Trade 3
Texas acquired LHP Andrew Chafin for RHP Chase Lee and RHP Joseph Montalvo. Texas also designated RHP Jonathan Hernandez for assignment.
Chase Lee returned to Round Rock at the end of June. In eight appearances covering 10.2 innings, Lee has a 1.69 ERA but a line of .273/.373/.364. He’s avoided dangerous contact but has been walk-prone, although his overall strike rate has been fine. Lee is eligible for the Rule 5 draft if unprotected. I wouldn’t expect him to be protected in the fall, which is not to say he has no shot at the Majors. Indeed, he could be in Detroit before then. Lee is the type who probably needs a hot streak in AAA and/or an opening to get the call, after which he could an up-and-down reliever or, if all goes well, steady middle relief.
I wrote about Montalvo yesterday. He’s a legitimate starting pitcher candidate, albeit with a wide gap between present state and ceiling.
The deal seems reasonable. The Rangers gave up a couple of guys who might reach the Majors, but any significant contribution at that level is far from assured.
The surprise, I suppose, is designating Hernandez for assignment. In case you’ve forgotten, Hernandez is out of options. Regarding relievers, a theme of these reports is consistency. One can visit a Triple A park on any given night and see a reliever with MLB-worthy stuff, maybe even better than some relievers you see on tv. The problem is they look the part only half the time or thereabouts. In other appearances, they’re getting themselves into trouble, and wriggling out is so much harder at the MLB level. They just can’t be trusted, and they don’t get the call. Hernandez got the call years ago, but in other respects he’s fitted that description lately. Hernandez has ERAs of 5.40 and 5.05 the past two seasons, and while ERA is often a dubious stat for relievers, in this case I think it encapsulates his performance pretty well. Despite closer-worthy stuff, his inconsistency became too much to bear. That said, if I’m a GM on another team and have room, I’m certainly contemplating a waiver claim.
Also, Texas traded recently designated IF Davis Wendzel to the Reds for cash.
Review Follow-Up
The first comment I received about yesterday’s prospect review was “this report makes me want to go drink.” I get it. I had many more downs than ups. And, to be clear, my opinion is 2024 hasn’t been a great year for the farm overall. However, I want to offer some thoughts to leaven what might have come across as overly pessimistic.
The very nature of professional baseball is going to produce more downs than ups. Most prospects don’t pan out. Most prospects can’t pan out. There isn’t room. Each club has up to 165 domestic minor leaguers (plus more in injured lists, plus the DSL roster), only 26 spots on an MLB roster, fewer still in starting roles. Thus, at some point, the down arrow arrives for most prospects. Also, injured players almost categorically receive down grades.
“Down” does not equal “done.” Had I performed this exercise in late July of 2022, I would have had no better than a “down slightly” on Cody Bradford, who’d been hammered for much of the season in AA and sported a 6.26 ERA. Less than a year later, he was unhittable in AAA and making his MLB debut. Performances and outlooks can change in a hurry.
One issue might be the nature of my grading. For example, Gleider Figuereo leads the organization in homers and is at a higher level than when the season started, but I rated him “even.” That’s because he’s had the quality of season I more-or-less envisioned. In my head, anybody on a top-30 list is already fairly well regarded, so in that respect, continued progress is the baseline for an “even” rating. In retrospect, perhaps an “up slightly” grade is deserved for Figuereo, and some of my grades might be too harsh.
The review was limited to whoever appeared on the MLB list a few months ago. Unmentioned were Alejandro Rosario, Winston Santos, Skylar Hales, some rookie-league standouts, several others who might have caught your eye.
Others Released
RHP Collin Wiles — Texas’s 2013 supplemental first-rounder had joined to assist a shorthanded Round Rock in April, was injured, and then pitched in Arizona for a while.
RHP Michael Reed — 29-year-old converted outfielder struck out 38 but walked/hit 32 in 28.2 innings.
RHP Brendan Morse — Last year’s 18-rounder out of Niagara County Community College, allowed 79 runners in 34.1 innings at the complex.
RHP Logan Bursick-Harrington — 23, undrafted out of Davenport University (MI, not IA), 38 runners in 18 innings in Arizona.
RHP Biembenido Brito — The 21-year-old has been around a while and struck out near;y a third of his opponents, but control was a persistent problem.
RHP Jackson Leath — 2021 12th-rounder found occasional success at Down East and Hickory but spent most of 2024 on the shelf, threw two innings in Arizona.
