It’s the middle of June the days are long, the weather has become HOT, the NBA Finals are taking way too long, the Stanley Cup Finals just wrapped up and all of this must mean one thing.
It’s US Open time.
The Pittsburgh Pirates Jameson Taillon has been all that was advertised
The Pittsburgh Pirates were handed a bit of blow late last week when Gerrit Cole left a game early with tricep soreness, and took a hit when Cole was placed on the DL yesterday. It’s seemingly all ok, however, because Jameson Taillon is here to save the day.
Checking in on Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman and Brendan Rodgers
Last season was the year of the shortstop. Carlos Correa, Addison Russell and Francisco Lindor had huge debuts at the big league level, while the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft was littered with shortstops from top to bottom. As everyone remembers, the first three picks in last year’s draft were all of the shortstop position.
So how have they fared?
NO. 3: BRENDAN RODGERS, COLORADO ROCKIES
Brendan Rodgers, of course, was the first high school player taken off the board in 2015. Being the youngest of the shortstops taken left him the least likely to make his MLB debut first, but that hasn’t meant he hasn’t played well.
Rodgers half-season 2015 debut wasn’t eye-popping, but nowhere near a poor performance. Taking into consideration he played dinged up most of that time — battling hip and hamstring issues — Rodgers’ .273/.340/.420 slash line and three home runs were promising.
The 6-foot, 180-pound 19-year-old battled injury yet again this season, spending time on the disabled list with a knee contusion. He was red hot before being shelved on May 15 — slashing .341/.404/.591 with seven home runs — but has slowed down a bit since his return. His play hasn’t gone unnoticed on the season as he will be in the South Atlantic League All-Star. He is currently batting .285 with eight home runs and 15 doubles, but durability has certainly become a concern that hopefully is addressed.
The Tourists have played Rodgers at second base some this season, perhaps getting him ready for a shift. Many scouts originally felt he would have to shift to third base, but he has shown a better fielding percentage (.952 at second as opposed to .940 at short) and better range factor (5.00 at second versus 4.23 at short) at second so perhaps staying in the middle of the infield is still in his future. His quick bat, natural strength and sound instincts profile well at any position in which he sticks.
NO. 2 OVERALL ALEX BREGMAN, HOUSTON ASTROS
Like Rodgers, the Astros’ 22-year-old shortstop spent time on the DL this season. Bregman, however, hasn’t missed a beat in his debut Double-A season.
Alex Bregman had an impressive first half-season, making it to Advanced-A ball where he out performed his Low-A debut. He slashed .319/.364/.475 with three home runs in 160 at bats in Lancaster, hitting for higher average and more power than he did in 112 at bats for Quad Cities.
This season has been more of the same, as Bregman has jumped a level and seemingly continued to show improvement. He is currently slashing .310/.409/.592 with 13 home runs, 11 doubles and 41 RBI, but what is most impressive is his patience at the plate. Bregman has struck out just 20 times this season while walking 27. He has now walked 56 times in his young career while striking out 50, and that kind of plate discipline can’t be coached. Bregman simply has it.
Bregman doesn’t profile to be a big power bat (although 20 home run potential is very much in reach) but he displays fantastic gap power, profiling to be more of a doubles hitter as well. While there is little question that his bat will succeed at the big league level, there are big question marks about where he will play.
The 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander has played seven games at third base this season, and while he hasn’t committed and error in 18 chances, he has very questionable range. Defense has never been Bregman’s strong suit, but solid instincts and a decent enough arm for either slot on the left side of the infield have made up for mishaps along the way.
With Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa arguably the most exciting young double-play combo in the big leagues, it will be interesting to see where the Bregman defensive experiment leads.
NO. 1 OVERALL DANSBY SWANSON, ATLANTA BRAVES
Who trades away the number-one overall pick after he produces a half-season debut everyone had hoped for just a few months later? The Arizona Diamondbacks, that’s who.
Dansby Swanson fared well in his Rookie League debut for the Hillsboro Hops, slashing .289/.394/.482 while posting an .876 OPS. He was rewarded by being shipped off to Atlanta with fellow top prospect Aaron Blair in the Shelby Miller deal that has thus far backfired for Dave Stewart and the D-backs.
Since his arrival in Atlanta, Swanson has climbed to Double-A. He tore up the Carolina League to a .333/.441/.526 slash line in 21 games, leading to a quick promotion to Double-A Mississippi. He has struggled a bit since, showing an uncharacteristically-high strikeout rate 0f 16.1-percent (which is still not alarmingly high) while also posting an equally uncharacteristic low walk rate of 9.5-percent (a number Swanson is usually has well into double-digits). His last four games have seen him go 0-for-19, striking out five times and walking just two.
