Tigers RHP Troy Melton (24) made his big league debut with Detroit today after dominating Triple-A hitters for most of the season. It did not go well, but most debuts don’t these days, so I’m not dropping him off the couple rosters where I have him. I did not start him today.
Guardians 2B OF Angel Martinez (23) graduated from prospect status a while back, but he’s only recently really found his footing at the highest level. If I had to bet whether this is just a hot steak or the start of a new level for Martinez, I’m betting he’s reaching a new level despite the total lack of patience at the plate. Over his past 13 games, he’s hitting .345 with four home runs. He has walked one time against 14 strikeouts. His walk rate on the season is 2.9 percent. He walked 8.9 percent of the time in 43 MLB games last season and has never had this issue, so I think it’s a case of a young guy stretching himself, testing his limits, swinging more than he ever has and harder than he ever has. The total swing rate is up from 48.2 percent last year to 55.8 percent this year. His bat speed is up from 69 mph to 70.1 mph, which is still below league average, but it speaks to a player in motion, and as a switch-hitter with plus contact skills and above average defense at two up-the-middle positions, Martinez has a long runway to keep improving.
Yankees RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (21, AA) has thrown two solid starts in Double-A after graduating High-A with a 2.26 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 83.2 innings. Rodriguez-Cruz came over from Boston in the Carlos Narvaez trade and could be on the move again this summer. Pretty comfortable Top 100 prospect at this point on the strength of a high-90’s heater and well-rounded pitch mix he can command.
Giants OF Bo Davidson (23, AA) continued his march to the majors, earning a promotion to Double-A after slashing .309/.412/.507 with ten home runs and 12 stolen bases in 72 High-A games. He’s already homered and swiped a base through three games in Double-A. Rafael Devers played his first game at first base on Tuesday, while Bryce Eldridge went 2-for-4 with a homer in Triple-A. The lineup this team brings into next season is going to look worlds better than the one it brought into 2025, and Davidson should elbow his way into the picture before the All-Star break. He could also be moved to a more inviting park for lefties around the deadline. Either way, he’s a lot closer to impacting our game than a typical 23-year-old who’s played half a week in Double-A. If I’m making a move with the Giants, I’m trying to buy Bo Davidson and Luis Matos, who fits a profile from which teams have found value over the past few years. The best way to use your roster spots in a rebuild, I think, is taking fliers on young big leaguers who are struggling and stuck on first-division contenders. I don’t believe in the 4A player myth.
Reds SS Tyson Lewis (18, CPX) was the 51st overall pick in the 2024 draft as a prototype high upside infielder at 6’2” 195 lbs. He didn’t play last year or early this year but has made his presence felt on the complex, slashing .333/.387/.529 with six home runs and 18 stolen bases in 43 games. If you’re a seller in your dynasty league this season, Lewis makes sense as a long-term investment at a reasonable price.
White Sox OF Christian Gonzalez (18, CPX) made the jump to stateside play after a 21-game return trip to the Dominican Summer League, where he batted .431 with more walks than strikeouts. Complex League pitching should be significantly better than DSL pitching right now, but it hasn’t bothered Gonzalez, who is slashing .438/.471/.594 with a homer and two steals through nine games. He’s not an under-the-radar type after signing for $550,000 in the 2024 class, but he could be an important piece in this rebuild for a team that needs a few balls to bounce their way.
Red Sox 3B Louis Andujar (17, DSL) signed for just $20,000 and already looks like a smart investment for Boston. It’s only been eight games, but Andujar has drawn seven walks against two strikeouts, and he’s slugging .688 with a homer and two steals. Get him on a watch list.
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