The 2017 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread.

[Chi_archie]

Ball is so juiced.
Trevor Story was so fooled on a pitch but still hit one out with one hand and on a knee.

Mickey mantle story!

[Otters27]

Watched Chris Sale deal today. Guy is fun to watch

[Cross]

Sale is absolutely filthy.

[koz-man]

Ian Happ is the 3rd Cubs player in the last 100 seasons with at least 11 home runs through 45 career games. Kyle Schwarber and Bob Speake also accomplished the feat. (ESPN Stats and Info). Happ hit his 11th on Sunday against the Reds.

[BigSpoon]

Watched Chris Sale deal today. Guy is fun to watch

Jays lineup did not give him much resistance.

[stevenash]

Gausman is no hitting one of the hottest hitting teams in the league (Tampa)
Now I've seen everything.

[stevenash]

Justin Verlander's streak of 331 consecutive starts with at least one strikeout (or about 10 years) ended today.

I thought about that for a second and said to myself "that's incredible"

[El Nino]

Dbacks take a step closer to LA....big series coming up before the All-Star Break.

[Cross]

Good to see the dbags back in contention this year.

[EmpireMaker]

Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis underwent chemotherapy earlier this year to treat testicular cancer, but it doesn’t look as if that’s going to stop him from taking the mound in 2017. In terrific news, the 28-year-old has progressed enough in his recovery that he’s on pace to begin a minor league rehab assignment during the upcoming All-Star break, writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “It’s a really good feeling to watch this unfold,” said manager Bud Black, whose playoff-contending team could use more rotation depth. Bettis would provide that, having served as a solid starter for the Rockies since joining their rotation on a full-time basis in 2015.
More from around the game:

• With home runs having spiked over the past couple seasons, Ben Lindbergh and Mitchel Lichtman of The Ringer concluded earlier this month that Major League Baseball is playing with a juiced ball. However, MLB insists that’s not the case. On Saturday, the league sent a memo to all 30 teams declaring that “there is no evidence that the composition of the ball has changed in any way,” reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The ball’s size, weight, COR (bounciness), seam height and circumference are tested at least three times a year at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell Baseball Research Center, according to the league. The exact cause for the HR increase is up for debate, but an all-time high 13.7 percent of fly balls have cleared fences this year. That’s up from 12.8 percent last season, which was a record at the time.
• Given the high frequency of pitcher injuries, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson believes teams will soon begin valuing durability over velocity, as Roger Rubin of Newsday writes. “I think what you’ll find over the next several years is clubs will be more interested in ‘pack horses’ instead of ‘thoroughbreds’ because it’s about being able to go out . . . and get 30 starts,” Alderson said Friday. There’s an emphasis on velocity at all levels, but Alderson noted that throwing harder “often leads to injury,” adding, “The things that might be the difference between good pitching and great pitching may also be the difference between health and an injury.”
• Jesse Hahn is tied for second among Athletics in starts (13), yet the team demoted him to Triple-A on Sunday. In response, Hahn told reporters (including John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle): “It’s a little frustrating. I thought I’d been having a really good season up until these last two starts. I don’t want to say it’s unfair because I understand it’s a business thing, but I don’t like that I was kind of judged off of two starts there.” Hahn’s ERA climbed from 3.56 to 5.30 thanks to those outings, both of which came against the formidable Astros. They racked up 15 earned runs over just four innings against Hahn. His trip to the minors will lead to more starts for rookie righty Paul Blackburn, whom the A’s acquired from the Mariners over the winter for Danny Valencia. Blackburn, 23, made his major league debut Saturday and held the Braves to three hits, a walk and an unearned run across six frames.

[Chi_archie]

Justin Verlander's streak of 331 consecutive starts with at least one strikeout (or about 10 years) ended today.

I thought about that for a second and said to myself "that's incredible"

pretty damn incredible

What is the most?

[Otters27]

Bryce Harper bombed and Scherzer Dealed in an easy win last night.

[BigSpoon]

Blue Jays acquire C Miguel Montero from the Cubs for cash/future considerations. Decent backup catcher behind Russell Martin for the Jays.

