by Mickey Bell

*Stats and Roster % as of the morning of September 6

GRADUATED

• Batters
  • Joc Pederson, OF, SFG (42% to 60%)
  • Jake McCarthy, OF, ARZ (32% to 54%)
  • Mark Canha, OF, NYM (50% to 51%)

Please check out last week’s article here if you missed it.

50% OR UNDER

Corbin Carroll, OF, ARZ (46% to 45%)

The number one prospect in baseball hit his first MLB homer today. Between AA and AAA this year, Carroll had 23 HR, 31 SB, and an OPS above 1.000. 

Honorable Mentions: 

• Batters
  • Nico Hoerner, 2B/SS, CHC (49% to 48%)
  • Franmil Reyes, OF, CHC (46% to 45%)
  • Kolten Wong, 2B, MIL (37% to 45%)
  • Joey Meneses, 1B/OF, WAS (26% to 44%)
• Starters
  • Eduardo Rodriguez, SP, DET (48% to 45%)
  • Alex Cobb, SP, SFG (39% to 41%)
• Relievers
  • Jason Adam, RP, TBR (50% to 49%)
  • Kyle Finnegan, RP, WAS (46% to 47%)
  • Tanner Scott, RP, MIA (48% to 45%)
  • Alexis Diaz, RP, CIN (44%: no change)
  • Nick Martinez, SP/RP, SDP (31% to 43%)
  • Jhoan Duran, SP/RP, MIN (40% to 41%): Jorge Lopez is the closer.

40% OR UNDER

Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, KCR (35%: returning)

The Italian Breakfast is expected to return from the IL this week. His Pitcher List page (see image below) is absolutely insane. He’s in the top five in the whole MLB in HC%, xAVG, and xwOBA. 

Honorable Mentions: 

• Batters
  • Luis Rengifo, 2B/3B/SS/OF, LAA (36%: no change)
  • Andrew McCutchen, OF, MIL (41% to 35%)
  • Harold Ramirez, 1B/OF, TBR (39%: no change): Ramirez’s surface numbers are impressive: a 0.323/0.362/0.432 slash line, a 15.2% K rate, and a 133 wRC+. Although he has just 5 HR, his combination of hitting the ball hard (top 7% or better Max EV last two seasons) and not striking out ensure his average should stay high (Top 3% xBA). According to Pitcher List (https://www.pitcherlist.com/player/harold-ramirez/), his HC% is 36th in the MLB, but he does hit the ball into the ground too much (53.9 GB rate). The Rays tried to help Yandy Diaz raise his launch angle without much success. I’m sure they will try to help Harold as well.
  • Josh Naylor, 1B/OF, CLE (36% to 35%)
• Starters
  • Reid Detmers, SP, LAA (47% to 40%)
  • Mike Soroka, SP, ATL (41% to 37%): Working his way back from an Achilles injury.
  • Jose Quintana, SP/RP, STL (35% to 37%)
  • Nick Lodolo, SP, CIN (31%: no change)
• Relievers
  • John Schreiber, RP, BOS (31% to 37%): Has two saves this week.
  • Peter Fairbanks, RP, TBR (40% to 34%)

30% OR UNDER

Hunter Brown, RP, HOU (9% to 30%)

Brown pitched six scoreless in his MLB debut, striking out five. He dominated AAA all year long with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and a 31.5% K rate in 106 IP. What makes this so impressive is the offensive nature of where he played: Sugar Land. Korey Lee had a very respectable 0.783 OPS this year at Sugar Land, and that was 12% below league average according to his 88 wRC+.

Honorable Mentions: 

• Batters
  • Nolan Gorman, 2B/3B, STL (34% to 28%)
• Starters
  • David Peterson, SP, NYM (25% to 27%)
  • Tyler Glasnow, SP, TBR (25% to 26%): Making a AAA rehab start on Wednesday.
  • Dean Kremer, SP, BAL (15% to 26%)
• Relievers
  • Andres Munoz, RP, SEA (26% to 24%) 
  • Ian Kennedy, RP, ARZ (23% to 24%)
  • Jimmy Herget, RP, LAA (23%: new)

20% OR UNDER

Triston Casas, 3B, BOS (15%: returning)

The 22 year old top 15 prospect has pretty much dominated at every level he’s been at in the minors with high SLG and BB%. Casas has struggled in his first 16 PA (save for a homer) but has the potential to offer power and RBI down the stretch.

Honorable Mentions: 

• Batters
  • Manuel Margot, OF, TBR (20% to 19%)
  • Bubba Thompson, OF, TEX (19%: new)
  • Jake Fraley, OF, CIN (23% to 17%)
  • Bryson Stott, 2B/SS, PHI (19% to 15%)
  • Leody Taveras, OF, TEX (16% to 14%)
• Starters
  • Drew Smyly, SP/RP, CHC (23% to 19%)
  • Roansy Contreras, SP, PIT (17% to 19%)
  • JP Sears, SP/RP, OAK (14% to 15%)
  • Bailey Falter, SP/RP, PHI (10% to 14%)
• Relievers
  • Brandon Hughes, RP, CHC (25% to 18%)
  • AJ Puk, RP, OAK (17% to 19%)
  • Jonathan Hernandez, RP, TEX (21% to 13%): Has Jose Leclerc (2% rostered) taken over the role?

10% OR UNDER

TJ Friedl, OF, CIN (8%: new)

Friedl has chipped in 5 HR, 6 SB, and a 112 wRC+ in 163 PA in the majors this year. The Reds outfielder also had 8 HR and 10 SB in 64 games in the minors. As you might know, I like guys who have performed at every level, and Friedl has only had a below average wRC+ once in his entire career and that was a 94 in 2017 in A+ ball. He’s also never had a K rate over 20% so his 14.7% rate in the majors should be pretty sustainable.

Honorable Mentions: 

• Batters
  • Josh Jung, 3B, TEX (7% to 8%): Hasn’t been called up as of 9/6.
  • Keston Hiura, 1B/2B, MIL (5% to 7%)
  • Elehuris Montero, 1B/3B, COL (7% to 5%)
  • Oscar Gonzalez, OF, CLE (7% to 5%)
  • Garrett Mitchell, OF, MIL (4% to 3%)
  • Ezequiel Duran, 2B/3B/SS, TEX (3%: no change)
• Starters
  • Ken Waldichuk, SP, OAK (4% to 10%)
  • Wade Miley, SP, CHC (8%: returning)
• Relievers
  • Wil Crowe, RP, PIT (11% to 8%)
  • Jose Leclerc, RP, TEX (2%: no change)