Indianapolis Indians: Last week of minors, what I'm watching for
Areas of focus during the last week of minor league play for the Pirates' system
And then there was one…
The Indianapolis Indians play the last six games of the minor league schedule in the Pirates system.
While they haven’t been actually eliminated from the playoffs yet, they would need to sweep Saint Paul while Columbus gets swept against Toledo. With Columbus winning eight of their last 10 and Toledo fading away towards the end of the season, it seems very unlikely to happen.
So, with six more games left in the minor league season, here are a few things I’m looking for with the Triple-A team.
Strong finish for Bubba Chandler
As good as Chandler had been with Altoona, he’s taken it to a new level since getting to Indianapolis. In six games (34 IP), the Pirates’ top prospect has posted a 1.59 ERA (3.50 xFIP) with a 34.6% strikeout rate while walking just 9.8% of the batters he has faced.
That walk rate results from a smaller sample, as he allowed five two starts ago. The stuff has been elite, and he is throwing everything for strikes.
You could make a case that his last start was his best of the year. Double-digit strikeouts, again, and went 5.2 innings before allowing a baserunner.
The stuff is fantastic, as we can see from his player card for his last start. Most models aren’t fans of change-ups, but it’s an elite pitch.
Chandler has it all working for him right now, so it would be nice to see him finish strong. I wouldn’t bet on him getting a taste at the major league level, which is fine.
Jared Jones didn’t get one and broke camp with the team.
If Chandler throws 5.2 innings in this start, that would put him at 120 for the season, which seems like a perfect stopping point for a fantastic season.
Who all comes up?
Thanks to John Dreker on Twitter, we know, for now, that Eddy Yean will be joining Indianapolis for the final week of the season.
He’s had a solid season for Altoona out of the bullpen. Yean posted seven wins, 10 holds, and five saves while finishing with a 3.45 ERA (3.86 xFIP). The strikeout numbers weren’t anything to write home about, but a solid year nonetheless.
Who else, if any, might join him?
Endy Rodriguez seems like an easy answer. Jase Bowen finished the season on a strong note. He could be an option as well. Sammy Siani, Tsung-Che Cheng (already on the 40-man, so they could want to get more of a look), and any number of pitchers could also head up that way.
Thomas Harrington
I won’t say he’s been a letdown; he’s pitched well and super efficient. The way he’s attacked the strike zone has led to a lot of quick innings, and he was even on pace for a ‘Maddux’ if they weren’t trying to get a rehabbing pitcher back into the game.
But he hasn’t had the swing-and-miss that you might have hoped for, which makes you wonder about his upside at the major league level.
His ability to throw strikes should allow him to find success. It could just be limited due to the lack of swing and miss.
That’s come from the fastball maybe not looking like we expected regarding the characteristic/shape side.
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I had this really fun part of this article about Nick Yorke and the breakdown of what positions he has played in AAA.
But yea know, promotion and all.
The only one that really deserves a chance at a promotion is Sammy Sianni.
AA is the sink or swim level for prospects, Bowen & Cheng mostly sank. Cheng finished with a 95 wRC+ (2nd time through AA) buoyed by a high bb% & Bowen finished with a 91 wRC+
Neither appear to have the hit tool to have any success in the majors.