[mr. leisure]

Bryce Harper bombed and Scherzer Dealed in an easy win last night.

That game was over early .

[koz-man]

Two-time All-Star MVP Mike Trout will not make his return from the DL at the All-Star Game. Obviously, a wise move for the Angels to be cautious here, as they have remained in the wild-card race without Trout. If Trout returns after the break, here's something to ponder: He could still be a factor in the MVP race if he hits like he did before his injury. Especially if the Angels make a playoff run.

[stevenash]

Good to see the dbags back in contention this year.

I got them at 4:1 to make the playoffs (before start of season prop)

[yisman]

Luke Voit with his first home run as STL scores 14 in 8 innings against the Marlins.

[EmpireMaker]

The Nationals have halted the throwing program of righty Shawn Kelley, according to a report from Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. While the veteran reliever was progressing at last look, he has since suffered a setback in his efforts to work through pain in his neck and upper back area.
According to Janes, Kelley is headed for a new medical check-up today. It’s possible he could receive an injection, she notes, but the approach is yet to be decided.
As things stand, then, it’s uncertain when the Nats can expect Kelley back in action. Even if he’s able to resume throwing in relatively short order, it may be optimistic to expect he could rebuild strength, complete a rehab stint, and return to the majors to show the team his form before the trade deadline.
The injury questions only enhance the broader concern with Kelley, who had been a major contributor in 2016 and is under contract through next year. In his 18 innings this season, he has allowed 14 earned runs — due in no small part to the fact that he has allowed nine homers already (matching a career high).
Though he is still checking in with a robust 15.0% swinging-strike rate on the year, Kelley carries a career-worst 4.5 BB/9. And opposing hitters are squaring him up at a prodigious rate when they do make contact, with a 46.4% hard-hit rate and 26.5% HR/FB.
As the Nats continue to peruse the market for relief pitching, then, the organization will need to account for the fact that it cannot firmly count on two key righties, Kelley and Koda Glover. With Blake Treinen and (especially) Joe Blanton also failing to deliver consistent results, surprising journeyman Matt Albers stands as the lone steady righty in the Nationals’ pen. While adding a closer remains an obvious focus, the need for a quality right-handed setup option at the deadline seems greater now than ever.

[koz-man]

Red Sox 7, Rangers 5: It took 11 innings and an exceedingly rare blown save by Craig Kimbrel, but Boston won the opener of a three-game series. Andrew Benintendi delivered a two-run bloop single with two outs and the bases loaded to account for the final margin.

Dustin Pedroia tied his season-high with four RBIs and was a human vacuum defensively at second base. Mike Napoli forced extra innings by hitting Kimbrel's first pitch for a homer. It was only Kimbrel's second blown save of the season.

[LT Profits]

Red Sox 7, Rangers 5: It took 11 innings and an exceedingly rare blown save by Craig Kimbrel, but Boston won the opener of a three-game series. Andrew Benintendi delivered a two-run bloop single with two outs and the bases loaded to account for the final margin.

Dustin Pedroia tied his season-high with four RBIs and was a human vacuum defensively at second base. Mike Napoli forced extra innings by hitting Kimbrel's first pitch for a homer. It was only Kimbrel's second blown save of the season.

Naturally I was on the Under 11.

[Otters27]

BLUE JAYS batting very disappointing. Not even a guy at .300

[Chi_archie]

BLUE JAYS batting very disappointing. Not even a guy at .300

All about power

[Cross]

Very exciting to see cubs back at full power today!

[mr. leisure]

Very exciting to see cubs back at full power today!

Lost today putting them at 41-42 for the year

[stevenash]

Dodgers got one in the first for Kershaw.
Game over.

[Cross]

Brewers with a 3.5 game lead,who would have thought?

[koz-man]

Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi is the 1st player to have 5 hits and 2 HR in a game on July 4 since George Crowe of the 1957 Reds.

