Minor League Players Of The Week: Week Ten
Which minor league baseball players had the best weeks from June 7th, 2022 to June 13th, 2022? Out of many great performances, we settled on three representing the following organizations: San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Jairo Pomares – 21 years old – Eugene Emeralds – San Francisco Giants
Season Statistics: 45 games, 178 plate appearances, 22 runs, 36 hits, 8 doubles, 8 homeruns, 26 RBI, .226/.301/.729
Week 10 Statistics: 6 games, 27 plate appearances, 6 runs, 8 hits, 1 double, 3 homeruns, 10 RBI, 3 BB, .333/.407/1.157
Jairo Pomares absolutely crushes this ball for @EugeneEmeralds. pic.twitter.com/ahr9zIfm5V — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 3, 2021
Jairo Pomares started the season as a consensus Top 100 prospect in all of Major League Baseball. His start to the 2022 season has left much to be desired at the plate especially in his second stint of High-A ball. Despite his struggles at High-A ball over the past two years, Pomares had himself an exciting week in the minor league. It is the type of week that could turn around a season for a young player looking to bust out of a rut.
Over the course of six games, Pomares almost doubled his homerun total with three dingers over the week. Further, entering the week, Pomares only had 16 RBI but contributed double digits over the last seven days to bring his season total to 26. The 21 year old left handed hitter stands at a slender 6’1”, 185 pounds but his bat can pack a punch in minor league competition.
Pomares will need to get his plate discipline under control because his other tools are a bit underwhelming. Pomares is an average runner at best with average fielding and an average arm. His bat is what really separates him from other prospects but he must get over the High-A slump he is experiencing.
Blake Walston – 20 years old – Amarillo Sod Poodles – Arizona Diamondbacks
Season Statistics: 11 games started, 49 1/3 innings pitched, 58 hits allowed, 29 earned runs, 23 walks, 57 strikeouts
Week 10 Statistics: 2 games started, 13 innings pitch, 13 hits allowed, 3 earned runs, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Blake Walston was nearly unhittable for the @HillsboroHops. The No. 4 @Dbacks prospect fanned a season-high 10 in five scoreless innings: https://t.co/BXk31FWGyq pic.twitter.com/oO0ZulYick — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 1, 2022
After taking a few starts to get acclimated to Double-A competition, this lefty starter has had a career week for the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Over two games in the past seven days, Walston pitched 13 innings giving up only 3 runs while striking out almost one batter per inning (12). Only three of the thirteen hits Walston gave up to opponents went for extra bases which is a good sign he is inducing weak contact. It bears mentioning that at age-20 or even age-21, the level of competition is almost four years older than Walston.
The Diamondbacks obviously see much promise in this lefty and have moved him aggressively throughout their system since drafting him 26th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft out of New Hanover High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Watson possesses a plus-fastball and a plus-curve with his control and command being a tick above average. Our expectation is his command will continue to improve over the next year or two before he makes his major league debut. Walston also has a slider and change which some scouts have graded as above average but still needs some more development.
Do not be surprised if you see Walston on the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks major league roster.
Sal Frelick – 22 years old – Biloxi Shuckers – Milwaukee Brewers
Season Statistics: 47 games, 220 plate appearances, 31 runs, 55 hits, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homeruns, .284/.368/.791
Week 10 Statistics: 6 games, 30 plate appearances, 5 runs, 11 hits, 3 doubles, 1 homerun, .407/.467/1.096
Sal Frelick may not have had an eye opening week but the lefty centerfielder had an extremely solid week hitting over .400 and getting on base more than 40% of the time for his Biloxi teammates.
Brewers first rounder Sal Frelick showing some 🧃 pic.twitter.com/HT0U83QUk2 — Prospects Live (@ProspectsLive) December 21, 2021
Drafted in the first round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, Frelick has been one of the fastest risers of that class. Already in Double-A, Frelick has commanded opponents on each level at the plate.
Athletic and versatile, Frelick could see the major league level in a year or two at the most. Despite his size at 5’10” and 180 pounds, Frelick reminds us of a center field version of Dustin Pedroia. He is good at most everything, plays hard, and has a high baseball IQ.
Add consistent production to those intangibles and the Milwaukee Brewers are left with a long-term solution in centerfield.