There is about two weeks left in the Minor League season and one week until the Major League rosters can expand for September call ups. Let’s hope we get to see some new faces when they expand the rosters. Let’s see what is happening down on the farm.
AAA Louisville Bats
The Bats have a 63-68 record and are in 3rd place in the International League West.
The International League hitters are averaging .254/.320/.380/.700.
OF Jesse Winker (.295/.384/.375/.758) will need to be added to the roster to be called up in September. 2B Dilson Herrera (.276/.327/.462/.790 at AAA Las Vegas) is hitting .261/.333/.435/.768 in his first 27 PA with the Bats. 3B Jermaine Curtis (.291/.404/.435/.839) and OF Steve Selsky (.277/.359/.456/.815) are both still on the DL.
The International League average ERA is 3.63.
SP Amir Garrett (3.36 ERA) has 28 BB in 56.1 IP at AAA. SP Robert Stephenson (4.66 ERA) must have some vacation plans for September as he’s doing his best to show the Reds he doesn’t deserve a call up. SP Cody Reed (3.18 ERA) is back with the Bats and trying to get his feet back under him. SP John Lamb (5.22 ERA) is still on the DL. SP Rookie Davis (7.58 ERA at AAA) has been getting rocked since his promotion from AA. RP Kevin Shackelford (2.59 ERA) has now recorded 5 S with the Bats. LH RP Wandy Peralta (2.47 ERA) would need to be added to the roster as well for a September call up.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
The Blue Wahoos have a 71-56 record and are in 1st place in the Southern League South. The Blue Wahoos are the First Half South Division Champions.
The Southern League hitters are averaging .252/.325/.369/.694.
C Chad Wallach (.241/.380/.401/.781) is hitting well in 203 PA. OF Phil Ervin (.241/.359/.407/.766) has been on a tear lately and is destined for AAA next season. 2B Brandon Dixon (.253/.304/.418/.723) is showing some power but struggling with his plate discipline. SS Zach Vincej (.276/.327/.384/.711) is besting league average as a SS. 2B Alex Blandino (.228/.326/.337/.663) is hitting .320/.414/.413/.827 in August.
The Southern League average ERA is 3.71.
SP Jackson Stephens (3.17 ERA) has put up a nice season at AA. SP Sal Romano (3.64 ERA) has been pitching very well lately. SP Nick Travieso (4.01 ERA) hopes to finish strong after returning from the DL. Barrett Astin (2.43 ERA) has pitched well in 89 IP over 34 G with 9 GS. SP Tyler Mahle (4.55) has hit a rough patch as of late. RP Alejandro Chacin (1.95 ERA) has 25 S. RH RP Abel De Los Santos (0.00) is unscored on over 17 IP since joining the club. LH RP Nick Routt (0.83 ERA) is throwing really well at AA,
High A Daytona Tortugas
The Tortugas have a 72-55 record and are in 3rd place in the Florida State League North.
The Florida State League hitters are averaging .250/.322/.357/.679.
RF Aristides Aquino (.273/.324/.523/.847) continues to hit and is destined for AA next season. OF Reydel Medina (.330/.352/.602/.954) is red hot in his first 91 PA at A+.  2B Shed Long (.337/.388/.548/.936) has made the most of his 116 PA at A+ so far. OF Juan Duran (.339/.362/.554/.916) is hitting well in 58 PA since his demotion to A+. OF Angelo Gumbs (.299/.342/.464/.806) has been impressive this season. OF/1B Brian O’Grady (.246/.379/.413/.792) is very quietly putting together a very good season at A+. 1B Gavin LaValley (.263/.322/.434/.757) continues to hit well at A+.
The Florida State League average ERA is 3.60.
SP Tejay Antone (3.43 ERA) is having a good season for the Tortugas. SP Keury Mella (3.87 ERA) has allowed 143 H and 55 BB in 125.2 IP this season. SP Jose Lopez (3.27 ERA) has been good over 22 IP since joining Daytona. LH RP Ismael Guillon (2.43 ERA) has pitched very well in 92.2 IP over 31 G with 13 GS. RP Jimmy Herget (1.76 ERA) is the closer and has 23 S. RP Ariel Hernandez (1.82 ERA) and RP Alex Powers (3.36 ERA) are pitching well out of the bullpen.
