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Orioles Prospects Likely to Debut in 2021
The Baltimore Orioles are next on our Players Likely to Debut series. In case you missed the previous two installments, the AL East is being rolled out this week. Here’s a look back at where it all started.
Below, you will find a list of three prospects from the respective organization. Each prospect will have a number score next to their name — this number will represent the estimated amount of time we anticipate that player seeing at the big-league level. Players that have already made their big-league debut will not be included on this list.
BREAKDOWN OF TIME ON ROSTER SCORES:
1 — September call-ups / guys that are likely to see less than 20-25 games on the roster
2 — 1/4 of the season (roughly 40 games on roster)
3 — 1/2 of the season (roughly 80 games on roster)
4 — 3/4 of the season (roughly 120 games on roster)
5 — Full season on the MLB roster
Baltimore Orioles
Position — Name (Time on Roster Score)
Given their recent struggles, you could make a significant case that the Orioles should have way more than three prospects likely to make their MLB debut. However, for simplicity sake, here’s a look at three players that you should see at some point during the 2021 campaign.
RHP — Michael Baumann (3)
It should comes as no surprise to see Baumann’s name on this list. For starters, he is very highly regarded among many of us at Prospects Live and he inspired the first-ever Prospects Live Love Story, sorry Jason Kamlowsky.
Entering his age-25 season, the right-hander has proven himself throughout his time in the minors and has little left to prove. He’s pitched 297 innings in the Baltimore organization since being drafted in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Unlikely to blow hitters away, much of his success can be attributed to his ability to inducing ground balls and keep the ball in the park.
Only four pitchers have thrown more minor league innings over the last three seasons (2017-2019) and allowed fewer home runs than the 15 that Baumann has surrendered. Their names? Matt Manning, Tucker Davidson, Daniel Tillo, and Nick Nelson. While Baltimore likely waits until May to call him up, Baumann should soon be reunited with his college teammate at Jacksonville, Austin Hays.
OF — Yusniel Diaz (4)
This is the moment that I admit that I was wrong about one thing. A couple of years ago we published our Bold Predictions for the 2019 season, I announced that Diaz was going to outlast Vladimir Guerrero Jr and win the AL Rookie of the Year. I was way off. Fast forward a bit and here we are again. No, he won’t win the ROY award in 2021, but he will give Orioles fans something to cheer about.
LHP — Zac Lowther (2)
Having been drafted one round ahead of Baumann in 2017, Lowther has operated well under-the-radar in the Orioles system. Coming in at No. 20 on our list of 2021 Baltimore Orioles prospects, the left-hander turns 25 years old shortly after Opening Day. He doesn’t have huge upside but the Orioles could benefit from bringing him up for a spot start or two to see what he can do against big-league bats. In 326 innings pitched he’s posted a 2.26 ERA while striking out 380 batters. Like the aforementioned Baumann, his ability to keep the ball in the park — only 17 home runs allowed — could be a boost in the rotation or in the bullpen given the hitter-friendly Camden Yards, and entire AL East for that matter.
Notable
You may have noticed that DL Hall was not mentioned above, he could have easily been included on this list. He’s currently not on the 40-man roster and with his high-upside, it may not be in the club’s best interest to get the service-time clock going just yet. I do expect to see him this season, but do’t expect it to be more than a late-season ‘let’s see what we have heading into next year’ type of situation.
Tyler Nevin and Rylan Bannon are names to keep an eye on as well. Although Rio Ruiz has shown some reverse splits, faring better against lefties than righties, but given his poor overall batted-ball profile don’t be surprised to see the left-hander lose some at-bats to either one of these right-handed hitting infielders.
Yankees Prospects Likely to Debut in 2021
In the second installment of our Players Likely to Debut series, the focus shifts to the New York Yankees. If you didn’t see Monday’s list, here’s a look at where it all started.
AL East: Red Sox
Below, you will find a list of three prospects from their organization. Each prospect will also have a number score next to their name — this number will represent the estimated amount of time we anticipate that player seeing at the big-league level. Players that have already made their big-league debut will not be included on this list.
