Prospect News: Stash List #5: Condon Covers The Plate

Graduated From Stash List #4: Lara At The Top Of His Craft: Edwin Arroyo, Cole Carrigg, Braden Montgomery 

1. Rockies 1B/OF Charlie Condon (23, AAA) 

With seven home runs in his last 15 games, Condon is angling for a big league lineup spot despite a season-long batting average of .251. His strikeout rate over this hot streak is 19.7 percent against a 16.9 percent walk rate. Edouard Julien has played 58 games with a 69 wRC+ alongside negative defensive value. The organization picked up some found money over the off-season by trawling the depths of other clubs, but whatever they’ve found in Julien is messing with their invested wealth. 

2. Twins SS Kaelen Culpepper (23, AAA) 

Tristan Gray is starting a lot at shortstop these days, and he’s done okay considering he’s a 30-year-old utility player, but he’s got a 30.7 percent strikeout rate and is almost certainly not a key piece of this team’s next contender. It’s hard to figure what they’re waiting for regarding Culpepper, a first-round pick in 2024 with a 121 wRC+ and great plate skills (12.8% BB v. 17.4% K) through 59 Triple-A games. He’s also hit 14 home runs and stolen 14 bases. I’m glad they’re not letting a big league need dictate his timeline, but I think we’ve reached the moment where player development matches team needs.

3. Dodgers RHP River Ryan (27, AAA)

In 32 Triple-A innings across seven starts in the Pacific Coast League, River Ryan has allowed zero home runs. That’s crazy talk. He’s also recorded 40 strikeouts against seven walks, but the home run suppression leaps off the page in a league where pitching at elevation is the norm.

4. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson (21, AA) 

Seattle is two games up in a weak American League West division and haven’t needed any of Anderson’s 49 innings to make that happen. In the meantime, it’s gotten pretty silly in Double-A, where he’s got a 0.69 WHIP, 1.29 ERA and 39.2 percent strikeout-minus-walk rate. I don’t think I’ve seen Double-A numbers like this since Tarik Skubal was striking out every other batter. 

5. Brewers OF Luis Lara (21, AAA) 

I shared some thoughts on Lara’s new contract and impending promotion the other day in Prospect News: Montgomery Burns The Braves or Last Call On Lara.

6. Angels 2B Christian Moore (23, AAA)

Moore has been playing some left field as well as third base and second base as the club looks for a place to put his bat. They recalled Denzer Guzman a couple days ago to give him a look at third, so I doubt that’s available to Moore for at least the next few weeks. Oswald Peraza looks good at second, and Wade Meckler is earning his keep in left field, but Donovan Walton and Trey Mancini are playing some designated hitter, while Moore has cut his strikeout rate to 22.1 percent while slashing .309/.451/.514 through 46 games. 

7. Cardinals OF Joshua Baez (22, AAA) 

After a cold start, Baez has heated up with the weather, slashing .318/.375/.729 with 11 home runs and six stolen bases in 26 games over the last month. St. Louis is looking like a playoff team at 37 and 30, and that’s reflected in their outfield depth. With Lars Nootbar and Ryan Church back in action and Nelson Velazquez and Bryan Torres slugging off the bench, there’s nowhere to put Baez at the moment. 

8. Rangers 2B SS OF Cameron Cauley (23, AAA) 

Another slow starter, Cauley clicked with three hits on May 16 and hasn’t stopped hitting since, slashing .344/.431/.538 with two home runs, 12 stolen bases and a 15.5 percent strikeout rate in 22 games spread among shortstop, second base and center field. The next time Texas needs help at any of those spots, I think they’ll be calling Cauley. 

9. Twins OF Hendry Mendez (22, AAA) 

In 28 Triple-A games, Mendez has 21 walks (16.2%) against 18 strikeouts (13.8%) with four home runs, three stolen bases and a slash line of .330/.438/.477. He’s young enough that there’s no real rush on this one, but it makes sense to me that they’d invite him up to the majors while he’s locked in and see if he can’t do better than Trevor Larnach or Austin Martin. Would be nice to show the fans some quick returns from the Jhoan Duran trade. 

10. Nationals 3B Yohandy Morales (23, AAA) 

Slashing .339/.415/.596 with 15 home runs and a 23.8 percent strikeout rate, there’s not much left for Morales to do but stay healthy and keep hitting in hopes that something major opens up.

Thanks for reading!