Low A Dayton Dragons
The Dragons have a 43-85 record and are in 8th place in the Midwest League Eastern.
The Midwest League hitters are averaging .249/.317/.355/.673.
3B Nick Senzel (.316/.412/.550/.961) is making a believer out of everyone so far. OF Daniel Sweet (.263/.318/.444/.762) is hitting very well over his first 108 PA at A ball. C Chris Okey (.250/.336/.469/.804) has also been very good at the plate since he was drafted. C Tyler Stephenson (.216/.278/.324/.602 ) is back on the DL will have season ending surgery on his injured wrist.
The Midwest League average ERA is 3.54.
SP Austin Orewiler (4.08 ERA) has allowed 141 H in 119 IP. SP Antonio Santillan (7.97 ERA) has allowed 20 H and 18 BB with 27 SO over 20.1 IP in his first 5 GS at Dayton. RP Jesus Reyes (2.15 ERA) has pitched very well in 75.1 IP over 27 G with 7 GS. RP Sarkis Ohanian (2.86 ERA) now has 13 S. RP Lucas Benenati (1.19 ERA) is off to a great start at A ball. RP Ryan Hendrix (2.86 ERA) is off to a good start in his first 22 IP. RP Sandy Lugo (2.72 ERA) is pitching very well out of the bullpen.
Rookie Billings Mustangs
The Mustangs have a 35-25 record and are in 1st place in the Pioneer League North. The Mustangs are the First Half North Division Champions.
The Pioneer League hitters are averaging .286/.355/.433/.788.
OF T.J. Friedl (.343/.429/.567/.996) has hit very well over his first 77 PA. OF Jose Siri (.328/.352/.577/.929) continues to rake at Billings despite his 3.3 BB%. SS Hector Vargas (.368/.383/.550/.933) is still hitting very well despite his 3.3 BB%. OF Taylor Trammell (.303/.377/.405/.782) continues to get on base and leads the club with 22 SB. OF Michael Beltre (.292/.380/.443/.824 in the AZL) is hitting .289/.400/.447/.847 in 45 PA since joining the Billings club. C Cassidy Brown (.336/.418/.400/.818) is doing a nice job at the plate in Billings.
The Pioneer League average ERA is 5.08.
LH SP Scott Moss (1.72 ERA) is pitching great over 8 GS. SP Ian Kahaloa (2.52 ERA) is pitching great thus far at Billings. SP Andrew Jordan (4.08 ERA) has fell off a bit recently. LH SP Max Wotell (15.00 ERA), who was acquired in the Jay Bruce trade, has struggled over his first 3 GS with Billings. RP Junior Arias (2.18 ERA), RP Zac Correll (2.43 ERA), and RP Patrick Riehl (3.62 ERA) are the leaders in the bullpen.
Rookie AZL Reds
The Reds have a 26-23 record and are in 3rd place in the AZL Central.
The AZL hitters are averaging .256/.330/.363/.694.
OF J.D. Salmon-Williams (.293/.365/.467/.833) is leading the Reds at the plate. 3B Edgar Herrera (.303/.370/.455/.824) is hitting well over 73 PA. C Derik Capitillo (.333/.380/.422/.802) is still hitting well over 50 PA. 2B Emmanuel Cruz (.265/.352/.389/.741) continues to hit well. C Pabel Manzanero (.304/.345/.402/.747) is off to a good start.
The AZL average ERA is 4.03.
SP Wennington Romero (1.93 ERA), SP Matt Blandino (2.45 ERA), SP Luis Alecis (3.35 ERA), and SP Tyler Mondile (3.60 ERA) lead the rotation. RP Carlos Machorro (0.95 ERA), Aaron Fossas (2.89 ERA), and Dauri Moreta (2.28 ERA) are heading up the bullpen.
Rookie DSL Reds
I don’t plan to begin full coverage of the Dominican Summer League Reds, but thought I might add a quick snippet here for a while to keep you updated on the progress of SS Alfredo Rodriguez until the Reds bring him stateside.
The DSL hitters are averaging .240/.334/.320/.655.
SS Alfredo Rodriguez is the high profile Cuban SS who the Reds recently signed for $7 M. He is currently hitting .234/.333/.299/.632 in 93 PA over 22 G. Bear in mind that Rodriguez is 22 years old and the average age of the DSL is 18.2.