Minor Thoughts – April 15, 2017 – Hot Pitching Starts

Last week I looked at hot hitting starts in the system. While the list was exciting, the number of hot pitching starts is more interesting then the list of hitters. Part of this is the depth of interesting pitching prospects in the system. But, the other part is that pitchers are dealing with smaller sample sizes of just 3-4 starts. Just like with the hitters, the goal is not to make wide sweeping judgments, but rather to highlight some hot starts and changes in player profile.

Nick Pivetta 19.o IP 0.95 ERA 2 BB 24 K
Nick Pivetta’s hot start is not lacking in press, but it is worth highlighting just how dominant the big righty has been. There have been some evaluators that think his slider has taken a big step forward, and that has contributed to his hot start. Pivetta is also locating his fastball better, and while he lacks a quality changeup, he has kept left handers in check. It looks like he will get a major league start with Aaron Nola’s injury giving fans a chance to see the growth.

Seranthony Dominguez 13.0 IP 0.69 ERA 4 BB 20 K
Dominguez was the most unheralded of the trio of hard throwing Dominicans for Lakewood last year, but the 22 year old righty, might be surpassing his rotation mates. Last year, Dominguez sat 92-96 touching 97 with his fastball. He is already touching 99 this year and his walk and strikeout numbers who how dominant he has been in the zone. He has the changeup and breaking ball to be a good starter, but he still needs some time to develop. So look for him to spend a full year in Clearwater.

Cole Irvin 20.0 IP 0.90 ERA 3 BB 17 K
It is not really surprising that Irvin has experienced success in a jump to hi-A. He is a 23 year old, coming out of a major college conference, who has a good pitch mix and feel for pitching. Irvin has yet to do anything this year that says he is better than we thought. He has kept some of his velocity growth, and firmly sits in the low 90s with his fastball. Irvin is unlikely to be anything other than a backend starter, but he could reach AA this year and add to the Phillies impressive stockpile of upper minors pitching depth.

Yacksel Rios 11.0 IP 2.45 ERA 2 BB 17 K
Luke Leftwich 9.1 IP 5.79 ERA 1 BB 17 K
Rios hasn’t been a starter for a little bit, and Leftwich is just moved to the bullpen full time, but both righties are off to hot starts in the BB/K department. Rios has velocity, but has struggled with control. Leftwich has seen an uptick in velocity as a reliever, but has struggled with runner on. Both lack wipeout secondary pitches and have a track record that doesn’t bode well for future success, but their early season starts, give cause for hope.

Alberto Tirado 18.0 IP 1.00 ERA 9 BB 14 K
Tirado has pitched 6 innings in all three of his starts this year. Reaching 6 innings in a start is not something he has done 3 times in any season. His first two outings were scoreless, but full of walks. He allowed two runs in his third start, but got the walks under control, while getting back to his strikeout numbers. Tirado is going to be a lot like Vincent Velasquez in the majors, in that the results are going to be all over the place and both the walks and strikeouts may come in droves. The big thing for both is gaining some efficiency, and right now that has been the order of the day for Tirado.

Nick Fanti 15.2 IP 1.15 ERA 6 BB 16 K
Ranger Suarez 15.1 IP 1.17 ERA 7 BB 21 K
The pair of Lakewood lefties are both soft tossers with some feel for what they are doing on the mound. There is a chance if the they can add a little more velocity and improve some offspeed pitches they could be back end starters. If that doesn’t work they could turn themselves into somewhat interesting relievers. Neither will be big time prospects the next time lists come out, but they are a good reminder of the depth of major league level talent there is in the system.

Quick Hits:

• Clearwater LH RP Austin Davis has reportedly been up to 98 with his fastball
• Mauricio Llovera is up to 98 as a reliever, but is struggling with location
• Brandon Leibrandt is off to a great start, but I am not buying any stock until I hear that he is topping out at something other than 88
• Blake Quinn as a starter is rather ordinary, when Blake Quinn the reliever had some electric stuff
• Adonis Medina struck out 11 in his last start which makes the K numbers look better, but he lacks the impact of some of the other RHP starters
• Ricardo Pinto isn’t really striking many batters out, but they aren’t doing much of anything against him either
• Franklyn Kilome has brought back his slider and is a two breaking ball pitcher like many of the Phillies’ arm, and he is off to a good start, but other have been better