Triple-A

Covered by Mitch Stachnik

🍔🍟Carson Williams, SS TB (Triple-A)

1-for-3, HR, 1R, 1RBI, BB, K, SB

While writing this, the 22-year-old just got called up to the show. As Rhys White put it, Williams is Javy Báez 2.0, whether that’s good or bad depends on your perspective. He has plus tools across the board, aside from a below-average hit tool. His combo meal last night was his 23rd home run and 22nd stolen base of the season.

Roki Sasaki, SP LAD (Triple-A)

3.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 2K

The Japanese sensation had another underwhelming rehab outing, better than his last but still far from the dominant form expected of a former No. 1 prospect. He generated just one whiff, and his fastball averaged 96 mph, well below the 100+ mph we saw in spring training and earlier in his career. At this point, the Dodgers may need to consider shutting him down or transitioning him to the bullpen to help him regain velocity and potentially rejoin the rotation next season.

Spencer Jones, CF NYY (Triple-A)

1-for-4, HR, 1R, RBI, K, 

A 443-foot bomb at 111.2 mph exit velocity off Alek Manoah earns him a spot on today’s sheet. One of the most polarizing prospects in baseball, Jones has tallied 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases in just 39 Triple-A games, but he’s also struck out in a third of his plate appearances.

Bryce Eldridge, 1B SFG (Triple-A)

1-for-3, HR, 1R, 3RBI, BB

Slightly shorter than Jones’ homer, a 426-foot shot at 108.7 mph exit velocity earns the Giants’ top prospect a shoutout on today’s sheet. It was the 20th long ball of the season for the big first baseman, and the 20-year-old looks poised to make an impact with the big league club next season.

Jordan Lawlar, 3B ARI (Triple-A)

1-for-3, HR, 1R, 1RBI, BB

Lawlar was recently activated from the injured list and should be in the MLB lineup. With the trade of Eugenio Suárez, the vacancy at third base (sorry Blaze Alexander) feels like it should be Lawlar’s. He’s been mashing Triple-A pitching this year with a .316 batting average and a .990 OPS, and remains one of the more exciting infield prospects in baseball. It’s unclear why the Diamondbacks don’t seem fully committed to giving him a shot.

Jimmy Crooks, DH STL (Triple-A)

4-for-5, 2 2B, 1R, 1RBI

The Cardinals have no shortage of exciting catching prospects, and Crooks is one of them, currently the closest to the majors. He extended his hit streak to nine games and has been consistent all season, batting .278 with 13 home runs. His four-hit night matched a career high.

MJ Melendez, RF KC (Triple-A)

3-for-5, HR, 2B, 2R, 2RBI

Only a triple shy of the cycle, Melendez is working to reclaim his former prospect status. Once considered one of the top catching prospects in baseball, he has since transitioned to a corner outfield role and lost some of that shine. An .083 batting average over 60 MLB at-bats this season led to a demotion, but he’s looked better against lower-level competition, batting .249 with 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases.

💣💣Eduardo Valencia, DH DET (Triple-A)

2-for-3, 2HR, 2R, 7RBI, BB

A double dong outing, including a grand slam, earns Valencia a shoutout. Even as a Tigers fan, he wasn’t really on my radar before the season. The 25-year-old catching prospect has hit 17 home runs with a .303 batting average across Double-A and Triple-A, and he’s starting to look like a viable backup catcher in the near future.

💣💣Eddys Leonard, DH ATL (Triple-A)

2-for-4, 2HR, 3R, 4RBI

A double dong outing earns Leonard a shoutout on today’s sheet. Although listed as a shortstop, he isn’t quite a natural there and moves around the diamond. He’s a power threat with 18 home runs this year but will need to find more consistency to earn his call to the show.

RJ Schreck, RF TOR (Triple-A)

2-for-3, HR, 3B, 2R, 3RBI, BB, K

The home run and triple earn Schreck a spot on the sheet. He has been a solid contributor at the Triple-A level, batting .295 with 6 home runs in 31 games.

Double-A

Covered by Tom Gates

Nick Dunn, 2B PHI (Double-A)

2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K

He Dunn gonna hit a double dong.

‼️Estibenzon Jimenez, RHP PHI (Double-A)

6 IP, 4 H, 8 K

Striking out Konnor Griffin twice seems like you’ll automatically make the sheet. Jimenez just teases hitters with his hard breaking slider. When his command is on, Jimenez will throw the slider on the outer half, belt high. It then breaks down and out away from righties and because it sits in the zone for so long on the way to the plate, it gets the swings and misses. He’s had some rough outings recently but also has mixed in a few of these.

‼️R.J. Gordon, RHP NYM (Double-A)

7 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K

Today is the first day of school for me. I can already picture what’s going to happen. We start talking about our summer and the topic shifts to me talking about Mets pitching. See kids, their development has been so impressive and they are just a pitching factory. I wrote about Gordon in the beginning of August in my 3 up, 3 down. I am a fan, but he has to give up less hard contact. He did here, ending his streak of at least one home run per game, which stood at seven.

Jacob Reimer, DH NYM (Double-A)

1-for-2, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB

A week before school starts, teachers and students try to cram as much as they can in. That’s what Reimer has been doing. His box score since August 14th has been filled with hits, homers, runs, and not too many strikeouts. 

Charles McAdoo, 3B TOR (Double-A)

2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K

I swear McAdoo waits until my day to do the sheet to hit a home run. I feel like I write about him every week. Which, I don’t mind. I’m a fan. I’d like to see the contact rate keep improving. It’s up a little over 4% from last year. He is someone that makes something happen when he puts the ball in play. 

👟Enrique Bradfield, CF BAL (Double-A)

2-for-3, R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB

With all of the new rules and advanced analytics, Bradfield’s profile isn’t as appealing as it used to be. Fielders are put in better positions for every batter, making it easier (some of the time) to make a play. Stolen bases have increased since the 2023 rule change. 

Jadher Areinamo, 2B TB (Double-A)

2-for-3, HR, R, RBI

At the plate, he reminds me of that friend you have playing wiffle ball or softball that comes up wiggling his bat like he’s Barry Bonds. Areinamo has a lot of moving parts in the batter’s box and I think that is a point of conversation a lot of the time with him. Will it continue as he faces better pitching or will he need to simplify it? I’m not sure. But it’s working now. 92% in-zone contact percentage leads me to believe he’s going to keep doing what he’s doing. 

Patrick Clohisy, RF ATL (Double-A)

2-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

OK. I’m starting to get more intrigued. The 67 stolen bases on the year has one eyebrow raised. The three home runs in the last two weeks have raised the other one. If he’s not a zero in the power department and he can run crazy on the bases, consistently making above average contact, and strike out less than 20%, then I’m interested. He doesn’t hit the ball on the ground a ton, which is a sign this power output may continue. Could he give us a 2011 Brett Gardner type line? .260, 7 HR, 49 SB.

Kemp Alderman, DH MIA (Double-A)

1-for-5, HR, R, RBI, K

His stats for the year are telling me I’m too low on him. 289, 13 HR, and 20 SB. I am not buying in on the batting average, but everything else seems legit. I’ll give him a little boost in the rankings. For sure, the power is real.