BREAKDOWN OF TIME ON ROSTER SCORES:
1 — September call-ups / guys that are likely to see less than 20-25 games on the roster
2 — 1/4 of the season (roughly 40 games on roster)
3 — 1/2 of the season (roughly 80 games on roster)
4 — 3/4 of the season (roughly 120 games on roster)
5 — Full season on the MLB roster
NEW YORK YANKEES
Position — Name (Time on Roster Score)
The Yankees’ system is loaded with several pitching prospects we could see make their debut in 2021. In addition, the club has a few positional players with high ceilings, despite most of them being a year or two away. New York has good pitching depth in their system that could provide an impact in 2021 since they, once again, look like early favorites in the AL East.
RHP-Luis Medina (1)
The 6-foot-3 right-hander spent time at the alternate site in 2020, and there was a reason for that. He flashes three plus pitches, a fastball that touched 102mph, a power curve, and a changeup. Plus, as Kyler Peterson discussed on his live look back in April 2019, he “will not be able to get past advanced hitters until control is refined.” He is projected to start the season at the Yankees’ new Double-A affiliate in Somerset, NJ. If he can work on the control of his secondary pitchers, there’s a chance you could see him in September.
RHP-Luis Gil (1)
Another hard-throwing right-handed starter in the Yankees system, Gil made two starts in the Dominican Winter League for Tigres del Licey. Just like Medina, the primary focus is to work on control. His slider was making headlines at the Yankees’ alternate site, which is a good compliment to his plus fastball. Gil is expected to join Medina at Double-A Somerset.
RHP-Alexander Vizcaino (2)
Vizcaino got a 40-man roster spot this off-season, and rightfully so. The right-hander, who turns 24 years old in May, turned heads with 101 strikeouts in 87.2 innings at Charleston in 2019 before earning a promotion to Tampa. Traditionally a starter in the minors, he spent the spring of 2020 pitching out of the bullpen. He throws a fastball, slider, and a plus changeup. He’s one of the best athletes in the Yankees system and like the previously mentioned arms, also posses a fastball with heat. He might be the closest of the group and may earn a call up to the Yankees bullpen if he can succeed in Double-A.
Notable:
A 2020 first-round draft pick, Austin Wells could be a fast riser in the Yankees’ system. The catcher hit .308 for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League in 2019 so adjusting to wood bats should not be an issue. It would be a long shot for Wells to get a September call up — as he is not on the 40-man roster — but he is a player to watch.
Another name that was added to the 40-man roster this off-season, righty Roansy Contreras is also a long shot to get a September bump. Pitching at High-A for the first time, you’ll want to monitor his success as he could climb quickly.
Photo Credit: Newsday
Analysis: Padres Acquire Joe Musgrove in Three-Team Deal
Red Sox Prospects Likely to Debut in 2021
Yankees set the Hot Stove aflame, sign DJ Lemahieu & Corey Kluber
After making no significant moves these first two and a half months of the offseason, the Yankees locked down their MVP DJ Lemahieu for the rest of his career and added 2-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in one day. The world-beating offense is officially back for 2021, and the rotation has a chance to be better after crumbling this past October.
Over the last 2 seasons, DJ Lemahieu has been the Yankees’ most valuable player, and it’s not particularly close. Batting .336 with 36 homers in 195 games for a .922 OPS while playing good defense at 2nd, 3rd, and 1st, his 8.9 WAR easily bests Aaron Judge’s 6.6 mark since 2019. And given that the Yankees have disappointed 3 years in a row after reaching Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS, re-signing DJ was their top offseason priority. At 6 years, $90 million, this is a huge win for New York: they lock down a high-character star for just $15 million per season when infielders like Anthony Rendon, Manny Machado, and Arenado have pulled AAV’s of $30 million and over the past two winters. It speaks to Lemahieu’s dramatic improvement that he’ll get more than triple his last contract (2 years, $24 million) despite being 32 years old now in a COVID-depressed market…but I think he’s worth over $100 million as one of the 2 best position players on the market (George Springer being the other), with apologies to J.T. Realmuto and Marcell Ozuna.
