This week’s minor league roundup will only feature the numbers accumulated prior to the start of play on Monday.
This was the sixth week of minor league play with all of the Rays full season minor league teams having completed their first full week of pla; the Complex League just played their game on Saturday (I’ll include their stats in next week’s recap).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), the overall top hitter in the Rays farm system is 22-year old Cooper Kinney. The 2021 34th overall pick is an infielder that is hitting .337/.385/.663 with 7 HR in Double-A, registering a 202 wRC+.
Meanwhile, the top pitcher continues to be Ian Seymour, continues to be a model of consistency. He now has a 1.73 ERA | 3.77 FIP with a 31.7 K% & 5.5 BB% over 36 1⁄3 IP. Although, Joe Boyle and Santiago Suarez may challenge Seymour’s supremacy in the near future.
Before we get to the statistical breakdowns. Here is some news or somethings I have noticed from around the Rays system.
RHP Evan Reifert has been the best strikeout pitcher in minor league baseball. Among pitchers who have faced at least 30 hitters, Reifert has the highest K% (60.0%) and whiff rate (29.1%), the 2nd place pitchers aren’t all that close either. Overall, Reifert has faced 30 hitters; he has 18 strikeouts and four walks.
INF Mac Horvath, acquired from the Orioles last trade deadline, had a great week. Overall he hit .368/.500/1.053 with 4 HR over 24 PA
1B Bob Seymour is crushing the ball over his last five games. He is hitting .364/.391/1.136 with 5 HR over 23 PA. Baseball America highlighted Seymour on their Statcast Standouts article, suggesting the slugging first baseman has teetering 80-grade raw power.
RHP Paul Gervase was also highligted by Baseball America among their Statcast Standouts. Gervase currently sports a 5.54 ERA | 5.90 FIP with a 33.3 K% & 12.3 BB% over 13 IP.
LHP Ian Seymour was among Baseball America’s top 20 prospects of the past week.
He now has 46 Ks in 36.1 innings. In the age of velocity, Seymour has done his work without making radar guns break a sweat. None of his pitches in either outing topped 93 mph and just three even reached that threshold. Still, he managed to get 24 whiffs, including 18 in the series finale.
PLAYERS PLACED ON THE INJURED LIST
Tony Santa Maria
T.J. Fondtain
TEAM LEADERS
(minimum of 50 PA for hitters and 50 TBF for pitchers)
Baseball America top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
Tampa Bay Rays
Chandler SimpsonAAA: .301/.325/.329 | 9.0 K% | 3.8 BB% | 0 HR | 8 SB | 76 wRC+ | 78 PAMLB: .296/.333/.315 | 12.1 K% | 5.2 BB% | 0 HR | 6 SB | 93 wRC+ | 58 PA | 0.0 fWAR
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders:AVG: .280, Tristan PetersOBP: .371, Tre’ MorganSLG: .559, Tres BarreraHR: 9, Bob Seymour wRC+: 128, Tres BarreraSB: 5, Tristan Peters
Team Pitching Leaders:ERA: 1.73, Joe BoyleFIP: 3.25, Joe BoyleK%: 33.7%, Joe BoyleBB%: 5.5%, Ian SeymourWHIP: 0.85, Joe BoyleAVG: .138, Joe BoyleWHIFF%: 20.0%, Joe Boyle
Top 10 Prospects
Carson Williams:AAA: .172/.305/.333 | 38.1 K% | 15.3 BB% | 3 HR | 4 SB | 75 wRC+ | 118 PA
Tre’ MorganAAA: .250/.371/.346 | 21.0 K% | 11.3 BB% | 0 HR | 0 SB | 102 wRC+ | 62 PA
Montgomery Biscuits
Team Offensive Leaders:AVG: .337, Cooper KinneyOBP: .453, Tatem LevinsSLG: .663, Cooper KinneyHR: 7, Cooper Kinney wRC+: 202, Cooper KinneySB: 11, Colton Ledbetter
Team Pitching Leaders:ERA: 1.46, Austin VernonFIP: 3.25, Austin VernonK%: 32.0%, Duncan DavittBB%: 3.0%, Duncan DavittWHIP: 0.97, Ty CummingsAVG: .182, Ty CummingsWHIFF%: 21.4%, Austin Vernon
Top 10 Prospects
Brayden Taylor:AA: .150/.277/.313 | 27.7 K% | 14.9 BB% | 3 HR | 1 SB | 78 wRC+ | 94 PA
Xavier Isaac:AA: .235/.435/.559 | 32.6 K% | 26.1 BB% | 2 HR | 1 SB | 188 wRC+ | 46 PA
Bowling Green Hot Rods
Team Offensive Leaders:AVG: .298, Tony Santa MariaOBP: .465, Noah MyersSLG: .509, Tony Santa MariaHR: 5, Mac HorvathwRC+: 165, Noah MyersSB: 10, Aidan Smith & Adrian Santana
Team Pitching Leaders:ERA: 1.73, Gary Gill HillFIP: 2.57, Hayden SnelsireK%: 36.6%, T.J. NicholsBB%: 3.1%, Marcus JohnsonWHIP: 0.71, Hayden SnelsireAVG: .143, Hayden SnelsireWHIFF%: 16.0%, T.J. Nichols
Top 10 Prospects
Gary Gill HillA+: 1.73 ERA | 4.01 FIP | 19.2 K% | 4.8 BB% | .204 AVG | 10.4 WHIFF% | 26 IP
Santiago SuarezA+: 1.85 ERA | 3.24 FIP | 29.2 K% | 5.2 BB% | .176 AVG | 14.8 WHIFF% | 24 1⁄3 IP
Charleston River Dogs
Team Offensive Leaders:AVG: .322, Larry MartinezOBP: .412, Larry MartinezSLG: .386, Angel MateoHR: 2, Angel Mateo & Connor HujsakwRC+: 128, Larry MartinezSB: 8, Narciso Polanco
Team Pitching Leaders:ERA: 1.69, Jose UbinaFIP: 2.71, Andy RodriguezK%: 37.3%, Noah BealBB%: 1.9%, Andy RodriguezWHIP: 0.87, Noah BealAVG: .170, Noah BealWHIFF%: 24.4%, Noah Beal
Top 10 Prospects
Trevor HarrisonA: 5.40 ERA | 3.52 FIP | 27.2 K% | 16.3 BB% | .247 AVG | 13.2 WHIFF% | 20 IP
Theo GillenA: .095/.269/.238 | 40.7 K% | 18.5 BB% | 1 HR | 2 SB | 58 wRC+ | 27 PA
