Beck's Minor League Threecap: 5/13/24

When you’re thinking about the calendar week, does it start on Sunday or Monday? I’ve always been a the-week-starts-on-Monday kind of guy myself. Argue amongst yourselves.

I’ll be in Philly from Tuesday to Friday, ideally catching a game at Citizens Bank on Wednesday (weather permitting). That may mean the Threecaps are a little more barebones than usual. I hope you can forgive me.

Away we go!

Ever Traded a Pitcher Right Before They Threw a No-No?

Hao-Yu Lee (DET) signed with the Phillies for $570K in 2021 and made his way to Detroit at last year’s deadline as the return piece for a true rental of Michael Lorenzen. That trade paid off for the Phils almost immediately as just nine days later Lorenzen tossed the 14th no-hitter in franchise history. For his part, Lee posted respectable if unremarkable lines in eight games with West Michigan and 13 games at the AFL before reporting to Double-A Erie this year. He’s young for the level at just 21 years old, but is holding his own with a hit-over-power profile at present. He went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs on Sunday.

Have I piqued your curiosity with Michael Curialle (STL)? I dunno, just trying a little bit of alliterative wordplay. Curialle was initially drafted by Colorado in the 31st round of the 2019 draft (back when there were at least 31 rounds), but opted instead to head to UCLA and play college ball. That gambit – if you can call it that, he didn’t sacrifice much by turning down the 31st round money – ultimately paid off as he was taken by St. Louis in the 12th round in 2022. He’s been a totally fine player as a professional, albeit a little old relative to expectation at each respective stop, and finds himself in High-A in 2024. He’s off to the best start of his career with three home runs in his first 60 plate appearances and an .863 OPS, though he’s striking out 30% of the time. Aaand it isn’t exactly a great start as much as yesterday was a great night as all three of his home runs to-date happened in yesterday’s contest in a 4-for-5 effort. They all count the same, I suppose.

I’ll admit, I got a little excited when I saw Ramon Rodriguez (MIL)’s name while poring over box scores this morning. It was initially because I thought he was Ramon Ramirez of the Royals, whom I believe in much more, and that later tapered into a more dull, generalized excitement about a Brewers farm-hand performing well. Now for the letdown: he’s a 25-year-old who is in High-A and has been in minors since the Obama administration. I think you’re sharp enough to figure out that there isn’t any fantasy appeal here, but hats off to a real grinder for sticking it out and lacing two four-baggers on Mom’s day.

Let’s Go, Idaho!

I love rooting for guys like Zach Penrod (BOS). He’s by no means a top prospect, nor is he a candidate to become one, but he was snagged by the Red Sox out of Indy ball last August and I got to see him in the AFL. He immediately jumped into the rotation for Greenville after signing and pitched his way to a 2.18 ERA over four starts before shipping off to the AFL and racking up another 14.0 innings of 1.29 ERA ball. He hasn’t slowed in the new year and currently sits with 34 strikeouts to just nine walks in 24.0 innings. His last start was his best yet, going 6.0 innings of one-run ball while striking out 10. Oh, and he’s from Idaho.

This blurb is basically just a reminder that Aaron Ashby (MIL) exists. He had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in April of 2023 that held him out of competition for the entire year. He’s back now and is shaky as you may imagine, though there is some distant hope that he’ll be a productive starter for the Brewers at some point over the summer. He went 5.1 innings on Mom’s Day and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks. His nine strikeouts brought his 2024 minor league total to 32 in 31.0 innings but they’re paired with an ugly 8.42 ERA.

Ian Seymour (TBR) was cooking in his final year at Virginia Tech before the coronavirus pandemic ended the collegiate season. He’d posted the best strikeout and walk rates of his career and was turning heads in the ACC with a developing three pitch mix. It was a total of just 20.1 innings, but in that time he posted 2.21 ERA, a 50.6% K-rate, and a 6.3% BB-rate, which was ultimately enough for the Rays to take a chance on him in the second round later that summer. He missed a year in 2022 with Tommy John surgery and returned last year to throw a total of 42.0 innings. Now back in Double-A, Seymour is racking up innings faster than he ever has a pro and doing so with fantastic efficiency. His 5.0 perfect innings with eight K’s on Sunday brought his ERA under three (2.78), though he most likely projects as a reliever long-term.

What the Hell Happened in Northwest Arkansas?

We’ve got a contender for weirdest pitching line of the year, and we got it early. Tink Hence went 3.2 innings and allowed nine runs, none of which were levied against him as earned, while walking three and striking out just one. I don’t have many words for this – the defense was bad but so was he.

Sunday’s results:

You know the drill! Here’s what to watch on Tuesday (pretty scant, honestly) with my interests italicized:

• Braxton Ashcraft (5.33 ERA) for the Altoona Curve (PIT) at 11:05 ET

• Cooper Hjerpe (4.34 ERA) for the Peoria Chiefs (STL) at 12:05 ET

• Keider Montero (3.27 ERA) for the Toledo Mud Hens (DET) at 6:05 ET

• Jonah Tong (1.00 ERA) for the Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) at 7:05 ET

• Reid VanScoter (3.48 ERA) for the Arkansas Travelers (SEA) at 7:35 ET

• Hurston Waldrep (3.90 ERA) for the Mississippi Braves (ATL) at 7:35 ET