2019 Minor-League Player of the Day

[Edd Roush]

MiPOD Alex Blandino went 3-4 with 2 home runs (2). I am not sure if I am breaking some sort of rule allowing a rehab player win POD, but I think Blandino deserves the props. His 147 big league PAs have not exactly gone his way, but his 2017 sparked promise in the hearts of Reds fans. That sizzled out last year, but his rehab assignment has started very well and he could be the guy to platoon with Dietrich and let Peraza get his affairs in order in Louisville.

Honorable Mention Mike Siani went 4-5 with 2 steals (13), 3 runs scored, and he had 2 RBI. All hits were singles, but Mike really needed some BABIP luck (now still only .255) to get above the Mendoza line (now batting .209). Dayton is a tough assignment one year removed from high school, and maybe Siani is showing that he is showing some progress with multi-hit games in two of his last three.

Honorable Mention Vlad Gutierrez has been very bad this year, not striking many batters out in AAA and allowing a lot of home runs. He allowed 2 home runs again last night, but he did turn in a quality start striking out 5 and not walking anyone. His last two starts have been quality (and three out of his last four), so let's hope he continues to show progress.


The Louisville Bats lost 5-2.

Scott Schebler went 1-4.
Brian O’Grady went 2-4.

The Chattanooga Lookouts were rained out.

The Daytona Tortugas lost 7-4.

Stuart Fairchild went 1-3 with a walk and a solo home run (5).
Aneurys Zabala threw 2 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts.

The Dayton Dragons won 9-3.


Miles Gordon went 2-5 with 3 RBI.
Juan Martinez went 2-3 with a double, run scored, and he had 2 walks.
Miguel Hernandez went 3-5 with a double, 2 runs scored, and he had an RBI.
Carlos Machorro threw 2 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts.

[Tom Servo]

Games of Friday, June 7

Miles Gordon, Dayton: 4-4, HR, 2 RBI, stolen base. The 21-year-old Canadian outfielder was a 4th rounder with some hype in 2015 and is still looking to gain his footing in the system. He had a big 2017 in Billings but while injuries and underperformance have plagued him since he remains tooled up and might still yet become something.

Honorable mention: Jonathan India, Daytona: 3-5, HR, RBI, stolen base. Had slumped pretty hard of late so this stat-sheet filing night was much needed.


In other action:


Christian Colon, Louisville: 2-4, 3B

Aristides Aquino, Louisville: 2-3, HR, BB, RBI. The Punisher is back from paternal leave and he's picked up where he left off.

Eric Stout, Louisville: 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 2 runs. Went better than his first start.

RJ Alaniz, Louisville: 1.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 0 runs



TJ Fridel, Chattanooga: 1-4, HR

Jose Siri, Chattanooga: 2-3, stolen base. Back from timeout for being a bad boy.

Calten Daal, Chattanooga: 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI

Scott Moss, Chattanooga: 6 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1 run. Goes down as a complete game as it was called early as Moss continues to have a fairly good season despite an alarming number of walks, which he managed to keep in check in this one.



Jose Garcia, Daytona: 2-5

Andy Sugilio, Daytona: 2-4

Mac Sceroler, Daytona: 5.2 innings, 5 hits, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts, 4 runs. Not great results but gotta like the BB:K ratio.



Mike Siani, Dayton: 1-3, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases. Seems to be getting more comfortable at the dish.

Jay Schuyler, Dayton: 2-5

Miguel Hernandez, Dayton: 1-4, HR, RBI

Lyon Richardson, Dayton: 5 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 1 run. First win of his pro career for the young Lyon, congrats to him.



Jose Acosta, DSL Reds: 1-3, BB, RBI

Darlin Guzman, DSL Reds: 3-3, 3B, 2 RBI. Kind of surprising the young Darlin who turns 19 in September is still in the Dominican after a pretty solid season there last year, perhaps he will be stateside in a few weeks.

Daniel Vellojin, DSL Reds: 2-4, 2 RBI

Jose Franco, DSL Reds: 5 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, 1 run. Franco is an 18-year-old right hander from Venezuela.

Eddy Alcantara, DSL Reds: 3 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 1 run

Jose Ortega, DSL Reds: 1 inning, 1 hit, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 0 runs

[lollipopcurve]

Games of Saturday, June 8

Your co-MILPoDs

We gotta do this, just this once, because nobody had a really great game.