Lemahieu’s breakout from good everyday player to elite hitter at age 30 reminds me of Daniel Murphy’s 5 years ago. Both were high batting average guys with elite bat-to-ball skills who were content poking singles the other way and only hitting 6-12 homers a year despite strong 220 lb physiques. When they finally looked to drive the ball more (which often backfires on high strikeout players), they turned into 25 home run guys with even better batting averages. DJ hit 1/3 of his balls to right field in 2019 and a career-high 43.4% there in 2020. Staying in the Bronx means he’ll continue to take advantage of that comically short right field porch.
As for playoff performance, Lemahieu’s disciplined contact approach—which led to 18 walks vs. 21 K’s in 2020—translates well against the velocity and spin of teams like Tampa Bay. Throwing an old school stat at you, he’s posted 11 RBI in 16 Yankees postseason games, with 7 walks to 10 K’s. Jose Altuve’s series-winning walkoff in 2019 overshadowed DJ’s 9th-inning heroics, but man if this isn’t one of the best at-bats in recent history:
Of course, the Yankees had Lemahieu these past 2 seasons and failed to reach the World Series; Brian Cashman’s work is not done. As great as they’ve been these past 4 regular seasons (91 wins in ‘17, 100, 103, and 33 in ‘20), New York’s playoff disappointments are attributable to two interlinked problems: an underwhelming rotation and the 10 year, $265 million of Giancarlo Stanton’s contract they bailed Miami out of in December 2017. Watching MVP Stanton and ROY Judge take turns mashing BP homers has been awe-inspiring, but it was wishful thinking that Stanton’s 159 games in ‘17 would outweigh his averaging just 115 games a year the previous 5 seasons. IL visits for knee surgery plus hamstring and groin strains in your mid-20’s don’t bode well for a 6’6” monster as you age and put on weight. Another injury to Giancarlo’s “piano wire hamstrings” (as Mets commentator Keith Hernandez calls them) in 2020 plus a quad injury in the 2019 ALCS after 3 months resting a balky right knee mean he’s averaged 66 games a year for the Yankees, who must pay him for the next 7 years.
Stanton’s money kept New York out of the top end of the pitching market until finally last winter Cashman decided to splurge on Gerrit Cole. They let Lance Lynn walk for a mere 3 years, $30 million after the 2018 season while giving J.A. Happ more money (2 years, $34 million), and they also traded away Sonny Gray for peanuts. With the Yankees not expected to go big for Trevor Bauer, signing 34-year-old Corey Kluber to a 1 year, $11 million contract makes a lot of sense. He pitched just 1 inning for Texas in 2020 after 35 innings of a 5.80 ERA in 2019 with Cleveland. 2018 was Kluber’s 5th consecutive year throwing over 200 innings as he dazzled with a 2.89 ERA, .99 WHIP, and 222 K’s. Yankees scouts obviously like what they saw in his showcase two days ago, when his fastball sat 88-90 mph (he threw 30 pitches and mixed in all his off-speeds).
Kluber’s sinker had already declined from 93.8 mph in 2014 to 92.0 in ‘18 and 91.3 in ‘19 before he tore the teres major muscle in his shoulder in ‘20. But given that perpetually-injured Drew Smyly turned 5 good starts into an $11 million deal with Atlanta this November, Kluber’s $11 million looks like market value. And his slurvey curveball, one of the best pitches of the last decade, got more movement than ever in ‘19 at 18.1 inches of horizontal break—8.7 inches more than the average curveball at that velocity. Young, analytically-minded Matt Blake garnered rave reviews in his first year as Yankees pitching coach (after Sony Gray criticized predecessor Larry Rothschild for being behind the times), so the club believes it can optimize Kluber’s mix to succeed even with diminished velocity.
