TOP NL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Duncan Robinson (LoA South Bend – Chicago) 23 years old 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K 1.34 ERA Season Stats: 5-2, 1.34 ERA, 53.2 IP, 38 H, 8 ER, 7 BB, 43 K in 11 appearances with 6 starts
- Robinson with another 7 inning one-run performance, Of his 11 appearances, last years 9th round pick has only allowed more that one earn run once (2 ER on 4/23). He’s now gone three starts in-a-row, allowing one earn run per start, and 36.1 innings with only 4 earned runs crossing home plate. Now on to the good parts of his outings; command and control with only 3 walks issued over his last 40 innings and an increase of strikeouts the last two starts. Yesterday he set a personal best as a pro with 9 strikeouts, surpassing his previous high of 8 during his last start. Robinson currently ranks 4th with a 1.34 ERA amongst Midwest League pitchers and 3rd in WHIP (0.84) amongst all LoA qualified pitchers.
- This was Blandino’s LoA debut. Known as a finesse-type arm, the 19th round pick last year was very successful in his AZL pro debut last season. In 36.1 innings, the righty went 1-1, 2.30 ERA, and 30 strikeouts and only 3 walks in 8 appearances with 5 starts.
- Taveras goes nine innings for the first time since his DSL days back in 2014. It also was the 2015 UTR Organizational All-Star’s second start without issuing a walk (15 innings). Ranked #21 within the Phillies system, Taveras was my Phillies UTR Top Pitching Prospect for April.
- Its been almost a year to the day that Grant Borne made his debut here at UTRMinors. He made 21 appearances (2 starts) with LoA Hagerstown in 2016 and posted very respectable numbers in his sophomore season. The Nicholls State product (7th Rd-2015) is enjoying that success at the HiA level in 2017, as the Nationals are stretching him out sooner in the starter role. In four appearances to begin the season, Borne went 15 innings without allowing an earned run and a 11:3 K:BB rate. On an apparent pitch count, the lefty threw 73 pitches in his first Potomac start last week, giving up 2 ER in 3.2 innings. He made his longest outing of his career yesterday (6 IP) in a pitchers dual with 2016 UTR OAS Shao-Ching Chiang (Cleveland) and getting the no-decision.
- Hatch picks up his first win of the season, but has been pitching great of late. Over his last three starts, the 3rd rounder (2016) has only allowed 2 earned runs and struck out 22 with 4 walks over 16.2 innings
- Reds #9 prospect and UTR Top Prospect Pitcher for April 2017
- Hendrix’s 5th Top Reliever mention (April 13th,April 26th, May 8th, May 11th)
TOP AL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE LHP Brock Burke (LoA Bowling Green – Tampa Bay) 20 years old 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, Win Season Stats: 6-0, 1.10 ERA, 57.1 IP, 37 H, 7 ER, 20 BB, 59 K in 10 starts
- Hard to believe with the seasons that Burke and Duncan Robinson are having, that today is the first either have been featured for their top performances. Both are mirror-images in that they are very stingy in allowing baserunners and are just starting to miss bats more frequently. Burke broke his string of six straight outing of only giving up one earn run with six scoreless innings yesterday. The 3rd round pick in 2014 also set a career-high with 10 strikeouts of the 22 batters he faced. The southpaw is just above Robinson in the the Midwest League, ranked 3rd with his 1.10 ERA. His has harnessed his command because over half of his issued walks occurred during his first four starts. His K-BB rate over his last 20 innings stands at 29:4.
- Orioles #28 ranked prospect
- Athletics top pitching prospect (#2)
Under The Radar Minors 