Mike Siani and Miles Gordon, Dragons: 1-2, 2 BBs, 2 R, SB(16) and 2-4, 2 R, RBI, SB (6), respectively. They young lefties have put a real glint atop the Dragons batting order this past week and have put a charge in a lifeless season there, as the Dragons have been scoring runs and winning. Siani is 11 for his last 33 with 7 BBs (vs 7 Ks) while Gordon is 11-25 and mashing a plus 1.000 OPS in his return to Dayton. Interesting in this ballgame that Gordon was in center and Siani in right.


In other action:


Bats were suspended in the 4th in a 2-2 tie, Longhi (of the West Springfield Longhis) and Refsnyder having homered, and Lucas Sims having walked 6 guys.


TJ Friedl, Lookout: 1-4, BB, 2 SB (11). Started in right, moved to left.

Gavin Lavalley, Lookout: 1-3, 2 BB, CS (1). OBP (.347) slowly ticking up.

Cassidy Brown, Lookout: 2-5, HR (1), 3 RBI.

Jose Siri, Lookout: 2-5. Couple of 2-hit games since returning from suspension. Hit cleanup.

Mitch Nay, Lookout: 1-4, HR (6). His 2-run 7th inning shot tied it, and Brown put them ahead for good 2 hitters later as Lookouts moved to 8 games over.

Tejay Antone, Lookout: 2-2, 2 singles. Pitching line wasn’t so hot, though.

Corey Thompson, Lookout: IP, K, win (1). The 6th.

Jesse Stallings, Lookout: 1-2-3 7th.

Joel Kuhnel, Lookout: Perfect 8th and 9th, 2 Ks, save (10). Best outing in a while, though he’s been good overall.


Andy Sugilio, Tortuga: 3-5. Swooped up to leadoff after being way down in the order every day. Also stole 11th bag and got caught for the 6th time.

Lorenzo Cedrola, Tortuga: 2-4, HR (1).

Stuart Fairchild, Tortuga: 2-4. .972 OPS in June so far after a .971 May. Strangely enough, he’s been terrible against lefties all year, 4-35 with 4 singles.

Andy Cox: 2 IP, BB, K. Retruned Daytona after helping out the Lookouts for a game. Still unscored on since being moved up from Dayton (9 games).

Julio Pinto, Tortuga: 2 IP, HBP, 2 Ks. Released by the Royals in March, Pinto has been workmanlike for both A-ball clubs already. 23 y-o Venezuelan.


Jay Schuyler, Dragon: 2-4, 4 RBI. Spent the afternoon knocking in Siani and Gordon. He’s back to catching after what folks were saying was a mental block with his throwing.

Juan Martinez, Dragon: 1-4, 2b (16), 2 RBI.

Matt Pidich, Dragon: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K, save (1). New Jersey kid and senior sign out of Pitt last year (round 8) has been solid in Dayton. Should we not expect at least this level of competence in low A from a senior sign the year before? I think we should.


Ilvin Fernandez, DSL Red: 2-4, PO. Had the Reds' only 2 hits. 17 y-o Dominican SS is off to a nice 8-18 start with 3 BBs vs 4 Ks.

Luis Aquino, DSL Red: 3.1 IP, H, 2 BB, K. Unscored upon so far in maiden season (6.2 IP, 2 starts)

Ronard Soto, DSL Red: Converted position player has been strong in his first couple mound outings (1 run in 6.1, and 9 Ks vs 1 BB).

Gabriel Aguilera, DSL Red: Venezuelan reliever has 2 scoreless under his belt now, 2 games into his pro career.

[mace]

Games of Sunday, June 9

MiLPoD: Packy Naughton, Chattanooga . . . 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 walk, 3 K. Second straight game, and third this year, that the Virginia Technocrat, a lefty from Boston, has given up but 3 hits in 6 innings. His 2.58 ERA—2.45 in Double-A after starting the season in Daytona—bespeaks a breakout year in the making. The Pack Mule, 23, hasn’t given up a homer in 22 innings at the higher level. He also singled.

Honorable Mention: Nick Longhi, Louisville . . . 4-4, HR (10), walk, 3 RBI. In two partial games, the West Springfield Rifle raised his slash to .316/.368/.557/.925. With all their firepower, how can the Bats be 13 games under .500?

Also notable on a day when the Dayton Dragons, surging out of the cellar--they were 22 games under .500, the worst record in the minor leagues--won their seventh straight, this time surmounting a 4-0 deficit . . .

Chattanooga

Narciso Crook: 3-4. Oft-injured OF, 23, has split time between the Lookouts and Bats this year, acquitting himself respectably.

