Tampa Bay and Milwaukee each boast top-heavy farm systems, meaning their respective Triple-A rosters are loaded with big-league talent. Much of that talent was on display Tuesday in the series opener between Nashville and Durham.
Taj Bradley, RHP (TB)
Bradley could never find a rhythm Tuesday night against the Sounds. He struggled to command his two best pitches – a fastball that touched 97 and an upper-80s cutter with late break – and, despite consistently finding himself in two-strike counts, was unable to put hitters away. His evening began with a nine-pitch walk to Sal Frelick, and essentially ended with back-to-back extra-base hits against flat cutters.
After tearing through the Eastern League, Bradley has hit a roadblock in Triple-A, holding a 5.63 ERA through six starts. Tampa Bay’s consensus top prospect boasts an athletic, repeatable delivery with good arm speed out of a three-quarters release, and his strong, three-pitch mix – he flashed an average changeup – still gives him frontline-rotation potential.
Curtis Mead, 3B (TB)
In just his second game back from an elbow injury, Mead, who served as Durham’s DH, collected hits in each of his first two plate appearances– both early in the count and both to the opposite field. He also narrowly missed a home run – which would have pulled Durham within a run – in the eighth, flying out to deep left-center on a hanging breaking ball.
The Australian-born infielder isn’t particularly toolsy, but he has hit at every level in the minors. He has an excellent feel for the zone, with the ability to handle velocity and recognize spin. He makes consistent quality contact, and there is some projection left in his frame. Now at his fourth level in just two years, Mead could even make an appearance in the big leagues this season.
Jonathan Aranda, 1B (TB)
Aranda was a big-time producer in the Bulls’ losing effort on Tuesday, collecting two hits and driving in three runs. He showcased his plus hit tool, which comes from an exceptional feel for the strike zone, as well as the ability to extend at-bats, make contact and find gaps. He was able to catch up to and pull fastballs for singles both through and over the shift, and later won an 11-pitch battle with Hobie Harris for an RBI groundout. Aranda doesn’t chase early in counts, but was able to foul off junky breaking stuff with two strikes in order to keep that plate appearance going. The 24-year-old is enjoying a breakout 2022 campaign, and even found success at the plate in the seven games he played with the Rays earlier in the summer.
Aranda has played all over the diamond this season– mostly in the infield, but occasionally in left, as well. He handled first base with ease on Tuesday, including saving a run by stopping a hard-hit ground ball up the line off the bat of Sal Frelick. His arm may not consistently play on the left side of the infield, but the instincts that have allowed him to man the hot corner in the past were on display on the other side of the diamond.
Still, while the defensive versatility could prove valuable, it’s his bat that will carry him to the big leagues.
Xavier Edwards, SS (TB)
Edwards went 0-for-4 in the series opener against Nashville, but he was at least able to show off his speed – his only plus tool – when he scored from first on a Miles Mastrobuoni double. The 23-year-old switch-hitter, who only hit from the left side on Tuesday, showed solid plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills, but an off-balanced swing with questionable rhythm and timing prevents him from making enough quality contact.
Edwards has never possessed much power, but he also hasn’t gotten on base or run as much this season as he has in the past. He doesn’t possess much offensive value, but there may still be a role for him at the next level given his ability to fill in all over the infield– he played third on Tuesday, but didn’t have a single ball hit his way.
Sal Frelick, LF (MIL)
Frelick reached base twice on Tuesday, showcasing his two greatest strengths, He led off the game with a nine-pitch walk, and legged out an infield single in the seventh. His hardest-hit ball of the day came in the fourth, when he pulled a 93-mph fastball down the first base line, right at Jonathan Aranda. Milwaukee’s first-round pick from 2020 will likely never hit for much power, but his speed is off the charts and his plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills are beyond his years.
The 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year has played all over the outfield, but is more than capable of handling center field long term. He wasn’t tasked with doing much in left field on Tuesday, but he did retreat nicely into the corner on a Vidal Bruján fly ball in the fifth.
A call-up isn’t imminent, but Frelick is probably Milwaukee’s best option in center field for the stretch run this season– especially considering how he has been tearing up Triple-A pitching.
