End of season minor league update: A ball

10/03/2024 08:00 AM

A late update on a couple levels in the minor leagues.

Well, this one's my bad, but I forgot to give the end of season update on the minor leagues. I guess I had other things to write about. But then again, there really is no timer on this, so I can write it very late and during a period when there is no new Cardinals news. Today, I'll focus on the the two A ball teams, and next week I'll cover the high minor teams.

Palm Beach (Low A)

JJ Wetherholt, SS - 21 (1st round, '24 draft)

Stats: 126 PAs, .295/.405/.400, 12.7 BB%, 11.9 K%, .105 ISO, .326 BABIP, 137 wRC+

Tough to complain on this one - it probably goes without saying you'd want more power from him. But it's not like Palm Beach is great for power, and the main goal of the 2024 season was to keep Wetherholt healthy. That he walked more than he struck out and had a 137 wRC+ is a nice bonus.

Ryan Campos, C - 21 (4th round, '24 draft)

Stats: 106 PAs, .319/.396/.407, 12.3 BB%, 12.3 K%, .088 ISO, .363 BABIP, 133 wRC+

I could say almost the exact same thing for Campos. As far as I know he has no injury concerns, but he had barely any power in a place known for having barely any power. Otherwise, he was great.

Jon Jon Gazdar, 3B - 22 (11th round, '24 draft)

Stats: 71 PAs, .262/.357/.344, 9.9 BB%, 7 K%, .082 ISO, .286 BABIP, 108 wRC+

Well good news for the people who hate strikeouts. We are three for three on players who avoid strikeouts like they owe them money. I'm starting to think it's hard to have power at Palm Beach.

Ian Petrutz, OF - 21 (12th round, '24 draft)

Stats: 115 PAs, .344/.482/.433, 14.8 BB%, 8.7 K%, .089 ISO, .388 BABIP, 172 wRC+

Wow a guy with no power. Whoda thunk it? Petrutz was clearly too good for this level, and I'm starting to wish the first level of the Cards system wasn't completely devoid of power, because it's hard to judge them without knowing if they actually have power or not. Like I think players with little power already won't be as affected by this level? But we don't know who has little power because nobody has it!

Nolan Sparks, RHP - 21 (13th round, '24 draft)

Stats: 10 G, 15.1 IP, 29.5 K%, 11.5 BB%, 54.3 GB%, .229 BABIP, 2.35 ERA/3.43 FIP/3.37 xFIP

The reason the 2024 draftees are so hitting heavy is because most of the pitchers drafted did not pitch. Sparks pitching is the unusual part. Weird element of his stats: he had a 54.8 LOB% which is insanely low, but his ERA is obviously good and better than his FIP, but he had four unearned runs and four earned runs.

Christian Martin, 2B - 21 (18th round, '24 draft)

Stats: 96 PAs, .206/.432/.221, 25 BB%, 13.5 K%, .015 ISO, .255 BABIP, 118 wRC+

Okay, this might be the craziest line I've seen looking at minor league numbers. So this is what have no power in Palm Beach actually looks like. Somehow managed to walk twice as much as he struck out. His OBP to average differential is higher than his actual average. This is truly a crazy line.

Michael Watson, LHP - 22 (Undrafted FA '24)

Stats: 11 G, 13.1 IP, 47.1 K%, 9.8 BB%, 45.5 GB%, .409 BABIP, 0.68 ERA/1.08 FIP/1.82 xFIP

Okay so he's sort of listed with the draftees because undrafted free agent doesn't mean quite the same thing as it used to. Also holy cow. He did this as a reliever, but even so, these stats are nuts.

Travis Honeyman, OF - 22 (20th ranked VEB prospect)

Stats: 60 PAs, .321/.367/.446, 5 BB%, 13.3 K%, .135 ISO, .375 BABIP, 133 wRC+

Good news and bad news here. Good news is that he obviously hit well, if a little bit differently than I would have guessed. Bad news he played his last game in June, and he just can't stay healthy.

Zach Showalter, RHP - 20 (Would have been 21st ranked VEB prospect)

Stats: 24 G, 34.1 IP, 38.6 K%, 11.8 BB%, 43.9 GB%, .373 BABIP, 2.62 ERA/2.48 FIP/3.02 xFIP

I'm guessing that he's going to be more of a starter next season. He's too young and too dominant to keep him in the bullpen and there were obvious innings concerns. Good season when he did pitch though.