Junior Martinez, Victor Payano: Hitless innings of relief.

Dayton

Randy Ventura: 3-4, double, RBI. Switch-hitter fits the Dragons’ speed theme.

Michael Siani: 2-5, run, 2 SB (18). Teen-aged center fielder and leadoff man has 7 steals in the last 4 games. Second in league in that department.

Pabel Manzanero: 2-4, double, HBP, RBI, SB (1). Walkoff single in 9th.

Morgan Lofstrom: 2-4, RBI.

Brian Rey: 1-1, 2 RBI. Pinch single tied game in 8th.

Carlos Rivero: 1-3, triple, walk, run.

Eddy Demurias: 1.1 IP, 0-0-0, 2 K.

Connor Bennett: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, W.

Louisville (game 1, completed from 6-8)

Keury Mella: 2-2. Hurler pinch-hit for Schebler and remained as DH.

Rob Refsnyder: 2-2, HR (6), double, 2 walks.

Juan Graterol: 2-4, 2 RBI.

Alberti Chavez: 2-4, HR (1), SB (1). Fourth homer in 8 seasons for the utility infielder, 23.

Jimmy Herget: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Louisville (game 2, abbreviated)

Phillip Ervin: 1-3, double, R.

Juan Graterol: 1-3, double, 2 RBI.

Sherman Johnson: 1-1, 2 walks, SB (3).

Wendolyn Bautista: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Daytona was rained out.

[Sea Ray]

How many MiLPoDs is that for Packy? It seems like he's getting one every time he starts.

[mace]

How many MiLPoDs is that for Packy? It seems like he's getting one every time he starts.

I see four. Back-to-back the last two starts, and back-to-back in late April.

Scanning back, I saw Nick Longhi's name more than I expected. I didn't count, but will later.

[redsof72]

You guys do a great job with these and I find them to be outstanding summaries. Just a quick note though. Siani goes by Michael, not Mike, just like Ervin never wanted to be called Phil.

[mace]

Okay, unless I miscounted, VanMeter and O'Grady have 5 MiLPoDs and Longhi 4. I wasn't tallying Tejay Antone, but he's at 3 or 4.

[Danny Serafini]

Here's a full list of how many MiLPODs and Honorable Mentions everyone has as of 6/9/19. I'll update totals every once in a while.

Brian O'Grady 5 - 5
Josh VanMeter 5 - 1
Nick Longhi 4 - 4
Packy Naughton 4 - 0
Lucas Sims 3 - 2
Tejay Antone 3 - 0
TJ Friedl 3 - 0
Jose Siri 3 - 0
Tony Santillan 2 - 3
Aristides Aquino 2 - 1
Keury Mella 2 - 1
Scott Moss 2 - 1
Hendrik Clementina 2 - 0
Miles Gordon 2 - 0
Rob Wooten 2 - 0
Michael Siani 1 - 3
Phillip Ervin 1 - 2
Ibandel Isabel 1 - 2
Alfredo Rodriguez 1 - 2
Reiver Sanmartin 1 - 2
Christian Colon 1 - 1
Odrisamer Despaigne 1 - 1
Stuart Fairchild 1 - 1
Vladimir Gutierrez 1 - 1
Jose Lopez 1 - 1
Juan Martinez 1 - 1
Mitch Nay 1 - 1
Andy Sugilio 1 - 1
Alex Blandino 1 - 0
Lorenzo Cedrola 1 - 0
Jacob Heatherly 1 - 0
Morgan Lofstrom 1 - 0
Pabel Manzanero 1 - 0
Shard Munroe 1 - 0
Chris Okey 1 - 0
Lyon Richardson 1 - 0
Wennington Romero 1 - 0
Jared Solomon 1 - 0
Corey Thompson 1 - 0
Jonathan India 0 - 5
Jhon De Jesus 0 - 2
Mark Kolozsvary 0 - 2
Alejo Lopez 0 - 2
Bruce Yari 0 - 2
Brantley Bell 0 - 1
Eddy Demurias 0 - 1
Jose Garcia 0 - 1
Jimmy Herget 0 - 1
Sherman Johnson 0 - 1
Andrew Jordan 0 - 1
James Marinan 0 - 1
Austin Orewiler 0 - 1
Mac Sceroler 0 - 1
Jay Schuyler 0 - 1
Bren Spillane 0 - 1
Tyler Stephenson 0 - 1
Blake Trahan 0 - 1
Taylor Trammell 0 - 1

[mace]

Awesome. Thank you, Danny!

