Mota pitched 4 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, and 5 K his first start.
He's a 6'4" 22 year old with a 98 MPH fastball. I am hoping his secondary pitches catch up. But yes, I find him to be an intriguing guy to follow this year.
My other breakout pick, Mitch Longo, is hitting .310 so far with a homer and 2 steals.
Extremely early yet of course, but not shabby so far.
Of course your pick, Steven Kwan, (who I gave special mention to before selecting Longo, I might have made a mistake), is hitting .467 with 3 doubles and 3 steals so far.
Re: Minor Matters
9392I like my picks in the early going; Kwan is hitting 400 plus and even drew a walk; Burgos has allowed 1 run in 11 innings.
There are lots of kids to like down in the lower half of the minors.
Adam Scott LHP drafted last year and already starting in High A could be another success story.
And maybe Johnathan Rodriguez, still only 19 and in his 3rd season, will take another step forward with the Scrappers in the summer.
There are lots of kids to like down in the lower half of the minors.
Adam Scott LHP drafted last year and already starting in High A could be another success story.
And maybe Johnathan Rodriguez, still only 19 and in his 3rd season, will take another step forward with the Scrappers in the summer.
Re: Minor Matters
9393Rocchio is now emblamtic of the rocketing upward Interntional signee
It happens every year.
A team signs a 16-year-old Latin American prospect for a small or mid-level bonus. Within a few months, that player’s stock can soar.
Sometimes it’s because a player changes after signing. He grows taller, gets stronger, works with a professional coaching staff daily at the academy in the Dominican Republic and takes off fast. Suddenly the pitcher throwing 87-90 mph is sitting 91-95, or the hitter with occasional gap shots starts consistently driving the ball over the fence.
Other times, a player flies under the radar for international scouts in a lower profile program. Or a player just ends up being even better than the team that signed them expected. With games in the Tricky League (an informal league for July 2 signings) and during Dominican instructional league, players can separate themselves from the pack with their hitting against pro pitchers.
Case in point: After signing Venezuelan shortstop Brayan Rocchio for $125,000 in 2017, the Indians quickly realized he was one of their best hitters. He went on to become the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2018.
Here are some of the 2018 international signings—players who signed for $500,000 or less and didn’t rank among the top 50 international prospects for July 2—who either slipped under the radar as amateurs or have been arrow-up guys since turning pro.
Well none of the 12 are ours, so I'll skip the rest of the article. But our international scouts have been doing awfully well lately so perhaps some of our 2018 signings will be overachieving this summer again.
It happens every year.
A team signs a 16-year-old Latin American prospect for a small or mid-level bonus. Within a few months, that player’s stock can soar.
Sometimes it’s because a player changes after signing. He grows taller, gets stronger, works with a professional coaching staff daily at the academy in the Dominican Republic and takes off fast. Suddenly the pitcher throwing 87-90 mph is sitting 91-95, or the hitter with occasional gap shots starts consistently driving the ball over the fence.
Other times, a player flies under the radar for international scouts in a lower profile program. Or a player just ends up being even better than the team that signed them expected. With games in the Tricky League (an informal league for July 2 signings) and during Dominican instructional league, players can separate themselves from the pack with their hitting against pro pitchers.
Case in point: After signing Venezuelan shortstop Brayan Rocchio for $125,000 in 2017, the Indians quickly realized he was one of their best hitters. He went on to become the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2018.
Here are some of the 2018 international signings—players who signed for $500,000 or less and didn’t rank among the top 50 international prospects for July 2—who either slipped under the radar as amateurs or have been arrow-up guys since turning pro.
Well none of the 12 are ours, so I'll skip the rest of the article. But our international scouts have been doing awfully well lately so perhaps some of our 2018 signings will be overachieving this summer again.
Re: Minor Matters
9394Ugh, Mota got smacked around today. 5 earned in 5 innings.
But my boy Eli Morgan with another superb start. 5 shutout innings, 2 hits, and 9 K. ... They need to move him on up to Akron.
Clips and Ducks both rained out.
Benson with 2 more hits, one a triple. And a walk. What has gotten into him?