Chen Wei-Lin, RHP - 22 (12th ranked by Fangraphs)

Stats: 22 GS, 116 IP, 26.6 K%, 7.8 BB%, 45.3 GB%, .282 BABIP, 2.79 ERA/2.94 FIP/3.38 xFIP

Interesting that there didn't really seem to be an innings limit here. Must have already been ramped up to some degree. He did throw a few innings last year, but this is his proper debut season if you ask me and he had quite a hell of one.

Lizandro Espinoza, SS - 21 (17th ranked by Fangraphs)

Stats: 354 PAs, .201/.302/.314, 10.5 BB%, 27.4 K%, .112 ISO, .271 BABIP, 83 wRC+

Fangraphs placed him 17th for his defense, but I feel like you have to hit at some point and boy has he not hit. He's also not young. I don't even know if I'd share his stats if Fangraphs didn't rank him.

Randal Clemente, RHP - 22 (33th ranked by Fangraphs)

Stats (CPX): 20 G, 26.1 IP, 38.1 K%, 17.7 BB%, 38.8 GB%, .327 BABIP, 3.08 ERA/2.95 FIP/3.44 xFIP

Low A: 19 G, 22 IP, 34.3 K%, 27.8 BB%, 46.3 GB%, .308 BABIP, 9.82 ERA/5.46 FIP/4.73 xFIP

I definitely wouldn't be sharing his stats if not for Fangraphs. I don't know what they're seeing. I realize it's the scouting, but I feel like a 22-year-old who splits half his time in the rookie leagues and half at Low A has to have better stats (and way better control) than this.

Juan Salas, RHP - 21

Stats: 22 GS, 113.1 IP, 26.2 K%, 5.5 BB% 29.2 GB%, .285 BABIP, 2.62 ERA/3.31 FIP/3.51 xFIP

It feels silly to critique what was a non-prospect (and might still be) who unexpectedly had such a great season, but man that is not enough groundballs. As long as he can maintain that K/BB, he can make it work, though that is extremely unlikely as he rises up the levels.

Jose Davila, RHP - 21

Stats: 22 GS, 109.1 IP, 24.5 K%, 10 BB%, 43.8 GB%, .336 BABIP, 3.54 ERA/3.03 FIP/3.92 xFIP

Despite his age, this was actually his fourth season pitching in Low A, but only his second pitching just in Low A. He was bad in every other season, so he finally managed to conquer the level. Let's hope it doesn't take him four seasons to conquer High A.

Jason Savacool, RHP - 22 (6th round, '23 draft)

Stats: 22 G (17 GS), 20.2 K%, 12 BB%, 51.7 GB%, .280 BABIP, 3.62 ERA/4.43 FIP/4.23 xFIP

Pretty unexciting stuff here.

Leonel Sequera, RHP - 18

Stats (CPX): 12 GS, 41 IP, 22.6 K%, 7.4 BB%, 57.3 GB%, .363 BABIP, 5.27 ERA/4.38 FIP/3.56 xFIP

Low A: 7 GS, 38 IP, 16.2 K%, 9.1 BB%, 62.5 GB%, .263 BABIP, 2.13 ERA/3.42 FIP/4.06 xFIP

He didn't strike anyone out at Low A, but very tough to complain about an 18-year-old who posts pretty good stats at Low A. I mean that is a lot of groundballs. If he can make it to the majors as a starter while Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante are still here, you basically wouldn't need outfielders.

Jose Suarez, OF - 19

Stats (CPX): 154 PAs, .271/.338/.429, 7.1 BB%, 27.9 K%, .157 ISO, .366 BABIP, 107 wRC+

Low A: 173 PAs, .252/.312/.384, 6.9 BB%, 26.6 K%, .132 ISO, .336 BABIP, 100 wRC+

I know he technically hit for a lower wRC+ in Low A, but pretty impressive transition to a higher level from Suarez at 19. Walked and struck out at about the same rate, had more power than pretty much all the 2024 draftees, and maintained a high BABIP. Worth paying attention, this guy.

Peoria (High A)

Won-Bin Cho, OF - 20 (VEB's #11 prospect)

Stats: 428 PAs, .227/.307/.305, 8.4 BB%, 31.3 K%, .078 ISO, .343 BABIP, 81 wRC+

There is good news about Cho: he's only 20. He can afford to take a year+ to adjust to a new level. He will still be young for his level next year when he repeats High A at 21-years-old. He will probably fall in VEB's rankings however.

