Week 9 Stats Review
June 7-12, 2022
It’s time for our weekly review of the year to date — sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the day to day and you miss the overall flow of the season. The weekly stats review is here to help us separate the forest from the trees.
But before we get to the numbers, let’s take a quick look at yesterday’s action in Rookie Ball.
Arizona Complex League
ACL Giants Black won @ ACL Angels, 16-4
ACL Giants Orange lost to ACL D’backs Black, 5-3 (7 inn)
Giants Black had their hitting shoes on, as six members of the lineup had multiple hits and everybody reached base at least once in this hitapalooza. That included the best game in several years from the talented P.J. Hilson, who doubled, tripled, and stole his first base. Now 21, Hilson is playing in the complex league for a fourth season in his continuing efforts to make more contact, allowing his immense tools to play better in games. Normally, four straight ACL seasons are something of a death knell for a player’s hopes, but Hilson’s physical gifts are so strong that I do believe the Giants would love to get him to higher levels if he succeeds at improving his ability to make contact. This year, Hilson has three hits — but all three have gone for extra bases. He has four walks and five Ks in 21 PA.
Team Black also got two extra base hits from Jared Dupere, the powerful 13th round pick last year out of Northeastern. Dupere whacked two doubles for his first XBH of the season. Elian Rayo now has a SLG of .647 after tripling yesterday. He has a double, triple, and homer among his five hits. Anthony Rodriguez picked up two singles and is now hitting .400. I was told by a scout that Rodriguez looks leaner this year, and his bat has been quicker through the zone than it was last year. That probably helps him tackle shortstop duties as well. Last year, Rodriguez posted a healthy walk rate, but so far this year he has just one walk against seven strikeouts (one every three trips to the plate).
Right-hander Nomar Medina started for Team Black, striking out five over four innings while allowing eight hits. The 19-year-old is in his second ACL season. Last year, he had a 2.57 ERA while striking out about a batter per inning over 35 IP. Ben Madison had a terrific summer in Salem-Keizer’s bullpen in 2019, and even saw time in Augusta before the end of that year. The hard thrower made his second appearance — so far he’s given up just one hit in four innings, with three strikeouts and two walks.
ACL Giants Orange has been a much less offensive team so far than its Black brethren. Their lineup is also, on the whole, much younger and less experienced than Black’s, and those two things go hand in hand. Diego Velasquez, so far, is repeating his age 17 performance: lots of contact, but not much to show for it. Donovan McIntyre, the Giants 11th round pick last year out of Chicago Heights, has 10 Ks in 20 AB so far, though he does have two extra base hits.
Young right-hander Mikell Manzano has allowed two runs in each of his first two starts (covering 9 innings). Like last year, he’s showing a strong proclivity to throw strikes, with 11 punchouts to just three walks. The 19-year-old Manzano has a lot going for him — just hoping for a velo boost as he ages and adds some strength.
Dominican Summer League
DSL Giants Black lost @ DSL Pitt Black, 7-3 (7 inn)
DSL Orange lost to DSL Dodgers Bautista, 13-12
Nothing says “DSL game” like: 8 R, 2 ER, on your line. Following a two-out error from shortstop Ryan Reckley, starter Jorge Martinez allowed the next four batters to reach on two walks, a double, and a homer (the second that Martinez had allowed in the game). There’s “unearned” and there’s “kinda sorta earned.”
Despite that 3rd inning mishap, the Orange was prepared to take a 12-10 victory over the hated Dodgers until reliever Carlos Lopez allowed five straight Dodgers to reach base when they were down to their final out. The hero of the day for the Dodgers was something named Mairoshendrick Martinus, a 17-year-old shortstop from Curacao, whom I’ve already picturing haunting the Giants on the big stage someday. Martinus was part of both big rallies, homering, doubling and driving in four.
Before all of the unpleasantries in the 9th, however, the Orange enjoyed an excellent offensive game, with Yeison Lemos and Jediael Maduro both homering for the first times on the year. The 19-year-old Lemos finished with four RBIs. He has three extra-base hits on the year. The 18-year-old Maduro is off to a torrid start, hitting .438 with a 1.279 OPS and a perfect 1:1 ratio of walks and strikeouts (4 each). Lazaro Morales added a hit to his total — he’s had at least one in all five of his games so far — and is now hitting .471 with three extra-base hits.
Top signings Reckley and Erick Arosemena each had his first professional double.