But my boy Eli Morgan with another superb start. 5 shutout innings, 2 hits, and 9 K. ... They need to move him on up to Akron.
Clips and Ducks both rained out.
Benson with 2 more hits, one a triple. And a walk. What has gotten into him?
Re: Minor Matters
9395Morgan looking great, for sure. He had a similar debut in Lake County last year and moved up to Lynchburg. Kind of faded in the final month or so. I'm sure they're concerned that he has the strength to sustain him through a long season, same worry with McKenzie, but McK keeps missing the start of the season so he doesn't get a chance to wear himself out.
Mota was solid for 5 and then ran out of guess. The final line understates his performance.
Mota was solid for 5 and then ran out of guess. The final line understates his performance.
Re: Minor Matters
9396pitching today:
Hillman for Lynchburg, he also has a 0.00 ERA after 1 start although he did get charged with a pair of unearned runs.
Michael Peoples for Columbus replacing Rodriguez.
it's all relievers for Akron; David Speer did OK, 1 run in 3innings; Luke Eubank has been touched for 5 runs; Ducks heading to another loss, Daniel Johnson's second homer.
Shane McCarthy for Lake County
Hillman for Lynchburg, he also has a 0.00 ERA after 1 start although he did get charged with a pair of unearned runs.
Michael Peoples for Columbus replacing Rodriguez.
it's all relievers for Akron; David Speer did OK, 1 run in 3innings; Luke Eubank has been touched for 5 runs; Ducks heading to another loss, Daniel Johnson's second homer.
Shane McCarthy for Lake County
Re: Minor Matters
9397lake County just posted 5 in the 4th to go ahead 5-1. 2 run double by doubles king Tyler Freeman. 2 run Home run by fellow teenager Marcos Gonzalez. 1st round draftees Benson and Naylor are hitless, but Naylor has drawn his 6th walk.
McCarthy an old guy on this team, 22 year old RH, has fanned 8 in 3 2/3
McCarthy an old guy on this team, 22 year old RH, has fanned 8 in 3 2/3
Re: Minor Matters
93984 off Hillman in the 5th, but again they are all unearned. Two errors by Top Prospect Nolan Jones, who probably will wind up as an outfielder, key the rally. Only two hits in the inning. Hillman left after 6 innings, he's now pitched 11 with an ERA of nothing.
Looks like Akron is on the way to their second win, up 7-0 behind Plesac. 6 2/3 4 hits no walks 4 k.
Johnson's 0=3 with a walk drops below 200. But his OPS of 805 is the only one on this team over 700
Mercado hit by a pitch and leaves the game.
Peoples with 5 shutout innings. But 4 have scored off the bullpen including 2 unearned on a botched play by AAA 2nd baseman Jason Kipnis. At bat the Clippers 2nd baseman is 0-4 dropping his average to 143 and has left 7 runners on base. Miller has begun to hit for Cleveland, is now at 258 with an OPS soaring over 700. What do we need Jason for?
if you're looking for upgrades to Moroff and Stamets, Mike Freeman is hitting 150 and Yu Chang 194.
Looks like Akron is on the way to their second win, up 7-0 behind Plesac. 6 2/3 4 hits no walks 4 k.
Johnson's 0=3 with a walk drops below 200. But his OPS of 805 is the only one on this team over 700
Mercado hit by a pitch and leaves the game.
Peoples with 5 shutout innings. But 4 have scored off the bullpen including 2 unearned on a botched play by AAA 2nd baseman Jason Kipnis. At bat the Clippers 2nd baseman is 0-4 dropping his average to 143 and has left 7 runners on base. Miller has begun to hit for Cleveland, is now at 258 with an OPS soaring over 700. What do we need Jason for?
if you're looking for upgrades to Moroff and Stamets, Mike Freeman is hitting 150 and Yu Chang 194.
Re: Minor Matters
9399Akron sweeps a pair, 7-0 and 10-7, bats finally com alive. In the nightcap Johnson homered and singled and drove him 4. Mitch Longo a pair of singles; and SS Alex Pantoja with 4. Pantoja has steadily climbed the minor ladder while never tallying an OPS of as much as 600.
