Prospect News: Bolte To The Rescue or An Automatic Add

Today’s a pretty big deal for Nationals RHP Cade Cavalli, who will make his first MLB appearance since his major league debut in 2022. He allowed seven earned runs in 4.1 innings that night and hasn’t been doing a whole lot better than that in Triple-A this year (6.09 ERA in 65 innings), so he’s a pretty obvious ratio-bomb waiting to happen. Probably wise to avoid unless he can string a few solid outings together. 

Keep an eye on Marlins 1B Troy Johnston (28). He stole 31 bases in 84 Triple-A games this year. Also hit 12 home runs and has posted positive wRC+ outcomes at every stop in his professional career except for his 25-game debut in Triple-A when he was 25. That adds up to 11 wRC+’s over 100 and just one that came in under. He’s not the prototype over there at 5’11” 205 lbs, but I think Miami should’ve taken a big league look at this guy two years ago. Maybe it won’t work, but it doesn’t cost anything to try at this point. He can play a little outfield, too, so that helps his chances. 

Cardinals C Ivan Herrera has played three games in left field, allowing C Yohel Pozo to remain in the lineup more often than not at catcher or designated hitter. I kinda like this plan for the club. If they go into next season with three viable options behind the plate, that’s a real advantage. Might even be able to trade from strength considering the other guys coming up the ladder like Leonardo Bernal, Jimmy Crooks and eventually, Rainiel Rodriguez. Plus, Herrera is such a talented hitter that it makes sense to preserve his body throughout the season and keep him in the lineup as much as possible. 

Athletics OF Henry Bolte (21, AAA) is among the youngest players in Triple-A, but he’s off to a nice start through 11 games, slashing .341/.460/.463 with three stolen bases. They’ve got some guys to sort, namely Carlos Cortes, Colby Thomas and JJ Bleday. Of these four, Bolte gives the organization its best shot at a long-term solution, but Cortes is the toughest out of the bunch right now and might get the lion’s share of playing time over the next few weeks. 

The Cubs cut a pretty direct path from fuck around to find out this deadline, acquiring just the one starting pitcher, and one with a history of injuries at that. If they aren’t planning to push RHP Jaxon Wiggins (23, AA) to see if he might help this season, I struggle to see the point of holding him when guys like Edward Cabrera and Joe Ryan were on the market. Wiggins could make the ordeal look pretty good with the power of hindsight, but he turns 24 in October and he’s 6’6” 225 lbs, so we’re not exactly waiting a growth spurt, 

Twins OF Gabriel Gonzalez (21, AAA) moved one step closer to Minnesota this week and is hitting .333 through three games in Triple-A. He’s not particularly scary in any particular aspect of the game, but he’s a well-rounded player who could carve out a long-term spot if given the chance to establish his value. 

Blue Jays OF Victor Arias (21, AA) earned his jump to Double-A by slashing .294/.381/.437 with five home runs and 12 stolen bases in 66 High-A games. He’s been just as effective at Double-A through 13 games, posting a 147 wRC+ and .396 on base percentage with two home runs and five stolen bases. He’s not a lock to play center field, but he has the speed to remain an option as long as he’s getting on base

Rockies 3B Wilder Dalis (19, A) is just five games into his Low-A career, but he’s hitting .400 with three strikeouts after slashing .352/.440/.525 in 56 games at the complex. He hit three home runs and stole ten bases, and the six-foot, 172-pound switch-hitter figures to add a little power and lose a little speed as he ages into his twenties. Colorado prospects are cold stocks right now for good reason, but the Warming Bernabel experience is a good reminder of what a decent young hitter can do early in Coors. Hunter Goodman and Jordan Beck offer longer-running examples. Brenton Doyle fits the bill a couple years ago. If they can survive the minor league machinations and make their way to a decently long runway in the majors, they tend to help in our game. 

Yankees 3B Richard Matic (18, DSL) signed for a healthy $850,000 during the 2024 signing period but flopped in his first look at Dominican Summer League pitching, hitting just .196 with zero home runs. This season he’s slashing .370/.503/.606 with four home runs and eight stolen bases in 40 games. If you’ve got the roster room, Rick Matic has the upside. 

Thanks for reading!