Leonardo Bernal, C - 20 (VEB's #13 prospect)

Stats (High A): 382 PAs, .270/.343/.419, 9.7 BB%, 22.8 K%, .150 ISO, .333 BABIP, 120 wRC+

AA: 55 PAs, .204/.291/.286, 10.9 BB%, 16.4 K%, .082 ISO, .231 BABIP, 68 wRC+

I figured he belongs more here than in AA, since he just got a cup of coffee in AA. Even though his stats are bad in AA, I will say the K/BB numbers are encouraging. He wasn't totally overwhelmed. We'll see how he does in the AFL.

Brycen Mautz, LHP - 22 (VEB's #19 prospect)

Stats: 24 GS, 121.2 IP, 23.8 K%, 8.7 BB%, 39.4 GB%, .329 BABIP, 5.18 ERA/4.86 FIP/4.01 xFIP

These do not feel like the stats of someone who will succeed in the extreme hitting environment of the AFL, where he's headed. I actually think he had a solid year - little homer happy - but yeah his AFL stint will be a challenge.

Zach Levenson, OF - 22 (Fangraph's #22 prospect)

Stats: 294 PAs, .215/.317/.367, 11.2 BB%, 22.8 K%, .151 ISO, .257 BABIP, 100 wRC+

This is basically a good line with one notable exception: very low BABIP. Not a good sign in the minors, but could also be unlucky. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Pete Hansen, LHP - 23 (Fangraph's 27th prospect)

Stats: 24 GS, 128.1 IP, 24.1 K%, 7.4 BB%, 39.4 GB%, .356 BABIP, 3.86 ERA/3.56 FIP/3.65 xFIP

Nothing too crazy here. He's pretty much doing what he needs to do, being old for his level. Although to be an actual exciting prospect, probably needs to dominate more.

Ixan Henderson, LHP - 22 (Headed to AFL)

Stats (Low A): 16 G (11 GS), 73 IP, 26.3 K%, 9 BB%, 47.2 GB%, .261 BABIP, 2.10 ERA/3.02 FIP/3.57 xFIP

High A: 6 GS, 31 IP, 19.5 K%, 10.5 BB%, 34.1 GB%, .341 BABIP, 2.90 ERA/4.57 FIP/4.80 xFIP

Okay I was concerned for Mautz, but he basically looks like he belongs in the AFL, but Henderson seems really aggressive. Maybe he'll be in the bullpen, maybe this is a way to build more innings, I don't know. But it's quite the leap (although I do know AFL competition is a lot weaker than the past)

Darlin Saladin, RHP - 21 (Rule 5 Eligible)

Stats (Low A): 11 GS, 26.8 K%. 7.4 BB%, 44.7 GB%, 1.95 ERA/2.61 FIP/3.29 xFIP

High A: 12 GS, 27.9 K%, 6.2 BB%, 42.8 GB%, 3.43 ERA/2.73 FIP/3.29 xFIP

I wrote about him recently, but yeah these stats are somewhat unbelievable for someone with no prospect pedigree whatsoever who is just 21.

Sammy Hernandez, C - 20 (Acquired for Genesis Cabrera)

Stats (Low A): 350 PAs, .264/.372/.363, 10.9 BB%, 17.1 K%, .098 ISO, .323 BABIP, 118 wRC+

High A: 33 PAs, .130/.375/.391, 18.2 BB%, 24.2 K%, .261 ISO, .077 BABIP, 132 wRC+

Okay Hernandez really belongs more in Low A, but since it's going on the same update anyway, it doesn't matter. I truly forgot Bernal was even in AA, and had already listed his stats, that's the real reason he's here. Anyway, catching factory this system has become.

Joshua Baez, OF - 21

Stats: 260 PAs, .225/.306/.388, 9.2 BB%, 37.3 K%, .163 ISO, .333 BABIP, 100 wRC+

Low A: 61 PAs, .340/.459/.500, 13.1 BB%, 27.9 K%, .160 ISO, .500 BABIP, 177 wRC+

His stats are listed in this order, because he started the year in High A, his strikeout issues continued, he went to a development camp for nearly a month, returned in Low A to end his year and absolutely obliterated the ball. And also managed to strike out at a respectable level. If you simply view this year in comparison to last season, despite getting sent down, he's actually made progress, because he struck out 34.1% of the time in Low A last year. But small sample and all.

Inohan Panigua, RHP - 24

Stats: 25 G (20 GS), 115.1 IP, 25 K%, 10.2 BB%, 46.7 GB%, .279 BABIP, 3.82 ERA/4.32 FIP/4.06 xFIP

This is his third season in High A, but easily his best. But I believe he's eligible for minor league free agency, so this may be his last as a Cardinal unless they re-sign him.

I think I covered just about everyone. This one felt pretty Low A heavy strangely.