RE: Kent Baseball Players in the Pros - 2019 edition
Seems like it is time for a midseason update.
* Travis Shaw was demoted to AAA San Antonio to straighten out whatever is wrong. I've heard he has had wrist issues and he has spent time on the DL this year. I've also heard that he is striking the ball fairly well and has been very unlucky. A drop off so significant is likely due to some other forces (injuries), so I would expect he gets his stroke back and finds his way back to the bigs this year.
* Andrew Chafin has been very good for the D-Backs. I've noticed he is pitching mostly in the sixth or the seventh in close games (he is 6th in the NL in holds) and has been put in situations where he is facing more lefties than in the past with a quicker hook. 60% of his opponent's batters have been lefty as opposed to 45% over the course of his career. With Chafin, the question is how to avoid the second half dropoff that seems to happen every year as he tires out. We'll see if this approach works. If it does, Chafin cements himself as one of the top left-handed relievers in the game.
* Eric Lauer has been solidly average for the Padres, with a 5-7 record and a 4.22 ERA. I actually think he has been better than that, since he got absolutely nuked the two times he pitched in Coors Field (which mean he has been nuked in all 3 of his Coors Field starts). If you take out those two games, his ERA is 3.05, which is excellent. Overall, his K rate is a bit low, but it is made up for a low BB rate and improved HR rate. The one thing I find odd is how quickly Lauer gets pulled as he is only averaging 85 pitches and 5 1/3 innings a start. Last year, it seemed like he ran up his pitch count quickly and got pulled early. This year, he is more efficient with his pitches, but still getting pulled early. Maybe they are protecting the young arm (he's just 24). I doubt he'll be a star, but I do think there is room for improvement to become a strong starting pitcher for a fairly long time.
* Taylor Williams started the season with the Brewers, but has been demoted three times and brought back up twice so far this year. He basically is being used to fill out the bullpen when the backend gets worn out, which is what one of the Brewer's bloggers predicted in spring training. He, unfortunately, has a horrible stat line with the Brewers with a 12.66 ERA in 10 2/3 innings, which is mostly because he gave up 8 runs in 1/3 inning in a 16-0 loss to the Marlins. Of course, that is a statistical fluke as I think I could put up a better line than that. At AAA, he has pitched quite well, with a low 1.15 ERA and an excellent K/BB ratio. He is getting caught in that AAAA role and will need a prolonged stay of success in the bigs to get out of it as there is nothing quite as fringy in the bigs as righthanded back of the bullpen relievers.
So, those are your 4 Kent players that has hit the bigs this year. I'll hit the high minor guys next (Clark, Fasola and Burch).
|