Minor League Thread Part Deux

Carp said:
In ACTUAL Minor League news... David McCabe continues to impress at the plate in AA with more walks than K's. But he's most definitely a DH only type of guy. If he weighs less than 240 I would be surprised.
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I dont know that he will ever get a chance with Atlanta. Glad to see him finally doing well.
 
Also, while Kimbrel had a bad game on Sunday, he was up to 93.9 MPH. So at the very least, it's encouraging that his velocity has improved in each appearance in AAA
 
chop2chip said:
It may not meet your high standards, but that’s 2.2 WAR over a full season which is firmly in the “solid starter” as defined by Fangraphs.
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Meh…if the FO saw 2.2 WAR/162, atrocious k rate, mediocre statcast data, mediocre (poor?) power, unsustainable BABIP and thought yeah let’s spend $30m and jump through several hoops to land this guy, then that’s worse than I thought.

Not saying it’s a highly detrimental move but it was a bit of a head scratcher at the time and with hindsight was a bad move. And with that Kelenic trade has received enough reviving for me
 
Super said:
Meh…if the FO saw 2.2 WAR/162, atrocious k rate, mediocre statcast data, mediocre (poor?) power, unsustainable BABIP and thought yeah let’s spend $30m and jump through several hoops to land this guy, then that’s worse than I thought.

Not saying it’s a highly detrimental move but it was a bit of a head scratcher at the time and with hindsight was a bad move. And with that Kelenic trade has received enough reviving for me
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I don't see what's hard about taking a gamble on a guy that COULD HAVE PEDIGREE enough to improve. That said..there were plenty of indicators that said stay away. FAR away.

Kelenic reminds me of Gregg Jeffries who was "born to hit." Only the hype didn't match the production. MLB can do that. But to those that don't sniff AA'S nut sack, there has been plenty of indicators that say...you're doing too damn much. I give AA credit when due, but the last year and a half has been booty. Azz. Garbage. Debate me....
 
Although Didier Fuentes' first start in AA didn't go particularly well, evidently his stuff prompted Fangraphs to upgrade his fastball rating to 70 and move him into the top 100. Their new writeup makes him sound pretty exciting:

Fuentes was originally written up on this cycle’s Braves list as a 40+ FV prospect with a traits-heavy fastball who could break out if improvements to his conditioning facilitated a boost in arm strength. Well, that has happened. To start 2025, Fuentes carved in three High-A starts and was given a quick hook up to Double-A. His fastball was routinely 94-96 and touched 97-98 several times in his first Double-A start, while last year he averaged 93 mph. He explodes way down the mound and generates nearly seven feet of extension, even though the 19-year-old righty is only listed at six feet tall. His drive off the rubber is so explosive that umpires have had to stop the game to talk to him about how far off of it he comes off before release.

Fuentes is still a two-pitch guy and his slider isn’t consistently good yet, but his fastball is going to carry him to a meaningful big league role as a starter, much like Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller or Joe Ryan at the start of their big league tenures. Given the Braves’ penchant for pushing their good prospects, there’s a chance Fuentes keeps climbing and gets moved to Triple-A if he pitches well at Columbus in May. He’s a potential mid-rotation weapon.
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Had a coworker that played milb ball watch Braun last night .

Big kid, stuff is legit. Got squeezed some but put 5 guys on. Only 1 hit. Said no one really barreled him at all
 
rawwr said:
Although Didier Fuentes' first start in AA didn't go particularly well, evidently his stuff prompted Fangraphs to upgrade his fastball rating to 70 and move him into the top 100. Their new writeup makes him sound pretty exciting:
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Develop that kid a 3rd pitch. Give him a few weeks with Schwellenbach
 
rawwr said:
Although Didier Fuentes' first start in AA didn't go particularly well, evidently his stuff prompted Fangraphs to upgrade his fastball rating to 70 and move him into the top 100. Their new writeup makes him sound pretty exciting:
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I like fangraphs but their future value system is crap. Future value never changes. Only our perception of future value changes.
 
In order to determine whether we can know anything with certainty, we first have to doubt everything we know.
 
Three HR, 8 RBI night for Ethan Workinger in Mississippi. I don't know if he fits in the Braves' long-term plans. He's been a slow but steady climber in the system after signing as a NDFA after the truncated 2020 MLB draft. Puzzler to me is that he had a decent season at a California JC but decided to sign for the paltry non-draftee bonus instead of heading back to JC in 2021. I get that guys like other NDFAs Landon Stephens and Bryson Horne signed because they had pretty much exhausted their college eligibility, but Workinger's decision always puzzled me a bit.