Unlike last season, there’s depth in the Yankees rotation behind Cole. Jordan Montgomery looked solid returning from Tommy John, Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt could step up, Domingo German is back from suspension, Luis Severino could be back in June or July, and swingmen Jonathan Loaisiga and Michael King can start, too. The Yanks don’t match the Dodgers’ or Padres’ rotations, but especially if they sign Jake Odorizzi (or at least re-sign James Paxton or Masahiro Tanaka), they should do a better job getting the ball to that wipeout ‘pen in 2021. And with Lemahieu back in the lineup, the Bronx Bombers are gonna blow teams out a whole bunch.
Follow Jacob on Twitter @TheReelJZ
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Best and Worst of LIDOM Week 6
We are now through the regular season Dominican Winer League (LIDOM). As always, let us take a look at the best and worst performances by players of note this past week.
Aguilas Cibaenas
Best:
Tigers reliever Gregory Soto pitched a scoreless inning on Sunday. He had allowed a run in each of his past two outings, so this was certainly encouraging.
Speaking of AL Central relievers, Jorge Alcala of the Twins also threw a scoreless inning, striking out two batters in his lone appearance of the week on Tuesday.
Worst:
Utility infielder Robel Garcia reached base just two times in eleven plate appearances, and also struck out 11 times. He hasn’t produced as much as he’d hoped for — he’s fighting for a roster spot with the Mets.
After allowing an earned run on Sunday, Mariners reliever Yohan Ramirez has now allowed five earned runs in his past 3.2 innings of work. Plus, despite having a wipeout slider, he only has two strikeouts during that span.
Tigres del Licey
Best:
After getting off to a hot start, Anderson Tejeda had slowed down as of late. Well, he certainly got back on track by reaching on base seven times in 16 plate appearances this week! These reps are huge for him, as he is currently battling with multiple players for a spot on the Rangers’ middle infield last week.
Veteran right-hander Ervin Santana, who is still committed to pitching in the big leagues, continued his strong performance in the winter league with zero earned runs allowed in five innings pitched on Sunday.
After struggling in his past two appearances, Reds young right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez made a major statement on Wednesday, striking out eight batters in five scoreless innings pitched.
Free-agent reliever Hansel Robles pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts on Sunday.
Worst:
Continuing on with a “Jekyll and Hide” experience in the winter league, Albert Abreu (NYY) wasn’t able to build off his previously strong performance, this time allowing four runs and two walks in three innings pitched on Monday.
The Angels still haven’t signed a starting pitcher this offseason, so Jamie Barria allowing six baserunners in just two innings pitched isn’t exactly exciting news, to say the least.
Leones del Escogido
Leones only played one game this week, and didn’t have any standout performers in either sense in an 8-4 loss to the Toros on Sunday.
Gigantes del Cibao
Best:
It’s been quite the showing for Royals third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez, who now has a 1.096 OPS, after reaching base seven times in 13 plate appearances this week.
Speaking of high-end production, Ronald Guzman is not particularly keen on letting Nate Lowe be the Rangers’ starting first baseman. He reached base 11 times in 21 plate appearances this week, including a home run on Tuesday, and now boasts an absurd .360/.450/.523 slash line.
It was an encouraging week for Pirates lefty Miguel Del Pozo, who pitched 1.2 scoreless inning this week and has yet to allow a run in six inning pitched so far.
Worst:
Jose Siri just signed with the Astros, but going 4-21 with six strikeouts this week continues a recent downward trajectory of production in the winter league.
In the regular season, Pirates 6’6” shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz posted just a .260 on-base percentage. Plate discipline was a major issue for him, as he posted a 2% walk rate to go along with a 28% strikeout rate.
Toros del Este
Best:
It hasn’t been the winter league experience that free-agent slugger Peter O’Brien was hoping for, but he rebounded nicely with three extra-base hits, including a home run, and a walk in 10 plate appearances this week.
It was quite the week for lefty relievers; free-agents Fernando Abad and Anthony Gose (CLE) combined for five scoreless innings.
Worst:
With a .371 on-base percentage, more walks than strikeouts, and 11 stolen bases, it’s clear that Vidal Brujan is going to be a key part of the Rays moving forward. However, hitting for power has been a concern for him, and slugging .317 in the winter league hasn’t help appease those worries.
