Knocking Down The Door: May 27, 2022

“Knocking Down The Door” is a weekly column highlighting minor leaguers who are making a case for a major league promotion. Listed below are the names of this week’s picks and the player’s team, age, level(s), prospect ranking, and last 1-2 weeks of statistics.

Knocking Down The Archive

Vinnie Pasquantino (24), 1B, Triple-A Omaha | Kansas City Royals | Prospect Rank: 5 (organizational); 111 (overall) | May 18-May 26: 16-for-31, 4 HR, 7 2B, 2 BB, 16 RBI

In contention for my first “Knocking Down The Door” three weeks ago, Pasquantino fell short after back-to-back hitless games at the time of my writeup. Additionally, and probably a bigger factor, there was a question as to whether he had leap-frogged fellow first base prospect Nick Pratto, who is already on the 40-man roster and coming off of a season in which he had a 156 wRC+ in Triple-A.

In the following weeks, however, it was becoming more evident that Pasquantino had likely moved ahead of Pratto as the team’s next first baseman. Pratto was playing both corner outfield spots, while the 24-year-old Pasquantino is locked in at first base. And Pasquantino has been far superior at the plate in 2022. That’s not just compared to Pratto, but most minor leaguers.

With the Royals continuing to get subpar production from the first base and designated hitters spots, it’s only a matter of time before Pasquantino joins Bobby Witt Jr. in the Royals’ everyday lineup.

Heading into Wednesday’s game, Pasquantino was slashing .276/.383/.579. When that game ended, he was slashing .296/.396/.638 after a five-hit game, which includes his 11th and 12th home runs and a pair of doubles. The left-handed-hitting slugger also has 24 walks and 27 strikeouts on the season, a good indication that he’s ready to face off against big league pitching.

 

David MacKinnon (27), 1B, Triple-A Salt Lake | Los Angeles Angels | Prospect Rank: n/a | May 18-May 26: 12-for-28, 5 HR, 2B, 3B, 7 BB, 10 RBI

If you are a right-handed batter who is limited to first base defensively, you have to be able to absolutely crush left-handed pitching if there’s any chance of a big league future. For MacKinnon, a right-handed batter who has played all but one game at first base since being drafted by the Angels in 2017, he is absolutely crushing all Triple-A pitching. But, especially, lefties, which should land him an opportunity to platoon with Jared Walsh (76 wRC+ vs LHP) over the Angels’ current option — Matt Duffy (69 wRC+ vs LHP).

Overall, the 27-year-old is slashing .313/.418/.633 with 10 homers, 25 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 158 plate appearances. Against lefties, he’s 16-for-39 with five homers and four doubles. Defensive versatility is important, especially with the deadline for the 13-pitcher limit being extended to June 19 (it was supposed to go into effect on May 31), but the Angels are likely to keep four bench players because Shohei Ohtani is both a hitter and a pitcher. This would afford them the opportunity to carry a hitter like MacKinnon, who is probably limited to first base.


Jared Koenig
(28), SP, Triple-A Las Vegas | Oakland Athletics | Prospect Rank: n/a (organizational)| May 13-May 26: 20.2 IP, 4 ER, 15 H, 4 BB, 24 K

There’s a decent chance you’ve never heard of Koenig, a 28-year-old lefty who spent several seasons in Indy ball after college and was pitching in Australia in 2019 when he was discovered by an Oakland Athletics’ scout. He signed with the A’s in January 2020, but didn’t make his organizational debut until May 2021 due to the pandemic. He put together a solid season in Double-A, posting a 3.26 ERA, 3.2 BB/9, and 7.4 K/9 in 121.1 innings. For a younger pitcher, those numbers jump off the chart. For a 27-year-old, not so much. But fast-forward to 2022 and Koenig’s Triple-A numbers jump off the chart regardless of his age.

Through eight appearances (seven starts), the 6-foot-5 Koenig has a 2.30 ERA, 2.5 BB/9, and 10.8 K/9. He already has two 10-strikeout games and two 9-strikeout games. After seven shutout innings in his last start, Koenig has to be firmly on the radar of the A’s, who are without Daulton Jefferies (thoracic outlet syndrome) for an extended period and are likely considering trade offers for staff ace Frankie Montas on a consistent basis.

 

Brayan Bello (23), SP, Triple-A Worcester | Boston Red Sox | Prospect Rank: 8 (organizational) | May 18-May 24: 12 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 4 BB, 20 K

The Red Sox are on a roll with 11 wins in 15 games. Their bullpen, however, is still kind of a mess with no reliable options to get the final outs in a close game. Garrett Whitlock, currently one of their starting pitchers, would likely put an end to that problem. But, in order to move him back to their bullpen, they would likely want to add another reliable starting pitcher.

Chris Sale is still at least weeks away from returning, which means any help would have to come from the minors. Connor Seabold is having a terrific season, but is currently on the Injured List with a pectoral injury. Bello, on the other hand, is healthy and looks like he could be ready to help out right now.

Since being promoted from Double-A following a dominant six-start stint (1.60 ERA, 33.2 IP, 16 H, 12 BB, 42 K), the 23-year-old has had nearly identical results in his first two Triple-A starts. He’s allowed two runs in six innings with 10 strikeouts in both games.

 

Jeff Brigham (30), RP, Triple-A Jacksonville | Miami Marlins | Prospect Rank: n/a | May 14-May 26: 6.1 IP, 0 R, H, 4 BB, 17 K

Since making 32 relief appearances for the Marlins in 2019, Brigham kind of disappeared from the radar. This was not all that uncommon during the 2020 season when players were placed on the Injured List for weeks without much explanation due to rules related to COVID-19. But Brigham remained on the Injured List for the entirety of the 2021 season without much news. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I learned he had been sidelined for 19 months due to a biceps nerve injury. Why was I searching for news related to Brigham? Because he’s been straight-up dominant for Triple-A Jacksonville in 2022.

Outrighted off the 40-man roster after the 2021 season, Brigham remained in the organization and is doing everything he can to work his way back to the big leagues. Through 22.1 innings pitched, the 30-year-old right-hander has a 2.82 ERA, nine walks, and 37 strikeouts while functioning as a multi-inning reliever. In his last three appearances, he’s recorded 19 outs over 6.1 scoreless innings. Seventeen of those outs were strikeouts!

While Brigham might not jump right into the mix for save chances if promoted to the Marlins, he will have a chance to move up rather quickly if their closing situation isn’t stabilized in the near future.

 

 





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vincentspicksmember
1 year ago

excellent stuff here!