Crowe is not a well-known baseball name, but was highly regarded during his playing career for serving as a father-figure and mentor to players including Jackie Robinson, Bob Gibson and Tim McCarver.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Lost today putting them at 41-42 for the year

[EmpireMaker]

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro discussed the Blue Jays’ plans for the upcoming trade deadline in a chat with Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. You’ll want to read the entire piece for all of Shapiro’s comments and Davidi’s analysis, but the key takeaway is that Toronto still isn’t looking to pursue a drastic roster overhaul.
Less than two weeks ago, GM Ross Atkins declared that the team was still “very much in it.” At the time, he noted, “we can’t climb back into one of those holes, because there’s not as much time left.” But that’s just what has happened since; even after a victory today, the Jays sit seven games under .500 — well off the pace in the AL East and on the fringes of the Wild Card picture.
While Shapiro acknowledges that the team’s moribund first half must weigh into the equation, he hinted that the team won’t undertake a significant sell-off. The veteran baseball executive emphasized “the incredible support in the fanbase” and the existence of “enough of a base of talent here to still contend.”
Those factors, Shapiro suggests and Davidi highlights, leave the team still looking to get better now as well as in the future. Shapiro framed the coming deadline as just “one window of opportunity for us to improve the team.” Still, as one might expect, Shapiro says “it’s highly unlikely” the club will pursue “rental-type guys.” And he stressed that there’s a “need to be open minded to how we get better.”
That could suggest a pursuit of deals that aren’t readily classified either as “buying” or “selling,” in the traditional sense, Davidi writes. Shapiro did acknowledge that, “how we’re situated at the moment might cause for one transitional period” in compiling a sustainable contender. But, he said, “I still believe we can get through that transition in an expedited time frame.”
It’ll be interesting to see what particular opportunities the Jays end up pursuing in earnest. The organization is in a tricky spot given its slate of significant commitments, numerous areas for potential improvement, and stated intention to continue attempting to field a competitive roster while also building a broader talent base.
Toronto entered the year with a club-record payroll of over $160MM and will owe something on the order of $85MM next year to just five players (with the exact figure depending upon Josh Donaldson’s surely massive arbitration salary). Yet just two hitters (Donaldson and Justin Smoak) are carrying above-average OPS figures on the year, while the rotation has scuffled with Aaron Sanchez shelved for an extended stretch.
As ever, veterans on short-term contracts represent the most obvious trade chips. But starters Marco Estrada and Francisco Liriano have struggled, bounceback reliever Joe Smith is on the DL, and veteran slugger Jose Bautista has not rebounded as hoped. (To the contrary, Bautista’s legendary plate discipline is now heading in the wrong direction even as his power continues to dip.)
While some of those players will hold some appeal at the deadline, none seem likely to return truly significant young talent. And as Davidi writes, the organization doesn’t exactly have “replacements ready and waiting in the minor-leagues.” Trading away more significant assets — particularly Donaldson, the team’s star third baseman — would represent a much more drastic step that doesn’t appear to be under consideration at present.

[yisman]

Jon Gray with the 14th longest homer of the season.

Longest for the Rockies, amazingly enough.

[Chi_archie]

Crazy Jon gray

[EmpireMaker]

