TOP NL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE LHP Cody Reed (LoA Kane County – Arizona) 20 years old 9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, Win Season Stats: 3-1, 1.08 ERA, 41.2 IP, 25 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 47 K in 7 starts
- The 2015 UTR Organizational All-Star gets his first complete game with a 3-hitter and picking up the win over his AL POD counterpart Forrest Whitley. It’s the second scoreless outing for the 2nd round pick (2014) after going eight innings last week. Reed has only alowed 2 earned runs over his last 27.2 innings (31 K / 4 BB).
- The 7th round pick from 2016 has above-average stuff, but suffered from control issues coming out of Oklahoma State. After a quick pro debut stint with the AZL Giants, Williams’ issues reared it head while at short-season Salem-Keizer with a 5.0 BB9 rate. The southpaw made his first start of 2017 and it appears time in instructionals after spring training was well spent. Williams is ranked 24th within the Giants system.
- The 2015 UTR Organizational All-Star just missed repeating last season, but he’s pitching his way in a return for 2017. Sans a horrible outing on May 3rd where he allowed 7 of his 8 earned runs over 5 innings, Gonzalez has been lights out. The right-handed Dominican has been very stingy on base-runners, being ranked within the top 3 of all LoA pitchers with a 0.77 WHIP.
- NL Top Prospect Pitcher -April 2017
- A 2014 UTR-Organizational All-Star that has yet to live-up to the billing and continues to dwell just off my radar.
- Cant fault the 1-5 record and 6.92 ERA all on the former 1st rounder (2014 – Arizona). A closer look would blame the 46% LOB rate, .310 batting average with runners on-base, and the unlucky .330 BABIP. Going much deeper, you would see that the FireFrogs defense has plenty of holes, in leading the Florida State League with 60 errors, 10 occurring over Toussaints’ 8 starts. On the bright side, the 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star is sporting a 11.2 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 rate.
- Lauer gets that elusive first full season win. The Padres #13 ranked prospect hasn’t allowed an earned run in last 20 innings. He’s racked up 25 strikeouts with only 4 walks over that time and leads all HiA pitchers with his 1.56 ERA.
- Scoreless over his last 8.1 innings
TOP AL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Forrest Whitley (LoA Quad Cities – Houston) 19 years old 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K Season Stats: 1-2, 3.60 ERA, 20 IP, 17 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 31 K in 5 starts
- Whitley found himself in a pitchers duel with Cody Reed, who got the NL POD nod with his complete game 3-hitter. It was a nice bounce back start for the #6 ranked Astro prospect after allowing 4 earned runs in each of his last 2 outings.
- 2016 and 2014 UTR Organizational All-Star
- 2017 “One to Watch”
- Borucki has been in the Blue Jays system since 2012 (15th Rd) but never gained traction due to a series of injuries. Despite that, I named Borucki as my 2015 “One to Watch” and the projectable lefty was ranked 14th within the Toronto system entering that season. Boric was assigned to HiA Dunedin to start 2016, but he drowned with a 14.40 ERA over 6 starts. A reset to LoA Lansing better suited the 6′ 4″ 175 lbs lefty, where he got on-track and made my 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star roster.
- 2015 UTR Organizational All-Star (w/Seattle)
- Yankees #24 ranked prospect
- The 2016 and 2015 UTR Organizational All-Star surrenders his first earned run of 2017. This Navas’ third appearance on this list – April 25th & May 10th
Under The Radar Minors 