Team Black hasn’t had a ton of offense so far, but Mexican signee Guillermo Williamson has been doing a nice job in the middle of the order, going 6 for 22 to start the year, albeit with an un-Giantsy 7 K to 1 BB. Lefty-hitting Eliam Sandoval has just four hits to start the year — but three of them have gone for extra bases, as he hit his first double yesterday. Cuban Jean Carlos Sio also hit his first double, giving him two extra-base hits out of his first five knocks.
Run prevention hasn’t really been a strength of either squad so far. Giants Black currently sits 19th in the league in runs allowed, while Giants Orange is 42nd. By ERA, Giants Black is 22nd (4.70), while Giants Orange is 43rd (6.19).
STATS REVIEW
Sacramento River Cats: 24-36, 4th Place (10.5 GB)
-71 Run Differential
Sacramento broke an all time worst 11-game losing streak this week! That’s the good news!
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
Aren’t the Jakob Junis numbers just bizarre, given what we’ve seen at the big league level? Says something about what pitching in this environment is really like!
PCL LEADERS
David Villar: OBP (7th), SLG (1st), OPS (2nd), HR (1st), RBI (2nd), ISO (1st), wRC+ (2nd), FB% (8th)
Bryce Johnson: SB (4th)
Austin Dean: SLG (6th), HR (T-7th), ISO (5th), FB% (6th)
Ka’ai Tom: LD% (4th)
Heliot Ramos: GB% (4th)
Enmanuel De Jesus: ERA (7th), FIP (5th), SO (7th), K% (5th), Opp Avg (10th), FB% (6th), SwS% (7th)
Raynel Espinal: ERA (6th), FIP (8th), SO (2nd), K% (2nd), BB% (10th), Opp Avg (5th), WHIP (7th), FB% (2nd), SwS% (2nd)
Joey Marciano: Saves (T-7th)
TRANSACTIONS (not including recall/options to/from SF)
C Austin Wynns assigned to Sacramento (then recalled to San Francisco)
RHP Shelby Miller assigned to Sacramento
C Joey Bart transferred to Development List
LHP Michael Plassmeyer traded to Philadelphia
RHP Ty Weber re-assigned from Eugene
RHP Gregory Santos assigned to ACL Giants Black
RHP Matt Carasiti placed on 7-day IL
LHP Joe Palumbo re-assigned from ACL Giants Orange
RHP Spencer Bivens re-assigned from San Jose
Richmond Flying Squirrels: 33-24, 1st place
-6 Run Differential
Richmond surged into the lead in their division with back to back series wins. Don’t look at the Run Differential though!
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
EL LEADERS
Frankie Tostado: Avg (6th), Hits (3rd),
Sean Roby: SLG (8th), HR (2nd), SO (4th), ISO (3rd)
Tyler Fitzgerald: SO (5th), FB% (1st)
Brandon Martorano: 3b (T-5th)
Diego Rincones: K%-lowest (3rd)
Michael Gigliotti: BB (10th), BB% (6th)
Jake Dahlberg: ERA (10th), BB% (4th)
Kai-Wei Teng: IP (8th), BB (1st), LD%-lowest (8th), GB% (2nd)
Bryan Brickhouse: BB (T-8th)
Matt Frisbee: LD%-lowest (2nd), FB% (3rd)
Chris Wright: Saves (T-4th)
R.J. Dabovich: Saves (T-8th)
TRANSACTIONS
RHP Cole Waites re-assigned from Eugene
RHP Travis Perry released
RHP Frank Rubio released
RHP Tyler Schimpf released
INF Simon Whiteman assigned to Eugene
INF Shane Matheny activated from 7-day IL
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 Feels like there should be something more here🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Mid-season releases are a tough, tough blow. Good luck to all of these young men. Also, anticipate some more news on this front later today.
Eugene Emeralds: 31-21, 1st Place
+23 Run Differential
A run of walk-off victories put Eugene in commanding position to seal a first half title.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
NWL LEADERS
Casey Schmitt: Avg (1st), OBP (3rd), SLG (4th), OPS (2nd), Hits (5th), HR (T-5th), Runs (T-7th), RBI (T-7th), K%-lowest (8th), ISO (9th), wRC+ (2nd), FB% (4th)
Marco Luciano: Avg (4th), OBP (8th), SLG (2nd), OPS (1st), HR (T-5th), ISO (5th), wRC+ (1st), LD% (6th)
Ghordy Santos: Avg (8th), Hits (4th), 2b (T-10th), Runs (T-10th), SO (4th)
Carter Aldrete: SLG (3rd), OPS (5th), 2b (T-10th), HR (3rd), RBI (T-10th), K%-lowest (7th), ISO (1st),
Hunter Bishop: HR (T-9th), SO (1st), SB (T-6th), GB% (6th)
Jairo Pomares: HR (T-5th), RBI (T-7th) SO (10th), ISO (6th), FB% (3rd)
Patrick Bailey: BB% (T-7th), FB% (2nd), SwS%-lowest (6th)
Kyle Harrison: SO (5th)
Randy Rodriguez: SO (6th)
Nick Avila: Saves (1st)
Eugene currently has no pitchers in the league who are qualified for ERA title.
