Cincinnati SS Jose Barrero returned to the majors this week after an impressive 40 games at each AA and AAA. He’s the club’s best defense shortstop, but I’d be a little surprised if he gets the gig right away. Kyle Farmer has played well enough to make Barrero a utility player for the stretch run, and that might be the perfect spot for him considering the struggles Barrero encountered when forced into an everyday role in 2020. Even so, he’ll likely be the first man off the bench most nights, and Farmer is a capable utility player in his own right, so Barrero could carve out a significant role if starts out hot. His season line in those 80 MiLB games across two levels: .303/.378/.532 with 17 HR and 15 SB. That’ll do, Jose.
Toronto SS Kevin Smith and Toronto 2B Otto Lopez face a similar scenario up north. Either could potentially lock down a starting job if given a chance, but neither has that window at present on a crowded roster. Still, it’s nice to see them in the show, and manager Charlie Montoya has brought some of that everyone-plays ethos over from Tampa, so we should get some looks at them even if we don’t get a big impact.
The Mallrat has 19 bombs and 16 steals alongside his .286/.371/.576 slash line. All of the 25-year-old’s games were at AAA this year.
The 22-year-old Otto bot has slashed .324/.398/.451 with 3 HR and 12 SB; he’s played just 11 games at AAA with the other 69 in AA.
Arizona LHP Tyler Gilbert isn’t a household name just yet, but he does have a chance to etch another special page in baseball history. He’s already one of four rookies to ever throw a no-hitter in his first start. Now he just has to throw another one to match Johnny Vander Meer. Either way, I’m intrigued—was keeping an eye on him before that start because anyone who survives that AAA setting in Salt Lake deserves a good long look. Probably too late to add him most places now, but if someone drops him after a disappointing turn or two, I’d snap him up if I had the roster room.
Los Angeles (NL) Eddys Leonard is adjusting well to High A. Since we published my piece on August 8, If I Were Eddys Leonard, Would You Like Me Any Better?, the man himself has hit .400 at his new level with six strikeouts and four walks across eight games. The clock is ticking a little quicker now in even shallow dynasty leagues. If you’ve been playing the waiting game to hold space for someone a little more beloved by the market, now might be the time to make the switch.
Rays RHP Jayden Murray demands a double take. I mean you just don’t see many WHIPs in the 0.68 range. His command is incredible, and the fastball-breaking ball combination looks like it comes fresh from the pitching lab—fastball riding the top of the zone around 94 (I’ve seen him hit 96) and the curve diving down and out. He can steal early strikes with the bender, too, as a 24-year-old with 100+ innings pitched in college at Dixie State. Yeah, I don’t know what that is either, but I do know he pitches with the confidence and command of an old hand, and I think his mix will work at AAA. Batters swing right through his fastball. He went toe to toe with Jake Eder back on August 13, and I liked what I saw from his changeup that night. Reminds me of Joe Ryan in that he might have to dominate for a long time to get any attention, partly due to his heavy reliance on the fastball. Murray might even add another tick of velocity at some point, who knows? All the cool kids are doing it, and his delivery is so well under control that he occasionally plays with his (and the hitters’) timing.
Milwaukee 2B Felix Valerio was just promoted to High-A after cruising through Low A with a 14.3/13% K/BB rate, 6 HR, 27 SB and a .314/.430/.469 triple slash. He’s just in time for Wisconsin to visit Cedar Rapids, and I’m hoping to see him hit a triple or something there this weekend. Milwaukee’s High-A squad is just loaded with legit prospects, many of whom (Howell, Gray Jr.) bring big time speed. Valerio isn’t physically big like those two (listed at 5’7”) but he gets good pop from trunk rotation and will be fun to watch. This system is on the rise.
Another steamy name in the Brewers’ pipeline, OF Hendry Mendez, has just graduated the DSL and joined the complex squad, where he’s got five hits and a walk in his first ten plate appearances. He’s an add for me in deepish leagues. At 6’2” 175 lbs with decent all-around tools and what seems like a plus hit tool, he’ll climb the lists in a hurry.
Bit of an odd last blip here, as Washington C Keibert Ruiz has changed agents and now rolls with Scott Boras, who has worked closely with Nats’ ownership on more than one occasion. Could be just a coincidence. Timing of the universe type thing, but it struck me as a sharp move by Ruiz. I get a lot of things wrong around here, but so far, I’ve been right about the Nationals burying him in the minors until 2022. Riley Adams and Tres Barrera make a decent enough duo for a tanking team, and if either of them takes well to the tryout, they’ll have an established young starter headed into the off-season. Here’s hoping the universal DH gets written into the next CBA because, among the other million reasons, I really don’t want to see Ruiz riding minor league busses in 2022.
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