Big Day in the M’s Minor League System
The M’s finally announced a big international signing today, a month after the July 2nd deadline. Welcome to the M’s organization, Luis Gohara! Gohara’s a Brazilian pitcher who just turned 16 – he actually wasn’t able to sign on July 2nd, as he was still 15 then. Despite his age, he’s reportedly touched 94mph over the past year, and BA had him as the 7th best international prospect this year.
In addition, today marks the first time that all three of the M’s big pitching prospects will take the hill on the same day. [Edit: Awww, it’s not to be. Anthony Fernandez has been announced as the game 2 starter, not Taijuan Walker]
Jackson’s playing a double-header against the Braves’ affiliate, and James Paxton starts game one (at 3:05pm Pacific) and Anthony Fernandez starts game two. And as JY mentioned the other day, the Generals have a new catcher in the fold, Mike Zunino, who’ll be making his AA debut. In Nashville, Danny Hultzen makes his first start since late July; it’s going to be fascinating to see if his command’s better after the long layoff. The best pitching prospect in the low minors, Everett’s Victor Sanchez, starts for Everett at Spokane.
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9 Responses to “Big Day in the M’s Minor League System”
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Marc, are you sure about Taijuan Walker starting game 2, today?
According to his stat page (from the Mariner website), he pitched on Sunday, August 12th.
Some numbers from that outing were:
5.2 innings
5 runs
12 hits allowed
5 K’s
1 BB
1 HR
Maybe he was given “credit” for someone else’s poor outing. Maybe not. It might be worth a discount double-check.
Super nitpicky, but I believe Mr. Gohara spells his name “LuiZ” rather than the more common “LuiS”.
Regardless, great news that they finally got him inked. It is an exciting day in the system. Thanks for the post.
Big day for the M’s, big day for Brasil as well! Most Brasileiros don’t know it yet, but they will!
Marc, if Hultzen struggles in his AAA start tonight, is there anything precluding the org (from a developmental standpoint) from sending him back to Jackson to regain his form and his confidence while helping that team during their Title quest?
He started the season with those guys, probably has more substantive friendships with those guys and is closer to the average of of those guys. The top players from that team will move to AAA next year and Hultzen would go right along with them. And they may all be able to move up together with a Title to their credit.
Is there anything substantive that would prevent the organization from considering it … Assuming Hultzen struggles tonight?
I like Victor a lot, but I think it might be a stretch to simply declare him the best pitching prospect (I assume you mean for the Ms, and starters-only) in the low minors. There have been some solid/great performances by guys in their early 20s (Kaalekahi, Shellhorn, DeCecco, Shore) and teens (Unsworth) to talk about as well. Also, Tyler Pike has been essentially unhittable as an 18 year old at Arizona (I know, less competition).
Sanchez may be the best of the bunch but I’m not sure it’s cut-and-dry.
You can’t just look at results and say (Shellhorn, for instance) is a real prospect. I’m sure you know this, but stuff and projectability have to be factored in as well.
Based on that, I would say Pike is the only real competition that Sanchez has for best M’s pitching prospect in the low minors, at this point.
And Pike is exciting, no question.
Glad to see the M’s spending in the Latin American market, for awhile I was wondering if they had decided to give it a pass for some reason.
Pike is the one I would have debated, yes. Young, stuff, results. Would like to see him get some time in Everett or Pulaski this year since Arizona jitters can’t touch him.
Pike is the one I would have debated, yes. Young, stuff, results. Would like to see him get some time in Everett or Pulaski this year since Arizona hitters can’t touch him.