Minor League round up, July 29

A round up of the San Francisco Giants Minor League affiliates.

All eight San Francisco Giants affiliates were in action on Thursday, so let’s jump straight into all the action.

Link to the 2021 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List

AAA Sacramento (30-43)

Sacramento River Cats lost to the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) 6-5
Box score

The River Cats mounted a comeback late in the game and almost won, courtesy of a 3-run eighth inning that featured home runs by catcher Joey Bart (No. 2 CPL) and third baseman/first baseman Jason Krizan.

It was on odd day for Bart, who may have been wondering if he’d get pulled from the game to be traded. He had the home run, but also hit 1-5 with 3 strikeouts. That’s been the year in a nutshell for Bart, and it’s starting to look like who he is. He’s hitting .307 and slugging .540, but he also has 57 strikeouts to 13 walks in 193 plate appearances.

He wasn’t alone striking out though, as the Giants had 15 on the day. But Krizan had a nice day, going 3-3, and right fielder Heliot Ramos (No. 3 CPL) went 2-4, and continues to look at home since getting promoted.

Many rehab starts were made, as Brandon Belt went 0-2 as he began his rehab assignment, and Tommy La Stella and Jaylin Davis (No. 20 CPL) continued theirs, going 1-3 with a walk, and 0-4, respectively.

It was a similar story with the pitchers. RHP Tyler Beede got the start as he continues to try and work back from Tommy John surgery, and allowed 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 earned runs in 4.2 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Reyes Moronta allowed a hit, a walk, and a run in an inning in his third rehab assignment.

Recently optioned RHP Zack Littell gave up 2 runs in 1 inning as the Giants MLB relievers continue to be completely awful when optioned to AAA.

AA Richmond (39-36)

Richmond Flying Squirrels lost to the Bowie Baysox (Orioles) 5-4
Box score

Another close game, another loss. The Flying Squirrels had a few interesting offensive performances, with second baseman Simon Whiteman hitting 3-4 with a walk and a stolen base to raise his OPS to .747. Whiteman had a slow start to his AA life after a mid-June promotion, but has been stellar in July, with an .893 OPS.

On the other end of things, shortstop Will Wilson (No. 10 CPL) went 0-4 with a strikeout and a walk, and continues to struggle in AA, with a .556 OPS. First baseman Frankie Tostado went 2-4 with a double, and right fielder Diego Rincones had the team’s lone home run, as both push their OPS’ close to .800.

RHP Trenton Toplikar had a mediocre start for the Flying Squirrels, but RHP Patrick Ruotolo had another strong relief appearance, with 2 strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Ruotolo now has a 2.19 ERA, with 36 strikeouts to 3 walks in 24.2 innings.

High-A Eugene (43-32)

Eugene Emeralds beat the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 11-9
Box score

It was a dramatic win for the Emeralds, who gave up 6 runs in the first inning but countered with 5 in the second, then used a 5-run ninth inning to find a victory.

Eugene struck out 11 times to just 2 walks, but managed to put up a crooked number thanks to a quartet of long balls. Shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald (No. 40 CPL), left fielder Heath Quinn, and second baseman/third baseman Carter Aldrete all had 2-hit days with home runs, and Aldrete added a double as well to move his OPS to .755. He’s starting to catch fire. As are the others, for that matter (Fitzgerald’s OPS is .830 and Quinn’s is .916).

Everyone’s favorite jack-of-all-trades, Brett Auerbach, started the game on the bench but still managed to make himself part of the story, entering late and drawing a walk in his lone plate appearance and then stealing 2 bases.

But the Giants highest-rated prospect in the game struggled mightily, as LHP Seth Corry (No. 6 CPL) failed to make it out of the first inning, surrendering 5 hits, 2 walks, and 6 earned runs in 0.2 innings. Corry’s ERA is now 6.83, and he’s issued 59 walks in just 59.1 innings.

On the other end of the spectrum was RHP Taylor Rashi, who allowed 0 hits and 1 walk in 2 innings, while recording all 6 outs by way of the strikeout.

Low-A San Jose (48-27)

San Jose Giants lost to the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 6-3
Box score

Not a good day for the usually dominant Baby Giants, who had just 5 hits and 5 walks. First baseman Tyler Wyatt had a double for the team’s only extra-base hit, and no one had a multi-hit day. The best news was that center fielder Alexander Canario (No. 7 CPL) returned after a few days off with a mild injury, though he went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts.

