The minor league season is quickly drawing to a close. This week we’ll take a look at how each team is faring in their division races and how some of the players are doing for each of the teams this season.
AAA Louisville Bats
The Bats currently stand at 63-75 on the season and in 3rd place in the International League West. They are eliminated from playoff contention. The Bats have 5 games remaining and play their final game next Monday, 09/07.
2B Irving Falu, .270/.339/.355/.693, who is 32 years old leads the Bats with 501 PA. IF/OF Hernan Iribarren, .254/.323/.306/.629, who is 31 years old is 2nd on the Bats with 438 PA.
It appears that Brandon Finnegan, David Holmberg, Josh Smith, and Robert Stephenson will all get one more start at AAA before being considered for September call-ups. Tony Cingrani made a relief appearance last night and allowed 1 H and 0 BB with 3 K in 1 IP.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
The Blue Wahoos currently stand at 61-72 on the season and in 4th place in the Southern League South. They finished 25-43 (5th) in the first half and are 36-29 (1st) in the second half. They will qualify for the playoffs if they can hold off the three teams that trail them, all within 2.5 games of the Blue Wahoos. The Blue Wahoos have 5 regular season games remaining and play their final game next Monday, 09/07.
OF Jesse Winker’s slash line is .277/.384/.430/.814. One has to wonder if the Reds may have held off promoting Winker to AAA to help the Blue Wahoos playoff chances.
LH SP Cody Reed now has a 2.47 ERA over 7 GS for the Blue Wahoos. RH SP Tim Adleman has a 2.43 ERA over 144.2 IP.
High A Daytona Tortugas
The Tortugas currently stand at 73-58 on the season and in 2nd place in the Florida State League North. They finished 37-33 (2nd) in the first half and are 36-25 (2nd) in the second half. They have clinched a spot for the playoffs and will face Clearwater in a three game series beginning 09/08. The Tortugas have 4 regular season games remaining and play their final game next Sunday, 09/06.
OF Sebastian Elizalde (.253/.312/.398/.710) may have had a promotion delayed by his teams playoff chances as well. OF Brian O’Grady (.211/.319/.350/.669) who started off very slow after his promotion to A+ now has his OPS above the FSL Average OPS of .651.
Starting pitchers Amir Garrett (2.44), Nick Travieso (2.89), and Keury Mella (2.95) lead the Tortugas rotation and should be a big plus for them in their upcoming playoff series.
Low A Dayton Dragons
The Dragons currently stand at 69-65 on the season and in 5th place in the Midwest League Eastern. They finished 39-31 (3rd) in the first half and are 30-34 (5th) in the second half. They are eliminated from playoff contention. The Dragons have 5 games remaining and play their final game next Monday, 09/07.
2B Shedric Long, .267/.344/.422/.767, has been hitting well for the Dragons.
RHP Jake Pauson has a 2.71 ERA in 109.2 IP (32 G, 13 GS) with a 1.08 WHIP and 89 K.
Rookie Billings Mustangs
The Mustangs currently stand at 32-37 on the season and in 3rd place in the Pioneer League North. They finished 17-20 (3rd) in the first half and are 15-17 (3rd) in the second half. It appears that they are currently one game back from qualifying for a wild card spot for the playoffs. The Mustangs have 6 games remaining and play their final game next Tuesday, 09/08.
OF Reydel Medina (.240/.306/.485/.790) leads the Mustangs with 12 HR and with 13 SB. OF Kevin Garcia, .315/.397/.388/.785, has a very good OBP.
RH SP Jose Lopez (3.42), RH SP Franderlyn Romero (3.58), and LH SP Jacob Constante (3.90) currently lead the Mustangs rotation.
Rookie AZL Reds
The Reds finished at 27-29 on the season and in 3rd place in the Arizona League Central. They finished 12-16 (4th) in the first half and 15-13 (2nd) in the second half. They did not qualify for the playoffs. The Reds ended their season on 08/29.
Jose Siri, .246/.259/.444/.703, drew his third BB and that gave him 3 BB in 175 PA for the season. 1B James Vazquez, the AZL MVP, finished with a slash line of .359/.415/.669/1.084. AZL All Star SS Blake Butler ended with a .319/.350/.472/.823 slash line.
RH SP Ian Kahaloa has a 2.25 ERA in 24 IP. RH SP Jesus Reyes (3.40 ERA), RH SP Adrian Rodriguez (3.42 ERA), Alfredo Mena (2.83 ERA), and RH SP Wendolyn Bautista (2.60 ERA) pitched very well also.