MLB - Smada
Tyler Soderstrom, 1B OAK (MLB) 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
It took a couple months to come back from a stress reaction in his wrist, but it’s nice to see Soderstrom return with back to back two-hit games. This was his 8th HR in just 181 PA this year with a 105 wRC+, a big improvement over his 34 wRC+ in a 45 game sample last year. Soderstrom has a great chance to take the 1B job and run with it in 2025.
Zach Neto, PH-SS LAA (MLB) 0-for-1, R, BB, SB
With SB #30, Neto joined a list of players with a 20+ HR, 30+ SB and 30+ 2B season. If you cap it to players 23 yrs old or younger the list gets down to just 10 other players in history, with 3 others achieving the feat in the last 2 years (Elly De La Cruz this year, Juilo Rodriguez, Corbin Carroll last year).
Jack Kochanowicz, RHP LAA (MLB) 7 IP, 5 H, ER, 5 K, HR
Another solid QS from Kochanowicz (this one against CHW) and I’m beginning to think the Angels might pencil him into the rotation to start next year. The K-BB is continues to be a horrendous 5.1% so he’s still a pass for me.
Hayden Birdsong, RHP SF (MLB) 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
A lot more of the same from Birdsong. We’ll give a little credit as the start came against the Orioles. They need to get him in the lab to develop a sinker. Stuff+ still loves all his secondaries, but the fastball isn’t good, let alone his control of it. Still very bullish long term and we’ll see if it can all come together at some point next year.
Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP ATL (MLB) 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Schwell just continues to cement what will be a high draft price next year. He hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER since 7/21. This was his 10th QS in 19 starts.
Ryan Weathers, LHP MIA (MLB) 4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 5 K, 3 HR
First start back from injury wasn’t the best, but a tough matchup against the power hitting Dodgers with Will Smith, Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernandez going yard off of him. Kidding aside, the velo was back, he’s got a locked spot in the 2025 rotation and we can’t forget the solid 68.2 IP of a 3.41 ERA, 3.87 xFIP and 15.2% K-BB prior to the finger injury. Sneaky buy candidate in the offseason so long as he keeps a low profile over the last couple weeks of the season.
Xavier Edwards, SS MIA (MLB) 1-for-5, K, 2 SB
Tired of reading about Edwards? I’m tired of writing about him! But the 30 SB milestone over just 259 PA can’t be ignored. He’s been a bit cold since his minimum stay IL stint with the back but still has a season line of .319/.388/.389 with a 119 wRC+.
Landon Knack, RHP LAD (MLB) 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Another solid scoreless start for Knack. Believe I’ve said before that I view him as kind of a 5 IP guy and this is the prime example vs. a Marlins team with a ton of unestablished bats. He’s certainly in the convo for a rotation spot out of spring. It’ll be interesting to see who is healthy and who the Dodgers are trusting come the start of the season.
Luisangel Acuna, SS NYM (MLB) 2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RB, K
Oh boy, back to back games with a home run and the baby Acuna has firmly put himself on the radar of fantasy owners. This is a prime selling opportunity if he can finish with a positive wRC+. Since joining the Mets org on 8/1/23, Acuna has a 71 wRC+ over 754 PA. It’s not like he had turned a corner in his last couple of weeks at AAA either.
Nick Yorke, 3B PIT (MLB) 2-for-4, R, RBI, SB
Yorke is a player I’ve never had a strong opinion on. When that is the case I typically use the PLIVE+ peak projections as a starting point. Over 600 PA they have him as a 104 wRC+ bat with 15 HR, 14 SB and
.259/.328/.409 slash. PIT traded for him and got him up to the bigs as a 22 yr old so the team clearly likes him. If the hit tool matures and he becomes a plus BA/OBP with 15/15 there is certainly a playable MI/CI bat, but more so in 15+ team leagues. I’m just not sure he gets there right away. I’d wouldn’t be disinterested in deeper leagues, but would probably sell in shallow leagues if a market develops
Bowden Francis, RHP TOR (MLB) 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K
Think he’s trending as a pretty firm sell for me. If the 7 game breakout is a 3.89 xFIP I’m not buying it. Contrast it with Ragans last year and his 3.28 xFIP over 12 starts (3.24 ERA this year).
Triple-A - Adam Kiel on PCL (only)
Brice Matthews, SS HOU (Triple-A) 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
How much do we care about a 28 AB sample size? Next question, how much do we care about a 45.5% K rate at the level? Not sure I can answer those questions confidently. Brice raced through 4 levels this year and posted no lower than a 146 wRC+ prior to Triple-A. He also posted no lower than 26.8% after he left the complex league. I liked Brice out of the draft, however, I have offloaded my shares because it’s not easy to succeed with his plate discipline numbers. This feels like a boom or bust type prospect. Either he improves the contact rates enough or the strikeouts just never improve.
