Notice: Trying to get property 'display_name' of non-object in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/src/generators/schema/article.php on line 52
keyboard_arrow_uptop

Hitter of the Night:
Tyler O’Neill,
OF, Mariners (Clinton, A-): 3-6, 2 R, 2 HR, BB, 2 K.
Undersized and already physically developed, there’s not a ton of projection left in O’Neill, but it’s difficult to ignore power production from teenagers in full-season ball. Tuesday night’s game gives O’Neill eight home runs in 32 games.

Pitcher of the Night
Rafael Montero, RHP, Mets (Las Vegas, AAA): 8 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K. Montero isn’t known for being a big strikeout pitcher, given his lack of a true plus pitch, but his command and his ability to add and subtract keep hitters off-balance. At this point, the Mets are just waiting for a spot to open up in their rotation to re-introduce Montero to major league hitters.

Best of the Rest

Michael Feliz, RHP, Astros (Quad Cities, A-): 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K. An up-and-down season for Feliz hit a few bumps in the road in July, but the turn of the calendar has done wonders for him. There are some control issues to consider, but as long as he’s missing bats at his current level, there’s a lot to like.

Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs (Iowa, AAA): 3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 K. With the promotion of Javier Baez, the future has officially begun for the Cubs. That means players like Soler can’t be too far behind. The issues for Soler that preclude his arrival in the majors are as much maturity-based as they are rooted in baseball development interests. He’s done nothing but hit as a professional athlete and has little left to prove at any place other than the highest level.

Tim Berry, LHP, Orioles (Bowie, AA): 6 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 6 K. Berry isn’t a high-ceiling guy and may end up in a bullpen at the major league level, but for now, in an Orioles system devoid of legitimate prospect arms, Berry still has a chance to make it as a starter.

Trea Turner, SS, Padres (Fort Wayne, A-): 3-5, R, HR, K. Turner will never be confused for a power hitter, but it’s good to see that he has enough pop to keep pitchers honest and to keep the bat from getting knocked out of his hands.

Austin Meadows, OF, Pirates (West Virginia, A-): 3-5, R, HR. After an injury-plagued start to the season, Meadows has held his own in full-season ball, albeit without any power production before Tuesday night. Still, in what will likely go down as a lost season, Meadows has at least proven his lofty draft status wasn’t a mistake.

Eric Jagielo, 3B, Yankees (Tampa, A+): 2-4, R, HR, K. When Jagielo gets a pitch to hit, he can do some damage. He’ll run into 20 home runs over the course of a big league season just based on strength and bat speed alone. He struggles, however, with pitches on the outer half thanks to poor plate discipline. Until he learns to drive pitches on the outer half the other way, he’ll remain a one-dimensional hitter.

Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees (Trenton, AA): 2-3, R, HR. Despite him being around for what feels like forever, the Yankees can afford to take their time with Sanchez. That includes waiting for his power to develop, something that could make him a well above-average hitter for the catcher position.

Notable Pitching Performances

  • Mark Appel, RHP, Astros (Corpus Christi, AA): 4 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K.
  • Lance McCullers, RHP, Astros (Lancaster, A+): 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.
  • Zach Lee, RHP, Dodgers (Albuquerque, AAA): 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 0 K.
  • Lucas Giolito, RHP, Nationals (Hagerstown, A-): 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
  • Alex Gonzalez, RHP, Rangers (Frisco, AA): 6 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 6 K.
  • Akeem Bostick, RHP, Rangers (Hickory, A-): 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, R, BB, 7 K.
  • Edwin Escobar, LHP, Red Sox (Pawtucket, AAA): 6 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
  • Jonathon Crawford, RHP, Tigers (West Michigan, A-): 3 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 2 K.

Thank you for reading

This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.

Subscribe now
You need to be logged in to comment. Login or Subscribe
mranney
8/06
Notable that the Meadows home run was hit off Lucas Giolito.
jayhashop
8/06
Nomar Mazara doubled and tripled in his AA debut.
backwardgalaxy
8/06
Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy are still in the Orioles system, right? Not totally "devoid of legitimate prospect arms".
moore315512
8/06
Yes but after that there is a major drop off. Two high end guys but no depth.
andrewmorris92
8/06
What is your opinion of Zach Davies?
bigchiefbc
8/06
Man, I am continually impressed with how consistent Chi Chi Gonzalez is. It seems like he puts up 6IP with 1 or 2 ER and 5-7K every single start.
huztlers
8/06
He is a polished college arm, not some 17 year-old from the Dominican. What else would you expect?
jmoultz
8/06
Whether or not he's a polished college arm, he's not pitching in Low A right now, he's pitching in AA. Pitchers with that kind of consistency at AA are rare.
bigchiefbc
8/06
Even "polished" college arms usually still have kinks to work out in the minors and struggle by the time they hit AA. Chi Chi is just cruising, it seems.
chidavidi
8/06
Any chance Montero or Thor (or both) make it up to the bigs this year?
BarryR
8/06
I think the assumption has been that Thor takes deGrom's slot when Jake reaches his IP limit. But if Montero is back to being Montero, not the guy we saw earlier, who completely lacked command or control, the Mets will want to see him in the majors again. I have a feeling once deGrom hits is limit, the Mets may go to a 6-man rotation, which would enable Wheeler to pitch through the whole year and give them a chance at looking at both kids. Of course, all this involves Gee and Niese still being healthy at the end of the year, always a dicey proposition.
petersonkai
8/06
Dylan Bundy had his best start of the year last nigh(4.1 IP 5H 0R 0BB 7K)t; hearing he even touched 96 mph.
AZMarkS
8/06
Don't forget Rafael Montero (8IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, 11K)
rawagman
8/06
He didn't - Montero was named Pitcher of the Night
Muboshgu
8/06
Kyle Freeland - 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K, 0 BB, and it was his Sally League debut

Aaron Judge - 1-2, HR, RBI, R, 2 BB, K. 3TO!