May roundup:
Lehigh:
Cave is off to a tremendous start, it's simply too good to write off, maybe he's figured something out?
A guy to watch is Ellis, RH 3B, 27 years old, #44 pick, missed a season in 2020, good 2021 in the PCL, regressed in 2022, started in Reading, jumped to Lehigh and is pounding the rock in SSS, 3 outcome guy, HR, BB, or K.
Ortiz is off to a good start, word was being DFA was a wakeup call, and he's becoming a more disciplined hitter. We'll see, but he could be the RH bat they need if this is true.
Muzziotti has cooled off, but finished May hitting .355, needs more time given the PA he lost the last three seasons, but is looking like the real thing. Maybe an Muzziotti/Ortiz platoon in LF in the future?
Kingery is going to have a fine retirement.
Pitching, we don't got no stinkin' pitching . . . though Moore could be useful if they can teach him how to command his stuff.
Reading:
De La Cruz still Ks too much, but is showing progress, has the power, just has to make more consistent contact.
Wilson has turned it around, but still a SSS.
Rojas has really cut back on his Ks, seems to have cost him some power, but start with contact and then increase exit velocity, good sign for a rising star.
Abel and McGarry are struggling, Abel due to inexperience, McGarry more as an extended rehab. Both probably won't contribute this season but hopefully will work their way to AAA by August.
Lehman and McKay are the best RPs (and Sillinger, but he doesn't have ML stuff), Baker, Schultz, and Schultze have all struggled out the gate.
Jersey City
Simmons was off to a great start before he hurt his knee, this actually started last season when he was promoted,
158 AB, .291/.374/.525, cut back his Ks as well over this stretch in a pitcher's ballpark - needs to get healthy and up to Reading.
Lee Sang is breaking out this season. His K rate (30%) is too high, but his BB% of 19% shows a disciplined hitter. BABIP of .477 is unsustainable, but he shouldn't be under the radar anymore. 12th rd out of HS in 2019, lost a year to COVID and has less than 900 PA, potential 5 tool OF who'll probably end up in RF.
Martin is also having a good season, but as a college jr who is 24, is overage, needs to go to Reading and show his improvement is for real. Still Ks too much, but has improved plate discipline, BABIP jump from .227 to .359 helps as well.
Lee is only 20, so holding his own in JC is a good sign, power is down, BB rate is up, but currently injured.
One thing stands out is the high BB rates for almost all players on the team, suggests that plate discipline is becoming an emphasis coaching at the lower levels.
Marcano the only SP having a good season so far, Rodolfo Sanchez, Kerkering, McCollum, Francisco, Antle in the BP,
Clearwater
Ricones is off to a good start, but BABIP .382 and K rate of 28% says it should be taken with a grain of salt.
Dissin another guy who's good start should be taken in perspective, BABP .468, K rate 31%, but good defensive catcher just has to be a mediocre hitter to have value.
Fergus has turned his season around, but BABIP .429, K rate 40% cautions against excitement, older college player who is considered top OF defender.
Crawford is hitting .338, but again BABIP .431, though K rate 20% is OK, though only a slap hitter at this point, at 19 plenty of time to add strength and power.
Rincon is also 19, hitting better after a slow start (.175 April, .265 May, BB way up, Ks way down) and showing some pop, a player to keep an eye on, SS with power are elite players
Boyd is a slap hitter like Crawford right now, 11% BB/15% K rate and .330 BABIP says his .270 BA is legitimate.
Viars is really struggling, .167 in April, .211 in May, young enough to turn it around, but not a good start.
McFarlane, Aldegheri and Jimenez off to good starts, Rao, Petit and Cabrera have flashed, bonus baby Castillo looks like he hasn't bounced back from his TJ surgery.
Pan, Dallas, Walling & Henriquez shining in the bullpen.
