Morning Rundown Weekly MiLB Preview: Short Week after All-Star Break

Three-game series this weekend for full-season affiliates

Photo Credit: WTM

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Indianapolis Indians: 55-37

Last Week: 5-1

Opponent: Nashville (Brewers)

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Quick Overview:

Indianapolis Indians have been rolling in the second half, getting off to a 13-5 start. They take on the Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds, who are 9-9. Luckily, the Indians will miss Jacob Misiorowski, who is currently in the majors.

Sitting fifth on the Brewers’ top 30 list is catcher and Top 100 Prospect Jeferson Quero. The 22-year-old Venezuelan catcher debuted in Triple-A during the 2024 season, but suffered a torn labrum injury one game into the year. Fully recovered, he currently has a .710 OPS in 25 games with the Sounds. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft, is Brewers’ 6th-ranked prospect and top 100 ascending right-hander Logan Henderson. He has actually made four starts in the MLB this season, with his last being five innings with one earned run against the Pirates back in May. With Nashville, he has pitched 68.2 IP with a 3.01 ERA, and 80 strikeouts to go with 20 walks.

Another player with some big league experience, and at one point a top 100 prospect, is infielder Tyler Black. He was activated off the injured list back in June, but hasn’t been able to find his way back to MLB with only a .568 OPS in 22 games for the Sounds.

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Opposing Prospects

• Jeferson Quero | C | 5

  • Pipeline Top 100: #68

  • Baseball America Top 100: #45

• Logan Henderson | RHP | 6

  • Pipeline Top 100: #89

  • Baseball America Top 100: #92

• Tyler Black | 1B | 10

• Craig Yoho | RHP | 19

• Ernesto Martinez Jr. | 1B | 30

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Altoona Curve: 41-45

Last Week: 2-4

Opponent: Akron (Guardians)

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Quick Overview:

The Altoona Curve, unfortunately, ran into the buzzsaw known as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in their last series. They were able to take two of six and maintain a share of the division lead with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, who’ve now caught them.

This week, the Curve will face the Akron RubberDucks. The Cleveland Guardians’ Double-A affiliate only has three top 30 prospects, although first-ranked prospect Travis Bazzana may find himself back with the team this week after finishing up his rehab stint in the complex league. Until then, the top-ranked prospect is Angel Genao, who himself has spent a chunk of the season on the injured list. Playing in 33 games, he is slashing .252/.362/.43 on the year, with four homers and 17 RBI.

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• Angel Genao | INF | 3

  • Pipeline Top 100: #49

  • Baseball America Top 100: #32

  • ESPN Top 100: #37

• Cooper Ingle | C | 8

• Khalil Watson | OF | 28

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Greensboro Grasshoppers: 60-26

Last Week: 4-2

Opponent: Winston-Salem (White Sox)

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Quick Overview:

Much like the first half, the Greensboro Grasshoppers can’t stop winning, and they also haven’t been able to create much distance between themselves and second overall in the South Atlantic League North division race.

This week, they take on Winston-Salem Dash, who currently have the worst record in the SAL this half. He isn’t taking the league by storm, but I'm still kind of surprised Chicago White Sox third-ranked prospect Braden Montgomery is still with the High-A affiliate. He is coming off taking part in the Future’s Game, along with Konnor Griffin (but in the other dugout). Sam Antonacci continues to have a strong year, collecting 29 RBI while walking more times (39) than he has struck out (37).

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• Braden Montgomery | OF | 3

  • Pipeline Top 100: #31

  • Baseball America Top 100: #52

• Christian Oppor | LHP | 16

• Jeral Perez | 2B/SS | 18

• Aldrin Batista (7-Day IL) | RHP | 22

• Sam Antonacci | 2B/SS | 26

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Bradenton Marauders: 40-46

Last Week: 1-5

Opponent: Jupiter (Marlins)

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Quick Overview:

A week ago, the Bradenton Marauders were one game away from achieving a .500 record for the season, but then went 1-5 and dropped six games under. Fortunately, their 10-10 second-half record still has them sitting first in line to capitalize if the Lakeland Flying Tigers capture the crown in both halves. There really isn’t a huge spread in the Florida State League, aside from St. Lucie (last series opponent) and Lakeland, so the Marauders are 5.5 games back of division lead, but only one game ahead of Tampa and 4.5 games ahead of Dunedin who are in the cellar at 4-13.

The Jupiter Hammerheads boast nine of the Miami Marlins’ top 30 prospects, per Pipeline. PJ Morlando (16th overall) and Carter Johnson (56th overall) were their first two selections of the 2024 MLB Draft, out of the prep ranks. Morlando has spent a good portion of the season bouncing between the injured list and rehabbing, but has put together an .800 OPS in 24 games with Jupiter. Carter Johnson has not had a strong start to his professional career, with a .532 OPS in 74 games, and needs to see some improvement in his swing decisions and contact rates. Stalyn Caba is the highest-ranked player on the roster and the lone top-100 representative, but he has a sub-.500 OPS in 22 games for Jupiter.

Cam Clayton is an interesting name, a draft-eligible sophomore in the 2023 MLB Draft whom I wanted the Pirates to pick. He chose to return to Washington University, had a down year, and was then drafted in the 14th round by the Marlins in the 2024 MLB Draft. The recently turned 23-year-old shortstop has a .806 OPS in 38 games with the Hammerheads.

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• Starlyn Caba | SS | 2

  • Pipeline Top 100: #76

• Andrew Salas | SS | 6

• PJ Morlando | OF | 7

• Dillon Head | OF | 8

• Carter Johnson | SS | 9

• Keyner Benitez | LHP | 15

• Andrews Valor | OF | 17

• Abrahan Ramirez | 3B/2B | 19

• Liomar Martinez | RHP | 29

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