Graduated From The Stash List #4: Lara At The Top Of Her Career: Edwin Arroyo, Cole Carrigg, Braden Montgomery
1. Rockies 1B/OF Charlie Condon (23, AAA)
With seven home runs in his last 15 games, Condon is eyeing a major league roster spot despite a midseason batting average of .251. His strikeout rate in this hot streak is 19.7 percent compared to a 16.9 percent walk rate. Edouard Julien played 58 games with a 69 wRC+ alongside a negative defensive value. The organization picked up a lot of money in the offseason by drawing deep from other clubs, but whatever they got from Julien is a drain on their hard-earned wealth.
2. Twins SS Kaelen Culpepper (23, AAA)
Tristan Gray starts a lot at shortstop these days, and he’s done well considering he’s a 30-year-old utility player, but he has a 30.7 percent strikeout rate and probably isn’t a key part of this next team. It’s hard to figure out what they expect about Culpepper, a 2024 first-round pick with a 121 wRC+ and good plate skills (12.8% BB v. 17.4% K) through 59 Triple-A games. He also scored 14 runs and stole 14 bases. I’m glad they don’t let the big team dictate his timeline, but I think we’ve reached a point where player development fits the team.
3. Dodgers RHP River Ryan (27, AAA)
In 32 Triple-A innings in seven starts in the Pacific Coast League, River Ryan has allowed zero home runs. That’s crazy talk. He also recorded 40 strikeouts against seven walks, but the home run pressure is off the page in a league where pitching is the norm.
4. Mariners LHP Kade Anderson (21, AA)
Seattle has a two-game lead in the weak American League West and didn’t need Anderson’s 49 innings to do so. Meanwhile, it’s gotten pretty silly in Double-A, where he has a 0.69 WHIP, 1.29 ERA and a 39.2 percent strikeout-minus-walk average. I don’t think I’ve seen Double-A numbers like this since Tarik Skubal threw out every other batter.
5. Luis Lara Producers (21, AAA)
I shared thoughts on Lara’s new contract and upcoming promotion the other day on Prospect News: Montgomery Burns The Braves or Last Call On Lara.
6. Angels 2B Christian Moore (23, AAA)
Moore has been playing left field and third and second base as the club looks to land his bat. They recalled Denzer Guzman a few days ago for a third look, so I doubt that is available to Moore for at least the next few weeks. Oswald Peraza looks good at second, and Wade Meckler earns his last spot in left field, but Donovan Walton and Trey Mancini play designated hitter, while Moore has dropped his strikeout rate to 22.1 percent while hitting .309/.451/.514 in 46 games.
7. Cardinals BY Joshua Baez (22, AAA)
After a cold start, Baez has caught fire with the weather, hitting .318/.375/.729 with 11 home runs and six stolen bases in 26 games last month. St. Louis looks like a playoff team at 37 and 30, and that’s reflected in their backcourt depth. With Lars Nootbar and Ryan Church back to work and Nelson Velazquez and Bryan Torres moving off the bench, there’s nowhere to put Baez right now.
8. Rangers 2B SS Cameron Cauley (23, AAA)
Another slow starter, Cauley had three hits on May 16 and hasn’t stopped hitting since, slashing .344/.431/.538 with two home runs, 12 stolen bases and a 15.5 percent slugging percentage in 22 games spread between shortstop, second base and center field. The next time Texas needs help in either of those areas, I think they’ll be calling on Cauley.
9. Hendry Mendez Twins (22, AAA)
In 28 Triple-A games, Mendez has 21 walks (16.2%) against 18 strikeouts (13.8%) with four home runs, three stolen bases and a .330/.438/.477 slash line. He’s young enough that there’s no real rush to this, but it makes sense to me that they could invite him to the majors while he’s locked up and see if he can’t do better than Trevor Larnach or Austin Martin. It would be nice to show the fans the immediate benefits from the Jhoan Duran trade.
10. Isizwe 3B Yohandy Morales (23, AAA)
Slashing .339/.415/.596 with 15 home runs and a 23.8 percent slugging rate, there isn’t much left for Morales to do but stay healthy and keep hitting in the hope that something big opens up.
Thanks for reading!