[M2]

Also notable on a day when the Dayton Dragons, surging out of the cellar--they were 22 games under .500, the worst record in the minor leagues--won their seventh straight, this time surmounting a 4-0 deficit . . .

I attribute the surge 100% to Miles Gordon. At least that is wholly narrative-based, irrational position I am taking.

Keury Mella: 2-2. Hurler pinch-hit for Schebler and remained as DH.

That is a dark moment in the career of Scott Schebler.

Wendolyn Bautista: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

I'm excited about his recent run as a reliever, as it allows me to dust off (The Perils) of Wendolyn Baustista.

[Edd Roush]

MiPOD Taylor Trammel finally wins for the first time this year. He led the Reds' farmhands with three hits, and one went for extra bases (double). I thought it was surprising that he had not won this award last year, but he has struggled with a re-tooled swing this year. His BA is up to .245 and his OBP is a very stout .371. The concern is the disappearance of his power (ISO of .095). Hopefully Taylor uses this strong night as a launching point to master his new swing.

Honorable Mention Michael Siani went 2-4 with a steal (19) and an RBI. Michael now has a five game hitting streak and a five game stolen base streak.

The Louisville Bats had the day off.

The Chattanooga Lookouts lost 4-1.

Alfredo Rodriguez went 2-5 with a double.
Jose Siri went 2-4.
Brantley Bell went 2-4.
Ty Boyles threw a perfect inning with a strikeout.
Wyatt Strahan threw 2 perfect innings of relief.


The Daytona Tortugas won 4-3 in 10 innings.

Andy Sugilio went 2-5 with a steal (12), run, and he had an RBI.
Alejo Lopez went 2-5 with a double and an RBI.
Jonathan India went 1-4 with a walk.
Drew Mount went 2-5 with a steal, run, and he had an RBI.
Dylan Harris went 2-5 with a run and an RBI.
Lorenzo Cedrola went 2-4 with a double.
Michael Byrne threw a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts.
Ryan Nutof threw one and a third perfect innings of relief.


The Dayton Dragons won 3-2.

Randy Ventura went 2-3 with a run scored.
Moises Nova threw 2 hitless innings with a walk and 5 strikeouts.

[Tom Servo]

Games of Tuesday, June 11

Michael Siani, Dayton: 4-4, RBI, stolen base. Singles aren't always enough to win PotD but it helps when you're about a year removed from high school and go 4-4 at the top of an A ball lineup and steal your 20th base of the season.

Honorable mention: Johendí Jiminian, Chattanooga: 6 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1 run. 26-year-old Dominican right-hander formerly of the Rockies and Mariners turns in a good start.


In other action:


Alex Blandino, Louisville: 2-3, BB, stolen base. Probably needed a hot return to avoid being optioned to AAA when this rehab assignment is up, and given the results so far (7 for 19 with 2 HRs and 3 walks to 3 strikeouts) it seems he might just be hitting his way back to the Reds roster.

Phillip Ervin, Louisville: 2-4, 2B

Aristides Aquino, Louisville: 2-4

Keury Mella, Louisville: 5 innings, 6 hits, 6 walks, 1 strikeout, 2 runs. Well, that's certainly a pitching line.

Robert Stephenson, Louisville: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs. A man on rehab who is certainly familiar with a Louisville Bats uniform.


Alfredo Rodriguez, Chattanooga: 3-5, RBI, stolen base

TJ Friedl, Chattanooga: 1-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, stolen base. 4th HR of the season for Friedl, his career high in a season is 7.

Taylor Trammell, Chattanooga: 2-4, BB, RBI. Heating up a bit.

Mitch Nay, Chattanooga: 2-5, 2B

Brantley Bell, Chattanooga: 2-5, 2B, RBI

Gavin LaValley, Chattanooga: 2-3, BB

Cory Thompson, Chattanooga: 1 inning, 1 hit, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs. Former infielder is still successfully climbing up the ladder in the relief ranks.



Andy Sugilio, Daytona: 2-5, 2B, RBI

Jonathan India, Daytona: 3-5, RBI

Stuart Fairchild, Daytona: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI. You'd really never know from looking at the Wake Forest product's current slashline of .262/.339/.435 what a miserable start to the season he had.

Bruce Yari, Daytona: 1-5, 3B, 3 RBI. Made his one hit count.

