Minor-League Player of the Day (2016)

[lollipopcurve]

Apologies for missing Sunday. Had a family emergency and had to travel to DC. Will get to it though...

[RedlegJake]

Monday April 11^th – Rookie Davis RHP, Wahoos.


Davis had competition from Shed Long, Narciso Crook and Zach Vincej but his start was even better than the line looks. For one thing he was interrupted by rain twice. He allowed pretty poor contact and threw strikes all day (58 of 85 pitches). The strike to ball ratio was even better before he was cooled a bit by the rain. Pretty impressive debut for the Reds new hurler. Note that Vincej is looking better all the time, Long is starting out where he left off last year and Crook's skills look to be gaining on his impressive tools.


Louisville may never play again. They can't seem to stay away from cities with bad weather.


Pensacola meanwhile, wins again, 5-1. Wahoos have started hot but unlike the Reds, I think the expectations are a lot higher. Quite possibly the best pitching staff in the SL. Rookie Davis had it going on, lots of strikes and wasn't scored on until a rain delay in the 4^th interrupted his mojo. He came out again for the 5^th and gave up a run, then the rains came again. That time he was out for good but the pen didn't skip a beat when the tarps came off. Superfluous J led the Blue Fish's 13 hit attack with 3 singles, 2 runs and an RBI backed by Jah-guy-low's 2 doubles and Elizalde's double and triple.


Daytona got whacked 7-3. Tejay Antone had an OK start, 5 innings of 1 run ball although he allowed 8 runners total but Bernardino and Howard failed. Howard spectacularly – 2 hits and 3 walks, 5 runs. Seth Varner relieved him bases loaded, no outs and gave up 2 hits and a walk before finally getting the side out. Howard not looking good, and its the second fail for Bernardino this year already. Hitting for the Tugas was anemic with Angelo Gumbs and Jeff Gelalich providing most of the offense.


Dayton got beat 6-3 by Lansing's Lugnuts. Ty Boyles had a miserable start and Michael Sullivan looked as hapless in his third of an inning. Boyles line = 4 IP, 5 hits 3 walks, a homer, 4 ER and 1 K. Sullivan came out in the 8^th and gave up 3 hits and 2 runs recording just 1 out before Sarkis Ohanian got the final 2 outs to mercifully end it. Crook and Long both homered for the Green Firebreathers.

Zach Vincej SS	Wahoos	3 for 5, 2 runs, rbi, double
Eric Jagielo 3B	Wahoos	2 for 5, 2 rbi, 2 doubles
Phillip Ervin CF	Wahoos	2 for 4, run, SB
Sebastian Elizalde RF	Wahoos	2 for 4, run, double, triple
Chad Wallach C	Wahoos	2 for 3, run, rbi, walk
Angelo Gumbs 2B	Tortugas	2 for 4, run, rbi, double
Jeff Gelalich LF	Tortugas	2 for 4, run
Shed Long 2B	Dragons	2 for 4, run, 2 RBI, homer
Narciso Crook CF	Dragons	2 for 4, run, 2 RBI, homer
Mitch Piatnik LF	Dragons	0 for 2 but 2 runs on 2 walks
Pitchers
Rookie Davis RHP	Wahoos	5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 R, 4 Ks, 85 pitches 58 strikes
Wandy Peralta RHP	Wahoos	2 IP, zeros, 2 Ks
Nick Routt RHP	Wahoos	1 IP, zeros, K
Barrett Astin RHP	Wahoos	1 IP, 1 H, 2 Ks
Tejay Antone RHP	Tortugas	5 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 1 ER, 4 Ks
Alex Powers RHP	Tortugas	1 IP, 1 BB
Austin Orewhiler RHP	Dragons	3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 0 ER
Sarkis Ohanian, RHP	Dragons	0.2 IP, zeros - love the name!

[mace]

Apologies for missing Sunday. Had a family emergency and had to travel to DC. Will get to it though...

You're good, lollipop. Tom Servo picked up the baton late last night. Hope everything's okay.

[SirFelixCat]

Superfluous-J having a nice start it seems!

[Tom Servo]

Games of Tuesday April 12th

Beau Amaral, Pensacola: 2-4, HR. In a day without any standout performances, we'll give the nod to the only Red in the system to hit a HR on April 12th. The UCLA product is off to a hot start, the polar opposite of last year when he hit .102 in April for the Wahoos.