A recent addition to the Toros, free-agent reliever Hunter Strickland got roughed up to the tune of two earned runs allowed in his lone inning of work on Sunday.
Estrellas Orientales
Best:
One of the most talked about players of the winter league, Astros shortstop prospect Jeremy Pena had a big week, reaching base 10 times in 21 plate appearances. His plate discipline remains a concern, but many are high on him given his contact skills and defense at a premium position.
Marlins first base prospect Lewin Diaz showcased his power this week, slugging two home runs and a triple in 20 at bats.
The Dodgers are loaded with arms, but don’t forget about Edwin Uceta. He pitched four scoreless innings with five strikeouts on Sunday, and has performed rather well in the winter league.
Worst:
With Rodolfo Duran (PHI) inserted as the team’s starting catcher, Francisco Mejia finished the regular season with a .440 OPS. With his standing on the Padres in question, this performance may be a very tough pill to swallow.
After consistently being on earlier editions of this piece as a top performer, regression hit lefty Nestor Cortes hard on Tuesday- he allowed six runs in 2.2 innings pitched.
Obviously, with Christmas on Friday, there weren’t as many games this week. Still, there were plenty of prospects who either continued to perform at a high level or bounced back after slow starts. The regular season is officially over and now, in addition to keeping an eye on young players, it will be exciting to see how the playoffs play out.
12/27 LIDOM RECAP: Jeremy Pena continues to excel in LIDOM action
LIDOM Recap 12/23: Andy Otero, Vladimir Gutierrez continue to impress
On the final day before the holiday break, two games took place. Despite the limited action, several players stood out, including a couple that are still looking to sign contracts for the 2021 season. Plus, a couple highly regarded prospects continue to struggle.
Estrellas Orientales (1) vs Tigres del Licey (6)
Estrellas Orientales
Entering as a mid-game replacement, Oscar Gonzalez (CLE) recorded his first two hits of the winter. Although he didn’t land on our list of the top prospects in the Cleveland system, there’s certainly an argument that could be made to include the 22-year-old outfielder.
The last time Andy Otero pitched in a professional baseball game was for the Carolina Mudcats (former of the Atlanta Braves organization), five years ago. His performance on Wednesday would suggest that he’s not far away from earning a minor league deal. Listed at 5-foot-9-inches tall, size has always been an issue for the 28-year-old lefty. However, after allowing just one run over five innings of work, while striking out nine batters, it’s hard not to monitor his progression moving forward. In his five appearances (three starts), Otero has totaled 17 strikeouts over 16.1 innings, posted an ERA of 1.10, and stymied hitters with his 0.73 WHIP.
Entering in relief of Otero, Chester Pimentel (ARI) did not fare as well. This winter, he’s appeared in six games totaling 7.2 innings. The numbers for the 25-year-old aren’t good; he’s allowed six earned runs (nine total) and his 3:3 K:BB ratio is less than desirable.
Tigres del Licey
After his tremendous three-homer night on Tuesday, Narciso Crook had another solid outing on Wednesday by going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Perhaps the biggest benefactors of Crook’s recent success, Anderson Tejeda (TEX) and Dennicher Carrasco (KC) were placed just ahead of him in the batting order. Both men tallied two hits and drove in two runs.
The Tigres were also helped by a standout performance from their starting pitcher, Cincinnati Reds No. 14 prospect, Vladimir Gutierrez. Wednesday was the best of his five starts this winter. The 25-year-old hurled five hitless innings while striking out eight batters. He’s now totaled 21 strikeouts over his 17 innings of work. While certainly this performance doesn’t suggest that the Reds should go and trade away the likes of Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo, it does provide a glimpse of what southern Ohio can expect from Gutierrez.
