It does appear he is throwing from a slightly higher arm slot. Still lower than what is considered 'average' but it is higher than what it was when he spent that brief time in Bradenton last year
Unless I am mistaken, he has 4BB and only 3K in 47 PA at A+, following starting at A with 15 BB and 53K - about 3.5K to every Walk. Rivas had 14K, 0 BB in 35 PA last year at A+, and has done much better this year. However, doing better means very little with a 19 year old like KG at the same position and putting up numbers we Pirate fans have rarely seen.
The numbers of others at the lower levels such as the Catchers Omar Alfonzo, Axiel Plaz, and Richard Ramirez and OF's Esmerlyn Valdez, Edward Florentino, and MI's KG, and Wyatt Sanford have also been impressive for Pirate youngsters. There are others, and I hope the Pirates are turning the corner on development of drafting/signing better hitting prospects and then having the coaches in place to further proper development. I like the Manager at A+, and we should be looking for somebody very similar for the job at AA.
This is what I found so foolish about Law. This is a teenager in the first weeks of his career and you treat week one and week six like it’s all the same thing. You have to watch a guy like this day by day. Wish I still could — streaming just ain’t the same as sitting a row or two behind home plate.
If he continues hitting near what he is currently hitting he should be in Altoona after the All-Star break and no later. It is possible High A has little to teach him. The playoffs mean nothing to his development if he is too good to be there. If the league figures him out a bit and he needs to adjust, then, fine, keep him there, but, if not, promote. The goal is to get him to MLB as soon as he is ready. If that is this year or early next year then great. Minor league baseball only exists to serve the major league team.
Dotel is still young for AA in that he will not turn 23 until Sep 25th, and has advanced quickly after being an IFA Signing at age 18. 15 Starts and 78.2 IP in A at BRD, 25 Starts and 106 IP for GBO last year in A+, and is through 13 Starts at AA with 61 IP, so very possible to reach 120 IP in 2025. I do not think he has gone beyond 95 pitches in any start, and has a perfect pitchers build of 6'3" 180. Lots of Velo and getting better every day - No. 18 BoD Prospect in 2025.
Esmerlyn Valdez, 21, at GBO leads the Sally League in OPS - .999, Slugging - .603, HR - 17, and RBI - 47. For his power he has some very decent BB/K numbers of 10.5% BB/24% K. As a RH hitter he hits RHP at .945 and LHP at 1.214. Is it GBO numbers? Does not seem so in that he is hitting for a 1.018 OPS at Home, and a .982 OPS on the Road. One more game at GBO and then Altoona!
Thing is they play away games at parks that are also very juicy for HRs, but when Valdez is hitting it out, they aren't just clearing the fence. He hits absolute nukes.
Velo is on the broadcast for Altoona. but I only use the velo from baseball savant for the leaderboards. Hard to keep track of every pitch on the broadcast and then sometimes those readings aren’t 100% accurate.
So I only use Baseball Savant, which will only have the Pirates, Indianapolis and Bradenton
Zander Mueth about to make a rehab start in FCL.
DKPS with a good article about KG. May help explain why some folks underestimated his hit tool.
Someone posted Solometo has changed his delivery significantly. Any truth to that Wilbur?
It does appear he is throwing from a slightly higher arm slot. Still lower than what is considered 'average' but it is higher than what it was when he spent that brief time in Bradenton last year
Sorry, didn’t get to that one.
Greensboro with 12 Ks as a team and KG was not one of them.
Unless I am mistaken, he has 4BB and only 3K in 47 PA at A+, following starting at A with 15 BB and 53K - about 3.5K to every Walk. Rivas had 14K, 0 BB in 35 PA last year at A+, and has done much better this year. However, doing better means very little with a 19 year old like KG at the same position and putting up numbers we Pirate fans have rarely seen.