LHP Kyle Harrison (No. 9 CPL) had one of his more rough starts, allowing 8 hits, 2 walks, and 3 earned runs in 3.2 innings, while striking out 4. It rose his ERA to 4.12, though he still has 96 strikeouts in 63.1 innings, which I think the Giants will be just fine with for a 19 year old.

RHP Wilkelma Castillo struck out 3 in 2 scoreless innings of relief, lowering his ERA to 2.86.

ACL Orange (10-11)

ACL Giants Orange lost to the D-Backs 6-3 (8 innings)
Box score

The Giants Orange gave up a 3-spot in the eighth and final inning to lose this game, though all 3 runs were unearned. RHP Luis Moreno (22, 2016 J2) got the start and was OK, allowing 3 hits, 3 walks, and 3 earned runs in 5 innings, while striking out 6. His ERA is now 3.91.

It wasn’t a noteworthy offensive day, but there were some decent performances. Right fielder Kwan Adkins (24, 2018 30th round) went 3-4 to raise his OPS to 1.003, and stole a base. Third baseman Edison More (20, 2017 J2) had a 2-hit day to raise his OPS to .784, and left fielder George Bell (23, 2018 13th round) had a double and a walk to raise his OPS to .810.

ACL Black (13-9)

ACL Giants Black won both games of a doubleheader against the Cubs, taking the first game 1-0 and the second game 4-0
Game 1 box score
Game 2 box score

The Giants Black team had basically no offense in the first game, but it was still enough for a win, courtesy of a dominant start by RHP Freddery Paulino (20, 2017 J2), who allowed just 3 hits and 1 walk in 6 innings, while striking out 6. The Giants had just 2 hits in the game, but an RBI double by third baseman Yorlis Rodriguez (22, 2017 J2) provided all the offense that was needed.

Left fielder Hunter Bishop (No. 4 CPL) went 0-2 in a rehab start, appearing in his first game since May 6.

In the second game, the Giants offense was once again rather listless, with a triple by second baseman Dilan Rosario (20, 2019 6th round) representing the only extra-base hit. Rosario also added a single to raise his OPS to .747. It was a disciplined offensive game, as the Giants Black squad struck out just 4 times.

And it was another great pitching performance. LHP Nick Swiney (No. 17 CPL) made another rehab appearance and allowed 1 hit, 1 walk, and 0 runs in 1 inning, while striking out 1. It was just his second rehab appearance and the third game of his career, following an injury after just one start in Low-A.

RHP Jose Mullings (21, 2018 J2) pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowing 6 baserunners and striking out 3.

DSL Orange (3-8)

DSL Giants Orange lost to Colorado 10-2 (7 innings)
Box score

The Giants Orange team was done in by an awful first inning in which they allowed all 10 runs. RHP Cristofer Valenzuela (19, 2019 J2) gave up 6 earned runs while recording just a single out, and was replaced by RHP Luis Yepez (19, 2019 J2), who gave up 4 earned runs while recording just 2 outs. The Giants struck out just 3 batters on the day.

The offense had just 3 hits and 1 walk, with doubles by third baseman Derwin Laya (17, 2020 J2), and left fielder Eliam Sandoval (17, 2020 J2).

DSL Black (6-7)

DSL Giants Black beat the Cubs Red 5-3 (7 innings)
Box score

Not much of interest for the Giants Black team, though they did win. Center fielder Estanlin Cassiani (18, 2018 J2) went 2-3 with a pair of doubles to raise his OPS to 1.029. He also stole a base, and had the team’s only extra-base hits. Third baseman Jose Ramos (18, 2019 J2) was the only other Giant to reach base twice, with a single and a walk to raise his OPS to .883.

RHP Yonathan Ochoa (18, 2020 J2) had a decent start, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs in 5 innings, with 5 strikeouts.

Home runs

AAA Joey Bart (10)
AAA Jason Krizan (8)
AA Diego Rincones (4)
High-A Tyler Fitzgerald (12)
High-A Franklin Labour (9)
High-A Carter Aldrete (7)
High-A Heath Quinn (5)

News

The Giants released a few players.

Friday schedule

Sacramento: vs. Reno Aces, 7:05 p.m. PT
Richmond: vs. Bowie Baysox, 3:35 p.m. PT
Eugene: @ Everett AquaSox, 7:05 p.m. PT
San Jose: vs. Inland Empire 66ers, 6:30 p.m. PT
ACL Orange: vs. Rockies
ACL Black: vs. Athletics
DSL Orange: vs. Colorado
DSL Black: Canceled