After leaving San Diego as part of Dylan Cease’s return, White Sox RHP Drew Thorpe posted a good season at Double-A Birmingham and was rewarded for his efforts with a move up to Triple-A and a spot in Tuesday’s game. He threw five innings against Seattle and allowed one earned run. In 60 Double-A innings, Thorpe’s command of a double and a changeup helped him produce a 0.87 WHIP and 1.35 ERA along with 56 strikeouts and 17 walks.
Chicago has created a central development hub in Birmingham, and I’m not sure what to do with it. It seems like a miracle to skip Triple-A in the middle of a losing season, but it’s not unusual in the general sense for a team to protect a young arm in offensive positions at the highest level of the minor leagues. Makes me wonder if it’s dynamite LHP Noah Schultz may be the closest to the majors despite throwing just 11.2 innings in Double-A. He turns 21 in August. I would still bet on 2024, but worse things have happened.
Miami’s bullpen is looking for a late reliever, and the Astros’ newly revamped starters seem like a smart bucket to search for such a player. Marlins RHP Angel Macuare (24, AAA) isn’t a typical candidate for a Rolaids relief award, but his kitchen sink and commanding style can work in today’s game, and his name sounds like “do it our way,” which is very promising. Macuare did not allow a home run in 28.1 innings at Double-A. If he can bottle it up and replicate that result at the highest level, he’s in for a great career.
Anthony Gutierrez Guardians (19, A+) has been a hitter since Texas promoted him to a major league at age 17. His results haven’t been particularly encouraging, but the talent is evident on the field, and in the last 15 games, Gutierrez has been successful. started to produce the kind of results we might expect from a player this gifted, slashing .340/.382/.500 with ten stolen bases. He has yet to play in 33 games this season and had just two hits in 84 games last year, but the progress hasn’t been consistent, and the outlook is still very good for Gutierrez, who is likely to be available in the major leagues after his team’s slight burnout. time for minors.
Despite injuries early in the season, Astros SS Brice Matthews (22, A+) has been wasted in the professional game so far in 2024, scoring six runs and swiping ten bases in just 17 High-A games. The 28th pick out of Nebraska in 2023, Matthews closed out his draft season with a 120 wRC+ across 33 Low A games and looks poised to continue Houston’s tradition of getting good prospects late in the draft process.
Another key draft is returning to the field after missing the season so far, Cubs RHP Jaxon Wiggins (22, A) is on his way back from Tommy John surgery and has looked good so far, pitching three scoreless innings in his Low-A debut. The 6’6” 225 lb righty put together a nasty curveball fastball that made him the 68th player without injury.
With 24 complex league games, Phillies 2B Aaron Escobar (19, CPX) walked twice as often (20.2%) as he struck out (9.6%). He is also hitting .338/.495/ .481 with three home runs and nine stolen bases in nine attempts. He walked more than he started last year in the Dominican Summer League as well but didn’t generate much offense (84 wRC+) as he hit .209 with one home run.
Pirates 1B Tony Blanco Jr. (19, CPX) checks in at a healthy 6’7” 243 lbs and features easy double-double power. He played in 16 games in the major league and is slashing .315/.397/.574 with three home runs and a 30.2% slugging rate. Predictably enough, he has the mastery of a right-handed swing, but it’s not a bad thing, and if he can knock that K-rate down even a little bit, he’s a bona fide Monster waiting to settle into his body and fire all over the league.
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