Morning Rundown: MiLB Preview - Week Ending 6/16/24

BraxCraft finally takes his post-TJS prospect ascension to Indianapolis this week

Photo Credit: WTM

Indianapolis Indians: 26-35

Last week: 2-4

Opponent: Jacksonville (Marlins)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .758

• OPS Rank: 14th of 20

• Team ERA: 4.71

• ERA Rank: 8th of 20

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Quick Overview:

Barring any Monday evening or Tuesday afternoon promotions, the Indianapolis Indians are slated to face the only opposing healthy top-100 prospect in Max Meyer. Coming off of Tommy John surgery, Meyer made three starts for the Miami Marlins before being optioned to Triple-A in April. He had a 2.12 ERA in those three starts spanning 17.0 innings, but his time with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp has not gone as well. In eight starts with the Jumbo Shrimp, he has a 6.75 ERA in 26.2 IP.

Leading the charge on the offensive side is International Free Agent Victor Mesa Jr. He was signed in October of 2018 and currently has a .811 OPS in 53 Triple-A games.

It’s not a powerhouse opposition, but it will still be fun to watch recently promoted Braxton Ashcraft finally make his Triple-A debut for the Indians (which means it will come with data).

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• Max Meyer | RHP | 2

  • MLB Top 100: #81

  • Baseball America Top 100: #42

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #44

• Victor Mesa Jr. | OF | 4

• Javier Sanoja | OF/SS/2B | 17

• Troy Johnston | 1B | 19

• Anthony Maldonado | RHP | 20

• Will Banfield | C | 30

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Altoona Curve: 20-37

Last week: 4-2

Opponent: Erie (Tigers)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .747

• OPS Rank: 2nd of 12

• Team ERA: 3.11

• ERA Rank: 2nd of 12

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Quick Overview:

The Altoona Curve have been winning a little more lately, but unfortunately, they’re still the worst team in the Eastern League by a margin of five games. After a 4-2 week, they’ll battle against the Erie Seawolves, who are in contention for the Southwest Division lead. The Detroit Tigers Double-A affiliate isn’t particularly loaded with prospects. Still, they’re having a rather dominating season, leading the league in run differential — +72 runs — by a very wide margin, whereas the Curve is the complete opposite by having the worst run differential — (-)73 runs — by a wide margin.

The top Tigers prospect on the Tigers affiliate is once again Jackson Jobe, who has unfortunately been on the shelf since early May and is unlikely to make an appearance as he has yet to make a rehab start. The next highest-ranked prospect, Troy Melton, has run into a bit of a rough stretch, including a May 23rd start where he surrendered six runs (four earned) to the Curve in 1.1 IP.

It’ll be interesting to see if a starter is promoted to backfill Ashcraft’s rotation spot, possibly Hunter Barco, Derek Diamond, or Dominic Perachi.

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• Jackson Jobe (7-Day IL) | RHP | 1

  • MLB Top 100: #9

  • Baseball America Top 100: #6

  • ESPN Top 100: #7

  • Fangraphs Top 100: #13

• Troy Melton | RHP | 10

• Hao-Yu Lee | 2B | 13

• Tyler Mattison (Full-Season IL) | RHP | 26

• Trei Cruz | OF/INF | 29

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Greensboro Grasshoppers: 31-25

Last Week: 2-4

Opponent: Winston-Salem (White Sox)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .683

• OPS Rank: 7th of 12

• Team ERA: 4.94

• ERA Rank: 11th of 12

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Quick Overview:

Down in High-A, the Greensboro Grasshoppers had an opportunity to add to their division lead but, unfortunately, went the other way. They now sit a half-game behind the Jersey Shore Blueclaws after a 2-4 week, including a four-game losing streak. The Winston-Salem Dash doesn’t have an exciting roster, but they’re only one game under .500 and will look to help continue the Hoppers’ slide.

I think we probably won’t see anyone moved up from the High-A roster until the conclusion of the first half, so it’ll be interesting to check the transaction log before the series. The Chicago White Sox affiliate moved budding LHP prospect Noah Schultz up to Double-A, which leaves Samuel Zavala as the highest-ranked top-30 prospect, sitting at 6th. He’s had a rough season at 19, with a .661 OPS through 50 games.

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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: 25-32

Last Week: 4-2

Opponent: Dunedin (Blue Jays)

Opponent Stats:

• Team OPS: .685

• OPS Rank: 5th of 10

• Team ERA: 4.08

• ERA Rank: 8th of 10

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Quick Overview:

Just as it was the last time the two faced off, the initial listing of prospects for the Dunedin Blue Jays gives a reason to be excited till checking the health of said prospects. Brandon Barriera and Landen Maroudis are on the Full-Season injured list. The 2023 first-round pick, Arjun Nimmala, was added to the Development List before the previous matchup. He was recently assigned to the Florida Complex League team, where he’s batting .143 with a .500 OBP. So, I think it’s safe to say he likely won’t be moved back up to the full-season squad this week.

That leaves rehabber Damiano Palmegiani as the highest-ranking prospect at 14th. He has been with the Toronto Blue Jays Low-A affiliate for a little over a week, and with substantial upper-level experience and a 1.084 OPS in six games, it wouldn’t be surprising if his rehab is moved up a level or two before the series begins.

After the top three, that would bring us to Juaron Watts-Brown, a college pitcher drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft. The last time he faced the Bradenton Marauders, he threw four innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out eight.

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• Brandon Barriera (Full-Season IL) | LHP | 4

• Landen Maroudis (Full-Season IL) | RHP | 12

• Damiano Palmegiani (Rehab Assignment) | 3B/1B | 14

• Juaron Watts-Brown | RHP | 18

• Tucker Toman | SS/3B | 20

• Fernando Perez | RHP | 24

• Yhoangel Aponte | OF | 25

• Manuel Beltre | SS | 27

• T.J. Brock (Rehab Assignment) | RHP | 29

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Eddy Rodriguez adding 'toughness' to Bradenton lineup