TOP NL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Ian Anderson (LoA Rome – Atlanta) 19 years old 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K Season Stats: 2-4, 3.73 ERA, 41 IP, 34 H, 17 ER, 22 BB, 59 K
- The Braves #5 prospect sets a career-high with 11 strikeouts against Augusta (SF) last night. The 1st round pick last year got off a great start in April, going 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 29 K’s over 18.2 innings. This month hasn’t been too kind (5.24 ERA) with his ERA creeping up to 3.73. He held opposing batters to a .143 average in April, but hitters starting teeing-up in May (.294 BA). Good news, he continues to miss bats with 30 strikeouts over his last 22.1 innings and last night helped that cause.
- Giants #17 ranked prospect got tangled-in a pitchers duel with todays POD Ian Anderson.
- NL UTR Pitcher for April 2017
- It was the first career start from the 2015 non-drafted free agent signee.
- My pick for the Cardinals 2017 “One to Watch” started off a double-header with a 7 inning complete game. He struck out 11 hitters for the second time in his career, with his career-high being 13 at the end of last season.
- 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star
- Rockies #11 ranked prospect was the UTR NL Top Prospect Pitcher for April
- 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star
TOP AL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Anthony Castro (LoA West Michigan – Detroit) 22 years old 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 12 K, Win Season Stats: 3-1, 2.84 ERA, 38 IP, 30 H, 12 ER, 17 BB, 35 K in 8 starts
- Castro is the other end of the spectrum compared to Anderson. The right-hander has deflated his ERA from +6.00 range down to 2.84. He struck out a career-high 12 batters and threw 6 scoreless innings. This is Castro’s first taste of full season ball after spending last season with the GCL Tigers. He missed the whole 2015 season, once coming over from the VSL, due to injury.
- The 2016 & 2014 UTR Organizational All-Star has made two solid starts in-a-row after starting the season in the bullpen with 8 appearances. The right-hander just missed the 2015 UTR-OAS roster after a solid season with short-season Lowell. I selected Gonzalez as my “One to Watch” for 2017.
- The two-time AL Pitcher of the Day (April 16, April 21), which helped him earn the UTR Top Prospect for April tag, hasn’t faltered once this season. The Tigers #3 ranked prospect hasn’t allowed more than 2 earned runs in any of his 10 starts. He’s only allowed 3 ER over his last 24 innings, but his last start only lasted 2 innings, to allow a piggy-back opportunity for Fernando Perez. Burrows was a 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star and I touted him as a solid stash for Fantasy owners. So far, he is the only AL pitcher to make repeat mentions in my Two-Start Treasure feature.
- The 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star has pieced together three solid starts in-a-row, but can’t seem to get the elusive first W for 2017. The 15th round pick from 2015 even had a start on May 15th that was best amongst NL pitchers in getting the UTR POD mention. Over his last 18.2 innings, Donatella has only allowed 8 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 20 strikeouts, but went 0-2.
Under The Radar Minors 