Beck's Minor League Threecap: 6/27/2024

Hello folks! Sorry I’ve been posting so late. This week has been chock full of travel for work and I’m trying to find any moments I have to squeeze in some writing. I spent the evening tonight with my niece and it was nice to step back away from a screen and experience unmitigated joy.

Tonight’s Threecap is a little on the light side as I manage my workload. The season is a marathon, not a sprint, and I’ve got plenty of turns through the rotation ahead of me. Enjoy!

Brooks Ain’t Dunn.

Brooks Baldwin (CHW) has been hitting the cover off the ball all year. He’s put together a few really nice campaigns since his selection in the 12th round of the 2022 draft, including an .808 OPS across Single- and High-A in 2023 that was a few longballs short of a 20-20 season. He’s a really well-rounded prospect on both sides of the ball; he switch hits, doesn’t strike out often, plays multiple positions in the grass and the dirt, and uses his legs more than you might expect given his average foot speed. He’s pacing for fewer home runs than last year, not entirely unexpected as he’s facing much better pitching in Double-A, but he’s collecting plenty of doubles that are keeping his slugging and ISO healthy. I’m not ready to push him too far just yet, mostly because he’s 23, doesn’t have much draft pedigree, and is in the White Sox system, but what he’s done this year has been pretty encouraging. He’s carrying a .345/.412/.475 slash through 68 games after a 4-for-5 night with two home runs and a double on Wednesday.

The Same Old Tong and Dance.

Jonah Tong (NYM) has been one of the biggest pitching breakouts across any level of baseball this year. He struck out 36 batters, walked just five, and did not allow an earned run over 18.2 innings in Single-A before earning a promotion in to High-A in late May, and while he hasn’t been quite as sharp he’s still sitting with a 3.38 ERA for Brooklyn after 42.2 innings. His calling card is an analytic darling of a fastball that doesn’t have elite velocity but does have superlative shape with over 20 inches of induced vertical break with average extension and a roughly average vertical approach angle, making it a pitch that appears to defy gravity and induces a ton of whiffs under it. His 6.0 innings of one-run ball with 11 strikeouts yesterday was his best showing at High-A so far and he’s still just 21 years old. 

Table Robbing. 

If you’re astute you’ll come to notice that Wednesdays are rather scant in terms of premier minor league pitching. The best guys often go on the weekend but sometimes you get a little gem like the one from Jonah Tong. Everyone here is at Double-A or lower, which is mostly sheer coincidence.

Here’s Friday’s viewing guide with my recommendations italicized as usual:

• Nolan McLean (6.93 ERA) for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) at 4:00 ET

• Joey Cantillo (2.31 ERA) for the Columbus Clippers (CLE) at 5:05 ET

• Thomas Harrington (3.11 ERA) for the Altoona Curve (PIT) at 6:00 ET

• Josh Knoth (3.55 ERA) for the Carolina Mudcats (MIL) at 6:30 ET

• Mick Abel (7.08 ERA) for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) at 6:35 ET

• Jeffrey Springs (1.42 ERA) for the Durham Bulls (TBR) at 6:35 ET

• Payton Martin (2.53 ERA) for the Great Lakes Loons (LAD) at 7:00 ET

• Charlee Soto (5.94 ERA) for the Fort Myers Mussels (MIN) at 7:05 ET

• Ian Seymour (1.97 ERA) for the Montgomery Biscuits (TBR) at 7:35 ET

• Yoniel Curet (4.55 ERA) for the Bowling Green Hot Rods (TBR) at 7:35 ET

• Logan Henderson (1.13 ERA) for the Biloxi Shuckers (MIL) at 7:35 ET

• Winston Santos (0.00 ERA) for the Frisco RoughRiders (TEX) at 8:05 ET

• Marco Raya (4.78 ERA) for the Wichita Wind Surge (MIN) at 8:05 ET