee.