What a crazy week. Michael Lorenzen bangs three homers? Kevin Pillar makes a ridiculous grab robbing a homer. Vince Velasquez, before going on the DL, has a last hurrah throwing out Adam Eaton left-handed, after Eaton’s liner renders the hurler’s default throwing arm moot in what might be the greatest defensive play of the year and beyond.
So, as we approach the mid-season mark, who is up now and stirring some interest, either good or otherwise? Let’s see what we can see.
Willians Astudillo (C, Twins): Sometimes the Zen tells me to follow players, and for some reason, the Zen likes Astudillo. Beat me why, as he is 26 — old for a prospect — and hardly holds a ball players physique at 5-foot-9 and 225 pounds. The Venezuelan has a .309-24-278 line with a crazy 80 walks to 76 strikeouts, good for a .347 OBP. And, get this, the squat receiver has 39 steals to his credit. And, with Mitch Garver and Bobby Wilson as the only obstacles, I am thinking this time the Zen totally knows what is going on.
Ryan Borucki (P, Blue Jays): Plucked in the 15th round in 2012, Borucki has a solid minor league line of 29-24, 3.32 over 431.2 frames with 401 strikeouts and a 1.17 WHIP. At Buffalo thus far, the southpaw is 6-5, 3.27 over 77 innings with 58 whiffs and the career mean WHIP of 1.17. The pitcher comported himself well against Houston, tossing six frames allowing a pair of runs, six hits, and four walks. Things are lean this time of year starting pitching-wise so check out Borucki who should get a couple of more starts and could be a good add in a deep format.
Carlos Asuaje (2B, Padres): An 11th round selection of the Red Sox in 2013, Asuaje might have been the heir apparent to Dustin Pedroia with a .290-37-301 line over 543 minor league games. Asuaje wrangled a solid .372 OBP and swiped 32 bags in the minors, but during the 2015 Hot Stove Boston swapped the keystone player for a potential closer named Craig Kimbrel. Well, the Pads brought Asuaje (.338-1-15 with 24 runs scored this year at El Paso) back up, and in a deep NL format the 26-year-old — who has struggled in the Majors thus far — could indeed get the hang. Just saying, just keep an eye on him.
Keon Broxton (OF, Brewers): Broxton found himself the odd man out with the addition of Lorenzo Cain. Despite his 21 swipes last year, the 175 whiffs over 414 at-bats was enough to make Broxton back in the minors. But the relegation of Domingo Santana and injuries forced the hand of fate and the Brewers front office so, in a deep format, if you need steals, Broxton makes a great target. If he can learn to make better contact, that value increases accordingly.
JT Riddle (SS, Miami): The Fish are all over the place as they rebuild, but 13th rounder in 2013, Riddle, drafted from Kentucky, has established himself at short for now hitting .294 the last 10 days and raising his season line to .251-7-46, although a rugged .282 OBP (16 BB to 79 whiffs). Still it is mid-season and we have to manage our rosters according to need while ideally grabbing at-bats, so if your NL format is an average league, Riddle should be on your radar.
Edwin Jackson (P, Athletics): Gad, Oakland is pulling out every stop in order to get a working and effective rotation to support their home run hitters, and Jackson is the newest. Over 12.2 frames thus far and a pair of starts, Jackson has been way good, with a win and most important allowing no walks. Well, mostly. Jackson does have a MLB average 4.2 walks allowed per nine, so if Jackson has indeed conquered his wildness at age 34, that would be great. And, Jackson could be a solid stream choice pitching in the spacious Coliseum, but otherwise, steer clear. BTW, Jackson was part of the goofy last week being the first hurler to log an intentional walk without throwing a pitch, commensurate with the new rule.
Max Fried (P, Braves): Atlanta has such a bevy of young arms that it is interesting that Fried keeps getting the highlights and chances. That said, Fried, just recalled, has 387 strikeouts over 397.2 frames but a 1.37 WHIP. This is his fourth recall this season on top of a 1-2, 2.55 mark over 17.2 innings this year with 24 strikeouts but a 1.30 WHIP. There are many solid indicators in Fried’s resume, but some warning signs as well so tread carefully.
Brad Keller (P, Royals): Keller, drafted by the Diamondbacks in the eighth round in 2013, was unprotected and then nabbed by the Reds during last year’s Hot Stove and then immediately swapped to the Royals for the ubiquitous “future considerations.” But, the 22-year-old has done well with a 2-3, 2.09 mark over 56 innings thus far tied to a 1.16 WHIP and certainly is worth a gamble in an AL only format.
