Strangely timed weekly Stats Review, as the 4th of July holiday pushed the off day to Tuesday this week (can’t keep the gates dark on the 4th!).
So, without further ado, let’s see where guys are at with this 2022 season as we plunge on past the halfway point.
Sacramento River Cats: 33-46, 5th Place (11.5 GB)
-60 Run Differential
If you’re wondering what kind of year it’s been in Sacramento (currently worst record in the league and second worst run differential), please note that I deleted eight different hitters from the table below who had been either DFA’d or traded by the Giants, and six different pitchers. Lord help the clubhouse attendant!
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
PCL LEADERS
David Villar: HR (1st), OBP (4th), SLG (1st), OPS (2nd), Runs (4th), RBI (2nd), BB (3rd), SO (6th), BB% (3rd), ISO (1st), wRC+ (2nd), FB% (3rd)
Bryce Johnson: SB (T-8th)
Austin Dean: 3b (T-8th), FB% (8th)
Ka’ai Tom: FB% (9th)
Heliot Ramos: GB% (4th), SwS%-highest (10th)
Enmanuel De Jesus: ERA (6th), FIP (4th), SO (6th), BB (T-10th), K% (6th), K-BB% (9th), Opp Avg (10th), SwS% (7th)
Raynel Espinal: ERA (7th), FIP (6th), SO (4th), K% (3rd), K-BB% (3rd), LD% (5th), FB% (8th), SwS% (3rd)
Joey Marciano: Saves (T-7th)
Because of the paucity of qualified pitchers in most leagues, I dropped minimum innings requirements to 60 IP for all pitching leader statistics for all full season levels (isn’t helping, of course, as the presence of De Jesus and Espinal on virtually every category suggests).
TRANSACTIONS (not including recall/options to/from SF)
RHP R.J. Dabovich re-assigned from Richmond
RHP Spencer Bivens re-assigned to San Jose
LHP Jose Álvarez began rehab assignment
RHP Bryan Brickhouse re-assigned from Richmond
INF Will Wilson transferred from 7-day to 60-day IL
INF David Villar’s contract selected by the Giants
LHP Matt Hall released
LHP Joe Palumbo released
Yes, I broke my rule about including players moving up and down, to and from SF for Villar. Deal with it! Wilson moving to the 60-day is a bit of a bummer, as that pushes his return from hamate surgery out to a two-month absence, at least. Of course, with new players about to join the org in the upcoming draft and an absolute maximum of 180 domestic players in the org (which doesn’t count players on 60-day), every roster space becomes precious and could save somebody’s job.
Richmond Flying Squirrels: 2-5, 5th Place (3.0 GB)
-2 Run Differential
The Squirrels, who already know they will host Games 2 and 3 of the first round of the Eastern League playoffs, are actually 42-34 overall. However, their run differential has dipped back into the negative following the week of bludgeoning that they suffered in Bowie. Hopefully, Monday night was a first step towards getting that back on the positive side.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
EL LEADERS
Frankie Tostado: Avg (5th), Hits (3rd)
Shane Matheny: Avg (6th), OBP (3rd), OPS (5th), BB% (6th), LD% (6th), wRC+ (3rd)
Sean Roby: HR (2nd), RBI (T-9th), SO (2nd), ISO (3rd),
Tyler Fitzgerald: SO (5th), FB% (3rd)
Diego Rincones: K% (1st)
Michael Gigliotti: SB (T-5th)
Jake Dahlberg: BB% (5th)
Kai-Wei Teng: SO (7th), IP (7th), BB (1st), GB% (2nd), SwS% (10th)
Bryan Brickhouse: FIP (9th), BB (T-9th), SwS% (8th)
Matt Frisbee: IP (10th), LD% (4th), FB% (6th)
Chris Wright: Saves (T-5th)
R.J. Dabovich: Saves (T-9th)
The fact that Matt Frisbee is 10th in the league in IP, despite having missed most of the first month, is pretty remarkable!