Honorable mention to Mitch Piatnik, Dayton, who went 2-4, which were the only two hits Dayton had. The Reds 8th rounder last year has 7 hits and 4 walks in his first 5 games as a Dragon.



In other action, with the Bats finally back in action:


Jose Peraza, Louisville: 1-4, 3B

Steve Selsky, Louisville: 1-4, 2B

Seth Mejias-Brean, Louisville: 1-3, BB

Kyle Waldrop, Louisville: 2-4

Dayan Diaz, Louisville: 1.1 innings, one walk allowed

Donald Lutz, Pensacola: 2-3, 2 RBI

Nick Travieso, Pensacola: 4.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 2 earned runs. Unfortunately Nick ran up his pitch count and couldn't make it out of the 5th.

Daniel Wright, Pensacola: 2.1 innings, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts

Alejandro Chacin, Pensacola: 1 innings, 1 hit, 2 walks (1 IBB), 2 strikeouts

Kyle McMyne, Pensacola: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 strikeout

Ty Washington, Daytona: 1-4, 2B

Angelo Gumbs, Daytona: 2-3, BB. Have the Reds fixed the one-time top Yankee prospect? I WANT TO BELIEVE.

Jeff Gelalich, Daytona: 1-3, 3B, BB

Blake Butler, Daytona: 1-4, 2B, RBI

Seth Varner, Daytona: 1.1 innings, 2 hits, 1 strikeout. Varner might make the case he should be in the rotation over Jake Paulson.

Ismael Guillon, Daytona: 2 innings, 2 strikeouts. Impressive work by the 24-year-old Venezuelan on the comeback trail.

Jimmy Herget, Daytona: 1 inning, 1 strikeout

Narciso Crook, Dayton: 0-2, 2 BB

Ariel Hernandez, Dayton: 2.2 innings, 3 strikeouts. The one-time Giants and DBacks farmhand has big time strikeout stuff, unfortunately also struggles with walks (4 BB in 0.2 innings in his Dayton debut).

[mace]

Good link on Gumbs. Didn't know all that.

[RED VAN HOT]

Good link on Gumbs. Didn't know all that.

Seems to me that the Reds do a good job buying lottery tickets of former high draft choices whose careers have stagnated.

[mace]

Games of Wednesday, April 13

Amir Garrett, Pensacola . . . 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. The lean lefthander has now won the MiLPoD lottery in 100% of his starts this year, that being two. This outing was a bit better than the other, leaving his ERA at 1.50. Nevertheless, he's winless.

Also notable on a day in which Louisville doubled its previous game total and won them both . . .

Josh Smith, Louisville (honorable mention): 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, W (game 1). Smith may not be considered much of a prospect in the Cincinnati scheme of things, but the first three letters certainly apply.

Jose Peraza, Louisville (honorable mention): 4-7, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI (both games). The former Brave Dodger manned shortstop in the first game, center field in the next.

Cody Reed, Louisville (G 1): 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K. The weather and fastball both cooperated.

Jacob Constante, Dayton: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. Big improvement over his first start.

Tyler Mahle, Daytona: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Avain Rachal, Daytona: 3-4.

Brian O'Grady, Daytona: 2-4, SB (1).

Carlos Gonzalez, Pensacola: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Joe Hudson, Pensacola: 2-3, 2B.

Brandon Dixon, Pensacola: 2-4.

Narciso Crook, Dayton: HR (2).

Shed Long, Dayton: 2B, 2 RBI.

Mitch Piatnik, Dayton: 1-2, BB, R, RBI. An early surprise (.444).

Hector Vargas, Dayton: 2B, R.

Bryson Smith, Louisville (G 1): 2-3, 2B, R.

Chris Berset, Louisville (G 1): 1-2, BB, R, RBI, SB (1).

Kyle Waldrop, Louisville (G 1): HR (1).

Drew Hayes, Louisville (G 1): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, Sv (1). Good to see him closing.

Steve Selsky, Louisville (G 2): 3-4.

Brandon Allen, Louisville (G 2): 2-4, R, RBI.

Jermaine Curtis, Louisville (G 2): 1-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI.

Ramon Cabrera, Louisville (G 2): 2-4, R.

Steve Delabar, Louisville (G 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.