With trade season entering full swing, we’ll be doing these lists with greater frequency. We last checked in about a week ago. Click here for the first one, including an explanation of the approach. Basically, we’re looking at both trade likelihood and trade value (in all its facets).
Since last we looked, several players have gone on or off the DL, while others have exhibited trends that warrant consideration. The standings have shifted the calculus, too.
On to the rankings (“LR” = “last ranked”):
1. J.D. Martinez, OF, Tigers (LR: 2): Maybe I’m just itching to name a new top dog, but at some point it’s hard to ignore the fact that Martinez represents a potentially season-altering rental piece. The OPS remains over 1.000.
2. Sonny Gray, SP, Athletics (LR: 10): After two straight gems, Gray jumps back up the board. Teams aren’t just hanging on his every start, of course, but that serves to show that things are generally coming together for Gray. The results are beginning to match the improved peripherals he has sported this year, and the A’s seem ready to make this long-debated move.
3. Addison Reed, RH Reliever, Mets (LR: 7): He’s been dominant since taking over the 9th for the Mets and could be the best right-handed reliever available. Barring a stunning run, New York looks to be a clear seller, with the deadline representing a nice consolation opportunity to cash in on some players who’ll be free agents at year end.
4. David Robertson, RH Reliever, White Sox (LR: 1): Still the market’s most obviously available Certified Closer, Robertson is pitching quite well. But he has been overtaken by the above three players, with his large contract continuing to impact his value.
5. Zack Cozart, SS, Reds (LR: INJ): Cozart is back from the DL, sporting top-line offensive numbers as an outstanding up-the-middle defender. Even with a few contenders suffering injuries to shortstops, demand remains unclear, and there’s even some chatter that the team could explore an extension. Odds are, though, that Cozart will end up on the move.
6. Justin Wilson (Tigers) & Brad Hand (Padres), LH Reliever, (LR: 8): Wilson has eight strikeouts in his last 4 1/3 innings. In Hand’s most recent appearance, he struck out Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley, and Edwin Encarnacion in succession.
8. Yonder Alonso, 1B, Athletics (LR: 6): Entering play yesterday, Alonso hadn’t swatted a long ball since June 15th and was in clear (albeit still brief) lull at the plate. He responded with two July 4th dingers. Teams will no doubt retain a bit of skepticism as to whether Alonso can maintain the full-throated breakout he has displayed to this point, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be valued in the market.
9. Jed Lowrie, 2B/3B, Athletics (LR: 4): Lowrie is a useful player with some defensive versatility who remains eminently available.
10. Jose Quintana, SP, White Sox (LR: 5): The consistency just hasn’t been there for Quintana. While Chicago still seems rather likely to trade him, his value is certainly not at its peak.
11. Pat Neshek, RH Reliever, Phillies (LR: 3): Neshek finally turned in a dud of an outing, but even after allowing three earned he owns a 1.39 ERA on the year.
12. Alex Avila, C, Tigers (LR: 31): Trade rumors have picked up on the veteran catcher, whose suddenly potent left-handed bat might add real impact down the stretch. Sure, his .424 BABIP is bound to fall, but Avila has shown real power before and he’s also walking at an excellent 16.8% clip.
13. Todd Frazier, 3B, White Sox (LR: 17): Frazier mashed in June. Several contenders seem in need of help at third. And it’s not clear any better alternatives will be available. Those factors ought to boost the prospect return and cost savings that’ll be available to the White Sox.
14. Lucas Duda (1B), Jay Bruce (OF), Curtis Granderson (OF), Mets (LR: 26): All three are hitting even as the Mets’ season collapses. Granderson is banged up but hasn’t required a DL stint.
17. Trevor Cahill, SP, Padres (LR: INJ): Cahill carried an impressive 3.27 ERA with 51 strikeouts through 41 1/3 innings when he hit the DL with a shoulder strain. He threw rather well in his first start back and has plenty of time to show that the joint is at full health. Cahill is a cheap rental piece (one-year, $1.75MM contract) who is posting a 13.2% swinging-strike rate and 62.3% groundball rate. Interest should be robust if he can keep that going over his next few starts.
18. Juan Nicasio, RH Reliever, Pirates (LR: 22): He’s working near his peak career levels in terms of velocity and whiff rate, with the results to match. Nicasio’s affordable contract increases his appeal.