Gigantes del Cibao (4) vs Toros del Este (2)
Gigantes del Cibao
After his club went out and traded for first base prospect Nate Lowe, it remains to be seen what the future has in store for Ronald Guzman (TEX). Clearly, given his recent success, he’s out to prove that he’s capable of being an everyday player. Since the trade took place on December 11, Guzman is 20-for-52 with three home runs and six RBI over the 15-game stretch. Most notably, he’s in the middle of a six-game hit streak that has helped him post an impressive .360/.450/.523 slash line.
Oneil Cruz continues to struggle at the plate. In 14 games, he’s reaching base at a .260 clip, he’s struck out 14 times, and he’s only walked once. There is definitely some work still to be done before the Pirates will entertain the idea of bringing up the 22-year-old infielder.
Juan Francisco continues to pace LIDOM in both HR and RBI. He added a league-leading 26th RBI on Wednesday, pairing nicely with his seven home runs this winter.
If you’re looking to find the hottest player in LIDOM, look no further than Kelvin Gutierrez (KC). He’s in the midst of a five-game stretch that has seen him post 10 hits over his last 19 at-bats. At 26 years old, it stands to reason that the Royals might give him a shot to stick at the big-league level. The idea of trading away some veteran talent to get younger, controllable players while opening up playing time for guys like Gutierrez, seems like it could be the best approach for the Royals to get back to where they were five years ago.
Toros del Este
Heading into the 2021 season, Jeimer Candelario is drawing some buzz in fantasy circles. His 137 wRC+ has people excited, the idea of position flexibility (1B/3B) is also appealing to some, however, be prepared to go through several rough stretches during the season — just look at his LIDOM numbers this winter. Over the course of 11 games he has put together streaks of 0-for-7, followed by 3-for-8, then 1-for-16 led into 4-for-9. The good news? He went 3-for-4 last night and added a stolen base. The bad news? He has more hits in the last two days than he had all winter.
Yankees fans are likely growing more and more concerned with the progress of Miguel Andujar. He went 1-for-5 on Wednesday and is now batting .308 this winter, however, he isn’t drawing walks (.333 OBP), he is best suited in a DH role, and if he isn’t helping in the home run department, his time in New York may be short lived. The same could be said for Gary Sanchez’s time in the Empire State — there were rumors that he was going to be non-tendered before the team ultimately tendered a contract that will likely land around the $5.75MM mark. He went 0-for-5 on Wednesday and he’s striking out once every 3.5 times to the plate. After a five-game hit streak earlier this month, he’s now 2-for-his-last-20.
The curious case of Anthony Gose (CLE) continues. You may remember him as an outfielder, however, his performance as a pitcher may prove to be far more memorable. In 10 relief appearances, the 30-year-old lefty has a 0.90 ERA with a 0.80 WHIP. He has struck out 10 batters and the only run he has allowed was a solo-home run on December 12.
Photo Credit: Estrellas Orientales (Twitter Page)
LIDOM Recap 12/22: Narciso Crook Belts 3 Home Runs
LIDOM RECAP 12/21: A pair of Pirates prospects steer Gigantes ship to victory
Four teams were in action last night in LIDOM as a pair of Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers players had a good night.
Toros del Este (2) vs Gigantes del Cibao (6)- 9 inn
Toros del Este
Detroit Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario, who started at first base, went 1-for-4 and drove in the Toros’ other run.
Former Braves farmhand Peter O’Brien went yard in the 9th for his fourth home run in winter league action
Without Gary Sanchez or Yasiel Puig last night, the top of the order struggled, going just 2-for-14. Outside of O’Brien, Tampa Rays infielder Vidal Brujan was the other Toro with a hit, with a double in the first.
Gigantes del Cibao
Former Reds minor leaguer Jose Siri was one of five Gigantes with two hits
Texas Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman apparently fired up by the Nate Lowe trade, went 2-for-3. On the season, he has been one of the better hitters in the LIDOM, with a slash line of .347/.437/.495 with an OPS of .932.
For Pittsburgh Pirates prospect fans, they were treated to Oneil Cruz going 2-for-4 and Yerry De Los Santos continuing to pitch strong for the Gigantes. So far in five innings of work, he has allowed just one hit and struck out six. De Los Santos throws two pitches, a fastball, and a slider, and is expected to start the season in High-A in 2021.
