Hello everyone! As we enjoy the All Star break and get ready to unveil the BGS Top 25 Prospect list, what better way to tide you over than with a new installment of the ladder? Let’s jump right into the top performers in Atlanta’s minor league system for the week of July 6 to July 12.
Christian Bethancourt, Catcher, AAA Gwinnett: 6-20, 2 2B, HR, BB, 3 K, SB
Atlanta’s presumptive catcher of the future no longer looks like such a sure thing after foundering at the major-league level for the better part of half a season. While I’m quite skeptical of his potential to stick in the bigs long-term, he certainly had a nice week in Gwinnett, notching 6 hits with half going for extra bases. Power will be important for Bethancourt if he wants to stick in Atlanta, as he will never have a good hit tool.
Mike Foltynewicz, Starting Pitcher, AAA Gwinnett: 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K
Folty’s last start in Gwinnett before his call-up to Atlanta’s bullpen was a typical Folty start. Too many walks, but gobs of strikeouts to make up for it. The story on Folty is still the same, however: he’s got to reign in his control if he wants to be a successful big league starter. If not, he’s almost assuredly ticketed for a bullpen spot.
Tyrell Jenkins, Starting Pitcher, AAA Gwinnett: 1 GS, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
The “other” pitcher in the Heyward trade, Tyrell Jenkins was promoted to Gwinnett from AA Mississippi last week, and his first start with Atlanta’s AAA affiliate was a dandy. Jenkins tossed 7 innings of shutout baseball with 6 strikeouts and only 1 walk. The K/BB ratio is a great sign, as Jenkins’s mark at AA Mississippi was a wholly uninspiring 59/41 mark.
Connor Lien, Outfielder, A+ Carolina: 9-24, 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 4 K, 5 SB, 2 CS
Lien, a toolsy outfielder with the Mudcats, is the BGS MiLB Player of the Week. Lien had a hell of a week at the plate, smashing 9 hits in 7 games, including a pair of home runs. If that wasn’t enough, he also showed off his eye by drawing 3 walks and his speed by swiping 5 bases. Lien has always been a high-risk, high-ceiling player, but his 2015 season has been nothing but a success so far. The 21-year-old is now hitting .292/.344/.424 on the season.
Dan (@dsimpson88) loves most things in life, including but not limited to: Neil deGrasse Tyson, bunting, and Mercer basketball. He is a master of the reaction GIF, and as such is one of only three people who have ever bested both K and Brad in a game of on line. A Duke grad, Dan is extremely brilliant, but being that this blog is run predominantly by rival ACC’ers, we’ll never tell him that. He has not only promised to kill Stephen, but also reassures us we’ll never find the body.
Leave a Reply