19. Ryan Madson (RH Reliever) & Sean Doolittle (LH Reliever), Athletics; David Phelps & AJ Ramos, RH Reliever, Marlins (LR: 11): I’m keeping these four pitchers bunched together for the time being; different arms, to be sure, but they seem to fall in a similar asset class and situation. All play for clear sellers; all are generally pretty danged good relievers; and all come with some warts that dent their trade value (respectively: contract; health; inconsistency; wildness).
23. Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) & Marcell Ozuna (Marlins), OF (LR: 29, 19): The Bucs are now seven games off the NL Central pace with three teams ahead of them in the standings. McCutchen’s season OPS has risen from .631 on May 26th to .894 (!) entering action today. Ozuna has kept the fire going all year long and comes with two years of arb control. But nobody knows whether either will really be marketed.
25. Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers (LR: 41): Chatter is building on Verlander even as his struggles continue. It’ll be tough for the Tigers to deal such a central figure for an unexciting return, but at some point some tough calls will need to be made if the team is serious about trimming its payroll and getting younger.
26. Jerry Blevins, LH Reliever, Mets (LR: 24): Blevins has been knocked around a bit of late, taking some of the sheen off of his body of work this year, but he’s still a quality lefty who’ll hold broad interest. With an appealing option for 2018, New York won’t feel compelled to move him.
27. Tony Watson, LH Reliever, Pirates (LR: 22): Watson has struggled to keep runners off the bags all year long, but he has mostly maintained the peripherals that have made him a reliable late-inning arm for several years.
28. Melky Cabrera, OF, White Sox (LR: 17): The offensive work continues to improve for the veteran, who’s a clear trade piece. But others have moved past Cabrera given his limitations in the field and big salary.
29. Scott Feldman (SP), Drew Storen (RH Reliever), Tony Cingrani (LH Reliever), Reds (LR: 37, 26, NR): The steady veteran has separated himself a bit from the herd of back-of-the-rotation starters with a run of strong performances. His season ERA is down to 3.78 and he’s also quite affordable ($3.2MM salary). Storen still looks like a solid option to bolster a contender’s middle relief corps. And Cingrani enters the list after returning strong from a DL stint.
32. Welington Castillo (Orioles) & Jonathan Lucroy (Rangers), C (LR: 30, NR): With top prospect Chance Sisco waiting in the wings, the O’s could conceivably try to find some value for Castillo without punting a shot at a postseason berth altogether. The Rangers seem to be open to considering deals for Lucroy, a pending free agent, as he struggles through a down year while Robinson Chirinos produces.
34. Marco Estrada & Francisco Liriano, SP, Blue Jays (LR: 48, NR): The Jays are fading and these two veterans just aren’t performing. But each comes with his share of upside and would be fairly easy to move (so long as Toronto eats some salary) as rental assets.
36. Ian Kinsler (2B) & Justin Upton (OF), Tigers (LR: 20): I covered some of the nuances involved in these veterans in the last ranking, so we won’t repeat that here. Both are coming off of productive stretches over the month of June and could represent notable additions, but come with contract complications.
38. Brandon Kintzler, RH Reliever, Twins (LR: 45): While the team is holding firmly in contention, and could still look to add controllable pieces, Kintzler would likely be the first player to be made available in the event that the Twins decide to sell.
39. Zach Britton (LH Reliever) & Brad Brach (RH Reliever), Orioles (LR: INJ): Forearm injuries have limited Britton (he’s only just back from a second DL stint) and he hasn’t been as dominant as he was last year when he has been healthy. And even if Baltimore ultimately decides to move some players, it needn’t deal a pitcher with another year of arbitration remaining. But … if Britton can show over the next three weeks that he’s again capable of being an unholy groundball/strikeout monster and the AL Wild Card race begins to resolve against the Orioles’ favor, then perhaps there’s a chance he could be a significant part of the deadline tapestry. Brach could also, or alternatively, be shopped; he has been quite good in his own right and comes with one more year of arb control as well.
41. Jeff Samardzija (Giants), Johnny Cueto (Giants), Gerrit Cole (Pirates), Ervin Santana (Twins) & J.A. Happ (Blue Jays), SP (LR: 41, 41, 41, 45, NR): Happ joins this group of quality starters, all of whom would hold clear trade interest– if they are made available. Their respective teams’ inclinations remain unclear; while the Giants would no doubt be glad to achieve a return on Cueto, his situation remains complicated by his pending opt-out clause.
