With the Major League All-Star Break having recently taken place we officially move into the 2nd half of the season so I thought it would be a great idea to go over some of the best players from each Midwest League team in the East. I’ve gotten a chance to see most of these players play in person or on MiLB.TV this season, and I got a chance to see all of the teams in the Midwest League this year. Here’s an in-depth review of the Midwest League’s East Division team’s players that stood out in the first half. With that being said, the first half was dominated primarily by pitchers as is usually the case due to cold weather being tougher on hitters, also the weather can be rainy and dip into the 40s at night.
There were still plenty of talented hitters in the Midwest League that stood out even if their stats weren’t the greatest. High A is generally still viewed as a developmental league and so here are some names of the younger players that stood out that I’m sure we’ll be hearing about over the next few seasons as well as some of the draft picks from 2021 that have had solid starts to their first full season.
DAYTON DRAGONS
I felt that this was the deepest and most talented roster in the Midwest League in the first half that I got a chance to see. They had it all, arms, bats, and the most exciting prospect in the league in 6’5” switch hitting 20-year old shortstop Elly De La Cruz. The young shortstop is one of the most exciting players in all of the minors as he’s shown an ability to hit for power while being one of the fastest players in the minor leagues. He still needs to improve his defense but his arm is plus or better and he has the makings of a superstar. He’s in Double-A now looking to show the world he can overcome advanced pitching.
The Dragons rotation featured plenty of good arms with LHP Andrew Abbott the Reds 2nd Round pick from 2021 was the first to earn a promotion to AA after just 5 starts, 3 of them came with 10+ strikeouts. Abbott doesn’t have any stand-out pitch but he makes it all work with the ability to command 3 pitches that have a chance to be above average or better in his fastball which usually sits around 90-93. He mixes speeds well with his changeup, and will keep hitters off balance as well with his 12-6 curveball.
RHP Connor Phillips who was acquired in March in the trade that sent Jesse Winker to the Mariners was one of the most impressive arms I saw this spring as he has the ability to touch the upper 90’s consistently while mixing in a power slider to go along with a curveball that he spots well giving him a chance for 3 plus or better pitches he will need to improve his control to reach his lofty ceiling but there’s a ton of talent there.
RHP Joe Boyle a 5th Round pick by the Reds in 2020 has been a pleasant surprise, after only throwing 36 innings over 3 years at Notre Dame all of which came in the bullpen, Boyle was arguably the most dominant starting pitcher in the Midwest League in the first half posting an ERA of 0.78 while allowing just 13 hits over 46.1 innings. His fastball is his best pitch as it sits in the upper 90’s and has sat 100+ in the past, he struggles with control and will need to throw more strikes consistently to develop into a power reliever that might have a chance to be an elite closer or setup man if he can improve his control.
RHP Bryce Bonnin has an above average or better fastball that he pairs well with a slider that has a chance to be an above average or better pitch as well, he will need to prove his durability as he’s battled injuries both as an amateur and as a professional.
GREAT LAKES LOONS
The Loons were one of the deeper and more exciting teams in the Midwest League’s first half, they are home to the Los Angeles Dodgers #1 prospect C Diego Cartaya.
C Diego Cartaya started the season in Low A and earned a promotion to High A in June since then he’s continued to show good plate discipline with the ability to hit for power while also showing above average defense behind the plate, he was named to the Futures Game.
SS Eddys Leonard has shown plenty of versatility on defense playing shortstop, 2nd base, 3rd base, and center field. Leonard has a good feel for hitting to all fields and he could develop above average power in time.
RF Jose Ramos has shown plenty of power to his pull side and could be a 25+ home run per year hitter if he can cut down on his strikeouts and make more consistent contact. He has one of the stronger arms in the Midwest League so there’s a chance he could develop into an above average right fielder.
2B Jorbit Vivas is a left handed hitter that is adept at making adjustments during his at bats and shows enough feel for average power in time. His swing is more geared for line drives to the gaps but he has shown solid bat to ball skills and a knack for barreling pitches.
3B Alex De Jesus also started his season in Low A but showed enough on offense to earn a promotion to High A in June, he’s an exciting hitter with an excellent feel for hitting to all fields consistently with a chance for plus power. He will need to improve his defense at 3rd base.
RHP Gavin Stone was one of the top pitchers for the Loons earning himself a promotion after just 6 starts in which he posted a 1.44 ERA over 25 IP. Stone is a pitcher that likes to work quickly and attacks hitters with his fastball that usually sits in the low to mid 90’s but can touch even higher at times. He will also mix in a slider that has a chance to be an above average or better pitch and a changeup.
RHP Nick Nastrini was drafted by the Dodgers in the 4th round in 2021 and has been inconsistent at times but still was able to put up a 14.5 K/9 in the first half thanks to a solid fastball that sits in the mid 90’s as well as both of his secondaries that have a chance to be plus or better pitches in time in his slider and curveball, he’s working on a changeup and still will need to improve his control to reach his potential of a mid-back of the rotation starter.
RHP Carlos Duran also earned a promotion to High A and is one of the younger pitchers in the Midwest League and he’s impressed in short stints thanks to his slider which is considered to be one of the best in the minors while his mid 90’s fastball has touched 98 in the past.
LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS
The Lake County Captains was one of the deeper teams in the Midwest League in the first half with plenty of depth in their rotation and they also had some impressive young position players.
Their best player in the first half was RHP Gavin Williams who was Cleveland’s 1st Round Pick in 2021. Williams has an impressive feel for throwing strikes consistently to go along with a fastball that currently sits in the mid to upper 90’s. He pairs it with his secondaries, the best being his curveball which has a chance to be a plus pitch and a slider that could develop into another above average or better pitch in time, he’ll also occasionally mix in a changeup to help keep hitters off balance.
