WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT – LOWER MINORS AND DSL

Tom Brennan - WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT – LOWER MINORS AND DSL

My weekly minors “Who’s Hot, Who’s Not” articles' focus has primarily been on the full season leagues because the short season leagues don’t start until mid-June or so, and those 3 teams have only played about 15 games each so far.

The two DSL teams, starting a bit earlier, have each played 30 or so games so far. 

I chose NOT look at the full season teams (Las Vegas, Binghamton, St Lucie and Savannah) again this week and instead focus on who’s hot in the short season leagues and DSL. 

I highlight 17 short season guys and 7 DSL hombres who are getting it done below.

Note: the 3 short season teams were a combined 27-17 through Tuesday’s games.

Brooklyn is 12-5 so far, heavily due to superior pitching ringing up a 2.40 ERA.  Five pitchers are especially noteworthy so far:

·        Ty Badamo, a Long Island native, sports a 1.35 ERA after 4 starts, with a 0.67 WHIP.

·        Matt Blackham: terrific in 3 starts, at a 1.45 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 25 Ks in 18.2 innings.

·        Alex Palsha is the first of 3 guys with perfect spelling when the question is asked, “How do you spell relief?”  Alex in 6 outings has not allowed a run in 9.1 innings, just 3 hits and 11 Ks.

·        Christian Montgomery has tossed 6.1 lethal innings, just 0 runs, 3 hits, 0 walks, and 12 Ks.

·        Newly drafted Corey Taylor in 5 innings has allowed 1 hit, no walks, and yes, no runs too.

Yeah, yeah, great pitching, but what about the bangers, the lumber dudes?  Here's 3:

2015 draftee Vince Siena is rocking it at .390/.455/.441 in 16 games.

Returning Michael Bernal in hitting .349 with a .700 + slug % and improved strikeout rate.

High drafted David Thompson had a 4 hit night Wednesday to boost this promising hitter to .347.

And bopping Brandon Brosher has had just 16 ABs with the Cyclones, but rung up 2 homers and 9 RBIs.  He says he hopes someday to hit like Steve Matz J

Kingsport is 8-7 due to solid run production offsetting weak, wild (66 walks in 133 innings) pitching.

Milton Ramos in 11 games is hitting .341.

New draftee catcher Pat Mazelka is hitting an impressive .327/.441/.551 in 14 games.

Dashing 19 year old slugger Dash Winningham has 4 doubles and 4 homers in 14 games, with 13 RBIs and a .288 BA and .596 slug %.

Toeing the rubber, Chase Ingram in 5.1 IP has allowed just a solitary hit and walk and K’d 6.

Gulf Coast Mets are 7-5, led by the hottest of the hot, the extremely young and talented catcher Ali Sanchez, who is hitting .500 (16 for 32) with just 4 Ks.  SS Cecilio Aybar is also at .500, but only 18 at bats to date, and Kenny Bautista, a young 2015 draftee OF, is  hitting .364/.417/.515 in 10 games.

Merandy Gonzalez has K’d 19 in 15 innings, with a WHIP of 0.73.

         So much for the short season teams.  How about the DSL?

DSL: I was surprised to learn that there are 38 DSL teams, of which the Mets have two with a combined 39-24 record.

Best DSL hitters so far are:

Wagner Lagrange – OF: .363/.433/.425 in 20 games.

Grabiel Jiminez – LF: .342/.443/.495 in 31 games

Ranfy Adon – OF: .242/.324/.444 in 27 games.  He has 4 of the two combined teams’ 15 homers.

Best developmental pitchers performance-wise are:

Nicholas Debora – 4-0, 0.97, 32 Ks in 37 innings, 0.76 WHIP

Aneury Olivo – 2-1, 1.99, 35 Ks in 31.2 IP

Misael Familia (yes another relieving Familia) – 3-1, 1.45, 0.80 WHIP, 22 Ks in 18.2 IP

Ronald Guedez – 2-0, 0.64, 0.71 WHIP, 15 Ks in 14 innings

Have a great day, folks, and may you yourselves continue to develop, whatever league you find yourself in, and may your only short seasons be in wintertime in NY.