Minor League round up, Sept. 16

All eight of the San Francisco Giants affiliates were in action on Thursday, so let’s dive straight in.

Link to the 2021 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

All listed positions are the positions played in that game.

AAA Sacramento (48-64)

Sacramento River Cats lost to the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 6-4
Box score

Let’s hope the Giants don’t go the way of their AAA affiliate, because this was Sacramento’s fifth consecutive loss.

Despite the loss, it was a decent showing from LHP Scott Kazmir, who allowed 5 hits and 0 walks in 6 innings, with 3 earned runs and 6 strikeouts. Kazmir has been rumored to return to the MLB rotation lately, but the Giants have understandably opted for bullpen games instead. But with him putting together a nice start, they may feel more comfortable if another starter gets injured, or the bullpen seems overtaxed.

Not pitching so well was RHP Reyes Moronta, and unfortunately that’s been a trend lately. In 0.2 innings, Moronta allowed 2 hits, 2 walks, and 3 earned runs, and simply hasn’t found his groove since an early season injury. Moronta started the season in the Majors, was injured after just 4 innings, and since returning from injury has a 7.98 ERA. Most concerning is the walks: in 14.2 innings Moronta has issued 18 free passes, against just 13 strikeouts.

The offense didn’t do much, but third baseman Wyatt Mathisen hit 2-4 with yet another home run. He has 4 home runs in 52 plate appearances since the organization signed him to a Minor League contract, and has a .965 OPS during that time.

Also a nice game for recently-optioned shortstop Mauricio Dubón, who hit 1-3 with a double and 2 walks, raising his AAA OPS to .868. And some nice defensive plays by first baseman Jason Vosler and catcher Chadwick Tromp.

AA Richmond (56-54)

Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) 3-0
Box score

Pretty much no offense for Richmond, as they recorded 5 hits and 0 walks. Center fielder Vince Fernandez was the only Flying Squirrel to reach base twice, as he hit 2-4, while second baseman Mitchell Tolman’s double was the team’s only extra-base hit.

RHP Aaron Blair gave up just 2 earned runs in 5 innings, but struck out only 2 of the 21 batters he faced. RHP Gerson Garabito struck out 5 batters in 2.1 innings while allowing a run, bringing his ERA to 4.30, and giving him 44 strikeouts to 15 walks in 44 innings.

Boring game!

High-A Eugene (66-50)

Eugene Emeralds lost to the Tri-City Dust Devils (Angels) 3-1
Box score

Another rough offensive performance, which spoiled an absolute gem of a start by RHP Kai-Wei Teng (No. 18 CPL), who has been brilliant lately. Teng went 7 strong innings, allowing just 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run, while striking out 12 batters.

Here’s his line over his last 2 starts: 13 innings, 6 hits, 2 walks, 2 hit batters, 2 earned runs, 25 strikeouts. He has 142 strikeouts to 53 walks in 95.2 innings, and looks more than ready for AA, where I’m assuming he’ll start the 2022 season.

Unfortunately for Teng, RHP Solomon Bates allowed 2 earned runs in the 8th inning, sending the Emeralds to a loss.

The offense mustered just a single run and no extra-base hits, but four different hitters reached base multiple times. Catcher Ricardo Genovés (No. 29 CPL) had 2 hits, raising his OPS to .658, while shortstop Marco Luciano (No. 1 CPL), first baseman Sean Roby (No. 32 CPL), and designated hitter Brett Auerbach all had a single and a walk, with Luciano’s OPS moving to .581, Roby’s to .782, and Auerbach’s to .873.

Low-A San Jose (74-43)

San Jose Giants lost to the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) 7-6 (10 innings)
Box score

The Baby Giants finally lost, snapping a seven-game winning streak. But another strong offensive showing put them at 78 runs for their last eight games, which is something impressive.

They sure tried to win though, as they entered the 8th inning trailing 6-2 and put up a game-tying 4-spot, thanks in large part to a bases loaded, bases-clearing triple from center fielder Grant McCray (No. 26 CPL), who now has a .692 OPS.

It was a great day for second baseman Jimmy Glowenke (No. 34 CPL), who hit 2-4 with a triple, a double, and a walk, bumping his OPS up to .796. And catcher Patrick Bailey (No. 8 CPL) continues to find his swing, hitting 2-5 to move his OPS to .972.

