With MiLB season winding down, no A-ball games today and high-A only had one game. We'll be covering the MLB playoffs, AFL and LIDOM during the off-season to keep fresh prospect analysis in your inbox.

MLB - Smada

Bryan Woo, RHP SEA (MLB) 6.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K, HR

Woo was perfect through 6 but things unraveled in the 7th and he couldn’t make it through the inning despite the low pitch count. The Ks haven’t really been there this year, but he’s maintained the K-BB% by nearly eliminating the BB altogether. He’s had two IL stints and multiple non-IL injury scares this year limiting him to 105 IP. The 2.38 ERA is sparkling but I’d consider shopping him as the elbow frightens me.

Joey Estes, RHP OAK (MLB) 6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 2 K

I’ve got to give Estes some props as he’s now had 20 starts this year with 7 QS and some major blowups inflating the ERA. Over his last 10 starts he’s got a 3.26 ERA and 5 of those 7 QS. The 15% K-BB over the last 10 isn’t overwhelming, but workable. With his insane FB% he’ll need to limit HR which he’s had a hard time doing but avoided in this start. Still mostly a deep league streamer type.

Jack Kochanowicz, RHP LAA (MLB) 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 3 K, HR

Still impressed by the GB%, still very unimpressed by the K-BB%. This game ends his 5 QS streak. 

Zebby Matthews, RHP MIN (MLB) 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR

More of the same from Zebby as he keeps giving up a lot of hard contact resulting in over-the-fence hits. Control =/= command.

Jordyn Adams, RF LAA (MLB) 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI, 2 K

Congrats to Adams on career HR #1. He is back for another cup of coffee with the big club after Jo Adell went on the IL. Outside of a fantastic July where Adams had a 165 wRC+, it was a disappointing season as the bat took a step back at a time where we’d expect a step forward. Even though he’s still just 24 yrs old, he’s a long way back from getting a performance pass for being an athletic teenager who needed time to develop. If he can improve the bat enough to be a bench OF that’ll be a success.

Trey Sweeney, SS DET (MLB) 1-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, K

Sweeney keeps hitting and now has 4 HR over 66 PA. I will note this was off 8.65 ERA COL pitcher Tanner Gordon (in DET). 

Adrian Del Castillo, C ARI (MLB) 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, K

It’ll be interesting to see how ARI is able to work Del Castillo into the starting lineup next year with Moreno back. The Ks are high but he’s mashed 4 homers, 4 doubles and is slashing .293/.354/.507 in the small sample.

Cody Bradford, LHP TEX (MLB) 3.2 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 4 K, 3 HR

Always a tough matchup in ARI but when I wrote up Bradford last week, the HR were my concern:

“He has been able to limit walks over his entire career, so that part looks legit. The part that might not legit is the HR suppression as he is a flyball pitcher and soft tosser with a larger HR% in the minors. I kind of want to believe in him headed into 2025 and I’m going to punt my official stance until the year is over.”

This one outing brings the ERA up to 3.97 from 3.05. Let’s see if he gets the chance to turn it around as TEX has Rocker (debut tomorrow), deGrom (back Friday) and Scherzer (back Saturday) entering the mix. 

Bowden Francis, RHP TOR (MLB) 8 IP, H, ER, BB, K, HR

Some pitchers just have that dawg in them. Francis has now lost a no-hitter in the 9th inning twice in the last 4 starts. When you have a streak of 6 more or less dominant starts in a row there is always skill involved. The BB% has dropped to an absurdly low rate, but the .146 BABIP is the most unsustainable number in Major League Baseball right now. At his absolute best he’s a 3.50 FIP guy… and the velo is down over the last 3 starts. It’s a story you want to believe in, but frankly I’m skeptical heading into 2025.

Bobby Miller, RHP LAD (MLB) 4.1, 5 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 HR

Not sure there is a player that needs the season to end more than Bobby Miller. Hopefully he’s able to utilize the offseason to find himself again. Just not a usable starter at present.

Michael Kopech, RHP LAD (MLB) 1 IP, ER, 3 BB, K, SV

As everyone expected, Kopech shined the minute he got to the Dodgers and has split the closer role with Evan Phillips over the last few weeks. His biggest improvement appeared to be limiting the walks, but then here he loaded the bases with 3 straight free passes. After giving up a sac fly, Kopech was gifted a CS by Seiya Suzuki at 3B and then finished the inning with a K.

Triple-A - Matt Thompson

Drake Baldwin, C ATL (Triple-A) 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI

Hitters hit. No other real way to say it. Baldwin is a top 100 prospect despite the position and he will have a big league role for at least part of 2025. He’s one of those dudes that will hit his way into the plans. 

Cole Wilcox, RHP TB (Triple-A) 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

The Rays have quietly stockpiled some Triple-A pitching depth with Wilcox, Seymour and Rock. As always, it will be super fun and probably frustrating as they figure out how to deploy everyone. 