TRANSACTIONS
RHP R.J. Dabovich re-assigned to Sacramento
RHP Ryan Murphy re-assigned from Eugene
RHP Solomon Bates activated from 7-day IL
RHP Bryan Brickhouse re-assigned to Sacramento
Eugene Emeralds: 5-5, T-3rd (1.5 GB)
+61 Run Differential
How’s it been going lately? Oh, ok I guess. Ems are 43-30 overall for the year.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
NWL LEADERS
Casey Schmitt: HR (1st), Avg (2nd), OBP (6th), SLG (3rd), OPS (2nd), Hits (3rd), Runs (3rd), RBI (T-5th), ISO (4th), wRC+ (2nd), FB% (3rd)
Ghordy Santos: Hits (9th), 2b (T-7th), Runs (8th), SO (4th)
Carter Aldrete: HR (3rd), Avg (5th), OBP (8th), SLG (1st), OPS (1st), 2b (T-7th), RBI (3rd), K% (6th), ISO (1st), wRC+ (4th), FB% (7th)
Hunter Bishop: HR (5th), Runs (5th), RBI (T-9th), SO (1st), SB (T-7th), ISO (9th), GB% (9th),
Luis Toribio: HR (T-7th), BB (7th), BB% (2nd), ISO (5th), GB% (3rd),
Jairo Pomares: HR (T-9th), ISO (10th), FB% (1st)
Nick Avila: Saves (1st)
Wil Jensen: SO (7th)
TRANSACTIONS
C Max Wright placed on 7-day IL
RHP Ryan Murphy re-assigned to Richmond
RHP Evan Gates re-assigned from San Jose
RHP Keaton Winn re-assigned from San Jose
RHP Landen Roupp re-assigned from San Jose
San Jose Giants: 6-4, 2nd Place (2.0 GB)
+92 Run Differential
The Giants have the league’s best record and second best run differential, but they’ll need to nab a second half title if they want a chance to defend their 2021 championship. And they’ll make that run with a much younger and more inexperienced starting rotation than the one that fronted the team in the 1st half.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
Interesting how similar the offensive numbers for Garrett Frechette and Aeverson Arteaga are. Which reminds us how important defensive position and athletic ability are in a prospect profile.
CAL LEAGUE LEADERS
Vaun Brown: Avg (1st), OBP (3rd), SLG (1st), OPS (1st), HR (4th), Hits (8th), 3b (T-4th), SB (T-7th), ISO (2nd), wRC+ (1st), LD% (3rd)
Grant McCray: SLG (5th), OPS (6th), Hits (9th), 2b (T-7th), 3b (1st), HR (T-7th), Runs (7th), SO (5th), SB (T-9th), ISO (4th), wRC+ (T-9th)
Aeverson Arteaga: Hits (4th), 2b (2nd), SO (T-10th), LD% (5th), FB% (7th)
Yorlis Rodriguez: FB% (1st)
Garrett Frechette: Avg (9th), 3b (T-10th)
Landen Roupp: SO (10th)
Seth Lonsway: BB (T-8th)
Tyler Myrick: Saves (T-5th)
Hunter Dula: Saves (T-5th)
Manuel Mercedes: BB (4th)
TRANSACTIONS
RHP Evan Gates re-assigned to Eugene
RHP Keaton Winn re-assigned to Eugene
RHP Landen Roupp re-assigned to Eugene
RHP Spencer Bivens re-assigned from Sacramento
C Adrian Sugastey sent on rehab assignment to ACL Giants Orange
INF Hayden Cantrelle activated from 7-day IL
LHP JJ Santa Cruz re-assigned from ACL Giants Orange
LHP John Gavin re-assigned from ACL Giants Black
Arizona Complex League
Giants Black: 13-6, 1st Place, +37 Run Differential
Giants Orange: 6-15, 6th Place, 8.0 GB, -31 Run Differential
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
ACL LEAGUE LEADERS
Anthony Rodriguez: HR (T-2nd), SO (T-10th), FB% (6th)
Jared Dupere: HR (T-7th), ISO (10th)
P.J. Hilson: Runs (T-5th), BB (T-8th), FB% (3rd)
Donovan McIntyre: SO (T-7th)
Elian Rayo: BB (T-5th), SO (4th), BB% (8th)
Jean Peña: BB (T-10th)
Irvin Murr III: SO (T-10th)
Derwin Laya: GB% (5th)
Tyler Forner: LD% (9th)
Diego Velasquez: GB% (8th), SwS%-lowest (10th)
Joe Kemlage: ERA (1st), FIP (1st), K% (1st), BB% (4th), K-BB% (1st), Opp Avg (2nd), WHIP (1st), BABIP (7th), LD% (10th), GB% (2nd), SwS% (10th)
Brayan Palencia: ERA (8th), FB% (9th), SwS% (9th)
Mikell Manzano: IP (7th), SO (3rd), BB% (10th), K-BB% (7th), GB% (10th)
Roberto Monegro: ERA (9th), FIP (3rd), BB% (9th), K-BB% (9th), FB% (5th), SwS% (3rd)
Nomar Medina: ERA (10th), FIP (5th), IP (5th), SO (8th), BB% (8th), K-BB% (8th)
Freddery Paulino: IP (3rd), BB% (7th)
Ofelky Peralta: Saves (T-1st)
Miguel Mora: FIP (8th), K% (10th)
See how much fun the Giants miss out on by not letting their pitchers throw enough innings to qualify in the higher levels?
