Morning Rundown: MiLB Preview - Week Ending 8/04/24

Trade and draft signing deadline lead into final stretch of the season

NolaJeffy(BnP)

Jul 30, 2024

226

Indianapolis Indians: 46-52

Last week: 6-0

Opponent: Toledo (Tigers)

Opponent Stats:

Team OPS: .811
OPS Rank: 1st of 20
Team ERA: 5.19
ERA Rank: 18th of 20

Quick Overview:

It was a big past week for the Indianapolis Indians, taking all six games in a sweep of the Iowa Cubs. Sitting only 3.5 games back of the league lead (need to have the best record in the Triple-A second half), they’ll look to ride their hot streak against the Detroit Tigers Triple-A affiliate.

Barring any promotions or prospects swapping hands, Toledo Mud Hens infielder Jace Jung will be the only top 100 prospect a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate faces this week. The 23-year-old slugger has a .880 OPS this season for the Mud Hens and a .866 mark over his last ten games.

RHP Ty Madden has had a rough go as of late, giving up 20 earned runs in his last four starts over 18.0 IP. Demoted former first-overall pick Spencer Torkelson has a .796 OPS in 43 games with Toledo.

Jace Jung | 3B/2B | 3
- MLB Top 100: #39
- Baseball America Top 100: #75
- Fangraphs Top 100: #95
Ty Madden | RHP | 5
Wilmer Flores (60-Day IL) | RHP | 7
Justice Bigbie | OF | 10
Brant Hurter | LHP | 13
Lael Lockhart | LHP | 21

Altoona Curve: 40-56

Last week: 1-5

Opponent: Richmond (Giants)

Opponent Stats:

Team OPS: .663
OPS Rank: 9th of 12
Team ERA: 3.99
ERA Rank: 6th of 12

Quick Overview:

The Altoona Curve looked like they were ready for a strong second half as it kicked off, adding a couple of bats from Greensboro while also having a starting rotation that was on fire, but things have quickly gone in the other direction.

This week the Curve will take on the San Francisco Giants affiliate, Richmond Flying Squirrels. It may be a good week to get back on track, as the Flying Squirrels come in with an identical second-half record and light roster.

We can’t be too sure if he’ll stick with Richmond, but the highest-ranking prospect per Pipeline is outfielder Wade Meckler. The 2022 8th-round pick out of Oregon State spent part of 2023 in the MLB with the Giants, amassing 56 at-bats in 20 games. He was on a rehab stint till July 9th but was activated and assigned to Richmond. He has a .775 OPS in eight games.

Also of note, is the younger brother of David Bednar, Will Bednar. He rode a strong College World Series showing into being a first round pick for the Giants, but has struggled ever since entering pro ball. He has a 4.63 ERA in 35.0 IP this season.

Wade Meckler | OF | 16
Diego Velasquez | SS/2B | 18
Victor Bericoto | OF/1B | 19
Adrian Sugastey (7-Day IL) | C | 23
Jairo Pomares | OF | 26

Greensboro Grasshoppers: 57-38

Last Week: 2-4

Opponent: Winston-Salem (White Sox)

Opponent Stats:

Team OPS: .679
OPS Rank: 8th of 12
Team ERA: 5.38
ERA Rank: 11th of 12

Quick Overview:

It wasn’t a strong week record-wise, dropping four of six, but the Greensboro Grasshoppers are coming off a week in which they took home both the South Atlantic League pitcher of the week (Dominic Perachi) and hitter (Mitch Jebb).

This will be the fifth series of the season between the Grasshopper and the Winston-Salem Dash, with Greensboro going 17-7 against the Chicago White Sox affiliate.

Not much has changed over the season, especially since LHP Noah Schultz was promoted. The top-ranked prospect, as per Pipeline is Samuel Zavala, whose season OPS is sitting at .665.

Samuel Zavala | OF | 5
Peyton Pallette | RHP | 10
Tanner McDougal | RHP | 16
Juan Carela | RHP | 25

Bradenton Marauders: 40-56

Last Week: 2-4

Opponent: Palm Beach (Cardinals)

Opponent Stats:

Team OPS: .675
OPS Rank: 6th of 10
Team ERA: 3.21
ERA Rank: 1st of 10

Quick Overview:

Down in Single-A, things will be a little interesting, with the St. Louis Cardinals’ first and third-round picks in the 2023 MLB draft slowly getting things going. Chase Davis (21st-overall-pick) got out to a slow start but is slashing .286/.311/.452 over his last ten games. Third-rounder Travis Honeyman (90th overall pick) started the year off on the injured list, came back, and put up a .813 OPS in 14 games before returning to the IL.

Zach Showalter was a prep right-hander drafted in 2022 by the Baltimore Orioles, who was part of a trade for Jack Flaherty in 2023. He has thrown 33.1 innings on the year with a 2.43 ERA.

One thing to keep an eye on will be we’re getting to be about a week or so removed from when draft picks began signing deals. The Florida Complex League also finished Monday afternoon, with the FCL Pirates unfortunately being swept 2-0 in the best of three against the FCL Tigers. So, this week would be a good kickoff point for promotions and debuts.

Chase Davis | OF | 6
Travis Honeyman (7-Day IL) | OF | 11
Zack Showalter | RHP | 17
Chen-Wei Lin | RHP | 22

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