J.C. Ramirez, Louisville (G 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

[HokieRed]

I'm predicting Smith will yet get a fuller chance. Has 4 pitches he can throw over the plate. I can't imagine how that doesn't get a longer look in Cinti.

[RedlegJake]

Thursday April 14^th – Sal Romano. Pensacola. The big righty pitched 5 allowing just 3 hits and no walks while fanning 7.


I also considered both Robert Stephenson and Keury Mella. Both pitched very well but I felt Romano's game was just a notch better than Stephenson's and well ahead of Mella's. All the pitchers on the top three farm teams pitched well, starters and bullpens. Dayton's bullpen pitched well after a bad start by Lopez so really only 1 pitcher in the system looked iffy tonight.


Louisville lost 2-0. Stephenson pitched well but lost when the Bats went silent. Jesse got 2 singles in 4 trips but Louisville totaled just 6 scattered singles.


The Fighting Wahoos put up 4 runs in the 6^th, got great pitching from Sal Romano and the bullpen to win 4-1. Zach Vincej got the big hit, a 2 run single. Being anything but superfluous early on...


Tortugas lost 1 zip. Mella gave a 1^st inning run, that's it. Mitchell came on in relief and held em to zip. Gumbs and Butler both reached 3 times but got no help. Trahan, Sparks and Reynoso off to miserable starts. Great pitching in the Ville and Daytona but poor hitting doomed em both.


While the 3 higher clubs got great pitching but weak hitting Dayton flopped in both areas getting spanked 9-1. Jose Lopez had a stinker of a start 7 hits, a walk and 6 ER in 3 and a third. Orewhiler and Martinez both got nicked for a run in relief. Aybar was the only pitcher not scored on for the night. The offense totaled 7 hits, including triples by Vasquez and Mardirosian but couldn't string them together.

Angelo Gumbs LF	Tortugas	2 for 3, 1 BB
Blake Butler 2B	Tortugas	3 for 4 – Gumbs and Butler flip flopping left and 2nd
Jesse Winker LF	Bats	2 for 4
Zach Vincej SS	Wahoos	1 for 4, 2 RBI
Donald Lutz 1B	Wahoos	1 for 2, run, 2 BB
James Vasquez, 1B	Dragons	2 for 4, triple
Shane Mardirosian LF	Dragons	2 for 4, triple
Pitchers
Keury Mella RHP	Tortugas	5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 4 Ks
Evan Mitchell RHP	Tortugas	2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 2 Ks
Robert Stephenson RHP	Bats	6 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 R 1 ER, 7 Ks
Layne Somsen RHP	Bats	2 IP, zeros, 3 Ks
Dayan Diaz RHP	Bats	1 IP, zeros, 1 K
Sal Romano RHP	Wahoos	5 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 7 Ks
Barrett Astin RHP	Wahoos	1 IP, zeros, 2 Ks
Wandy Peralta LHP	Wahoos	2 IP, zeros, 2 Ks
Alejandro Chacin, RHP	Wahoos	1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Manny Aybar RHP	Dragons	2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks, 0 ER

[Kc61]

Amir Garrett was #19 on BA's first Prospect Hot Sheet this year. Well deserved, maybe should have been even higher.

[texasdave]

Games of Friday, April 15...

Chad Wallach, Pensacola...Since Tom is obviously in mourning over Angelo Gumbs' 4-strikeout performance, and since I can't sleep, here goes nothing. This award may need to be renamed the Pensacola PoTD award as this is the 6th straight win for a Wahoo player. I suppose that's what happens when you are the only team to win on Friday, and you lead your division with a 7-2 mark. Chad Wallach scored the winning run in an 11-inning affair against Jacksonville. For the night, Wallach went 2-3, including a single and his first home run as a 'Hoo. He also drew two walks, one which led to the winning tally. He scored twice and drove in two.

Jermaine Curtis, Louisville...was a contender for the award. Curtis had a perfect night at the plate with a single, a double and two bases on balls. Jermaine, who is hitting .444, scored once and plated a pair of Bats teammates.

Blake Butler, Daytona...also put a bid in on the award. Butler went 2-5 with two extra-base hits. He doubled and smacked a three-run shot (1).

Other hitters:

Taylor Sparks, Daytona...2-4, 2 SGLS, BB, RS, SB (3).

Blake Trahan, Daytona...1-5, HR (1), RS, RBI.

