TOP NL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Ranger Suarez (LoA Clearwater – Philadelphia) 21 years old 7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K Season Stats: 0-0, 1.17 ERA, 15.1 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 21 K in 3 starts
- If you been a loyal follower to my tracking posts, you know that Suarez is one of my favorite UTR’s. My system pegged him as an 18-year old in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2014. I’ve written a lot about the now 21 year-old, but to sum it up, I’ll give you this excerpt from my 2016 UTR-OAS review; “this lefty is too intriguing to dismiss”. Suarez was a 2014 UTR-OAS out of the VSL and came state-side the following year. He was assigned to the GCL Phillies and was used very sparingly (27.2 IP) and didn’t qualify for a OAS mention. Last season was spent in the New York-Penn League (Williamsport) where he placed respectable numbers against more advanced hitters. Now comes full season ball for Suarez, and through two starts, so far, so good. The only concern for Philadelphia UTR fans would be, (if and when the club deals veterans) whether Suarez becomes a trade chip. He is sort of buried in the rotation at Lakewood with top prospects Adonis Medina and Sixto Sanchez.
- Padres #19 ranked prospect
TOP AL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Tyler Wells (LoA Cedar Rapids – Minnesota) 22 years old 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 11 K Season Stats:1-0, 2.12 ERA, 17 IP, 12 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 25 K in 3 starts
- You can say that in the American League, UTRMinors has gone to well once to often….Wells that is. For the third time this season, a different pitcher with the last name Wells has earned the top daily honor. The last was Lachlan Wells (also with the Twins) on April 17th and Nick Wells (Seattle) on April 10th. Lachlan’s twin brother, Alex Wells (Baltimore), will at some point get mentioned too. Tyler Wells followed-up his eight strikeout outing last week with 11 K’s last night versus Kane County. It all started with striking out the first six batters he faced. He handed it off to Colton Davis for mop-up in the 9th, but the Cougars touched him for 3 runs for the loss. Wells was a 15th round pick in 2016 and made 10 Appy league starts for Elizabethton, posting a 3.23 ERA. He has a nice mix of a low 90’s fastball, slider (outpitch), curveball, and change-up.
- Angels #23 ranked prospect
- Royals #5 ranked prospect
- Astros #4 ranked prospect and 2015 UTR Organizational All-Star
Under The Radar Minors 