TOP NL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Luis Reyes (Hi Potomac – Washington) 22 years old 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
- Looking at Reyes’ game logs, it’s clear that he’s improving with each outing. Last night he went a career best 8 innings and matched his career-high 10 strikeouts. It also was his second scoreless start, that extends to 17 innings dating back to his May 27th performance. He’s racked up 17 strikeouts without issuing a walk over his last 14 innings and 42 K’s / 4 BB’s over the last 31.1 innings. This is Reyes’ 5th season within the Nats system which he blossomed out of the DSL, only spending 3 months there, before being brought to the U.S. to the Gulf Coast League. This is Reyes’ 2nd UTR-POD mention – May 16th.
- Cornish earns his first pro win in only his second start since being taken in the 19th round in 2016. With short-season Brooklyn (NYPL) in 2016, the 6’3″- 225 lb. right-hander posted a 2.16 ERA in 25 innings with a 44:3 K:BB rate.
- 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star
- Scoreless over the last 13.1 innings for Mekkes, who’s makes his 2nd Reliever of the Day mention – May 27th. Mekkes is my Cubs “One to Watch” for 2017
TOP AL UTR PITCHING PERFORMANCE RHP Triston McKenzie (HiA Lynchburg – Atlanta) 19 years old 7 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 13 K, Win Season Stats: 4-3, 2.51 ERA, 64.2 IP, 34 H, 18 ER, 24 BB, 84 K
- It’s early in his career, but McKenzie is quickly attaining the status of “this kid is a stud” before turning 20-years old. The teenager is currently leading all HiA League pitchers in strikeouts (84), opposing batting average (.153), and second in WHIP (0.90). The 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star was one K away from matching his personal best 14 strikeouts last night. He’s been the Indians UTR Top Pitching Prospect for April and May. McKenzie currently has a ridiculously low .218 BABIP. Will that regress back to the baseline .275/.300? Over the last two seasons in the Carolina League, the average BABIP based in 130+ innings was around .270 (Jonathan Martinez – 2016 and David Hess – 2015). Martinez had a .211 BABIP in 116 innings with Myrtle Beach in 2015 and repeated HiA in 2016 to post a normal .278 in 131 innings. Something to watch with McKenzie to the rest of the way. This is his 2nd UTR-POD mention – May 9th.
- After 5 straight losses, the #24 ranked pitching prospect for the Tigers picks-up the win last night.
- UTR Top Pitching Prospect for April & May (Ranked #4)
- 2016 UTR Organizational All-Star
- Reliever of the Day – April 8th
Under The Radar Minors 