Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 7/13/24

Jul 14, 2024

FUTURES GAME

Jaison Chourio (starting LF, American League): 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 K - Chourio was on of the offensive stars of a rough day for the American League, driving in the junior circuit’s only run of the seven-inning* contest on a fourth-inning single. Was it his last action in Hillcats Cap? (For those who don’t know, players wore their affiliate caps instead of parent club hats this year.)

*The Futures Game being only seven frames is a rant for another time.

Ralphy Velazquez (PH-backup DH, American League): 0-1, 1 BB,1 K - While Velazquez didn’t get any hits in the game, he did lead all player in the pregame batting practice (per Baseball America’s JJ Cooper and Geoff Pontes), equaling his total from the Carolina League season so far. Might his next dinger come in the Midwest circuit?

HIGHLIGHTS

Christian Cairo (3B, Columbus): 2-for-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBIs - A two-run triple in the fifth sparked the offense and eventually led to a team victory on Saturday. He came around to score while 90 feet from home there and in the next inning following his single in that frame. It is his first multi-hit game since June 6.

Matt Wilkinson (SP, Lake County): L (2-2), 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, BB, 7 Ks - The Tugboat had a bit of an anchor with the defense that totaled three errors in the game and allowed two unearned runs to cross, resulting in the loss. His seven punchouts runs his totals up to 123 in 76.2 innings in 2024. Opponents are hitting under the Mendoza line versus the left-hander this year (.196).

Alex Clemmey (SP, Lynchburg - G1): 4.1 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 6 Ks, WP - He did not give much length, but the 18-year-old lefty has overall effective with six strikeouts and allowed just one run. His biggest issue in his professional career has been giving up walks and just one today from Clemmey on the final batter he faced.

Christian Knapczyk (DH, Lynchburg - G2): 1-for-1, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBIs, 3 BBs - The 22-year-old reached base in all four of his plate appearances and his lone hit of the game was a big one - a bases loaded triple that took Lynchburg’s lead from 3-0 to 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth. Along with delivering the death blow so it felt, he also drew three walks. Four times this season has he drawn three or more walks in a game in 2024.

Welbyn Francisca (SS, ACL): 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB - Francisca just keeps rolling. Saturday afternoon’s multi-hit performance was his third in a row and his fifth in eight July games - giving him a .444/.500/.667 slash for the month. He also extended his on-base streak to 14 games, second on the A-guards behind the twenty-game streak of IF Luis Merejo, who was off yesterday.

Keegan Zinn (SP, ACL): ND, 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R (unearned), 1 BB, 6 K - The fact that Zinn is part of a piggyback duo gives the Guardians organization an excellent opportunity to evaluate whether he works better starting a game fresh and getting his work in pregame or warming up in-game and joining the contest midstream. With the domestic complex season nearing its conclusion, I think it’s safe to say we have an answer: Zinn is a starter. Not only are the splits abundantly clear (2.37 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, .115 opponents’ batting average, and 25:8 K:BB ratio in 19 innings in six starts compared to 25.00, 3.67, .452, and 13:14 in nine frames in five relief appearances) but the dichotomy is absolute. Keegan has allowed two or less earned runs in each of his starts and three or more each time he has come out of the ‘pen. These might be the craziest splits I have ever seen. Needless to say, the fact this season-best outing came in a start is not at all surprising.

Melkis Hernandez (RP, ACL): 4 IP, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 3 K - Hernandez’s stateside debut season has also had some inconsistency, but not related to when he comes into the game (more of a general streakiness). What hasn’t been inconsistent, however, is his July. In three outings this month, Melkis has allowed only seven baserunners (3 H, 3 BB,1 HBP) while striking out 15 in twelve shutout frames (exactly four each game). It’s too bad that these games aren’t streamed because it would be interesting to see the Zinn-andez duo in action, especially with Keegan starting.

Joelvis Perez (SP, DSL Goryl): L (0-1), 4.2 IP, 5 H 2 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 3 K - While some struggles that led to his removal from the game in the fifth made his first decision of the season a loss, Perez continued a stellar sophomore campaign in pro ball which has seen him allow two earned runs or less and go three full innings or longer in each of his six outings so far.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Logan Allen (SP, Columbus): W (1-0), 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BBs, 7 Ks, HBP, WP - In his first start back in a Clippers uniform, the southpaw was able to recover after allowing two runs in the second (one earned) and a solo homerun. The outing could have gotten away from him and he settled in for three shutout frame following.

Raynel Delgado (2B, Columbus): 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, DP - Delgado delivered what would be the deciding run with a single in the sixth inning. He added a double earlier in the contest in the third.

