Morning Rundown: MiLB Preview - Week Ending 7/14/24

Minor league affiliates embark on second six-game series of 12 games in 12 days.

Photo Credit: WTM

Indianapolis Indians: 38-46

Last week: 4-1

Opponent: Columbus (Guardians)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .804

• OPS Rank: 2nd of 20

• Team ERA: 5.18

• ERA Rank: 15th of 20

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Quick Overview:

After playing five of six games in a home-and-home series and a two-day break, the Indianapolis Indians take on the Cleveland Guardians Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, before the MLB All-Star break.

Ranking 2nd on the Guardians Pipeline Top 30 prospects is first base prospect Kyle Manzardo. He had a 30-game stint in the majors after crushing Triple-A pitching but was then sent back down to Triple-A after limping to a .570 OPS. On the season he’s carrying a 1.016 OPS with the Clippers.

No longer a prospect, but Guardians starter Triston McKenzie was recently sent down after struggling in the majors. Then the Guardians 2023 Competitive Balance Round B selection (62nd overall) Andrew Walters has found his way already up to Triple-A after tossing 20.0 innings for the Akron RubberDucks, with a 1.35 ERA.

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• Kyle Manzardo | 1B | 2

  • MLB Top 100: #35

  • Baseball America Top 100: #59

• Daniel Espino (Full Season IL) | RHP | 5

• Juan Brito | INF | 6

• George Valera | OF | 7

• Joey Cantillo | LHP | 10

• Johnathan Rodriguez | OF | 16

• Andrew Walters | RHP | 23

• Will Dion | LHP | 24

• Franco Aleman (7-Day IL) | RHP | 26

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Altoona Curve: 34-47

Last week: 4-2

Opponent: Bowie (Orioles)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .680

• OPS Rank: 8th of 12

• Team ERA: 3.87

• ERA Rank: 4th of 12

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Quick Overview:

This is a group of players that should be well-known at this juncture. The top prospect listed on the Bowie Baysox roster, and 2nd overall for the Baltimore Orioles top 30, is Samuel Basallo. He is hitting to the tune of a .875 OPS over his last ten games.

The pair of 2022 college draft picks, Dylan Beavers and Jud Fabian, have had above-average seasons up to this point but have hit their own respective slumps. Beavers has a .579 OPS in his last ten games, and Fabian has a .630 OPS in his last ten.

In starter Seth Johnson’s first full season back from Tommy John surgery, he’s carrying a 2.94 ERA across 52.0 IP.

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• Samuel Basallo | OF/2B | 2

  • MLB Top 100: #12

  • Baseball America Top 100: #16

  • ESPN Top 100: #15

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #5

• Dylan Beavers | OF | 6

• Seth Johnson | RHP | 9

• Jud Fabian | OF | 11

• Max Wagner (7-Day IL) | 3B/2B | 13

• Trace Bright | RHP | 15

• John Rhodes | OF | 22

• Alex Pham | RHP | 23

• Frederick Bencosme | SS | 26

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Greensboro Grasshoppers: 51-29

Last Week: 5-1

Opponent: Winston-Salem (White Sox)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .688

• OPS Rank: 9th of 12

• Team ERA: 5.46

• ERA Rank: 11th of 12

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Quick Overview:

As mentioned, the Greensboro Grasshoppers took the first-half title in the South Atlantic League North division. They didn’t promote as many players (yet) as may have been due, so they’ve used the extra games those players played in town to manhandle their division so far in the second half as well.

They’re carrying a 12-3 record, while 9-1 in their last ten games. They lead the league in second-half run differential at +59, while the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the South division follow closely behind with a +58 run differential.

The Hoppers take on the 7-8 Winston-Salem Dash. In a similar fashion to Termarr Johnson, Chicago White Sox’s sixth-ranked prospect Samuel Zavala struggled out the gate as a very young for-the-level prospect. He hasn’t been hitting for much power, but he has a .833 OPS over his last ten games, heavily weighted by a .500 OBP.

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• Samuel Zavala | OF | 6

• Peyton Pallette | RHP | 12

• Tanner McDougal | RHP | 18

• Juan Carela | RHP | 27

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Bradenton Marauders: 35-46

Last Week: 1-5

Opponent: Jupiter (Marlins)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .627

• OPS Rank: 10th of 10

• Team ERA: 3.75

• ERA Rank: 4th of 10

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Quick Overview:

Bradenton Marauders finished the first half on a strong note, but have slipped to 5.5 games back already in the second half. They take on the Jupiter Hammerheads who have an identical 6-9 record in the second half.

The Miami Marlins fifth-ranked prospect is Dillon Head, who hasn’t played since June 4th, so he’s unlikely to play this week. Second on the list is the 2023 second-round (47th overall pick) Kemp Alderman, who wowed analysts with his big power during the 2023 MLB Combine. He hasn’t played much this season, having been on the injured list from early April till the end of May, activated by the Hammerheads on June 13th.

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• Dillon Head (7-Day IL) | OF | 5

• Kemp Alderman | OF | 9

• John Cruz | OF | 21

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