46. Asdrubal Cabrera, INF, Mets (LR: 35): He’s swinging the bat well and affords defensive versatility, but he and the team have been making nice since a recent spat and the Mets could well decide to pick up his 2018 option.
47. Seth Smith (Orioles), Matt Joyce (Athletics) & Daniel Nava (Phillies), OF (LR: 47, NR): All are left-handed-hitting platoon outfielders (Nava’s a switch-hitter who’s better against righties) who could fill a need elsewhere.
50. Edinson Volquez & Tom Koehler (Marlins), Clayton Richard (Padres), Jaime Garcia (Braves), Jeremy Hellickson (Phillies) SP (LR: 37): These five are subjecting their teams to roller coaster rides. It’s plausible to imagine trade scenarios, but none figure to be in particularly heavy demand. Teams looking for innings may shop here, though.
55. Yu Darvish, SP, Rangers (LR: NR): Darvish would be the top rental starter if made available. While the team continues to stall out, it likely won’t sell unless the Wild Card is truly out of reach. And even then, it seems there’s at least some belief within the organization that holding onto Darvish will help with efforts to re-sign him over the winter — perhaps helping also to draw fellow Japanese star Shohei Otani.
56. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays (LR: NR): Speaking of trade candidates of dubious availability, the Toronto superstar would be a hot commodity if marketed. But Toronto has not yet shown signs of being willing to part with such a key player. Donaldson has another arb year left; it’d undoubtedly take a big return (likely including young MLB assets) to pry him loose.
57. Raisel Iglesias, RH Reliever, Reds (LR: 49): He won’t be shopped, but could probably had for a compelling offer.
58. Rajai Davis, OF, Athletics (LR: NR): While he hasn’t hit much, Davis has been better of late and has the profile of a player who could make an impact on a postseason roster. He’d also represent a possible August trade candidate.
59. Matt Adams, 1B, Braves (LR: NR): It’s still tough to guess at how things will shake out with Atlanta. But if Sean Rodriguez does return as now seems to be expected, and Freddie Freeman isn’t a really comfortable fit at third base, then perhaps the club will deem the timing right to get some value out of Adams at the deadline.
60. Freddy Galvis, SS, Phillies (LR: NR): Galvis has been hitting rather well this year and is a quality shortstop who can also line up elsewhere in the infield.
Falling Out
Tommy Kahnle (White Sox): A few rough outings make it seem more likely that Chicago will hold onto him and hope he can continue to establish himself as a quality late-inning arm.
Adeiny Hechavarria (Marlins) & Stephen Vogt (Athletics): Both were traded (to the Rays and Brewers, respectively).
Lance Lynn & Seung-hwan Oh, Cardinals: A surge has the Cards firmly in the NL Central mix.
Inactive
Nate Jones (White Sox), Neil Walker (Mets), Cesar Hernandez & Vince Velasquez (Phillies), J.J. Hardy (Orioles), Yangervis Solarte (Padres), Eduardo Nunez & Mark Melancon (Giants), Joe Smith (Blue Jays), Brad Ziegler (Marlins), Chris Coghlan (Blue Jays), Howie Kendrick (Phillies), Hector Santiago (Twins)
Also Considered
Angels: Yunel Escobar, Cameron Maybin, J.C. Ramirez, Jesse Chavez, Ricky Nolasco, Yusmeiro Petit, David Hernandez, Bud Norris
Athletics: Rajai Davis, Matt Joyce, Santiago Casilla, John Axford
Blue Jays: Jose Bautista, Justin Smoak, Francisco Liriano, Roberto Osuna, Aaron Loup
Braves: Jim Johnson, Arodys Vizcaino, R.A. Dickey, Julio Teheran, Matt Adams, Matt Kemp, Nick Markakis, Brandon Phillips & Kurt Suzuki
Cardinals: Michael Wacha, Trevor Rosenthal
Giants: Nick Hundley, Hunter Pence, Matt Cain, Denard Span, George Kontos, Joe Panik
Mariners: Nelson Cruz, Carlos Ruiz, Marc Rzepczynski, Steve Cishek, Jarrod Dyson
Marlins: Dan Straily, Kyle Barraclough, Adam Conley, Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton, Junichi Tazawa
Mets: Fernando Salas, Josh Edgin, Jose Reyes
Orioles: Manny Machado, Hyun Soo Kim, Wade Miley, Mychal Givens, Darren O’Day
Padres: Jhoulys Chacin, Ryan Buchter, Brandon Maurer, Craig Stammen, Kirby Yates
Phillies: Joaquin Benoit, Hector Neris
Pirates: Josh Harrison, Ivan Nova, Wade LeBlanc, David Freese, Jordy Mercer
Rangers: Mike Napoli, Carlos Gomez, Adrian Beltre, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Jeremy Jeffress
Reds: Billy Hamilton
Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, Jose Iglesias, Shane Greene, Alex Wilson, Victor Martinez
Twins: Robbie Grossman, Phil Hughes
White Sox: Miguel Gonzalez, Jose Abreu, Anthony Swarzak, James Shields, Avisail Garcia, Mike Pelfrey, Derek Holland

