Morning Rundown: MiLB Preview - Week Ending 4/28/24
Light upcoming week for top prospect opposition
Indianapolis Indians: 11-10
Last week: 5-1
Opponent: Omaha (Royals)
Team OPS: .790
OPS Rank: 6th of 20
Team ERA: 4.54
ERA Rank: 5th of 20
Quick Overview:
There won’t be strong opposition in terms of top prospects, but the Indianapolis Indians will look to carry a strong 5-1 week into a battle against the Kansas City Royals affiliate, who currently rank in the top six in both Team ERA and Team OPS.
The top-ranking prospect for the Omaha Storm Chasers is their third-round 2020 draft pick and ninth-overall-ranking prospect, Tyler Gentry. The Chasers roster is mostly full of veteran players who may or may not have had a cup of coffee in the majors yet, most notably 25-year-old and former top 100 prospect Nick Pratto. In the bullpen is also the recently acquired former Pirates reliever Colin Selby.
The Royals have had to rebuild their farm system since debuting and graduating the majority of their top-ranked prospects back in 2022, so it’s not as heavily weighted up top as it was a few years ago.
Tyler Gentry | OF | 9
John McMillon | RHP | 17
Will Klein | RHP | 18
Altoona Curve: 5-9
Last week: 1-5
Opponent: Akron (Guardians)
Team OPS: .609
OPS Rank: 12th of 12
Team ERA: 2.49
ERA Rank: 1st of 12
Quick Overview:
The Altoona Curve head home after a 1-5 week against the Bowie Baysox and welcome the Akron Rubberducks, Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, into town.
Much like the Baysox, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, the Rubberducks had often benefited from an organization regularly churning out high-quality prospects. That isn’t so much the case this year, although they have the Guardians’ highest ranking and consensus top 100 prospect, Chase DeLauter. Along with another well-known prospect named Kahlil Watson, they haven’t had a strong beginning to the year — DeLauter .604 OPS and Watson .644 OPS.
More known for developing pitchers, there aren’t a lot of names to drool over — Andrew Walters (#25) is the only ranked top 30 prospect in Double-A—but they’ve so far managed to put up the best Team ERA this year in the Eastern League.
Chase DeLauter | OF | 1
MLB Top 100: #28
Baseball America Top 100: #27
ESPN Top 100: #38
Fangraphs Top 100: #26
Kahlil Watson | SS/2B | 14
Petey Halpin | OF | 15
Andrew Walters | RHP | 25
Dayan Frias | 3B | 29
Greensboro Grasshoppers: 9-5
Last Week: 3-2
Opponent: Greenville (Red Sox)
Team OPS: .644
OPS Rank: 8th of 12
Team ERA: 5.08
ERA Rank: 10th of 12
Quick Overview:
The 2024 High A season began with the Greenville Drive visiting Greensboro for three games to open the year, and now the Grasshoppers head to the Boston Red Sox affiliate’s home park.
It’s another light prospect list, especially with two of the five rostered top 30 prospects inactive. Luis Perales is the ninth-ranked prospect on Pipeline’s top 30 for the Red Sox, and so far, he has an ERA of 9.00 in five innings.
The Grasshoppers have probably been the brightest spot in the Pirates organization this season and should hopefully keep things rolling against a team that ranks in the bottom half of Team ERA and Team OPS.
Luis Perales | RHP | 9
Mikey Romero (7-Day IL) | SS/2B | 11
Allan Castro | OF | 12
David Sandlin | RHP | 14
Yordanny Monegro (Development List) | RHP | 15
Bradenton Marauders: 3-12
Last Week: 2-4
Opponent: Clearwater (Phillies)
Team OPS: .733
OPS Rank: 1st of 10th
Team ERA: 4.09
ERA Rank: 6th of 10
Quick Overview:
The Bradenton Marauders haven’t had a great start to the year, even though they tripled their win total from one to three this past week. The Clearwater Threshers lead the league in Team OPS and are middle of the pack in Team ERA. The Philadelphia Phillies’ affiliate shows up with nine ranked prospects, but four are inactive.
Most notable is 2023 first-round pick (27th overall) Aidan Miller, who currently sports a .912 OPS. 2023 sixth-round pick (193rd overall) George Klassen wowed scouts with his stuff in his professional debut against the Bradenton Marauders, but he was recently added to the Development List.
The good news is that the Marauders won’t have to face (as of now) any high-end rehabbing major leaguers like Orion Kerkering this go around.
Aidan Miller | 3B/SS | 3
MLB Top 100: #55
Devin Saltiban | SS/2B | 7
Alex McFarlane (60-Day IL) | RHP | 15
TJayy Walton (7-Day IL) | OF | 18
Raylin Heredia (7-Day IL) | OF | 20
Kehden Hettiger | C | 22
George Klassen (Development List) | RHP | 29
Nikau Pouaka-Grego | 2B/3B | 30
Check out our latest Podcast episode, where Nola and I talk about the previous week in the Pirates system, and look ahead to an exciting slate of games.
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Your team leader in defensive runs saved, as expected: Rowdy Tellez.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2024&season1=&ind=0&team=27&players=0&startdate=&enddate=&month=0&sortcol=12&sortdir=asc&pagenum=1
Jared Jones walking hardly anyone is an incredible (and unexpected) turn of events. He was never out of control in the minors but he walked over 3.5 per nine which was enough for experts to consider him a reliever risk. Thus far his .78 walks per nine and 10 to 1 k/bb ratio are insane. But the kicker is the ratio of K and BB percentages. Jones is at 34.1%. Here is a link to FanGraphs career leaderboard all time. Only 3 other pitchers have ever had over 30% and they are all relievers. Jacob DeGrom and Chris sale (to pick a couple guys) career is 25%.
Sure. It’s the strikeouts.
But really.
It’s the walks. Or lack of them. He keeps that up and he’s the best pitcher in the game and it isn’t close.
He won’t though. It isn’t possible. Right?