The Sunny Side 2018.5: Prospects Peek - Pitchers

[cheekimonk]

The Sunny Side
1 Aug, 2018
Marquette, MI
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Pitchers
24yo RH SP Julian Martinez (8/6/7 Talents, 0 - 0, 1.42 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 25 K) :(ML) Martinez is a future starter being groomed in the Suns' pen and his performance so far has been excellent. He has a 8.9 K/9, but his 5.0 BB/9 is indicative of the fact that his control is still coming around. He also needs to focus on mastering his slider before being considered for a spot in the rotation.

(#17) 20yo RH SP Kevin Lee (8/8/8 Talents) :(AA) Lee is one of the few Marquette prospects moving in the right direction of the MBWBA prospect rankings going from #29 to #17 since his arrival from Montreal. The righty started the year in (A) Plant City and, though his 7.08 ERA and 1.77 WHIP in 4 starts would suggest he was struggling, he delivered a 3.30 FIP with 8.4 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. This earned him a trial promotion to (AA) Rancho Cordova and he made it stick as, in 14 starts, he compiled a 4-5 record, 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, and 2.1 BB/9 with 57% QS. Unfortunately, on July 10 Lee reported feeling pain in his elbow which would lead to radial nerve decompression surgery and put him out of action until likely December of this year. The Suns are hopeful Lee can pick up where he left off in (AA) ball in 2019.

(#99) 18yo RH SP Natsume Tsuchiya (8/7/6 Talents) :(R) The only player signed in the 2017 draft class for the Suns, Tsuchiya began the year as the #91 prospect in MBWBA. The Japanese righty pretty much held his own in the 2017 Fall League with a 4.42 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 3.97 FIP, and roughly a 1.0 K/BB ratio. Though he's been up and down in (R) ball, he's proving he belongs with a 3.49 FIP, 6.4 K/9, and 2.3 BB/9. Tsuchiya will likely pitch in Fall League again this season and remain at the (R) to start 2019.

20yo LH SP Hermenegildo Padez (8/7/6 Talents) :(AA) Padez arrived with Lee and has remained in (AA) ball all season. He's proving a decent starter with 36.8% QS, 4.20 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 3.8 BB/9. He's expected to start 2019 in (AA).

22yo RH CL Reynaldo Garza (10/8/7 Talents) :(A) Garza is becoming a concern for Suns management. After beginning 2018 as the #78 prospect in MBWBA, he struggled off and on in (A) ball and tumbled out of the rankings. His monthly ERA has gone from 1.59 in April to 5.27 in May, 1.54 in June, and 7.36 in July. He has a 85.7% SV rate, a 3.93 FIP, and ERA+ in the 90s, but his K/BB has hovered around 1.0 and his development has been relatively flat - especially for a player his age. Management could move him to (AA) ball in August to see if he responds to the challenge, but the decision of where to start him in 2019 will depend largely on his development in the offseason.

20yo RH CL Dave van Dongen (10/6/7 Talents) :(AA) After a superb stint in (A) ball in 2017, van Dongen has spent all of this season in (AA) and performed better than his surface stats suggest with a 88.9% SV rate, 2.69 FIP, 11.1 K/9, and 4.3 BB/9. The righty could start in (AAA) with good development in the offseason, but there's no urgency as his age - unlike Garza - is not a concern.

22yo RH MR Cedric Andrews (9/7/7 Talents) :(AAA) The light switched on for Andrews this year as he shined in (AA) ball with a 2.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, and 2.4 BB/9. Early returns after his promotion to (AAA) Racine are positive and there's a slight chance Andrews could earn a September call-up.

21yo RH SP Andres Alfonso (6/6/7 Talents) :(A) Not too much has been expected of this 2nd-round pick (3rd overall) from this year's draft and he has held his own in (A) ball with a 56.3% QS rate and 3.74 FIP.

[trmmilwwi]

Nice writeup... you have obviously taken some time reviewing these guys and have given a ton of thought for bringing them up through the minors! Owl and Daddy O are gonna be good. Love the looks of those 2! Natsume is just the type of pitcher I love... he would thrive in the right situation!! Carcinoma?! Really? What kind of a nickname is that? Figues he's from Amsterdam..

[bschr682]

Carcinoma?! Really? What kind of a nickname is that? Figues he's from Amsterdam..

His father/brother had the nickname "Melanoma".