Down on the Farm - 4/26/23

Drew Gilbert (HOU) & Spencer Jones (NYY) hit a couple dingers each, Nick Frasso (LAD) & Robert Gasser (MIL) strikeout 8, Drew Millas (WSN) makes 4 plate appearances without recording an AB

The Rundown ⭐️

Drew Millas (25) - WSN (AA) had one of the odder batting lines of the year, going 0-0 with four walks. The former 7th round pick by the A’s is off to a hot start, slashing .361 / .489 / .556, albeit as a 25 year old in Double A.

A duo of 2022 first round outfielders had exciting nights. Drew Gilbert (22) - HOU (A+) went 2-4 with two dingers, raising his slash line to .367 / .436 / .653 on the year. Spencer Jones (21) - NYY (A+) was active on the base paths, going 4-5 with a double, two triples, and two stolen bases.

A duo of 2022 first round infielders also had exceptional nights, especially on the base paths. Eric Brown Jr. (22) - MIL (A+) went 2-2, with two walks, a double, and two stolen bases. Brown has struggled this year to start the season hitting just .137 with no homers — hopefully this performance helps him turn the corner. Jett Williams (19) - NYM (A) also had two stolen bases and a double, with a walk, going 3-4 overall. He isn’t lighting A-ball on fire, hitting an average .255, but he is walking more than he’s striking out, which is impressive.

On the pitching side, Kyle Harrison (21) - SFG (AAA) had another inconsistent start, going three innings, striking out eight but also walking four. As you can see in the chart below, Harrison relied mostly on his sinker/slider combo. The usage and development of his changeup will be important to watch, especially if the Giants are planning on calling him up this year to start, because it’s difficult to survive in the majors as a two pitch starter. Robbie Erlin (32) - LAD (AAA) was decent, going five innings, allowing four runs and three walks with four strikeouts.

Carson Whisenhunt (22) - SFG (A) was given a relatively conservative assignment, starting the year off in Low A after missing all of his junior year last year. Aside from a command glitch last start, he has done well, and did especially well last night, striking out seven without allowing a run or hit in four innings pitched. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get called up within the next month.

Jack Perkins (23) - OAK (A+) is a well known name to people who follow Midwest amateur baseball as a power pitcher with control problems, but last night he was dialed in. Perkins walked only one batter in 5.1 innings of work, striking out eight and allowing no runs. This is a pitcher with well above average stuff at times, though well below average command as well.

Acquired at the 2022 trade deadline, Nick Frasso (24) - LAD (AA) might end up being the next top pitching prospect for the Dodgers as he has crushed it this year. Heading into this start, he had a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings with a 18/3 K/BB ratio, and he had another excellent start last night, going five innings, striking out eight, while giving up no runs or walks. The Dodgers have so much pitching depth, but expect him in Triple A by the end of June.

To finish things off, Lyon Richardson (23) - CIN (AA) made his Double A debut after three starts in High A to begin the year. It was a relatively mediocre outing, going three innings, striking out and walking two, with one hit allowed and no runs. Richardson is more of a command guy than pure stuff, so the two walks should be an anomaly.

Notable Performances

Hitters