Not even publicity being given to James Karinchak; he finished the game facing two and guess what fanning both. He's worked 3 2/3 innings and every one of the outs is by strikeout. His season line is:
3 2/3 0 0 0 1 11
Not even publicity being given to James Karinchak; he finished the game facing two and guess what fanning both. He's worked 3 2/3 innings and every one of the outs is by strikeout. His season line is:
3 2/3 0 0 0 1 11
Re: Minor Matters
9400Tyler Freeman may not have had gotten off to the kind of start he would've liked at the plate, but it didn't take long for the 19-year-old to turn it around.
The Indians' No. 3 prospect had a perfect night at the plate on Saturday, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs, getting hit by two pitches and scoring a run in Class A Lake County's 6-2 victory over Dayton at Fifth Third Field. Boasting a 60-grade hit tool, according to MLB Pipeline, Freeman started his 2019 campaign with two hits in 16 at-bats. In his last four games however, he's 7-for-11 to raise his slash line to .300/.432/.400.
The slump was frustrating for the 19-year-old, who admitted he was starting to put pressure on himself to perform, and it wasn't helping.
"Some of the 0-for games that I had were still good contact," Freeman said. "I was hitting the ball hard, but at a certain point you start pressing. You start getting text messages from family members and friends that say, 'Hey, what's going on?' That's when it starts to put the pressure on you. I realized after that I'm here for a reason and I'm here to showcase my abilities and trust in them.
"It challenges yourself. Anyone playing in this career is going to be getting [those texts], whether it be from random fans or family members. You have to learn how to zone that out and focus on the next game."
Freeman was hit by a pitch in each of his first two at bats on Saturday. With two on and two out in the top of the fourth, he laced the first pitch from reliever Eduardo Salazar off the left field wall, scoring Hosea Nelson and Indians No. 23 prospect Jose Fermin. Freeman tacked on singles in the seventh and ninth.
"I saw the ball well today," he said. "For the first time [this season], I can actually say that. I haven't been myself early on this season, and today I trusted my ability and let my ability play.
"I was looking for a fastball. I got it early in the count, first pitch, and I tried to do as much damage as I could with it. I caught barrel and kind of thought it was a home run at first, but it hit the wall. After that swing, it kind of connected in and it felt like, 'Hey, I'm back.' That swing felt like last year's and it boosted my confidence."
A swing like last season's is a good sign for the California native, who broke out last summer with Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley. He led the New York-Penn League in batting, hits, extra-base hits, runs scored and total bases while putting up a .352/.405/.511 slash line. Freeman struck out only 22 times in 270 at bats and collected 38 RBIs.
Selected as a competitive balance pick in the second round of the 2017 Draft, Freeman turned down an offer to play for Texas Christian and signed with the Indians. He debuted later that year in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he accumulated 38 hits -- including 11 for extra bases -- in 36 games. Now he hopes to continue performing consistently at the plate, like he's always done.
"I've gotten a lot of support from my teammates and coaching staff," he said. "I know I got off to a slow start, but the coaching staff and my teammates are very supportive about it. They're always reminding me, 'You know who you are.'"
Indians No. 28 prospect Marcos Gonzalez smacked a two-run homer for the Captains. Starter Shane McCarthy (1-1) earned the win with five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and recording a career-high nine strikeouts.
The Indians' No. 3 prospect had a perfect night at the plate on Saturday, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs, getting hit by two pitches and scoring a run in Class A Lake County's 6-2 victory over Dayton at Fifth Third Field. Boasting a 60-grade hit tool, according to MLB Pipeline, Freeman started his 2019 campaign with two hits in 16 at-bats. In his last four games however, he's 7-for-11 to raise his slash line to .300/.432/.400.
The slump was frustrating for the 19-year-old, who admitted he was starting to put pressure on himself to perform, and it wasn't helping.
"Some of the 0-for games that I had were still good contact," Freeman said. "I was hitting the ball hard, but at a certain point you start pressing. You start getting text messages from family members and friends that say, 'Hey, what's going on?' That's when it starts to put the pressure on you. I realized after that I'm here for a reason and I'm here to showcase my abilities and trust in them.
"It challenges yourself. Anyone playing in this career is going to be getting [those texts], whether it be from random fans or family members. You have to learn how to zone that out and focus on the next game."