Kyle Manzardo (1B, Columbus): 2-for-4, 2B, HBP, DP - Manzardo reached base three times in the win after a two-hit game and a hit by pitch. His OPS at the Triple-A level in 2024 sits at 1.006.

Aaron Davenport (SP, Akron): L (6-3), 5.0 IP, H, R, 3 BBs, 4 Ks - Just one hit allowed but it was a solo homerun that ended up being the only run scored for either side. The right-hander walked a few more batters than you’d like, but overall, 81 pitches and 51 strikes with only one hit allowed makes it hard to pin the loss on the pitcher.

Jake Fox (2B, Lake County): 3-for-4, E4F - A three-hit day for the 21-year-old at the dish, but a costly error deterred him from a great day.

Angel Genao (SS, Lake County): 2-for-3, R, BB, E6T - Similar story for Genao as he reaches base three times in total but was also charged with an error - his not directly resulting in a run scored.

Deretd Parra (RP, Lynchburg - G1): W (2-0), 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 0 Ks - No runs fell on the ledger of Parra but he got the final eight outs for the squad in the win. In his nine Lynchburg appearances, he has seven without allowing a run.

Wuilfredo Antunez (RF, Lynchburg - G1): 2-for-4, R, 2B, 3B, RBI - Five total bases for Antunez on Saturday and his triple in the bottom of the fifth helped kick start a three-run inning to help secure the victory.

Yorman Gomez (SP, Lynchburg - G2): W (6-2), 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BBs, 5 Ks, BK - Gomez had to skirt around traffic throughout his start, but ultimately handed the ball over to his reliever with the shutout still intact. Delmarva put a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but none crossed.

Tommy Hawke (CF, Lynchburg - G2): 0-for-1, 2 R, 3 BBs, 3 SBs - Hawke scored himself without even making contact with the baseball in the fourth - he drew a walk, stole second and third, then put the icing on the cake by stealing home as well after the opposing pitcher gave up a walk.

Christopher Espinola (DH, ACL): 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K - Espinola’s leadoff homer in the sixth was his first round-tripper of the season and fifth as a professional.

David Leon (1B, ACL): 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB - Since June 21, Leon has been feast-or-famine, getting multiple hits (thrice) or none (seven times) in every game since then.

Julio Zapata (RP, ACL): 1 IP, 1 HBP, 1 K - Zapata has been dominant this month, allowing only one earned run on three hits, two walks, and a hit batter while striking out five in 4.2 innings. Apropos for a guy whose name literally IS July.

Barrett Riebock (LF, ACL): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HBP, 1 SSB, 1 CS - Riebock reached twice to keep pace with Francisca by extending his on-base streak to 14 games.

Juan Frances (LF, DSL Mendoza): 3-4, 2 R, 1 SB - Frances had the lone three-ht performance of the intra-organizational contest, reaching safely for the fifth straight game with multiple plate appearances.

Robert Arias (RF, DSL Mendoza): 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 SB - Arias broke out of a three-game hitless streak with a pair of hits including the lone extra-base hit of the Mendoza victory.

Nomar Velasquez (1B, DSL Mendoza): 2-4, 1 R, 1 CS - Velasquez is 3-for-6 with two runs scored and one driven in since returning from a nearly week-long absence from the field earlier this month.

Wuinder Torres (C, DSL Mendoza): 2-4, 1 R, 1 K - Torres has a pair of multi-hit games against Goryl this month and is 2-for-13 in three July games against other orgs.

Wilinyer Ardiles (SP, DSL Mendoza): ND, 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2 K - After struggling mightily in his first five pro outings (16 ER on 10 H and 16 BB with 2 K in 7 IP, Ardiles finally limited the baserunners and the result was three scoreless frames. For those wondering how much of this performance was a product of facing familiar opposition, the answer is likely “not much” as he was not impressive in two earlier outings against Goryl (6 ER on 4 H and 7 BB in 3 K-free IP).

Diego Navarro (RP, DSL Mendoza): W (2-1), 3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB - Navarro, on the other hand, has been far more consistent against his Academy-mates than when facing other organizations. He has allowed only four hits and a walk in five shutout innings across his two notable outings this month, both against Goryl, while his four June appearances, all against other orgs, were evenly split between stellar outings and six-run days.

Moises Molero (CF, DSL Goryl): 2-2 ,1 2B, 1 BB, 1 HBP - Molero reached in all four four plate appearances - the only Goryl player to reach more than once yesterday - in the first multi-hit performance of his third DSL season.

Santiago Ustariz (1B, DSL Goryl): 2-4, 1 K, 3 E - Ustariz had a good day at the plate. In the field…not so much.

Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 7/13/24

FUTURES GAME

HIGHLIGHTS

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Discussion about this post