Narciso Crook (.353),Dayton...2-4, 2 SGLS, RS.

Argenis Aldazoro, Dayton...1-4, SGL, RBI, Outfield Assist (second base).

Starting Pitchers:

Wyatt Strahan, Dayton...6IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 4K.

Relievers:

Pedro Villarreal, Louisville...1.2IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 2K.

Carlos Gonzalez, Pensacola...1.1IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB,2K.

Barrett Astin, Pensacola...2.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K.

Jimmy Herget, Daytona...2.0IP 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K.

Ismael Guillon, Daytona...1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K.

Ariel Hernandez, Dayton...1.1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K.

Michael Sullivan, Dayton...1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 1K.

Sarkis Ohanian, Dayton...1.0IP 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K.

[lollipopcurve]

Big thanks to Tom Servo for picking up for me last weekend. Stuff like that makes me proud to be part of this thread.

Back in the saddle.

Games of Saturday, April 16

Only one man could keep the Pensacola rotation from another MILPoD garland. Who else but...

Angelo Gumbs, Tortuga: 4-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI. The former Yankee 2nd rounder is trying for the fourth year to get out of the FSL. Angelo had some draft hype as a high-energy player -- maybe an organization change will flip the switch for him. Played 1b for the 'tugas and hit cleanup. He's at .429 on the year

Also notable on a day in which it appears the big league club averaged a double an inning...

Honorable Mention: Rookie Davis, Pensacola . . . 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. The Wahoo rotation is MiLPOD central, and Davis just missed out. One earned over 5 in his first outing, now a blemishless 6. Davis threw 85 pitches and had a 8:1 GB/FB. Plus a ribbie (Davis was almost drafted as a hitter).

Jose Peraza, Bat: 3-5, RBI, CS (3). Played CF.

Jesse Winker, Bat: 3-4, BB, RBI. Up to .346. All 9 hits are singles.

Brandon Allen, Bat: 2-5, 2B, RBI

Juan Perez, Bat: 2-5, RBI. Hit leadoff and played SS. As a LH stick who can play around the infield, if he can show some tenacity as a hitter he's got a shot to make it.

Jermaine Curtis, Bat: 1-3, BB, RBI. In his minor league career, he's got 318 BBs and 319 Ks. (4:1 BB/K ratio this year so far)

John Lamb, Bat: 3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K. Threw 65 pitches, 41 strikes.

Layne Somsen, Bat: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. 43 pitches. The South Dakotan with a Lincecum-like delivery is not far from Cincinnati.

JC Ramirez, Bat: IP, BB, 2 K. Big arm, and Reds bullpen is a big tent.

Phil Ervin, Blue Wahoo: 1-3, 2B, SB (3)

Alex Blandino, Blue Wahoo: 1-3, BB. Hit 3rd, played 2nd.

Brandon Dixon, Blue Wahoo: 1-3, RBI. Played 1st. Vying with Tony Renda for Most Versatile Wahoo.

Tony Renda, Blue Wahoo: 0-3, SB (5).

Wandy Peralta, Blue Wahoo: 2 IP, 2 H, 2K. 7 IP without a BB or a run scored against him so far. Unfortunately, he has not dominated lefties over the course of his minor league career, which clouds his future as a bullpen prospect.

Kyle McMyne, Blue Wahoo: IP, H, save (3). At 26, he's still getting chances to prove he can handle high leverage.

Tejay Antone, Tortuga: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. The GB machine somehow gave up 3 FB outs.

Nick Howard, Tortuga: IP, H, K. We'll take anything at this point.

Brian O'Grady, Tortuga: 2-3, HBP. The former senior sign is still old for his league (will turn 24 soon), so he's schooling FSL whippersnappers with a .462 OBP.

Ty Boyles, Dragon: 7.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K. Even as the Dragons dropped to 1-9, Boyles became the first pitcher in the system, including the major league team, to pitch into the 8th. 88 pitches, 55 strikes. 12:3 GB/FB. Encouraging to see the 20 year-old lefty craft a strong outing in his first full go-round in full season ball.

Jeremy Kivel, Dragon: 1.2 IP, K. 4:0 GB/FB. Case study of the organization trying to develop a hard-throwing reliever from an early age.

Jose Siri, Dragon: 2-4, SB (2).

