3 Pitchers that Stood Out This Weekend Across the Minor Leagues
Ryan Sloan of the Mariners (MLB.com)
The Seattle Mariners have a very strong rotation. It’s so strong that they are doing the piggy back method so everyone gets a piece of the pie. They'll have bigger conversations on their hands, as Kade Anderson has been the most dominant pitcher in the Minor Leagues this season. He’s not alone though, as Ryan Sloan has been right there with him.
On a night where Kade Anderson finished with nine strikeouts, Sloan had his “hold my beer” moment on Saturday. In 5.1 innings, Sloan gave up one earned run and punched out nine batters. That’s the second most strikeouts he’s had in a single start this season, with 11 being his career best (achieved in May 30).
Sloan has been a gem for the Arkansas Travelers all season. Overall, he does have a 4.11 ERA and a 3.57 FIP, but his underlying metrics paint a picture that’s very enticing to look at. He's a player that shouldn’t be overshadowed by what Anderson has accomplished thus far.
Ryan Sloan Metrics (Photo Credit: TJStats.ca)
Sloan is a player that has great control and command of his arsenal – he really limits his walks. The strikeout rate is sky high and you love seeing the high swinging strike rates as well. He’s a pitcher that pounds the zone, can get the chase, the whiffs, and is just an effective arm.
The Mariners already have great young pieces on the roster with Colt Emerson and Cole Young. While the pitching staff is loaded with arms, Sloan is right with Anderson in terms of knocking on that door. It’s really special what these two have managed to do this season.
When you look at most of the mock drafts for this upcoming draft, the player that is linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates the most is pitcher Jackson Flora. What an absolute snag he would be, and for a team that is LITTERED with arms. However, I want to highlight Seth Hernandez, who has dazzled in the Minors and will become the next electric arm for the Pirates. That’s scary considering what the Pirates are already doing in their bullpen.
Hernandez is the first pitcher across the minor league systems to have 100 strikeouts under his belt, and he has 100 to be exact at the time of writing. What’s been absurd has been his efficiency. While he has 100 strikeouts, he has only 28 walks. He has struck out 41.2% of the batters he’s faced, while walking 11.5%, good for a 29.6 K-BB%. Hernandez has been untouchable, having an .159 batting average and a 0.96 WHIP. Be thankful if you get a base when facing this guy.
In 62 innings pitched, he has a 2.02 ERA and a 3.52 FIP. Also, him rocking a 63.5% strike rate is great to see. His arsenal is quite deep, and very effective when it comes to pure stuff.
Seth Hernandez of the Pirates (TJStats.ca)
Every pitch he has in his arsenal has a Stuff+ grade north of 100 (which is average). This model (TJStats) has his four seam and slider at 112 and 111, which is entering elite territory. The whiff rates with all his secondaries are electric with 70%. Pair that with getting batters to swing outside the zone and with his velocity, he’s terrifying. It’s only a matter of time before gets promoted to Double-A and has really showcased himself as an elite arm in this crop of prospects.
There is buzz about the Red Sox system pitching pipeline. Fans have gotten to witness the promotion of Anthony Eyanson and the quick start to his professional career. It’s been a bumpier road for Kyson Witherspoon, who managed to fall right into their lap at 15th overall.
Witherspoon's command and control have been a key part of his development. Since his fourth start of the season, he’s managed to walk three or more batters in five of seven starts. I frame it that way because his last two starts have been his two best starts of the season and also on a more efficient scale. Remember, development isn’t linear and it does take time.
His start on June 19 saw him pitch five innings, making that the fourth start in a row he would reach that mark. He walked two batters and punched out a season high of eight. He managed to top that start this past Friday. Witherspoon pitched six innings (season high), walked one batter, and punched out seven. He lowered his ERA to 4.74 and with a 4.14 FIP.
Kyson Witherspoon of Red Sox (TJStats.ca)
It’s encouraging to see Witherspoon's progress – he's a good pitcher worth keeping an eye on. When you look at the table above, you see that his recent start (at the very top) was his most effective. He is a good strikeout pitcher, possessing swing and miss ability and getting batters to chase outside the zone. His arsenal is very well rounded, making him a highly coveted talent.