Tigres del Licey (1) vs Estrellas Orientales (4) -9 inn
Tigres del Licey
Rangers infielder Anderson Tejeda led the Tigres attack, going 3-for-4.
Chicago White Sox DH/C Yermin Mercedes drove in the only run with a single in the first. He went 1-for-4 on the day.
Astros lefty Kent Emanuel tossed a pair of scoreless innings. So far, Emanuel has pitched 12.1 IP, 16 strikeouts, and has not allowed a run now since December 10th. He has allowed just two runs so far on the season.
Estrellas Orientales
Miami Marlins first baseman Lewin Diaz homered for the second day in a row.
Yankees third baseman Domingo Leyba went 1-for-4.
Sócrates Brito did most of the damage for los Estrellas, hitting a triple in the 3rd that drove in three.
Best and Worst of LIDOM Week 5
We are now through the five weeks of the Dominican Winer League (LIDOM). As always, let us take a look at the best and worst performances by players of note this past week!
Aguilas Cibaenas
Best:
Victor Robles (WSH) didn’t have a standout performance, but he did draw two walks, which is encouraging as he looks to improve his walk rate in a critical third season as the Nationals’ center fielder.
Currently a free agent, former White Sox and Royals righty Michael Ynoa pitched 2.2 scoreless innings this week.
Worst:
After being the star of the winter league, Ramon Rosso came back to earth this week, allowing six runs in two innings pitched on Wednesday. He still boasts a 31-6 K-BB ratio, however, so Phillies fans ought to be encouraged about his overall performance.
Looking to stick in the Cardinals’ rotation in 2021, Carlos Martinez’s debut with Aguilas wasn’t spectacular; he allowed seven hits and multiple runs in 3.1 innings, though he did not walk anyone and struck out four batters.
Speaking of pitchers in St.Louis, they are expecting Junior Fernandez to make an impact in their bullpen, but he continued his struggles (15.75 ERA) with a very poor performance on Saturday. He gave up four runs, walked two batters, and allowed a home run in just .1 innings, while his overall K-BB ratio is very alarming: 2-5.
Tigres del Licey
Best:
Few players demonstrated as tremendous plate discipline this week as Emilio Bonifacio. The free-agent utility player drew four walks in 13 plate appearances, and now has an on-base percentage of .384. It is likely he earns a Spring Training invite from an MLB team, given his versatility.
Erick Mejia appeared on this list last week, and the former Royal is back on it with three hits in the past two games.
In what has to be considered an excellent development for Yankees fans, former top prospect Albert Abreu stole the show on Tuesday with six scoreless innings pitched.
The Angels have stated that they won’t be desperate to add starting pitching, and another strong performance (1 ER in 5 IP) by Jamie Barria certainly helps.
Worst:
Speaking of the Angels, recently non-tendered reliever Hansel Robles got roughed up on Monday, allowing three runs while not recording a single out.
Returning to action this week, Rangers shortstop Anderson Tejada reached base three times in 15 plate appearances, and also struck out four times. His ability to make consistent contact should be monitored as he pushes for a role with Texas’ big-league team next year.
This was quite the difficult week for free-agent catcher Sandy Leon, who had just one hit in 13 at bats, and currently has an OPS of just .667.
Not only did Ramon Rosso struggle this week, but Adonis Medina allowed three runs in three innings, while striking out just one batter. Not a great week for young pitchers in the Phillies organization.
Leones del Escogido
Best:
Since debuting in the winter league this year, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) has absolutely dominated. He reached base 10 times in 24 plate appearances, had three extra-base hits, and boasts a 1.052 OPS.
This was a tremendous week for Yankees outfield prospect Estevan Florial. The 23-year-old reached base more times (seven) than he didn’t in thirteen plate appearances, and also hit a home run on Wednesday. It’ll be fun to see if he can work his way into New York’s crowded outfield mix.