SS Angel Martinez was arguably their most impressive position player, he might not have the loudest tools but he has excellent plate discipline and has shown a good approach at the plate to go along with defensive versatility having played games at shortstop, 2nd base, and 3rd base. The young switch hitter is a player that I believe has what it takes to be a solid major league regular in time as he has excellent instincts to go along with the ability to get on base consistently.
RHP Tanner Bibee was another quality arm that the Guardians got in last year’s draft out of Cal State Fullerton, Bibee dominated in the first half earning a promotion to AA after posting a 2.96 ERA to go along with an impressive 12.7 K/9 while walking just 10 batters over 48.2 innings. His mid 90’s fastball and secondaries which include a curveball, slider, and changeup have only gotten better since he signed with Cleveland.
RF/3B Jhonkensy Noel made the Futures Game and is viewed as one of the best young power hitters in the minor leagues, he moves well for his size and also has a strong arm. His power earns easy plus grades but he will need to show that he can hit for average in order to become a dependable middle of the lineup hitter.
RHP Aaron Davenport is another talented arm from the 2021 draft class that has performed well for the Captains with a low to mid 90’s fastball, curveball, and changeup which he consistently throws for strikes.
WEST MICHIGAN WHITE CAPS
The West Michigan Whitecaps had one of the top rotations in the Midwest League in the first half led by RHP Wilmer Flores, Ty Madden, and Dylan Smith.
RHP Wilmer Flores wasted no time in earning a promotion to AA after making just 6 starts in which he showed the ability to command the strike zone, striking out 35 batters to just 2 walks over 19.2 innings. Flores has 2 pitches that earn above average or better grades already in his fastball which sits about 93-95 and has touched 98 and his curveball which he’s able to land for strikes as well as get hitters to chase for plenty of swinging strikes. He’s also working on a cutter and a changeup both of which are currently below average.
RHP Ty Madden who was taken with the 32n pick in 2021 has shown a solid repertoire of pitches and the ability to locate them for strikes, he’s not overpowering but shows a good feel for pitching. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90’s and he can get it up to 99 at times, he pairs it well with a slider that has a chance to develop into an above average or better offering while also showing feel for a curveball and a changeup that could develop into average or better pitches.
RHP Dylan Smith was drafted by Detroit in the 3rd round of 2021 and he’s impressed so far in his first full season debut. His fastball sits in the low 90’s and is viewed as an average pitch but he does a good job of working ahead in the count and attacking hitters and will use his best pitch, the slider to put hitters away. His slider is one of the better ones in all of the Midwest League, he also will mix in a changeup and a curveball which are works in progress but show flashes of being solid average pitches.
3B Colt Keith has shown an impressive feel for hitting for average putting up a slash line of .301/.370/.544 before getting injured, he doesn’t hit for a ton of power but some feel that will come with time. Keith is also a solid defender at 3rd base with a strong arm and athleticism.
FORT WAYNE TIN CAPS
The Tincaps play in one of the best ballparks in the Midwest League and it’s also home to one of the best prospects in the Midwest League in Robert Hassell III. The young left-handed hitting center fielder owns perhaps the best hit tool of all the prospects in the Midwest League that qualified, he put up a slash line of .408/.471/.645 in the first month of the season then cooled off a bit in May as he struggled with an injury that caused him to miss the first 2 weeks in June. Hassell III has a nice, smooth swing and makes plenty of contact and will show occasional power but it’s his 2-strike approach that caught my attention as he battled against the Dayton Dragons RHP Connor Phillips in the video below to get a double.
LHP Robert Gasser also looked good when I saw him, as a more advanced lefty that’s known for having above average or better control of 3 average or better pitches his stuff really stood out as he was able to sit about 90-93 consistently while also mixing in a changeup and a slider that looks like it has the potential to be a plus or better pitch in time.
C Brandon Valenzuela has stood out for his defensive ability where he might have been the best defensive catcher in the league in the first half, he will occasionally show some power and offers some versatility as a switch hitting catcher but he will still need to show more with the bat.
LANSING LUGNUTS
Lansing is the home of the Oakland A’s top prospect C Tyler Soderstrom and it also happens to have had a few other young prospects in the A’s system worth noting. Soderstrom struggled early on in April hitting just .159 but he’s made the adjustments necessary to have success and hasn’t hit lower than .265 in any month since while displaying plenty of power from the left side. RHP Joey Estes, who was acquired in the trade with Atlanta for Matt Olson has looked good despite being one of the younger starting pitchers in the Midwest League. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90’s and he’ll also incorporate a solid mid 80’s slider and changeup. At times he’s gotten hit harder than his talent might suggest, he’ll need to improve his ability to put hitters away consistently, but he has the talent, youth, and control to be one of the better pitchers in the A’s system.
RHP Jeff Criswell who was primarily a reliever during his time at the University of Michigan has performed well as a starter thanks to his ability to throw strikes consistently while inducing plenty of ground ball outs, his stuff isn’t overpowering but he has a good feel for pitching and earned a mid-season promotion to AA.
RF Lawrence Butler is a left-handed hitter that shows occasional power and speed but will need to improve his ability to consistently make good contact as there was plenty of swing and miss to his game when I saw him.
2B Euribiel Angeles is one of the younger players in the league and a name to keep an eye on, his first half performance wasn’t very impressive but he has shown a good feel for hitting in the past and is a solid defender.