Mark Kolozsvary, Daytona: 2-4, 2 doubles

Dauri Moreta, Daytona: 2.2 innings, 0 hits, walks, or runs, 4 strikeouts. Had a dire 7.25 ERA last year in Dayton, obviously fairing a bit better (2.79 era) this year.

Andy Cox, Daytona: 1 inning, 0 hits, walks, or runs, 3 strikeouts. Way under the radar story in 2019 is the 2016 senior sign Andy Cox suddenly pitching lights out. He had a few abysmal outings for Dayton early in April but since then the 25-year-old Tennessee Volunteer has somehow been dominant (0.82 ERA in 22 innings between Dayton, Daytona, and Chattanooga since April 22).


Jay Schuyler, Dayton: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Juan Martinez, Dayton: 3-4

Brian Rey, Dayton: 1-4, 2B, RBI

Matt Pidich, Dayton: 2 innings, 0 hits, walks, or runs, 1 strikeout



Esmil Torres, DSL Reds: 2-2, 3 walks. If the name sounds at all familiar, Torres was the small prize the Reds claimed in year's last international signing period. He's a switch-hitting Dominican shortstop who is just 17-years-old.

Elly De La Cruz, DSL Reds: 2-2, 2B, RBI

Jose Acosta, DSL Reds: 3-4, 3B, RBI

Andry Cuevas, DSL Reds: 4 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, 0 runs

[mace]

Games of Wednesday, June 12

MiLPoD: Lyon Richardson, Dayton . . . 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K. Last year’s second-rounder, an athletic two-way player (at the time) out of a high school in Florida, is beginning to fit the billing. He’s brought his ERA down nearly 3 runs (to 4.10) since the first of May, and made some believers along the way.

Honorable Mention: Darlin Guzman, DSL Reds . . . 3-5, double. Outfielder from Santo Domingo, an 18-year-old lefty, is looking like a fast-rising hitter. After holding his own as a rookie, the Darlin of Redszone is ripping up the DSL this time around to the tune of .444/.500/.815/1.315. Of course, it’s only 7 games. But quite a 7 games.

Also notable on the night when the Dragons’ unlikely winning streak reached double figures . . .

Dayton

Brian Rey: 2-4, HR (5). Smallish outfielder, a 13th-rounder last year out of Miami Dade (Mike Piazza played there) might have some chops. Moved to the 3-hole in Dayton’s order.

Juan Martinez: Bases loaded triple in eighth broke the tie and won the evening for the Dragons.

Jay Schuyler: 2 walks, 2 runs. Some symmetry there.

Carlos Machorro: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, W. Followed Richardson.

Connor Bennett: 1 IP, 0-0-0, 2 K. Sv (8). He’s kinda the man these days.

Daytona

Austin Orewiler: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, W. If the Galvestonian is an organizational guy, he’s a good one. Putting together a productive season.

Ryan Nutof: 1 IP, 0-0-0, 3 K, Sv (9). One of the surprises of the season so far, with a 0.93 WHIP. Leads the FSL in saves.

Jonathan India: Triple. Leads club with a .774 OPS (just passed Fairchild).

Alejo Lopez: 3-4, run.

Drew Mount: 2-4, double, 2 RBI.

Andy Sugilio: 2-5, SB (6). Earned switch to leadoff spot and has raised average to team-high .298.

Yon Mendoza: 1-3, walk, 2 runs. Venezuelan infielder, 25, is in his 9th minor-league season.

Louisville

Brian O’Grady: 2-3, double, 2 walks. OPS still over 1.000.

Aristides Aquino: HR (10), 2 RBI. Looking like the guy we saw 5 years ago in Billings and 3 years ago in Daytona.

Christian Colon: 2-4, 2 runs. Steady production for the veteran infielder.

Phillip Ervin: 2-4, walk, R, RBI, SB (6). Average up to .288. Would be on my big-league roster.

Narciso Crook: HR (1), walk, 2 runs, 2 RBI. Led off.

Jackson Stephens: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, W (5-3). Long relief for Vlad Gutierrez.

Wendolyn Bautista: 1 IP, 1 H, zeros.

Jimmy Herget: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

Chattanooga

Jose Siri: HR (4).

Calten Daal: 2-3.

Brantley Bell: 2-4.

Scott Moss: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. Seldom a boring line for the tall lefty, whose ERA sits at 3.45.

Jesse Stallings: Clean inning.

DSL

Deybert Lozano: 2-4, HR (1). Outfielder, 19, from Venezuela.

Dannysmel Tavarez: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

[HokieRed]

Can Brantley Bell play SS?