The pitching, however, struggled. But it was a nice relief appearance from RHP Wilkelma Castillo, who allowed 0 hits, 1 walk, and 0 runs in 2 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Castillo has a 3.69 ERA, with 46 strikeouts to 18 walks in 39 innings.

ACL Orange (35-22)

ACL Giants Orange beat the Brewers Gold 1-0 (7 innings)
Box score

Even in a seven-inning game a shutout is fun and worth celebrating. All the work was done by two pitchers: LHP Nomar Medina (18, 2020 J2), and RHP Willian Suarez (23, 2015 J2). Medina went 5 strong innings, allowing 4 hits and 0 walks, while recording 2 strikeouts to lower his ERA to 2.50, and give him 38 strikeouts to 14 walks in 36 innings. Suarez struck out 3 in 2 innings without allowing a baserunner, dropping his ERA to 4.55 and giving him 38 strikeouts to 17 walks in 27.2 innings.

All the offense came from left fielder George Bell (23, 2018 13th round), whose solo home run was the only run scored by either team, and gave him a .660 OPS. Center fielder Vaun Brown (23, 2021 10th round) had a 2-hit day to give him a 1.119 OPS, as his debut season continues to be stellar.

ACL Black (28-29)

ACL Giants Black beat the Brewers Blue 9-2 (7 innings)
Box score

Scoring 9 runs in a short game is always an exciting thing, and it was another nice day at the office for catcher Rayner Santana (No. 41 CPL, 19, 2018 J2), who hit 2-4 with a home run to raise his OPS to .740. Also a star offensive showing from right fielder Jared Dupere (22, 2021 13th round), who hit 2-4 with a double and a walk, raising his debut-season OPS to .800.

And 2-hit days for left fielder Victor Bericoto (19, 2018 J2) and third baseman Jean Pena (20, 2017 J2).

Recent draftee LHP Matt Mikulski (22, 2021 2nd round) made the start, pitching 2 hitless, scoreless innings, while walking 2 and striking out 1. RHP Jason Bonilla (23, 2018 J2) struck out all 3 batters he faced in the 9th inning, giving him 37 strikeouts to 15 walks in 20 innings.

DSL Orange (19-22)

DSL Giants Orange lost to Colorado 3-1 (7 innings)
Box score

Yet another rough offensive showing, with the Giants Orange squad registering just 4 hits and 0 walks. First baseman Wueslly Lespe (18, 2019 J2) tripled in the team’s only run, giving him an OPS of .761 and making him the only notable player in the lineup.

The pitching was much better, though RHP Rolfi Jimenez (18, 2019 J2) had one of his rougher starts of the year, which just highlights how strong of a season he’s having. Jimenez pitched 5 innings, and allowed 5 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs, with 4 strikeouts. On the year he has a 1.73 ERA, though he has just 33 strikeouts to 11 walks in 41.2 innings.

RHP Luis Yepez (19, 2019 J2) pitched a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts, which was a standout performance in an otherwise rough year for him.

DSL Black (18-22)

DSL Giants Black lost to the Cubs Red 9-4 (7 innings)
Box score

Just a bad pitching day all around for the Giants Black team, but at least the offense was strong, with 10 hits on the day. Shortstop Yeison Lemos (19, 2019 J2) doubled and drew a walk, bumping his OPS up to .712.

There were 2-hit days for a trio of Giants: Gustavo Cardoza (17, 2020 J2), who hit 2-5 to raise his OPS to .778; third baseman Elian Rayo (18, 2019 J2), who hit 2-4 to raise his OPS to .858; and designated hitter Onil Perez (19, 2019 J2), who hit 2-4 to raise his OPS to .932. A nice season for the catcher.

Home runs

AAA Wyatt Mathison (6)
ACL George Bell (4)
ACL Rayner Santana (4)

Friday schedule

Sacramento: vs. Las Vegas Aviators, 7:05 p.m. PT
Richmond: @ Erie SeaWolves, 3:05 p.m. PT
Eugene: vs. Tri-City Dust Devils, 7:05 p.m. PT
San Jose: @ Fresno Grizzlies, 6:50 p.m. PT
ACL Orange: vs. Brewers Blue
ACL Black: vs. Angels
DSL Orange: vs. Colorado
DSL Black: vs. Cubs Red