TRANSACTIONS
C Adrian Sugastey placed on rehab assignment
LHP JJ Santa Cruz re-assigned to San Jose
LHP John Gavin re-assigned to San Jose
RHP Austin Reich placed on rehab assignment (while still under terms of his 50-game suspension)
Dominican Summer League
Giants Black: 10-12, 8th Place (6.0 GB), -15 Run Differential
Giants Orange, 10-13, 9th Place (6.5 GB), -18 Run Differential
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
DSL LEAGUE LEADERS
Estanlin Cassiani: K% (3rd), GB% (5th), SwS% (1st)
Ricardo Estrada: FB% (1st)
Luis Bermudez: ERA (4th), Opp Avg (2nd), WHIP (2nd), BABIP (2nd), LD% (5th), GB% (2nd)
Luis Yepez: Saves (T-6th)
It IS a really big league. But that’s still sort of a “sad trombone” of a leaderboard. On the bright side, Luis Bermudez batting average on balls in play is .091, which is not a number you’re likely ever going to see outside of the DSL!
Yesterday in the Complex Leagues
ACL Giants Black beat ACL D’backs Black, 10-0 (7 inn)
ACL Giants Orange lost to ACL Rockies, 3-2 (7 inn)
A couple of Giants Black players are pushing for a promotion out of the desert. Jared Dupere, the Giants’ 13th round pick last year out of Northeastern University, had a four-hit day that included a double and his fourth home run of the season, helping to power Black to the victory. The powerful, left-handed Dupere (which I believe is pronounced “Du-pree”), hit 21 homers in 2021 and was named the Player of the Year in the Colonial Athletic Association, as well as a Rawlings All American. At 23, he’s far too old for the complex level, and if the bat shows enough signs of being able to translate upwards, the Giants might do well to bring him to San Jose this season. Here, have some college highlights for Jared.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
Willian Suarez, at 24, is even older than Dupere, but he, too, looks to be on an upwards trajectory. Suarez worked two scoreless innings yesterday, striking out five, though he did walk four batters as well. The hard throwing Suarez has now thrown 10.1 consecutive scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts in that time to just four walks and three hits. Time to bring the long, cool, drink of water up to the affiliate level.
Team Black also got a home run from Elian Rayo and a two-run double from Mauricio Pierre. The 18-year-old Pierre, who is batting .300 with a .784 OPS, is definitely grabbing the mantle as Roger’s Guy ™ for this group of complex players. I anticipate getting him into the Top 50 this winter. Rayo walks a ton (19%) and has shown good power, but he’s also striking out 40% of the time and hitting just .215. Anthony Rodriguez is in a long slump, going just 5 for his last 32 with no extra base hits and 13 strikeouts over that stretch. He’s not getting the “Level Repeat Bump” I had hoped for so far.
Orange didn’t have nearly as much success at the plate, collecting just three hits, one of which was the first career homer from catcher Freddy Tremaria. The 19-year-old Tremaria has hit just .162 with a .503 OPS in his 1+ year career.
The lack of hitting ruined a terrific pitching performance from Mikell Manzano, who picked up a season high 9 strikeouts over 5.0 IP, allowing just one run on three hits. Manzano’s K:BB ratio isn’t quite as absured as the 70:3 he posted in the DSL last year, but with 41 K and just six walks in 26.2 IP, he’s proving that his command of the strike zone was no fluke. Melvin Adon was the losing pitcher, allowing a late two-run homer that decided the game. The 28-year-old Adon has appeared in four games in his comeback from shoulder surgery two years ago. He has eight strikeouts in 5.0 IP.