Worst:
After being considered a top performer last week, 6-foot-7 righty David Paulino (TOR) got hit around hard to the tune of four runs and seven hits allowed in 2.2 innings pitched on Friday. On the bright side, he did strike out four batters, and still has a very encouraging 13.2 K/9.
The Royals have already added Michael A. Taylor to their outfield, and he could start over Franchy Cordero if the latter’s whiff issues continue to persist. This week, he struck out another four times, and is striking out in 25.7% of his plate appearances thus far.
Gigantes del Cibao
Best:
What a week for free-agent first baseman and LIDOM legend Juan Francisco! The lefty slugger has hit three home runs and five hits in his past two games. Still just 33 years old, it would be such pleasure to watch him back in the majors.
The addition of Nate Lowe has seemingly lit a fire for Ronald Guzman (TEX), who has reached base nine times in his last 19 plate appearances, including two home runs.
As he looks to potential start at third base for the Royals next season, Kelvin Gutierrez reached base five times in 11 plate appearances, and also totaled two extra-base hits, including a home run. This is his second-straight appearance on this list.
After struggling last week, Jose Siri (SF) got back on track by reaching base 12 times in 26 plate appearances. Yes, he continues to strike out at a high rate, but he has combatted that by drawing a lot of walks and making quality contact.
Worst:
Free-agent reliever Juan Minaya is on this list as a poor performer for another week after allowing an earned run in each of his appearances out of the bullpen this week.
Jose Cisnero is coming off of a fantastic season for the Tigers, but his first week in the winter league hasn’t gone as planned; he has hit hard to the tune of two runs, three hits, and a home run allowed in his 0.1 innings-pitched appearance on Thursday.
Toros del Este
Best:
After getting off to a brutal start, Jorge Mateo is now the Toros’ top performer. He had 10 hits in 21 at bats this week and all of a sudden is making a strong case to be the Padres’ top utility option this year.
Through his first two weeks in the winter league, Yasiel Puig has certainly displayed his plate discipline. He has drawn seven walks in 16 plate appearances thus far, which certainly will make him more appealing to teams in need of an outfielder.
This has been a great week for young players on the Yankees. It is unclear what Miguel Andujar’s future role with the team is, but he made his case by reaching base in half on his plate appearances this week.
Free-agent reliever Fernando Abad has been one the secret stars of the winter league, and he has now pushed his scoreless innings pitched streak to nine!
Worst:
With a .506 OPS in 32 plate appearances, it is safe to say Jeimer Candelario (DET) hasn’t built off of his impressive 2020 season thus far.
With four earned runs allowed in just 0.2 innings pitched, Domingo German saw his ERA rise to 7.16, which isn’t ideal as he fights for a spot in the Yankees’ rotation.
In his debut, young A’s reliever Miguel Diaz allowed four earned runs in a single inning pitched on Friday; he certainly was hoping to get off to a better start.
Estrellas Orientales
Best:
This was a productive week for young Astros shortstop prospect Jeremy Pena, who not only posted a .357 on-base percentage this week, but also demonstrated much-needed plate discipline with three walks on Wednesday.
By reaching on base in every game this week, Marlins first baseman Lewin Diaz was finally able to get his on-base percentage over .300.
Free-agent lefty Nestor Cortes continued to boost his stock with six strikeouts in four innings pitched on Friday.
Now with the A’s, tall righty Domingo Acevado extended his scoreless inning pitched streak to 11.
Worst:
The Padres are interested in signing Yadier Molina, which means Francisco Mejia’s time with the team could be coming to an end. He certainly didn’t help his case by seeing his OPS drop to .432 after reaching base just one time in 16 plate appearances.
If the Braves were hoping to start Cristian Pache in center field next season, they were certainly hoping for more than a .401 OPS in his first 28 plate appearances.
This was a very interesting week of action, as several of the league’s previous top performers struggled, and the same is true vice versa. Guerrero Jr.’s performance thus far has been incredibly exciting, while this was a very encouraging week overall for Yankees fans. As always, we will be next week to recap the best and worst performers! Will Guerrero Jr. keep this up? Can some key prospects get back on track? Find out next week!