Minor League report (April) 2024-8

[Fat Nige]

There wasn't much to shout about down on the farm in the first month of 2024. The Triple-A Doves with a lot of the young talent heading straight for Brooklyn opened up 9-19 and Double-A Memphis mirrored the franchises general slow start with a 9-10 record. Only A-ball Neptunes managed a winning record just with a 10-9 record.

In San Francisco the 9-19 record could have been even worse if the veterans hadn't helped out. Thev $19 million man, Luis Mendez, posted a 1-0, 2.70 record in two starts while Juan Hernandez went 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA. 33-yr-old Lyenour Graves only run given up came off a long ball as he posted an ERA of 0.73 in 12 innings pitched. Brooklyn's #2 overall prospect, 20-yr-old Pablo Soto, is hitting .347/.359/.440 in his second season in Triple-A and hit his first homer since A-ball. 22-yr-old pitcher Kenny Hill is 1-2, 3.20 in six starts after a disappointing MBBA debut in 2023 cumulated in a shoulder inflammation which ruled him out for nearly five months.

Brooklyn's top prospect, 21-yr-old pitcher Edgardo Rivera, is spending his second year in Memphis and a 2-1, 2.95 ERA in four starts looks good as he improves his HR/9, BB/9 and K/9 markers. 22-yr-old second baseman Jorge Carmona hit .348/.516/.478 during April in his first year at Double-A level while 21-yr-old Bernardo Torres in centrefield in his second year at Memphis leads the team in batting average with .360.

International free agent signing Luis Velasquez had a very forgettable 2023 split between Newark & Memphis but now back in A-ball Newark he is 2-0 in four starts with a 2.63 ERA. Another lefty starter, 19-yr-old José Feliz, back for his second year in Newark is also 2-0 from three starts with an 1.89 ERA after only getting two starts in 2023. Raul Aquino managed just two homers in 22 appearances last year but this year has managed three and a .317/.371/.537 triple slash in 19 appearances in April.

The franchise was generally disappointed with the 2024 First-Year-Player draft but all the first four picks have now signed a contract with the organisation, in fact only fifth pick, Heath Delgardo has yet to sign and he is expected to do so anyday now.

Class of '24 (Top 5)

1st pick (21st overall): RF Chris Sweet ($440,000 signing bonus)
21-yr-old Chris is a surehanded right fielder with not much pace but has the potential to steal a base or two if the pitcher takes his eye off him. A power bat in college with 54 home runs in 178 appearances he also averaged .367 in his four years in Circuit City. Will need to improve his arm if he is to stay in right but he also can play left so that may be his future

2nd pick (49th overall): P Ron Rodriguez ($140,000 signing bonus)
22-yr-old Ron didn't really excel at 3M college but he can touch 95-97 on the radar gun. He has shown good command of the strike zone with a solid fastball but needs to work on his slider and changeup whilst he is learning his newest pitch, a curveball.

3rd pick (82nd overall): 3B Salvador Gallegos ($90,000 signing bonus)
21-yr-old Salvador's best attributes are his arm and his running ability. A top class defender at the hot corner with AmGen, he won a 3B glove award in his final year as well as a championship ring. Not the best hitter but has a good eye at the plate resulting in plenty of walks and runs. With his intelligence and work ethic he should put it all together and develop into a decent player.

4th pick (109th overall): 3B Nathan Perales ($60,000 signing bonus)
21-yr-old Nathan was first drafted out of John Deere HS by Carolina in the 12th round of the 2020 but failed to sign and went to Office Depot college. Despite being very intelligent and hard working he hasn't kicked on as he should from his seven years of HS and college. Brooklyn will be looking to develop his talents at various positions on the infield and maybe even give him a shot in right field.

5th pick (133rd overall): SS Heath Delgardo (Yet to sign)
22 year old Heath is another player with seven years of HS/Coll under his belt. Originally drafted by Des Moines with the first pick of the second supplemental found in 2021 he failed to sign and now has slipped into the late fifth round three years later. A solid mid-300's hitter in recent years his defence has become lazy and not as good as it was. His speed usually guarantees him at least a couple of triples a year but with have to work hard if he is to justify the 55th overall draft spot he was taken at in 2021.

[bschr682]

I always find these kind of articles interesting.

[recte44]

Me too.