SUNDAY HAPPY 4TH TO YOU ALL, MINORS FINAL; McSteen Shines As Well

[rico43]

Mississippi was a so-so 13-12 in May, but 18-10 since/

Gwinnett was 14-10 in May after starting 9-3, swept in a six game series by Nashville. Have gone 9-19 since. That's 14-26 since the red-hot start.

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SUNDAY'S MINORS SCOREBOARD

All Times Eastern

CLASS AAA

Durham 5, Gwinnett 4

SP: De la Cruz 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, HR
Arano 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Roark 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Flaa 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Horacek 1.2 IP
LP: Y.Lopez 0.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Goins 1-4, HR (2nd), 2 RBI
Camargo 2-4, R, RBI
Waters 3-4, 2 R, 2 SB (batting 1st)
Pache 0-4, 3 K (batting 2nd)

CLASS AA

Mississippi 6, Montgomery 2

WP: Elder (1-0) 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Bro.Wilson 1 IP
White 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Bacon 1 IP, 2H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hernandez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Rijo 1-3, HR (7th), RBI
Jenista 1-4, 2B, R
Langeliers 2-4, R, RBI
Neslony 2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI

ADVANCED CLASS A

Rome 9, Wilmington 4

WP: Tarnok (3-1) 5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 3 HR
Daniels 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Diaz (Save, 5) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Milligan 3-5, 2B, 2 R
Josephina 3-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Michel 2-4, 2B, 3 R, SB
Franklin V 3-5, HR (11th), 4 RBI
Moritz 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI

CLASS A

Augusta 3, Columbia 1

WP: McSteen (3-0) 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Barger 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
E.Rodriguez (Save, 2) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

R.Rodriguez 1-3, R, RBI
Stephens 2-4, HR (5th), RBI

COMPLEX ROOKIE

GC Braves idle

[Garmel]

Franklin with another HR.

[zbhargrove]

Franklin with another HR.

That's a .916 OPS now for him... pretty sweet!

[Garmel]

That's a .916 OPS now for him... pretty sweet!

Yep. Only thing that concerns me is the K-Rate. Still young though.

[50PoundHead]

Yep. Only thing that concerns me is the K-Rate. Still young though.

I've noticed that as well. Franklin's short-sample K-rate really elevated the issue. He struck 10 times in the week preceding today's game. His rate was much stronger prior to last week. He could be working on driving the ball more and getting a better launch rate, which could conceivably lead to a higher K-rate. He's really been a pleasant surprise.

[msstate7]

Elder having a strong game after a rough AA debut. Can he be successful without striking guys out?

[msstate7]

Waters 3-4, 2 sb
Maybe he's about to get rolling

[50PoundHead]

McSteen is older for Low-A, but this is his first year in a major league organization. Played four years at Nebraska, graduating in 2018. No record of him playing anywhere in 2019, but in 2020, he pitched very well for Joliet in an independent league around Chicago (2020 City of Champions Cup). Had a rough start to this season in Rome, but has done well for Augusta.

[Russ2dollas]

Yep. Only thing that concerns me is the K-Rate. Still young though.

He's a 22 yo at high A. I'm honestly not that excited by him. I know he was off for about two years. I think his bat is going to have to be super special because I think he's going to have to play LF. No way he has the arm for RF and Most think he's not a CF. Not a CF IMO with Pache, waters or even Acuna. Maybe he's a trade chip. For me, I'm going to want to see him at a 900 OPS in AA to really consider him.

I haven't watched any, but my boy Langeliers is sitting at a 889 OPS in AA with elite defense at catcher. That should be more hyped by far IMO. Now, I am only box score scouting here so it is certainly possible that watching the games people are seeing something else in both players.

I'd still like SL to get a full year in AA and then time in AAA before coming to ATL next year.

[msstate7]

He's a 22 yo at high A. I'm honestly not that excited by him. I know he was off for about two years. I think his bat is going to have to be super special because I think he's going to have to play LF. No way he has the arm for RF and Most think he's not a CF. Not a CF IMO with Pache, waters or even Acuna. Maybe he's a trade chip. For me, I'm going to want to see him at a 900 OPS in AA to really consider him.

I haven't watched any, but my boy Langeliers is sitting at a 889 OPS in AA with elite defense at catcher. That should be more hyped by far IMO. Now, I am only box score scouting here so it is certainly possible that watching the games people are seeing something else in both players.

I'd still like SL to get a full year in AA and then time in AAA before coming to ATL next year.

Franklin 22 at A+
Langeliers 23 at AA

Franklin likely to join him, soon

[zbhargrove]

He's a 22 yo at high A. I'm honestly not that excited by him. I know he was off for about two years. I think his bat is going to have to be super special because I think he's going to have to play LF. No way he has the arm for RF and Most think he's not a CF. Not a CF IMO with Pache, waters or even Acuna. Maybe he's a trade chip. For me, I'm going to want to see him at a 900 OPS in AA to really consider him.

I haven't watched any, but my boy Langeliers is sitting at a 889 OPS in AA with elite defense at catcher. That should be more hyped by far IMO. Now, I am only box score scouting here so it is certainly possible that watching the games people are seeing something else in both players.

I'd still like SL to get a full year in AA and then time in AAA before coming to ATL next year.

Isn't 22 about the average age for high A ball players? Also, this season was his first taste or pro ball ever... I think you're selling the guy a bit short. Plenty of people have been hyping Langeliers... pretty sure he's been more hyped than Franklin all year by a lot.

[50PoundHead]

I think you're basically correct when it comes to the comparison of Langeliers and Franklin V. One of the reasons for that is Langeliers was a high performer throughout his college career while Franklin tailed off as a sophomore and was injured as a junior at Michigan. But Franklin V got a lot of accolades earning spots on all-freshman teams in 2018 (usually second-team) and who knows how he would have done if he hadn't been injured and there had been a full college season in 2020.

Given how the minor leagues look in 2021, Franklin is actually below the average age of players in the High-A East by a year. Add to that this is--as you say--his first year in pro ball. He was at the alternate site last year, so he probably worked out some kinks getting ready for full-time wood bat ball, but that wasn't competition. I was a bit surprised given that he hadn't played at all in 2020 that the Braves started him where they did and he struggled mightily in May. That all changed in June, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to promote him. He's at least two years away from contributing at the major league level, so what's the rush? I will say that he does look like a bit of a find. Both he and Strider were head-scratchers to me when they were drafted last year.

[zbhargrove]

I think you're basically correct when it comes to the comparison of Langeliers and Franklin V. One of the reasons for that is Langeliers was a high performer throughout his college career while Franklin tailed off as a sophomore and was injured as a junior at Michigan. But Franklin V got a lot of accolades earning spots on all-freshman teams in 2018 (usually second-team) and who knows how he would have done if he hadn't been injured and there had been a full college season in 2020.

Given how the minor leagues look in 2021, Franklin is actually below the average age of players in the High-A East by a year. Add to that this is--as you say--his first year in pro ball. He was at the alternate site last year, so he probably worked out some kinks getting ready for full-time wood bat ball, but that wasn't competition. I was a bit surprised given that he hadn't played at all in 2020 that the Braves started him where they did and he struggled mightily in May. That all changed in June, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to promote him. He's at least two years away from contributing at the major league level, so what's the rush? I will say that he does look like a bit of a find. Both he and Strider were head-scratchers to me when they were drafted last year.

I certainly agree that there's no reason to rush him.