Prospect News: Stash List #2: Bazzana Republic or Charlie In Charge

Graduated from Stash List #1: It’s Okay To Be Scared: Noah Schultz

1. Guardians 2B Travis Bazzana (23, AAA) 

He’s only played 13 MLB games, but 2B Juan Brito has not adapted to major league pitching, slashing .159/.229/.227 with a 31.3 percent strikeout rate. He’s  actually been a little worse than that considering he picked up four of his seven hits in his first two games. Most teams would probably give the kid more time to find his footing, but in this case, Brito’s reps come for a first-place team at the cost of plate appearances for a recent number one overall pick who is tearing it up in Triple-A. In 23 games, Bazzana has a .297/.429/.527 slash line with two homers, eight steals and almost as many walks (20) as strikeouts (22). He’s been even better over the last two weeks, slashing .409/.552/.750. Both homers were hit this week. I can’t think of a good reason why Bazzana is in the minor leagues today. 

2. Rockies 1B/OF Charlie Condon (22, AAA) 

Slashing .300/.425/.514 with four home runs and three stolen bases in 18 games, which is nice, but it’s the plate skills that really catch the eye in this case: 14 walks (16.1%) against 16 strikeouts (18.4%). He’ll be a star if he maintains these gains. 

3. Giants 1B Bryce Eldridge (21, AAA) 

Casey Schmitt has been the club’s everyday designated hitter since April 7th and was hitting well at first. Over the last nine games, however, we’re seeing why he’s not a great fit to be your middle-of-the-order thumper, slashing .189/.205/.324 with zero walks and six strikeouts. Small samples and so on, but what’re we doing here? Schmitt’s a 27-year-old utility player. Checking in on Eldridge, we find him striking out 33 percent of the time through 22 games but slashing .282/.390/.424 with a 120 wRC+ nonetheless. He’s got just one hit in his last five games. Not exactly crashing through the wall like the Kool-Aid man, but one hot streak can change that in a hurry when a kid hits the ball as hard as Eldridge. 

4. Tigers OF Max Clark (21, AAA) 

Detroit is 14-and-13 as I prep this piece on Saturday morning, just one game back of Cleveland. After some scuffles out the gate, they look ready to switch on the cruise control and roll to a division crown in one of the weakest divisions we’ve seen in years, and that’s with OF Wenceel Perez going 0-for his first week (-36 WRC+) and Javier Baez with his 2.6 percent walk rate in centerfield. Zach McKinstry and Parker Meadows are injured. Max Clark is slashing .307/.382/.455 with one home run and seven stolen bases alongside great plate skills: 11.8% walks against 13.7% strikeouts. He’s slowed down quite a bit since his blistering start, and I can appreciate this front office making do with what they’ve got rather than pushing Clark beyond his capacity to paper over a hole on the big league roster. Granted, we don’t know if major league pitching would prove too much for Clark, but most rookies struggle with the massive jump from Triple-A, and it’s never ideal to bring a rookie into a locker room on a losing streak. 

5. Marlins LHP Robby Snelling (22, AAA) 

What are we doing? What’s going on? Snelling is striking out 37.2 percent of the guys he sees and has allowed just two earned runs over his last three starts. But we have to keep watching Chris Paddack. That’s the rule. That’s the goal now. 

6. Brewers OF Luis Lara (21, AAA) 

The last-place Brewers are fielding a fairly ugly lineup on a daily basis. I realize that’s kinda their brand, but it seems a little unnecessary to be starting Brandon Lockridge when you’ve got Luis Lara breaking out against much older players, slashing .353/.455/.529 with three home runs, 11 stolen bases and a tidy 14.9-to-14.9 walk-to-strikeout ratio. The club recalled 1B Tyler Black on Friday to provide some coverage at designated hitter while Christian Yelich convalesces from a grade two groin strain. Ouch. I would’ve given that month-long look to Lara. Provides a perfect off-ramp if he’s not hitting when Yelich returns. Oh well. Black can hit a bit and works the count well enough. Might help in some deep leagues. 

7. Diamondbacks OF Ryan Waldschmidt (23, AAA) 

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is back on the field, and Jose Fernandez is hitting well in a utility role, but the biggest surprise that might block Waldschmidt for a while is the scorching hot Ildemaro Vargas. He’s played four positions already (1B 2B 3B LF) while slashing .357/.375/.671. For his part, Waldschmidt is playing well in Reno, slashing .313/.422/.510 with two home runs and four stolen bases. 

8. Mariners SS Colt Emerson (20, AAA) 

Back in action after some wrist soreness cost him a week, Emerson would be the clear next man up if ranking by salaries, but he hasn’t played all that great in Triple-A, so it makes sense for the team to wait for him to get it going. He doesn’t turn 21 until July 20th. 

9. Blue Jays RHP Trey Yesavage (22, AAA)

He doesn’t look quite right yet. Makes sense given that it’s practically spring training for him. Still, four walks against two strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched, his line during his most recent start, isn’t going to precede a promotion for pretty much anyone. 

UPDATE: Yesavage will reportedly be recalled to make his season debut on Tuesday against Boston. I have the worst attorneys.

10. Twins OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (23, AAA) 

A dynasty darling among statboys for the last half-decade, Rodriguez is healthy now after a long stretch of injury troubles. If I’m Minnesota, I’d hurry and get him into a major league routine and hope he stays that way. The approach remains so patient it’s borderline passive, so he might struggle early as pitchers pound the strike zone. 

Thanks for reading!