DSL Giants Black beat DSL Nats, 8-7
DSL Giants Orange won @ DSL Orioles Orange, 4-3 (7 inn)
DSL Orange won @ DSL Orioles Orange, 7-6 (7 inn)
Team Orange split a double header, completing a game suspended by rain last week. Ryan Reckley picked up a hit in each half of the twin set, though, for the season, he’s hitting just .194 and has just one extra base hit. I was impressed by Reckley’s approach and athleticism when I saw him this spring, and scouts I’ve talked to about him have liked what they’ve seen, but Reckley’s career hasn’t exactly exploded out of the gates. For one thing, he is, to the best of my knowledge, the Giants’ first seven-figure international signing to start his career in the Dominican Republic, rather than on the domestic side in Arizona. He did spend the spring in extended spring training in Scottsdale, but the Giants evidently thought he wasn’t quite ready for a full summer in the ACL. Given that they moved him down a level to help smooth his transition, I’m sure they’d like to see a little more from the talented shortstop — though, of course, there’s no need to over-react to a few weeks of a 17-year-old’s life. He’s showing a patient eye, with a huge 19% walk rate.
Reckley’s fellow millionaire, catcher Juan Perez (so I guess that’s the first two seven-figure signings to begin in the DR! I suppose this fits in with some of the other conservative placements we’ve seen from the Giants this year), had a fine day at the plate, walking three times and knocking in two runs with an RBI single over the course of the two games. Dennys Riera appeared in his second game of the year, though he has yet to pick up his first professional hit.
Team Black took advantage of four errors from the DSL Nats to come back from a 7-1 deficit. Cuban 3b Jean Carlos Sio led the way with two hits. Twenty-year-old right-hander Luis Yepez closed things down, earning this third save. Yepez posted a 7.58 ERA in his first pro season in 2021, but he’s turning things around in his repeat year. He has a tiny 0.77 ERA, with just one run allowed in 11.2 IP. Yepez has 11 strikeouts this season.
Tonight’s Scheduled Starters:
Sacramento (Beck) @ Salt Lake (Detmers), 5:35 pm, MiLBTV
Richmond (Murphy) vs. Reading (McGarry), 3:35 pm, MiLBTV
Eugene (TBD) @ Hillsboro (Randall), 7:05 pm, MiLBTV
San Jose (Lonsway) @ Fresno (Williams), 6:50 pm, MiLBTV
ACL Giants: OFF
DSL Giants: OFF
Great matchup in Richmond today, where Ryan Murphy tries to right the ship after his difficult Double A debut, going up against Phillies rising star Griff McGarry, who will be making his Double A debut! Reid Detmers has spent most of the 2022 season in Anaheim. He’ll provide Sacramento with a strong challenge on the bump today.
For those of you who have made it this far — I got some good feedback from my “Lessons Learned” post yesterday. So let me ask the crowd, would you like more of that type of post, and less of the more comprehensive, “scouting the game” material that I usually weave through the minor lines? I do try to find a balance between “getting to everybody” and deeper focus on certain players, but I’m always happy to tweak that balance to give my readers what you come for. Let me know in the comments below! After all, adjustments are what development is all about!
I hope you all caught yesterday’s podcast with Giants’ former Assistant Director of Player Development, Eric Flemming. It’s legitimately one of my favorite conversations I’ve had on the pod so far!
Have a great week, everybody!
I liked the "Lessons Learned" overview, and appreciated the update about some of the bigger storylines.. I think you've done a good job of incorporating those bigger themes into the daily posts, but was helpful to get a holistic assessment of Bart and Heliot, since some of the nuances of their overall performance is a bit lost in the details of a daily boxscore. (How can it be that Bart hasn't once caught up with 95 mph?) It's a hard balance though, because it's maybe not so satisfying to focus on a player's faults, and maybe the issues are pretty clear...
I like both approaches, Roger. The occasional in-depth overview is much appreciated. In either style, you are good about providing context, which is so important (and which I don’t have the time or energy to keep 180 story lines straight).