C Efrenyer Narvaez — In the US since 2021, couldn’t take advantage of an extended look in Down East in 2022, hadn’t played very often since.
IF Marco Soto — organizational acquisition from the Phils for C Jose Godoy, an offseason signing.
I can’t recall Texas ever releasing so many players in late July. Two reasons: 1) the new 165-man domestic minor league roster limit. Texas has signed 18 draft picks and at least four others recently. Somebody has to create room for them. 2) The rookie season ended three days ago instead of late August.
Other Moves
To Round Rock: LHP Walter Pennington (trade), IF Frainyer Chavez (from Frisco), C Andrew Knizer (optioned), IF Justin Foscue (optioned), IF Jonathan Ornelas (optioned)
To Frisco: LHP Mitch Bratt (from Hickory), OF Luis Mieses (from Hickory)
To Hickory: RHP Izack Tiger (from Down East), 1B Arturo Disla (from Down East)
To Down East: LHP Thomas Ireland, RHP Kyle Larsen, OF Yeremi Cabrera, OF Jose De Jesus, 1B Pablo Guerrero (all from AZ)
Time To Fetch My Dueling Glove
Per Jamey Newberg: “According to Scott Lucas, the Rangers are promoting first baseman Arturo Disla to High-A Hickory. He’s fun. Arturo, that is.”
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 7, Sugar Land (HOU) 1
Round Rock: 9 hits, 8 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 14-13, 4.5 GB, 51-50 overall
SP Tim Brennan: 1.2 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 3 R, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 49 P / 22 S, 4.43 ERA
3B Andrew Knapp: 2-4, 2B, .290/.370/.435
In 1,143 games in 14 years across the pros, college, winter and summer leagues, Andrew Knapp had played one game at third base. He doubled that figure last night. That plus Frainyer Chavez up from Frisco to play second gives the impression that recently optioned Justin Foscue and Jonathan Ornelas were only nominally active. Knapp handled a couple of grounders without incident.
AA: Frisco 4, @ San Antonio (SDP) 2
Frisco: 11 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 3 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 17-11, 1 GB, 61-36 overall
SP Ben Anderson: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 81 P / 54 S, 3.75 ERA
RP Skylar Hales: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 2.08 ERA
RP Robbie Ahlstrom: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1.90 ERA
RP Seth Clark: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.27 ERA
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 3-5, 2B, .262/.312/.397
1B Josh Hatcher: 3-4, .292/.338/.434
RF Alejandro Osuna: 2-4, 2B, .317/.418/.573
LF Aaron Zavala: 1-2, 3 BB, .217/.336/.300
Frisco scored on two sac flies, a fielder’s (understandable but incorrect) choice, and Cooper Johnson’s 10th-inning RBI single, the team’s first hit with a runner in scoring position. Ben Anderson pitched a gem. Skylar Hales, Robby Ahlstrom, and Seth Clark split three perfect innings and struck out seven.
Hi-A: suspended
Completed today.
Lo-A: Down East 9, @ Augusta (ATL) 5
Down East: 10 hits, 3 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 7 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 15-15, 4.5 GB, 50-45 overall
SP Paul Bonzagni: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 10 SO, 87 P / 51 S, 3.68 ERA
RP Victor Simeon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2.38 ERA
SS Echedry Vargas: 2-4, HR (10), HBP, SB (19), .264/.317/.435
1B Pablo Guerrero: 1-3, 2B, BB
LF Marcos Torres: 2-4, 2 HR (6)
12 days ago, Paul Bonzagni’s high in strikeouts was six. He fanned nine last week and ten last night. He also walked a career-high four, but let the man have his moment. Two weeks ago, Bonzagni had a 21% K rate, not bad but lower than the league rate of 25%.
CF Jose De Jesus was 1-5, and RF Yememi Cabrera went 0-3 with a walk, HBP, and steal. As part of the Arizona Complex League’s best offense, De Jesus batted .335/.407/.455 with 21 steals. Cabrera was .201/.438/.571 with a team-best nine homers and 40 walks, and he swiped 17 bases. The two were also co-leaders with five triples. Vlad’s son spent only three ACL games on the grass versus 36 at first and another 13 at DH. He hit .301/.367/.522 with seven homers and 17 other extra-base hits.
Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD
AA: Acker
Hi-A: Rosario
Lo-A: TBD
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Frisco’s SS Yonny Hernandez improved to .294/.412/.353 with two singles and a walk. Milwaukee released him from AAA Nashville yesterday.