Wade Meckler, RF SFG (Triple-A) 2-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI
I will continue to make jokes at Meckler’s expense. I just can’t buy into the profile and the PCL can’t convince me his power has improved. But I get it if people fall for the OBP skills.
Jon Duplantier, SP LAD (Triple-A) 6 IP, 12 K
He’s 30 but 12 Ks in 18 outs is a sheet-worthy performance. That and I am stalling because I don’t want to type up blurbs for a 20-run performance.
James Outman, CF LAD (Triple-A) 3-for-6, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Alex Freeland, SS LAD (Triple-A) 2-for-5, HR, 3 R, BB, K, SB
Drew Avans, DH LAD (Triple-A) 5-for-6. 2B, HR, 4 R, 5 RBI, BB, K
The final score was 20-6 and included a Willie Calhoun pitching appearance. What’s somewhat surprising is Avans and Outman are the only two with multiple extra-base hits. The Dodgers did have 5 homers though. Freeland gets added because of the combo meal. Not a ton to say about this one. We have Outman who we all know and love, he needs to be elsewhere getting MLB at bats, he’s too talented for the level. Freeland has been one of the biggest breakout performers on the season, I don’t personally buy into it too much beyond a utility player, but plenty of smart people like him a fair amount. Avans is on the other end of the spectrum, 28 years old and a career MiLBer. Still fun to see him perform well.
Blaine Crim, 1B TEX (Triple-A) 3-for-6, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Trevor Hauver, DH TEX (Triple-A) 3-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB
Sam Huff, C TEX (Triple-A) 2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K
A trio of names that are more of a blast from the past rather than hopeful future fantasy contributors. Either way these three combined for 11 RBIs en route to a 14-run game for the Express. Wish I had something insightful to say, but just a good game for some guys who are hoping to find a role at the next level.
Adrian Del Castillo, C ARI (Triple-A) 1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
Is he becoming a fun lesson in not giving up on top-end college bats who fall in the draft? Early in his draft cycle he was seen as a top 10 pick so maybe? Hard to say but he is taking advantage of PCLs hitting environment. I don’t know if I can buy fully in but he’s absolutely worth owning just to find out.
Jordan Lawlar, SS ARI (Triple-A) 1-for-2, 2 BB
JUST STAY HEALTHY!
Luis Campusano, DH SDP (Triple-A) 4-for-5, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Is it former catching prospect homer day? #MakeCatchersHitAgain.
High-A - Grant Carver
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B CLE (High-A) 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
He may have struggled in his limited High-A action this season, but there’s little doubt for me that this kid can hit. Flashed some of the plus raw power that makes him even more enticing tonight. The question is with the defensive profile, but the bat will come around.
Jadher Areinamo, 2B MIL (High-A) 3-for-5, 2 2B, R
Areinamo carried his regular season success over to the playoffs tonight. The guy makes an incredible amount of contact and there’s no question he has the hit tool. There are, however, questions about the impact and he is chasing quite a bit. Still, a plus hit tool at the young age of 20 years old is hard not to buy into.
Jackson Baumeister, RHP TBR (High-A) 5.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K
The command improvements that Baumeister has made in Tampa continue to be insanely impressive. It’s a weird thing to see an improvement that stark after changing organizations and I hope it sustains into next season. If it does, the Rays will really have something here.
Single-A - Rhys White
Alex Clemmey, LHP WAS (Single-A) 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 9 K
The command was there for Clemmey in this outing. I struggle with some of my priors about him, but the Guardians and now the Nationals have tweaked parts of his setup, and he now looks like one of the best young pitching prospects in the lower levels—when the command is on. A rotation of Jarlin Susana, Travis Sykora, and Alex Clemmey in High-A next year would be pretty bonkers. Clemmey would just be outside my top 100, though, because I have a hard time with prospects who walk upwards of 15% of the batters they face.
Travis Sykora, RHP WAS (Single-A) 5 IP, H, 9 K
The fans at the Carolina League Championship Series got a real treat with that double-header. First Alex Clemmey, and then Travis Sykora—it’s definitely worth the price of admission. The only concern I’ve seen is that Sykora’s fastball was reportedly sitting at 91-93 mph in this one. However, it’s been a long season for him, and with this being his final start of the year, we can celebrate that he made it through without any serious injuries. There’s already talk of Sykora being the top pitching prospect in the game by this time next year, and I totally get the hype. Still, given how volatile pitching prospects can be, maybe it’s worth considering selling high while his stock is at its peak—just a thought.
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