Minor League round up, Sept. 13

A round up of the San Francisco Giants Minor League affiliates.

No AA, High-A, or Low-A games on Monday, but doubleheaders in AAA and the Dominican Summer League means there’s lots to talk about in the San Francisco Giants farm.

Let’s check it out.

Link to the 2021 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

All listed positions are the positions played in that game.

AAA Sacramento (48-62)

Sacramento River Cats swept in doubleheader vs. Tacoma Rainers (Mariners), 8-4 and 6-5
Game 1 box score
Game 2 box score

Not a good day for the River Cats at all. In 14 innings they had just 11 hits and 1 walk drawn, which is very un-Giantsy of them.

Game 1 was especially brutal on the offensive side, with not a single walk drawn (against 9 strikeouts), and a double by shortstop Arismendy Alcántara being the team’s only extra-base hit. Not ideal!

Game 2 was a little better, with 1 walk to 8 strikeouts, and at least a pair of home runs to cheer for, off the bat of first baseman Jason Vosler (raising his OPS to .912) and third baseman Wyatt Mathisen (bumping his OPS to .711, but .943 with Sacramento).

Outfielder Braden Bishop had 3 hits across the doubleheader, raising his OPS to .885. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him on the active roster sometime next season, assuming he stays in the system.

Second baseman Donovan Solano and left fielder Alex Dickerson both made rehab starts in the second game, and each player recorded a single. We’ll likely be seeing both of them in San Francisco soon.

The pitching wasn’t noteworthy, with both ends of the doubleheader being bullpen games. LHP Sammy Long (No. 38 CPL) had an uncharacteristically rough outing in Game 2, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs, with 1 strikeout. That’s two straight tough outings for Long, and it seems increasingly likely that we might not see him back on the MLB roster this season.

The River Cats used eight pitchers on the day, and only RHP Tyler Cyr, who pitched 0.1 innings, didn’t allow a run.

ACL Orange (33-22)

ACL Giants Orange beat the Padres 6-5
Box score

Like their AAA colleagues, the Giants Orange squad couldn’t draw a walk to save their soul, striking out 12 times without a single free pass. But 12 hits were enough to make up for it and earn them the win.

Center fielder Vaun Brown (23, 2021 10th round) continues to impress, hitting 3-5 with a triple, a double, and a stolen base, bumping his OPS to 1.111 (make a wish!). With the season nearing a close, we’re unlikely to see Brown make his way to A-ball until 2022, but so far he’s impressing in his debut season. First baseman Garrett Frechette (No. 27 CPL, 20, 2019 5th round) also had a 3-hit day, raising his OPS to .820.

Not the best start for exciting RHP prospect Manuel Mercedes (18, 2019 J2), who pitched 5 innings and allowed 6 hits, 2 walks, and 3 earned runs, with 4 strikeouts. His ERA now sits at 4.67, with 59 strikeouts to 23 walks in 54 innings.

RHP Mat Olsen (21, 2021 9th round) made his second appearance and, for the second time, didn’t allow a baserunner in an inning of work.

ACL Black (27-28)

ACL Giants Black beat the Indians 6-3
Box score

Some nice performances by the Giants Black team, led by catcher Rayner Santana (No. 41 CPL, 19, 2018 J2), who hit 2-4 with a home run, raising his OPS to .696, which isn’t a bad figure for the league. First baseman Jacob Gonzalez (23, 2017 2nd round) also had a 2-hit day, which included a double that bumped his OPS to .881.

Left fielder Tyler Forner (19, 2020 UDFA) didn’t have a hit, but drew a walk and recorded 2 outfield assists.

A so-so start for LHP Esmerlin Vinicio (18, 2019 J2), who allowed 5 hits, 2 walks, and 2 earned runs in 4 innings, with 4 strikeouts. It’s still been a phenomenal season for Vinicio, who has a 2.64 ERA, with 70 strikeouts to 29 walks in 58 innings.

RHP Nick Sinacola (21, 2021 7th round) allowed just 1 hit, 0 walks, and 0 runs in 2 innings, with 3 strikeouts. That hit was the first hit he’s allowed in 5.1 innings of his debut season, with 0 walks, 0 runs, and 8 strikeouts.

DSL Orange (19-19)

DSL Giants Orange lost to the Mariners 3-2 (7 innings)
Box score

The Giants Orange team was in line for a nice win before giving up 3 runs in the 7th and final inning to get walked off. So pour one out for RHP Miguel Mora (19, 2019 J2), who had a brilliant start, pitching 5.2 no-hit innings while allowing just 2 walks, and striking out 6. He deserved better.

The start lowered his ERA to 3.38, and gave him 36 strikeouts to 13 walks in 34.2 innings.

The offense had the same issue as the other teams, with 13 strikeouts to just 1 walk. First baseman Jhosward Camacho (17, 2020 J2) was pretty much the entire offense, with 2 of the team’s 3 hits, including a home run, while also stealing 2 bases. He now has a .590 OPS.

DSL Black (17-21)

DSL Giants Black swept a doubleheader against Brewers1, winning 10-9 and 5-2
Game 1 box score
Game 2 box score

It was quite a comeback in the first game of the doubleheader, as the Giants Black team gave up 7 runs in the 4th inning to fall behind 7-0. But they scored 8 runs in the final 3 innings of regulation, before a 2-spot in the 8th inning gave them a walk-off win.

The star was designated hitter Onil Perez (19, 2019 J2), who hit a perfect 3-3 with a double and 2 walks, raising his OPS to .932. Fittingly, he had the walk-off plate appearance with a walk. What a season he’s having!

Second baseman Gustavo Cardozo (17, 2020 J2) and center fielder Mauricio Pierre (17, 2020 J2) also had strong games, as Cardozo hit 2-5 with a triple to raise his OPS to .753, and Pierre was 2-5 with a double, bumping his to .818.

In Game 2 the offense was a bit more quiet, though they impressively only struck out 4 times. Catcher Diego Gonzalez (17, 2020 J2) led the way with a pair of doubles that raised his OPS to .605. Shortstop Jose Ramos (18, 2019 J2) continues to be a hit machine, with a trio of singles that raised his OPS to .930.

A standout bullpen performance by RHP Samir Chires (17, 2020 J2), who allowed 4 hits, 1 walk, and 0 runs in 3 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Chires is rocking a 3.86 ERA, but has just 9 strikeouts in 21 innings.

Home runs

AAA Jason Vosler (15)
AAA Wyatt Mathisen (5)
ACL Rayner Santana (3)
DSL Jhosward Camacho (1)

Tuesday schedule

Sacramento: @ Tacoma Rainers, 7:05 p.m. PT
Richmond: @ Erie SeaWolves, 3:05 p.m. Pt
Eugene: Postponed (COVID-19)
San Jose: @ Fresno Nuts, 6:50 p.m. PT
ACL Orange: vs. D-backs
ACL Black: vs. White Sox
DSL Orange: Doubleheader vs. Mariners
DSL Black: vs. Brewers1