That’s of no matter though as it is simply a cold spell. Swanson seemingly has no weaknesses; he is above-average in all of his skill set. He plays such a good shortstop that the Braves have moved Ozzie Albies to second base since he was promoted to Gwinnett, and it is looking more and more like an Albies/Swanson double-play combo will debut in 2016, albeit it may be as September call-ups.
Unlike Rodgers and Bregman, Swanson is the unquestioned Braves shortstop of the future and, barring trade (which always needs to be said when discussing the Braves) will be a National League All-Star for years to come. He has advanced range and instincts well beyond his years, plus above-average speed to help with both his range and base path skills (Swanson is 10-for-12 in stolen base attempts on his 79-game minor league career).
Don’t forget t read my full article as well as a bevy of others from baseball’s best writers like Jon Heyman, Bernie Pleskoff, Roy Cummings, Bobby DeMuro and more at Today’s Knuckleball. Get there by clicking the link below!
Checking in on 2015’s shortstop-heavy top-three picks
Discover: Monday Around the Horn
Wayniac Nation’s picture blog of Saturday at The Ted is the last one. Take a read!
- SF Giants Photos has images from the Giants’ series-winning victory on Sunday.
- Here’s a game gallery from Sunday’s Indians-Angels game over at The Halo Way.
- Off the Bench tells how Cole Hamels made history yesterday at Safeco Field.
- Listen to Kevin Cash’s comments after the Rays’ 5-0 win, courtesy of Rays Radio.
- Stlcardinalsminimo explains how Matt Holliday had himself quite a weekend.
- The Cubs got some help from fan Bill Murray, writes The Canuck Cubbie.
- The Cutoff Man recaps an entertaining Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium.
- What connected Ali, Ruth and Robinson? John Thorn discusses at Our Game.
- Dodger Insider writes about fighting a losing battle with anger in a topical post.
- Padres manager Andy Green talks Solarte, Cashner and Sundays at Friar Wire.
- Phillies Insider explores the Phillies’ confounding problems with Mondays.
- The Cubs reportedly are eyeing the Yankees’ bullpen, says subwaybaseball.com.
- The Athletes Hub asks whether the Yanks should…
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Atlanta Braves memories: the last days at the Ted
It’s amazing to me. Yesterday, June 11th was the first Atlanta Braves game I have gone to this season. Looking back over the years, I would say I probably average 20 games a season at Turner Field, and the two times in my 13 years here that I missed Opening Day, I made it to Opening Weekend.
Grant it, I have been busy with more work and family life than I have ever been, but there is no denying that some of that has to do with the product on the field. Yesterday reminded me of one thing, however.
I’m going to miss Turner Field.
New York Yankees Adams making most of Chance in Tampa rotation
The New York Yankees selected Chance Adams in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft. His remarkable transformation from reliever to starter in less that a calendar year has made it time to take notice of the Yankees 21-year-old T-Yanks ace.
Philadelphia Phillies Dylan Cozens slugging his way to notoriety
The Philadelphia Phillies have surprisingly competed thus far in 2016, and it has been in large part due to the youth rebellion within their system. Aaron Nola is the ace of a young and upcoming staff, while names Odubel Herrera and Tommy Joseph are leading the charge on offense. After a few quality drafts and an offseason of successful trades saw them revamp their farm system, they have a bevy of young stars on the pipeline as well.
New York Yankees 2016 MLB Draft: quick thoughts on day one
The New York Yankees did pretty well on the first day of the MLB Draft. They were able to lock up a top five talent, while getting one of the more unheralded middle infield bats in the draft.
Keep reading for my thoughts on day one of the 2016 MLB Draft.
MLB Draft Profile: Who is the next DII or DIII MLB star?
The MLB Draft is just a day away. Most of the high school and college players that are going to go in the first two rounds are household names at this point. But what about the diamonds in the rough? What about the Division II and Division III players that may be looking for their big break?
Last season saw 84 Division II athletes get taken in the draft, while 11 hailed from Division III. Who are some of the names that could go relatively early in this season’s MLB Draft?
What DII and DIII players will go this weekend? Keep reading to find out!
The Los Angeles Dodgers “dilemma”: Jharel Cotton — reliever or start?
Since being drafted in 2011, Jharel Cotton is seemingly a pitcher searching for a role. Now that he appears to be on the brink of making his big league debut, there is still a little uncertainty in how he can be most effective.
The jury is still out: is Jharel Cotton a future reliever or can he become that starter the Los Angeles Dodgers had once hoped for?
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