TRANSACTIONS
RHP Cole Waites assigned to Richmond
INF Simon Whiteman re-assigned from Richmond
INF Marco Luciano placed on 7-day IL
RHP Ty Weber assigned to Sacramento
OF Najee Gaskins re-assigned from San Jose
OF Jairo Pomares assigned to ACL Giants Orange
Once again, Pomares leaves the team as it heads across the Canadian border due to the complications of obtaining a visa for a Cuban national. Gaskins takes his place on the roster. Though not listed on the IL, Jimmy Glowenke has not appeared in a game since June 5.
San Jose Giants: 32-25, 2nd Place (6.0 GB)
+53 Run Differential
San Jose fell into an almost hopeless situation with a lackluster week on the road. They’ll have to have a decisive series victory over 1st place Fresno this week to have any hope of a first half title.
SORTABLE TABLES: HITTERS PITCHERS
CAL LEAGUE LEADERS
Vaun Brown: Avg (1st), OBP (3rd), SLG (1st), OPS (1st), Hits (1st), 3b (T-3rd), HR (3rd), Runs (2nd), RBI (T-7th), SB (4th), ISO (2nd), wRC+ (1st), LD% (2nd)
Grant McCray: Hits (T-9th), 3b (2nd), SO (7th), SB (T-9th), ISO (T-10th)
Aeverson Arteaga: Hits (7th), 2b (5th), Runs (10th), SO (10th), LD% (4th), FB% (5th)
Yorlis Rodriguez: FB% (1st)
Adrian Sugastey: K% (7th)
Garrett Frechette: 3b (T-6th)
Landen Roupp: SO (7th)
Tyler Myrick: Saves (T-4th)
Jose Cruz: Saves (T-7th)
As with Eugene, San Jose has no qualified pitchers on their staff.
TRANSACTIONS
RHP Sam Delaplane placed on 7-day IL
RHP Spencer Bivens assigned to Sacramento
OF Najee Gaskins assigned to Eugene
Delaplane placed back on the IL, three appearances into his rehab assignment, doesn’t seem like a great turn of events. Bivens gets the express up to Triple A after 5.1 professional innings, as the River Cats beat the bushes for live arms.
Today’s Scheduled Starters
Sacramento (TBD) @ Tacoma (Milone), 6:05 pm, MiLBTV
Richmond (Brickhouse) @ Harrisburg (Kilome), 3:30 pm, MiLBTV
Eugene (TBD) @ Vancouver (Robberse), 7:05 pm, MiLBTV
San Jose (Sinacola) vs. Fresno (TBD), 6:30 pm, MiLBTV
ACL Giants Black (Miguel Mora) vs. ACL Angels (TBD), 6:00 pm, No Video
ACL Giants Orange (Brayan Palencia) @ ACL D’backs Black (TBD), 6:00 pm, No Video
DSL Giants Black (TBD) @ DSL NYY Bombers (TBD), 8:00 am, No Video
DSL Giants Orange (TBD) vs. DSL Angels (TBD), 8:00 am, No Video
Two intriguing right-handers on the mound in the rookie complex. Essential Giants’ twitter follow GPT said recently, he heard that Brayan Palencia was up to 95 mph in extended, which is definitely a note-worthy development for the 19-year-old and would put him on the map. I’m planning on taking a short trip to the desert next month, so I’ll have a few updates on players to provide at that point. And, for those of you asking, I will be making a trip to Eugene and San Jose again this summer, but that trip won’t come until August.
Speaking of GPT, look for a great conversation that the two of us had coming later today in this week’s There R Giants podcast. GPT and I talk over our impressions of the first third of the year: who’s surprising us (in good ways!), what to make of the struggles of 1st rounders, is Vaun Brown for real, and much much more! I’m sure you’re going to love it!
Also later today, I’ll have a different way to look at Heliot Ramos’ season, thanks to fellow minor league Substack blogger, Down on the Farm. Scott does great work, and if you’re interested in more than just Giants’ prospects, he’s a must follow. He helped me with some data visualizations that will hopefully give more insight on what’s happening with Heliot this year.
Wilson to AAA? 😵💫
I see Hunter Bishop has worked his way up to a wRC+ of 100. OK then!