Deester has seen him play. I've only seen clips of him from showcases.
 
another interesting note from the minors is how WalDERP continues to suck and how Dodd has all of a sudden become interesting out of the pen with an improved FA and Cutter but all counts. I will no longer call him Dylan Dudd..
 
CyYoung31 said:
I’m more interested in Hayden Harris than Dylan Dodd.
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I agree, but Dodd was a burning plane that was headed into the mountains... he at least put the fire out and maybe he can now avoid the mountains too...

Harris needs to be out of Mississippi and get another shot in AAA (his first experience there didn't go well).
 
50PoundHead said:
Three HR, 8 RBI night for Ethan Workinger in Mississippi. I don't know if he fits in the Braves' long-term plans. He's been a slow but steady climber in the system after signing as a NDFA after the truncated 2020 MLB draft. Puzzler to me is that he had a decent season at a California JC but decided to sign for the paltry non-draftee bonus instead of heading back to JC in 2021. I get that guys like other NDFAs Landon Stephens and Bryson Horne signed because they had pretty much exhausted their college eligibility, but Workinger's decision always puzzled me a bit.

Deester has seen him play. I've only seen clips of him from showcases.
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Yeah, thanks 50. I think I wrote about him last year for a little snippet. Like you, i was puzzled as to why he accepted a non-drafted contract. But this may be recollection, he was scouted as most kids are during showcases. He was also one of the ones who missed out during covid so it was a unique situation where he was ready for ball.

I've seen him described as 5 tool, albeit from his city college coach. I'm not going that far. I feel like he's a grinding, scrappy player and it shows when you watch him. For instance, I felt Jesse Franklin was more athletic but couldn't put it together whether it was injury or performance. I have been "he is ok" about Workinger but I also said he's what's right about baseball. Hard worker, inner half power swing, and like many braves hitters, can be had with pitches outside the zone.

He's had few weekly awards while in the minors and steadily progressed...he's a good story. His background and perseverance are the stuff of dreams. Everytime I see him, he does more than I give him credit for.
 
FCL season started today. Braves lose 11-2 to Tampa Bay. Familiar names on the FCL Braves' roster: IF Mario Baez, IF Diego Benitez (now playing 1B), and 2024 big-time bonus recipient Jose Perdomo. A couple of 2023 and 2024 draft picks: OFs Kade Kern and Dalton McIntyre. 2022 HS UDFA RHP Justin Militello got the start and the loss although pitching well. Bullpen got hammered.

CORRECTION: Militello did not get the loss. Loss went to RHP Yorvi Pirela who earned a blown save and a loss by giving up 5 R/4 ER in 1 1/3 IP.
 
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I'm having a hard time finding much to be excited about in the farm. I don't keep up with A ball, so maybe there's something coming. I find myself just checking dodd's progress as reliever these days. Anyone got some guys I can feel good about in A+ and up?
 
msstate7 said:
I'm having a hard time finding much to be excited about in the farm. I don't keep up with A ball, so maybe there's something coming. I find myself just checking dodd's progress as reliever these days. Anyone got some guys I can feel good about in A+ and up?
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You're not wrong State. The theme for this farm system should be INCONSISTENT EXCELLENCE. You're hard pressed to find stand out players right now. That said, I've seen glimpses of a few players:

EJ Exposito - career.230 hitter but had made strides with his swing. Dice throw to me.

Ethan Workinger - gets more from his tools than higher regarded prospects.

Luke Sinnard (p) - huge guy. After Tommy John has done very well in small sample size. I've liked watching him.

Guanipa - injuries are derailing his career.

I've written about others so I'm not adding them...Fuentes had shown better than Waldrep and AJSS to me. But I said he was my pick this year. Ritchie has been good. He's easy though. Tavarez exemplifies inconsistency and I've loved his adjustments. Just no sustainable excellence yet.

Just a couple of interesting ones, but no one..and I mean no one has separated themselves. I could go on but I get disappointed. I've watched this farm system since Alejandro Machado..and the "great 8." I've not been this unimpressed in some time.
 
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msstate7 said:
I'm having a hard time finding much to be excited about in the farm. I don't keep up with A ball, so maybe there's something coming. I find myself just checking dodd's progress as reliever these days. Anyone got some guys I can feel good about in A+ and up?
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Pitching wise there’s a lot to be excited about. Position wise not so much.
 
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