Freeman was hit by a pitch in each of his first two at bats on Saturday. With two on and two out in the top of the fourth, he laced the first pitch from reliever Eduardo Salazar off the left field wall, scoring Hosea Nelson and Indians No. 23 prospect Jose Fermin. Freeman tacked on singles in the seventh and ninth.
"I saw the ball well today," he said. "For the first time [this season], I can actually say that. I haven't been myself early on this season, and today I trusted my ability and let my ability play.
"I was looking for a fastball. I got it early in the count, first pitch, and I tried to do as much damage as I could with it. I caught barrel and kind of thought it was a home run at first, but it hit the wall. After that swing, it kind of connected in and it felt like, 'Hey, I'm back.' That swing felt like last year's and it boosted my confidence."
A swing like last season's is a good sign for the California native, who broke out last summer with Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley. He led the New York-Penn League in batting, hits, extra-base hits, runs scored and total bases while putting up a .352/.405/.511 slash line. Freeman struck out only 22 times in 270 at bats and collected 38 RBIs.
Selected as a competitive balance pick in the second round of the 2017 Draft, Freeman turned down an offer to play for Texas Christian and signed with the Indians. He debuted later that year in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he accumulated 38 hits -- including 11 for extra bases -- in 36 games. Now he hopes to continue performing consistently at the plate, like he's always done.
"I've gotten a lot of support from my teammates and coaching staff," he said. "I know I got off to a slow start, but the coaching staff and my teammates are very supportive about it. They're always reminding me, 'You know who you are.'"
Indians No. 28 prospect Marcos Gonzalez smacked a two-run homer for the Captains. Starter Shane McCarthy (1-1) earned the win with five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and recording a career-high nine strikeouts.
Re: Minor Matters
9402Justin Garza with his 2nd stinkeroo after a 5 inning shutout season debut; 6 runs, 2 homers in 5 innings.
Akron rained out again.
Columbus plays later.
Lake County facing a guy with terrible control; they took 2 walks in the first, but didn't score. 2 more walks and now one away in the 2nd.
Akron rained out again.
Columbus plays later.
Lake County facing a guy with terrible control; they took 2 walks in the first, but didn't score. 2 more walks and now one away in the 2nd.
Re: Minor Matters
9403Your James Karinchak Update
W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WHIP HLD GF
0 0 0.00 4 0 0 0 1 3.2 0 0 0 0 0 1 11 0.27 0 3
Read more: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... z5l66wNff7
3.2 innings and 11 k's and 1 BB
k's per 9 innings 27
BB per 9 innings 2.5
W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WHIP HLD GF
0 0 0.00 4 0 0 0 1 3.2 0 0 0 0 0 1 11 0.27 0 3
Read more: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.js ... z5l66wNff7
3.2 innings and 11 k's and 1 BB
k's per 9 innings 27
BB per 9 innings 2.5
Re: Minor Matters
9404noted the same above but it is worth repeating! I'm amazed I'm not finding any articles at milb.com or baseballamerica.com on Mr KKKKKKKKKKK
Re: Minor Matters
9405Alternative SS Mike Freeman singled homered and stole a base, his OPS now 1007, about 800 points above Eric the Awful's
2ndAlterntive SS Ryan Flaherty hit two singled; OPS 836, AVG 292 is just about 6x higher than the Unmentionable's
Woji 6 shoutout innings, in case we need to try someone in Kluber or Carrasco's place in the rotation I guess he's sort of ready
Clearly not ready: Henry Martinez blew the save; ERA now 7.20 is a big improvement; WHIP 1.80
Lynchburg winds up losing 8-0.
Lake County game suspended.
Akron;s never got started
2ndAlterntive SS Ryan Flaherty hit two singled; OPS 836, AVG 292 is just about 6x higher than the Unmentionable's
Woji 6 shoutout innings, in case we need to try someone in Kluber or Carrasco's place in the rotation I guess he's sort of ready
Clearly not ready: Henry Martinez blew the save; ERA now 7.20 is a big improvement; WHIP 1.80
Lynchburg winds up losing 8-0.
Lake County game suspended.
Akron;s never got started