Joey Wiemer, RF (MIL)
Wiemer connected with a Taj Bradley cutter in the second inning and drove it down the third base line for a double. He also showed off his speed, beating out a chopper to short in the fourth, and although he proceeded to get caught stealing, he is inching closer to a second straight 30-stolen base season. He has quick hands to go with a large frame and a ton of functional strength, but his long swing leads to plenty of strikeouts– he was caught looking on a front-door two-seamer by Josh Fleming in the sixth.
Wiemer didn’t get a chance to show off his double-plus arm, but he is an above-average defender in right. His offensive numbers aren’t what they were in A-ball a season ago, but he could make an impact on both sides of the ball for the Brewers in 2023.
Brice Turang, SS (MIL)
After three groundouts and a strikeout, Turang finished off the game with a double in the ninth, scoring an insurance run on a throwing error by Rene Pinto. He keeps his hands high with an open stance and a big leg kick, and has a tendency to pound the ball into the dirt. The 2018 first-rounder is in the midst of his best power season, and a mechanical change could lead to at least average in-game power going forward. His plate discipline has taken a dip in his first full season in Triple-A as a result of expanding the zone against tougher pitching, but he is still drawing plenty of walks.
Turang’s value comes mostly from his defense and baserunning. He has smooth actions in the dirt and a strong arm, and he’s swiped nearly 100 bases throughout his minor league career. With some adjustments at the plate, he could be a mainstay in Milwaukee’s infield by next year.
Garrett Mitchell, CF (MIL)
After poking a cutter to the opposite field for a single in the first that nearly netted him an RBI (Jon Singleton was thrown out at home), Mitchell failed to reach base in any of his four remaining plate appearances, with two strikeouts and two groundouts. He chased both changeups and breaking stuff in the dirt against lefties, whom he faced in three of those final four trips to the plate.
Despite having a frame that could lend itself to solid power, he doesn’t put many balls over the fence, mostly due to a swing geared toward line drives and grounders. There’s also plenty of swing-and-miss in his game, but he does typically reach base at a good clip as a result of a high BABIP. Mitchell’s speed and athleticism make him a weapon on the bases and in center field, but he may need to make some swing adjustments in order to maximize his appealing toolset and be more than a platoon hitter at the next level.
Esteury Ruiz, CF (MIL)
Ruiz’s speed is his lone standout tool, and it was on display Tuesday night. He collected three hits in the game – a bunt for a hit in the first and a pair of seeing-eye singles later on – and came around to score all three times, tacking on two stolen bases in the process.
He has below-average power and some swing-and-miss – most of which comes from his inability to handle higher velocity – but his baserunning prowess helps keep him afloat on prospect lists. Riuz’s instincts and reads are considered questionable, but he served as the DH on Tuesday, so there was no opportunity to form any opinions.
Players who Have Graduated from Prospect Status
Vidal Bruján, CF (TB)
Bruján came into the game riding a three-game multi-hit streak, but walked away from Tuesday’s contest with an 0-for-5 showing. He took several ugly hacks – against both fastballs and breaking stuff – during a strikeout in the first inning, but put the ball in play each of the next four trips to the plate, including a hard-hit line drive right to the center fielder to end the game. He did reach base twice, however, on a fielder’s choice and an error, and came around to score both times. Bruján offers plus speed and the ability to play anywhere up the middle, and despite an off game, is still enjoying a strong season. He struggled in his 42-game stint in the big leagues earlier this year, but could get another shot before long.
Josh Lowe, RF (TB)
Lowe delivered the biggest hit of the game for the Bulls, catching up to a 97-mph Trevor Rosenthal heater and sending it over the left-center field fence with two runners on in the fifth inning. The 24-year-old has incredibly quick hands with a fluid bat path that allows him to handle any kind of velocity, but often has trouble adjusting to offspeed pitches– he struggled early on against Marcus Walden’s cutter.
Lowe has a big frame and loud tools with the ability to play all over the outfield – he made a diving catch in right to rob Brian Navaretto of a base hit in the sixth – and has more than proven himself at the Triple-A level. That said, he failed to make consistent contact over 52 big league games this year, and could be destined for a life as a Quad-A player if he cannot hit quality breaking balls more consistently.