Graduated from Stash List #1: It’s OK to Fear: Noah Schultz
1. Rangers 2B Travis Bazzana (23, AAA)
He’s only played 13 MLB games, but 2B Juan Brito hasn’t adjusted to the big leagues, hitting .159/.229/.227 for a 31.3% slugging percentage. He’s actually been worse than that considering he got four of his seven hits in his first two games. Most teams would probably give the kid more time to figure out where he belongs, but in this case, Brito’s representatives come with the team’s first-place plate appearance count for the latest overall pick coming through Triple-A. In 23 games, Bazzana has a .297/.429/527 slash line with two homers, eight steals and as many walks (20) as strikeouts (22). He’s been even better over the past two weeks, slashing .409/.552/.750. Both at home were hit this week. I can’t think of a good reason why Bazzana is in the minor leagues today.
2. Rockies 1B/OF Charlie Condon (22, AAA)
He’s slashing .300/.425/.514 with four home runs and three stolen bases in 18 games, which is nice, but it’s his plate abilities that are eye-catching in this offense: 14 walks (16.1%) against 16 strikeouts (18.4%). He will be a star if he keeps these advantages.
3. Giants 1B Bryce Eldridge (21, AAA)
Casey Schmitt has been the team’s everyday hitter since April 7th and has been hitting well in the early going. However, over the past nine games, we can see why he’s not a good fit to be your middle-of-the-order thumper, slashing .189/.205/.324 with zero walks and six strikeouts. Small samples and such, but what are we doing here? Schmitt is a 27-year-old instrumentalist. Going into Eldridge, we find him striking out 33 percent of the time through 22 games but hitting .282/.390/.424 with a 120 wRC+ nonetheless. He has only scored one goal in his last five games. Not exactly a wall smash like the Kool-Aid man, but one hot streak can quickly change that when a kid hits the ball as hard as Eldridge.
4. Max Clark’s Tigers (21, AAA)
Detroit is 14 and 13 as I prepare this piece on Saturday morning, just one game back of Cleveland. Right out of the gate, they look poised to turn on cruise control and ride to the division title in one of the weakest divisions we’ve seen in years, and that’s OF Wenceel Perez going 0-his first week (-36 WRC+) and Javier Baez with his 2.6 percent walk average in the middle of the infield. Zach McKinstry and Parker Meadows were injured. Max Clark is slashing .307/.382/.455 with one home run and seven stolen bases alongside good plate skills: 11.8% walks against 13.7% strikeouts. He’s slowed down a bit since his debut, and I appreciate the front office doing what they have rather than pushing Clark beyond his ability to fill a hole in the big league roster. Granted, we don’t know if the big league depth will prove too great for Clark, but most rookies struggle with the big jump from Triple-A, and it’s not fair to bring a rookie into the locker room where he loses.
5. Marlins LHP Robby Snelling (22, AAA)
What are we to do? What I’m going is it open? Snelling has struck out 37.2 percent of the guys he sees and has allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts. But we have to keep watching Chris Paddack. That’s it to rule. That’s it goal now.
6. Luis Lara Producers (21, AAA)
The last place Brewers make a bad list every day. I realize that’s their nature, but it seems unnecessary to start Brandon Lockridge when you’ve got Luis Lara blasting away at much older players, slashing .353/.455/.529 with three home runs, 11 stolen bases and a 14.9-to-14.9 earned run average. The club recalled 1B Tyler Black on Friday to provide designated hitter while Christian Yelich recovers from a second-degree groin strain. Wow. I would have given that all moon look to Lara. It provides a perfect ramp if he doesn’t hit when Yelich returns. Oh well. Black can hit a little bit and work the counter well enough. It can help in some deep leagues.
7. Diamondbacks BY Ryan Waldschmidt (23, AAA)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. he’s back on the field, and Jose Fernandez is hitting well in a relief role, but the biggest surprise that could keep Waldschmidt out for a while is the red-hot Ildemaro Vargas. He has played four positions (1B 2B 3B LF) while hitting .357/.375/.671. For his part, Waldschmidt is playing well in Reno, hitting .313/.422/.510 with two home runs and four stolen bases.
8. Mariners SS Colt Emerson (20, AAA)
Back in action after a wrist injury sidelined him for a week, Emerson would be the obvious next man up for the salary cap, but he hasn’t played that well in Triple-A, so it makes sense for the team to wait for him to move on. He doesn’t turn 21 until July 20.
9. Blue Jays RHP Trey Yesavage (22, AAA)
He doesn’t look good at the moment. It makes sense that his spring training. Still, four walks against two strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched, his streak in his most recent start, won’t lead to a promotion for anyone.
UPDATE: Yesavage will reportedly be called up to make his season debut on Tuesday against Boston. I have very bad lawyers.
10. Emmanuel Rodriguez Twins (23, AAA)
A royal darling among the statboys for the past half-decade, Rodriguez is now fit after a long period of injury problems. If I’m in Minnesota, I’d rush him into the big league system and hope he stays that way. The approach is always patient and consistent on the boundary, so he may struggle early as the strikers hit the strike zone.
Thanks for reading!