[EmpireMaker]

Giants' Gonzalez off to torrid start in pros

Second-round Draft pick hitting .750 in five games in AZL




Jacob Gonzalez was selected 58th overall by the Giants in last month's First-Year Player Draft. (Christine Cotter)
By Alex Kraft / MiLB.com | July 6, 2017 12:21 AM ET
Jacob Gonzalez's World Series-winning father, Luis, collected 310 hits over four seasons in the Minor Leagues. Through five games, the first-year pro already is 5 percent of the way to catching his dad.
The Giants' second-round pick went 3-for-5 with a triple and an RBI on Wednesday as the club's Rookie-level Arizona League affiliate outslugged the Indians, 11-10, at Goodyear Ballpark.

Gonzalez reached base four times in his fourth straight game with at least three hits. He reached on a fielder's choice that produced a run in the first inning and cracked an RBI triple to center field in the second. The Arizona native slapped a single up the middle in the fourth and got aboard on an hit in the sixth, striking out in his final plate appearance in the eighth.

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Box score

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"I've been feeling good," Gonzalez said. "I've just been trying to drive in runs and hit the ball hard and help our team win games."
Gonzalez's batting average actually dropped from .800 to .750, which would lead the circuit by nearly 200 points over the A's Logan Farrar (.556) if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.
Gonzalez's father batted .283 over 19 big league seasons with the Astros, Cubs, Tigers, D-backs, Dodgers and Marlins. His 19-year-old son has racked up multiple hits in all five games in the pros, five for extra bases, with six RBIs and three walks against two strikeouts.
"I've tried to keep a consistent approach," Gonzalez said. "The only things that have really changed is the pitchers are throwing quite a bit harder and breaking balls are a little better, but I'm just trying to stick to my approach and hit the ball hard and try and drive in runs.
"Honestly, it's been pretty crazy, but I've just been trying to go up there and put together good at-bats and try to help my team."

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Drafted by the Giants out of Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Gonzalez was praised by scouts for his impressive strength and profiles as a power-hitting corner infielder. In three high school seasons, he batted .429 with 19 dingers in 98 contests.
Gonzalez's father had his number retired by Arizona in 2010 after making the All-Star Game five times and winning a World Series ring in 2001. He finished his Major League career in 2008 with 2,591 hits in 2,591 games.
"He's helped me out tremendously," the younger Gonzalez said. "He's been through it all and seen all the best pitching. He helps me with my approach and dealing with the change of going from high school to professional baseball, which is quite a big jump. But with him by my side, he's helped me out a bunch."
Rehabbing Giants righty Albert Suarez started on the mound and allowed three runs on three hits and a walk while fanning two over 1 2/3 frames. Weilly Yan (1-0) recorded the win after giving up two runs on four hits and a walk with four punchouts in 3 1/3 innings. Keenan Bartlett gave up a run on one hit while recording the final four outs to notch his first save.
Mota (1-2) surrendered six runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in four innings.

[El Nino]

Cubs but hey...Schwarber is back!

[koz-man]

It's official: 16-year-old Brazilian hurler Eric Pardinho has signed with the Blue Jays. The deal, which is expected to be for $1.4 million, makes him the highest-paid Brazilian prospect ever.