In the Reds quest to provide us with the best draft pick possible for us to follow next year, they have grabbed a firm hold on last place in the NL Central. They now have their sites set on overtaking Colorado (1 GB), Miami (2 GB), and Philadelphia (3 GB) to obtain the number one pick next year. Meanwhile, we’ll check out what’s going on right now down on the farm.
AAA Louisville Bats
Since his demotion to AAA, RH SP Michael Lorenzen has put up a 1.13 ERA over 3 GS with 24 IP where he has allowed 14 H and 4 BB with 7 K. You would think that has to be good enough to call him back up and replace one of Sampson or Holmberg. LH SP Brandon Finnegan now has a 5.32 ERA over 6 GS for the Bats with 22 IP and allowed 22 H and 10 BB with 19 K.
Adam Duvall now has a .163/.239/.350/.589 slash line after 88 PA with the Bats and he has played LF in 16 of his 21 games there. Kyle Waldrop is struggling bad as well at AAA with a .170/.199/.214/.413 slash line in 166 PA.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Don’t look now, but OF Jesse Winker has boosted his slash line to .273/.376/.424/.800. Bear in mind that Winker has played the bulk of this season as a 21 year old where the league average age is 24 years old and league average offensive slash line is .255/.333/.375/.708.   OF Phillip Ervin (.242/.338/.375/.713 at A+) is off to a very hot start over his first 23 PA at AAA with a .353/.522/.824/1.345 slash line. SS/2B Alex Blandino has struggled with a .173/.292/.293/.585 line in his first 90 PA at AA.
LH SP Cody Reed now has a 3.03 ERA over 6 GS for the Blue Wahoos with 35.2 IP and allowed 32 H and 14 BB with 43 K. RH closer Zack Weiss has now recorded 23 S over 47.1 IP allowing 36 H and 14 BB with 60 K.
High A Daytona Tortugas
RH SP Nick Travieso has lowered his ERA to 2.55 since his return from the DL. RH SP Keury Mella, 2.95 ERA in 21.1 IP, has allowed 15 BB over his first four starts with the Tortugas. LH SP Seth Varner, 3.86 ERA, has thrown 46.2 IP allowing 51 H and 6 BB with 41 K since being promoted to Daytona.
With the promotions of Blandino and Ervin, OF Sebastian Elizalde (.252/.309/.399/.708) is now the teams best hitter, followed closely by 3B Taylor Sparks (.248/.299/.400/.699). SS Blake Trahan (.312/.400/.403/.803 at Billings) has just 2 H in his first 18 PA since his promotion to Daytona.
Low A Dayton Dragons
3B Gavin LaValley, .268/.342/.360/.702, leads the team with 26 2B and 103 SO. 1B Avian Rachal, .245/.342/.334/.676 has a good OBP that exceeds his SLG which is very poor for a 1B.
RH SP Tyler Mahle leads the rotation with 2.43 ERA in 141 IP. Wyatt Strahan (2.72 ERA) and Tejay Antone (2.87 ERA) round out the top half of a strong Dragons rotation. LH SP Ty Boyles (2.17 ERA at Billings) was promoted to the Dragons.
Rookie Billings Mustangs
OF Ed Charlton (.285/.347/.487/.834) leads the Mustangs on offense. 1B Kevin Franklin, .276/.341/.460/.801, leads the Mustangs with 16 2B. OF Kevin Garcia, .326/.407/.383/.790, leads the team in OBP.
RH SP Jose Lopez has a 2.79 ERA over 42 IP where he has allowed 39 H and 17 BB with 48 K. LH SP Jacob Constante has a 3.92 ERA and 50 K in 57.1 IP. RH RP Sarkis Ohanian (3.67 ERA) has 50 K in 34.1 IP.
Rookie AZL Reds
Jose Siri, .244/.253/.433/.686, drew his second BB and that gives him 2 BB in 167 PA. 1B James Vazquez leads the offense batting .359/.415/.669/1.084. Vasquez also leads the club with 9 HR. SS Blake Butler has a .314/.349/.472/.821 slash line.
RH SP Ian Kahaloa has a 2.70 ERA in 20 IP. RH SP Jesus Reyes (2.91 ERA) and RH SP Wendolyn Bautista (2.86 ERA) continue to pitch very well also. RH RP Alfredo Mena, 2.83 ERA leads the team with 4 S.