Phillies top prospect Alec Bohm went yard for the first time this week. He’s off to a strong start with Lakewood in the Sally – hitting .311 with four doubles, three steals, and the dong. More importantly, he’s walking at a 15% clip with a .400 on base percentage. After going 121 plate appearances in his pro debut last summer without a homer, this was a welcome display of power from the 22-year-old, who should advance quickly in the Phils system. Here’s what else is happening around the minor leagues…
Joey Bart, SFG – Fractured finger and will be out at least a month. Catchers usually take longer to develop anyway, so a setback like this is a bummer, especially since he was hitting well to start the year in High-A.
Alex Kirilloff, MIN – Still out with the wrist injury from spring training with no set timeline. A return in May to Double-A would be optimal, where the Twins are probably going to transition him from the crowded outfield to first base.
Dylan Cease, CWS – Has yet to allow a run through his first two starts. If you look up the word “robbery” in the dictionary, it just says “see Jose Quintana trade”. Cease could see starts with the White Sox this summer and through ten scoreless innings with Triple-A Charlotte, he’s punched out nine batters and walked just one.
Jonathan India, CIN – Showed that he does indeed have a pulse with a 4-for-5 game yesterday. It’s been a slow start, so hopefully this is the beginning of a little run on offense. He has a pair of homers and a couple of steals on the year, but he has also been caught stealing twice and is striking out at a 28% clip in High-A. Nothing to panic about, but I’d imagine the Reds want to push him to Double-A by the end of this season so he’ll need to pick it up.
Yordan Alvarez, HOU – Homered again yesterday (his seventh and a grand slam). He leads the PCL in homers and is hitting .300 on the year. He’s also walking at a 20% clip and only striking out in 18% of his appearances. Reddick and Gurriel are both hitting in the majors, so there’s not a clear path yet, but I don’t know how the Astros are going to keep Alvarez down if he continues to rake. I’d start keeping an eye on him in redraft formats if you need some pop in your lineup…he might only be an injury away from the bigs.
Mike Ford, NYY – Called up to the Yankees as Greg Bird does the usual Greg Bird things. Ford was hitting .410 with five homers for Scranton Wilkes-Barre prior to the promotion and as Mike Francesa pointed out – “He could get hit by a pitch and be better than Bird was.” *grins…adjusts mic…sips Diet Coke* That’s why he’s the King folks! Savage! Ford should have some value in AL-only formats while the Yankees are banged up.
Brusdar Graterol, MIN – Threw a seven-inning one hitter yesterday, striking out eight and walking just one. That gives him over seventeen innings pitched on the year with just one run allowed and 18 punch outs. He’s throwing for Double-A Pensacola and could be an option to start for the Twins this summer.