Matt Shaw, 2B CHC (Triple-A) 2-for-4, 2B, R

Shaw has adjusted to Triple-A and is another probable big leaguer for most of 2025. Some power and speed but please pull the ball in the air!

Nick Yorke, 2B PIT (Triple-A) 4-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI

Ladies and gentleman I think I’m all the way back in. Yorke is a top 75 dude for me because he can hit, can play multiple spots and is nearly ready. Yorke reminds me of Nick Gonzales a little bit and that’s a good thing. 

Thomas Harrington, RHP PIT (Triple-A) 6 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Boring and good. Good and boring. Those are appropriate terms in either order to discuss Harrington. Solid big league starter that might lack upside but should be a really solid big league starter. 

Matthew Batten, 2B SD (Triple-A) 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 3 RBI

Batten has bounced up and down for the last few seasons and he shows off the power here.

Vaughn Grissom, 2B BOS (Triple-A) 2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB

It’s weird that he’s not in the big leagues right now but I also don’t think he’s that good and maybe the Red Sox caught on? What a disaster trade, man. 

Jason Alexander, RHP BOS (Triple-A) 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K

Damn! I’m trying really hard to not make a Seinfeld joke but if I did I’d say it’s something like the Vaughn Grissom of tv shows. But I won’t say that. 

Matt Koperniak, OF STL (Triple-A) 4-for-5, HR, 2 R

Oddly enough if he was right-handed he’d be in the big leagues right now. The UDFA from England can really hit though and should make his debut in 2025. 

Kyle Garlick, OF ARI (Triple-A) 3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 K

The left-handed pitching mashing journeyman has 28 homers on the season. Stack em and whack em!

Double-A - Tom Gates

Jett Williams, 2B NYM (Double-A) 2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI

It’s been a slow return for Jett after his long layoff but he’s back and he’s finally on the sheet. Kind of a lost year for him. Might open up the doors for a buy-low this off-season.

Wilfred Veras, RF CHW (Double-A) 5-for-6, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB, CS

It’s a risky profile but it also shouldn’t come with an expensive price tag. I don’t think he gets talked enough about. Over the course of the year, we’ve seen a gradual improvement in whiff%, zone contact, and strikeout percentage. With his power-speed combo, you can live with a higher whiff% as long as he’s hitting home runs and stealing bases. He has 25 steals on the year.

Creed Willems, C BAL (Double-A) 3-for-5, HR, R, 4 RBI, 2 K

Took a changeup down the middle out to right. Easy/lazy comp of Moises Ballesteros. Good zone-contact. Both left handed batters. Both big boys that might struggle defensively. But both can hit. Willems isn’t walking much. Only a 3.6% walk rate.

Justin Crawford, CF PHI (Double-A) 2-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI

Don’t leave balls in the zone down and in to lefties. Here is why. Crawford was able to drop the barrel of the bat and yank it out. He’ll occasionally hit the home run because he has great bat control but typically it’s a flatter swing designed for line drives.

Luis Encarnacion, 1B HOU (Double-A) 3-for-4, HR, 2 R, RBI

Listed at only 5’9 and being right handed makes me think he’s not destined for first base. This is his 3rd level this year. He’s profiling as a corner outfielder with average to below average tools.

Jeremy Eierman, SS OAK (Double-A) 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

And now for the random double-dong from the older prospect in Double-A.

Max Acosta, SS TEX (Double-A) 3-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, K

Here is someone that should be on your radar. 85% in-zone contact. Good swing decisions. Not walking much but that comes with the high contact. Good speed and some pop. He’s really cut that strikeout rate down from last year. Impressive when he has done it at a higher level. The power is limited right now and might continue to be. He’s more of a line drive/groundball hitter.

Tink Hence, RHP STL (Double-A) 1.1 IP, H, BB, K

Ugh, left the start with an injury. 

Carter Jensen, C KC (Double-A) 3-for-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI, K

He’s becoming a daily thing on the daily sheet. Metrics don’t wow me right now but the production has been there. 

High-A - Grant Carver

Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP TOR (High-A) 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 10 K

Adrian Pinto, 2B TOR (High-A) 3-for-4, 2B, BB, K

Watts-Brown has had a shaky year but pitched one of his better games tonight. He’s a guy with an average fastball and a potential plus slider, but lacks much else. The control was all over the place this season and needs to come down if he wants even a bullpen role. Pinto has been on fire ever since joining High-A and continued to show off tonight. The guy sure knows how to get the bat on the ball, but it's hard to buy in the long term unless the frame improves with age. 

Kyle Karros, 3B COL (High-A) 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, K

If this is the last sheet appearance for Karros in 2024, it’s been a heck of a ride. He had a solid year and showed the power I was looking for, so I still like the bat. Also interesting that the Rockies have not moved him off third yet, so maybe he does have a chance there.