Graduated from Prospect News: Stash List Volume 6: Meaner Than A Junkyard Dog: Gavin Williams, Jordan Westburg, Henry Davis, David Hamilton.
1. Reds 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand | 23 | AAA
81 games into the season, Cincinnati is tied with Milwaukee for first in the National League Central.Joey Votto returned with a few home runs in his first week but is 0-for-13 in his last three games. Makes me sad to think he might be blocking a better hitter from helping his team win the division.
2. Orioles OF Colton Cowser | 23 | AAA
Cowser’s playing time remains tied to the outcomes of Ryan O’Hearn and Aaron Hicks, who is slashing .095/.269/.238 with a 30.8 percent strikeout rate over his last seven games. Cowser is at .327/.424/.527 in 17 games since his return from a hamstring injury. It’s time to make the switch.
3. Phillies RHP Andrew Painter | 20 | AA
Six games over .500, the Phillies are eyeing a late-season push like the one that carried them to the World Series in 2022. Painter could be a huge asset if he can get healthy, particularly given the full allotment of innings remaining on his 2023 ledger.
4. Tigers 3B Justyn-Henry Malloy | 24 | AAA
Headed to the Futures Game and (I hope) Detroit after that, J-HM has been good all year but especially hot over his last ten games, slashing .351/.435/.595 with seven strikeouts, seven walks, two home runs and one stolen base. He has nothing left to prove in the minors.
5. Rays LHP Jacob Lopez | 25 | AAA
Thursday was his third straight start without allowing an earned run. The next open rotation spot that doesn’t get bullpened should go to Lopez. In a season where wins are hard to find, Lopez gets a little boost for being on a team that generates dubs in bunches.
6. Orioles OF Heston Kjerstad | 24 | AAA
I kinda feel like an idiot putting Kjerstad on here, given the wait time on Colton Cowser, but I just can’t deny what he’s done this season. After cruising through Double-A in 46 games, he’s slashing .300/.388/.586 in 19 games at Triple-A. Ryan O’Hearn better keep O’Hitting because oh boy Heston Kjerstad is coming for that job.
7. Brewers OF Sal Frelick | 23 | AAA
Sal’s on the struggle bus, slashing .143/.200/.143 over his last seven games.
8. Diamondbacks SS Jordan Lawlar | 20 | AA
Lawlar’s been great in June and should be promoted to Triple-A after the Futures Game.
9. Diamondbacks SS Ryan Bliss | 23 | AA
Bliss has been great all year and should be promoted to Triple-A after the Futures Game.
10. Diamondbacks OF Dominic Canzone | 25 | AAA
Canzone demolished the level in June, slashing .440/.483/.787 with five home runs and a 13.8 percent strikeout rate across 20 games. This is what a 4A player looks like, by which I mean Canzone has clearly earned an extended look in the majors but isn’t receiving one because of factors outside his control: pedigree, age, depth of the organization and more. At 5’11” 190 lbs, Canzone isn’t too big or too small, and at 25, he’s not too old, but the team itself doesn’t have to include him on the 40-man roster this season, so he’ll toil in Triple-A until something outside his control changes. The 4A tag, to me, is more a sign of opportunity for profit due to environmental factors than anything real about a player’s skill level.
11. Athletics 1B Tyler Soderstom | 21 | AAA
Oakland almost certainly intends to slow-play Soderstrom until giving him a chance to break camp with the team next year, but that hasn’t stopped him from heating up with the weather. With nine home runs over his last 18 games, he offers some hope to the A’s fans who are willing to stay with the team through this latest cash grab.
12. Rangers OF Evan Carter | 20 | AA
Carter came off the developmental list and went to the complex league for a few games before hitting the ground running in Double-A, where he has slashed .481/.531/.815 with two home runs and a 9.4 percent strikeout rate in seven games. He’s been more aggressive since his return, which was perhaps the point of his trip through the coaching staff and complex league.
13. Rays 1B Kyle Manzardo | 22 | AAA
Manzardo has encountered his first real professional hurdle in Triple-A. He’s still been okay (102 wRC+), but okay won’t get a corner bat into this lineup.
14. Mets SS Ronny Mauricio | 22 | AAA
Hitting .138 over his last seven games, Mauricio won’t meet the Mets this year unless he gets really hot and/or they decide they’re playing for 2024.
15. Tigers 3B Colt Keith | 21 | AAA
The primary issue here is the team itself. Detroit is not winning, and Justyn-Henry Malloy figures to get first crack at the next full-time opportunity. Nonetheless, Keith has to be on our radars as the organization’s best hitting prospect, and one who just happened to homer in his first Triple-A at bat.
Thanks for reading!