The numbers of others at the lower levels such as the Catchers Omar Alfonzo, Axiel Plaz, and Richard Ramirez and OF's Esmerlyn Valdez, Edward Florentino, and MI's KG, and Wyatt Sanford have also been impressive for Pirate youngsters. There are others, and I hope the Pirates are turning the corner on development of drafting/signing better hitting prospects and then having the coaches in place to further proper development. I like the Manager at A+, and we should be looking for somebody very similar for the job at AA.
Kinda surprised that Rivas didn't have a strikeout either.
His K rate there so far is 7.1%. I’m running out of words here.
I'll give you two words: Fucking Beast!
Since the beginning of May, his k rate is just over 15% and walk rate is just over 7%.
Pretty big change since April, k rate 29.7% walk rate at 6.3%.
So far in June, k rate 9.7% walk rate 12.5%
This is what I found so foolish about Law. This is a teenager in the first weeks of his career and you treat week one and week six like it’s all the same thing. You have to watch a guy like this day by day. Wish I still could — streaming just ain’t the same as sitting a row or two behind home plate.
Speaking of Law, he posted his 2015 biggest misses article, which includes Kevin Newman (of course). So everyone can get all mad about that again.
Yep, Griffin is showing the most important traits, he's adapting and adjusting. With his physical skills and abilities already elite.
Keith Law may need to take note.
If he keeps on trucking, he'll finish up in Altoona. I'd like to sit behind the dish and watch his SS defense.
I bet he's better than IKF.
Low hanging fruit
If GBO makes the playoffs, I suspect he will stay for that. If they don’t, I suspect he will move to Altoona for the last week or two of the season.
Man, I'd love to think that doesn't matter when developing prospects. Then again, they may want him to experience a playoff run as a professional.
They’ve put a value on that under every GM going way back. The players DO get into it.
It totally makes sense if they belong at that level, but other than that I don’t see value in it.
If he continues hitting near what he is currently hitting he should be in Altoona after the All-Star break and no later. It is possible High A has little to teach him. The playoffs mean nothing to his development if he is too good to be there. If the league figures him out a bit and he needs to adjust, then, fine, keep him there, but, if not, promote. The goal is to get him to MLB as soon as he is ready. If that is this year or early next year then great. Minor league baseball only exists to serve the major league team.
Great points. He can experience the playoffs in Pittsburgh.
The post-Cherington era can’t arrive too soon.
Fingers crossed these young dudes at GBO are the real deal!
Greensboro is 1/2 game back, and the first half ends tonight.
Dotel is still young for AA in that he will not turn 23 until Sep 25th, and has advanced quickly after being an IFA Signing at age 18. 15 Starts and 78.2 IP in A at BRD, 25 Starts and 106 IP for GBO last year in A+, and is through 13 Starts at AA with 61 IP, so very possible to reach 120 IP in 2025. I do not think he has gone beyond 95 pitches in any start, and has a perfect pitchers build of 6'3" 180. Lots of Velo and getting better every day - No. 18 BoD Prospect in 2025.
Esmerlyn Valdez, 21, at GBO leads the Sally League in OPS - .999, Slugging - .603, HR - 17, and RBI - 47. For his power he has some very decent BB/K numbers of 10.5% BB/24% K. As a RH hitter he hits RHP at .945 and LHP at 1.214. Is it GBO numbers? Does not seem so in that he is hitting for a 1.018 OPS at Home, and a .982 OPS on the Road. One more game at GBO and then Altoona!
Thing is they play away games at parks that are also very juicy for HRs, but when Valdez is hitting it out, they aren't just clearing the fence. He hits absolute nukes.
Guessing the radar was off as Dotel certainly would have been on the velo leaderboard.
Velo is on the broadcast for Altoona. but I only use the velo from baseball savant for the leaderboards. Hard to keep track of every pitch on the broadcast and then sometimes those readings aren’t 100% accurate.
So I only use Baseball Savant, which will only have the Pirates, Indianapolis and Bradenton
No velo, EV, etc., in the SAL that I know of.