Friday, September 23, 2016

Down on the Farm: 2016 Augusta Greenjackets Season Review Part 2

The Greenjackets started the 2016 season with 3 age-appropriate pitchers in their rotation: Phil Bickford, Logan Webb and Michael Santos.  Bickford was promoted to SJ, then traded.  Webb and Santos were shut down early with injuries.  The Greenjackets ended up being a place where a large number of older pitchers found some traction on careers that had been drifting.

Michael Connolly RHP.  DOB:  10/31/2994.  6'2', 205 lbs.  Drafted in Round 27, 2013.  11-7, 3.05, 135.2 IP, 31 BB, 107 K, GO/AO= 1.35.  Connolly's IP almost doubled from his prior high.  He had a 2.39 ERA on August 14 but faded in his last 3 starts, probably from fatigue.

Jake McCasland RHP.  DOB:  9/13/1991.  6'2", 215 lbs.  Drafted in Round 26, 2013.  8-5, 1.65, 109.1 IP, 24 BB, 107 K, GO/AO= 1.18.  McCasland is a guy the Giants drafted twice.  He kicked around the lower minors for 3 years.  He finally moved into the Augusta rotation midseason and really found a groove.  Like Connolly, he will have to prove it at higher levels.

Cory Taylor RHP.  DOB:  12/14/1993.  6'2", 255 lbs.  Drafted in Round 8, 2015.  9-5, 2.58, 97.2 IP, 25 BB, 100 K, GO/AO= 1.78.  Jumbo righty.  Dominated the SAL in his first full pro season.  Held his own in a late season promo to SJ.

Conner Kaden RHP.  DOB:  10/27/1992.  6'4", 200 lbs.  Drafted in Round 27, 2014.  6-3, 3.71, 87.1 IP, 26 BB, 80 K, GO/AO= 2.80, 3 Saves.  Love the size!  Kaden shined in a long relief role. Should get a chance to move that up to SJ next year.

Dominic Mazza LHP.  DOB:  7/29/1994.  6'1", 195 lbs.  Drafted in Round 22, 2015.  8-3, 3.93, 84.2 IP, 16 BB, 29 K, GO/AO= 1.21.  Drafted out of UCSB where he was overshadowed by Dillon Tate.  Had some dominant starts this year, but some inconsistency.  Will have to prove it at higher levels.

Grant Watson LHP.  DOB:  7/2/1993.  6'0", 185 lbs.  Drafted in Round 16, 2015.  3-7, 4.62, 78 IP, 18 BB, 68 K.  The definition of a polished college lefty.  Those guys have to do better than this in low A ball.

Ryan Koziol RHP.  DOB:  10/4/1993.  6'3", 185 lbs.  Apparently signed as an undrafted FA in 2015.  4-3, 3.01, 68.2 IP, 13 BB, 59 K, GO/AO= 2.89, 9 Saves.  Another tall righty who shined out of the bullpen. Started long relief.  Ended up as the Closer.

Phil Bickford RHP.  DOB:  7/10/1995. 6'4", 200 lbs.  Drafted in Round 1, 2015.  3-4, 2.70, 60 IP, 15 BB, 69 K's.  The first rounder didn't hang around long after putting up dominant numbers.  Also pitched well for San Jose but was traded to the Brewers for Will Smith at the trade deadline.

Michael Santos RHP.  DOB:  5/29/1995.  6'4", 170 lbs.  4-2, 2.91, 58.2 IP, 5 BB, 44 K, GO/AO= 1.54.  I had forgotten how good Santos' numbers were before he disappeared from the boxscores after 6/3/2016.

Ryan Halstead, RHP.  DOB:  5/13/1992.  6'5 ", 220 lbs.  Drafted in Round 21, 2015.  4-3, 3.83, 54 IP, 9 BB, 62 K, 4 Saves.  Former college closer for Indiana.  Did not give up an earned run in his last 16 appearances for Augusta after July 8.  Made 2 appearances in the Cal League playoffs.

Tyler Cyr RHP.  DOB:  5/5/1993.  6'3", 200 lbs.  Drafted in Round 10, 2015.  3-3, 2.31, 50.2 IP, 16 BB, 65 K's, GO/AO= 1.41.  No scouting report, but appears to be a hard throwing righty.  ERA of 2.38 after a midseason promo to SJ.

Heath Slatton RHP.  DOB:  9/17/2013.  6'3", 200 lbs.  Drafted in Round 18, 2015.  2-4, 2.37, 49.1 IP, 23 BB, 44 K's, 4 Saves.   The big news here is Slatton got 3 starts at the end of the season and allowed just 1 ER in 15 IP with 3 BB, and 12 K's.  Sleeper/Breakout watch!

Caleb Smith RHP.  DOB:  10/4/1992.  6'2", 205 lbs.  Drafted in Round 17, 2014.  1-2, 2.35, 38.1 IP, 22 BB, 54 K's, 6 Saves.  Don't know much about him, but nice numbers.

2 comments:

  1. Awesome year in review updates with the farm system. Don't post because I have nothing really to add. Appreciate the time and effort you put in. It makes for good reading. Can't wait to read about Dan Slania. He is the reason I found your blog in the first place. I was looking for a scouting report on him.

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    1. We'll cover Slania in the Richmond Flying Squirrels review. Don't forget we'll have much more in-depth reports after the Winter Meetings when we roll out DrB's Giants Top 50 Prospects.

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