Luis Gonzalez; Dragon: 1-4, 2B, RBI. First game back, moving Cory Thompson off SS.

[mace]

Games of Sunday, April 17

Tanner Rainey, Dayton . . . 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Well, I'm sure to hear from Daniel Wright's attorney. The Wahoo starter had an indisputably better pitching line than Rainey. But the latter earned style points for being younger (23) by nearly two years, for doing the heavy lifting in a 1-0 drama that doubled the Dragons' win total, for walking nobody, and for hitting 96 on the speed gun. The kid threw a stinker in his previous start, but this one resonated.

Also notable on a day when the Reds' two best non-pitching prospects collaborated on an 11th-inning walkoff win . . .

Honorable mention: Daniel Wright, Pensacola: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. ERA 0.96. And the thing is, he's not even in the Hoos' 5-man rotation. Can that team pitch, or what?

Honorable mention: Phil Ervin, Pensacola: 4-4, R, SB (4). Doubled Biloxi's hit total.

Jermaine Curtis, Louisville: 3-3, RBI. In 22 early PA, the 28-year-old infielder has made only seven outs--well, eight counting a sac bunt.

Jesse Winker, Louisville: 2-5, BB, R, RBI. Delivered walkoff single in the 11th.

Jose Peraza, Louisville: 2-5, R. Had the good sense to be on second base when Winker came to bat in the 11th.

A.J. Morris, Louisville: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K. Righty, 29, has a 3.26 ERA over seven minor-league seasons.

Brandon Allen, Louisville: 1-3, 2B, BB.

Juan Perez, Louisville: 2-6, 2B.

J.C. Ramirez, Louisville: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Hard-throwing Nicaraguan has 47.2 major-league innings under his ample belt. Now, I didn't say they were good innings. But the 3 he tossed over the weekend were, involving 6 strikeouts.

Drew Hayes, Louisville: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, W. Fair question . . . Is the Bats' bullpen better than the Reds'?

Beau Amaral, Pensacola: 2-5, HR (2).

Nick Routt, Pensacola: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Lefty may be finding his niche.

El'Hajj Muhammad, Pensacola: 1 IP, zeros.

Alejandro Chacin, Pensacola: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Arguably fair question . . . If Zack Weiss were healthy and pitching for them, would the Wahoos' bullpen be better than the Reds'?

Jake Johnson, Dayton: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Juan Martinez, Dayton: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

Jeremy Kivel, Dayton: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Sv (1). Tough save entailed stranding a runner who reached third base with no outs.

Shed Long, Dayton: 1-3, R.

Hector Vargas, Dayton: SF. It came in the eighth inning and brought in Long with the only run of the game.

Seth Varner, Daytona: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Yet to start a game for the Tortugas.

[RedlegJake]

Monday April 18^th – Tyler Mahle, RHP, Daytona. Tyler had a strong night, allowing just 3 hits in 7 innings with 9 Ks and 1 ER.


I also considered Angelo Gumbs for his 2 for 3 night with a triple, and Josh Smith for 6 shutout innings. Mahle's performance was pretty easily the standard for the night though, as the farm went 2-2. As you can tell by the slim hitters section there wasn't much lumber on display today. That's becoming the daily norm – strong pitching from a wide number of guys but few standout hitting performances.

Beau Amaral CF	Wahoos	1 for 4, triple, 2 RBI
Aristides Aquino RF	Tortugas	2 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI, assist
Angelo Gumbs LF	Wahoos	2 for 3, 1 BB, 1R, 1 RBI, triple, SB
Taylor Sparks 3B	Wahoos	2 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, double
Luis Gonzalez SS	Dragons	2 for 4, double, SB
Ed Charlton DH	Dragons	1 for 2, solo homer, SH
Pitchers
Josh Smith RHP	Bats	6 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks, 0 ER
Ryan Mattheus RHP	Bats	2 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks, 0 ER
Steve Delabar RHP	Bats	1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER
Amir Garrett LHP	Wahoos	6 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 R 2 ER, 5 Ks
Tyler Mahle, RHP	Tortugas	7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 9 Ks
Nick Howard RHP	Tortugas	1 IP, zeros NO WALKS! The road back?
Jimmy Herget RHP	Tortugas	1 IP, zeros, 2 Ks
Jacob Constante LHP	Dragons	4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 7 Ks
Manny Aybar RHP	Dragons	1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks