Tigers minor-league report: Burrows steady for Whitecaps
TRIPLE A TOLEDO
Who’s hot …
Dixon Machado, SS: Machado can be streaky – half-seasons hot, half-seasons cool. He’s warming up: .333 in his last 10 games and .306 in June. He turned 24 in February, so, while he’s young, it’s probably time Machado determined if he’s going to be a serious big-leaguer or nullifies serious progression with these blackout stints.
And who’s not …
Angel Nesbitt, RH reliever: So enigmatic, Nesbitt, who has no reason to be stuck with such ugly midseason numbers: 5.09 ERA, 5.54 in his last 10 appearances, with a season WHIP of 1.80. Won a big-league job in 2015 because he threw hard and threw strikes. And now, at 25, there’s no sense that he’s part of the Tigers’ picture.
DOUBLE A ERIE
Who’s hot …
Connor Harrell, OF: Having a fine June (.337) and looking more like the seventh-round pick (Vanderbilt) the Tigers drafted in 2013. On the season, he’s batting .298, with seven home runs and an .804 OPS. Harrell is 6-3, 215, bats right-handed and turned 25 in March.
Kody Eaves, 2B: He was the payoff from the Angels in Detroit’s trade involving Jefry Marte, and he’s doing fine: .313 in his last 10 games, and, on the season, an .808 OPS. Eaves, 22, is a left-handed hitter, 6-foot, 175. The Angels drafted him in the 16th round in 2012.
Joe Jiminez, RH reliever: Finally – finally – allowed his first run of 2016 in Saturday’s game, which came courtesy of a single inning in which he allowed two hits and a walk. But he also struck out two batters, so some things don’t change.
And who’s not …
Josh Turley, LH starter: Hasn’t been a lot of fun, this 2016 season for Turley, whose knuckleball at one time suggested he might be ticketed for more important work. His season numbers (divided between Erie and Toledo): 3-9, 5.57 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, .322 opposing batting average.
’15 star Gerber finally heats up on Tiger farm
SINGLE A LAKELAND
Who’s hot …
Tyler Alexander, LH starter: Right on schedule for last year’s second-round pick (Texas Christian): 13 games, 2.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, .239 opposing batting average, with 55 strikeouts and 13 walks in 71.2 innings. Alexander, 21, is 6-2, 200.
A.J. Ladwig, RH starter: Has had a comfortable year with the Flying Tigers: 2.83 ERA in 13 games (10 starts), with a 1.06 WHIP. He’s 6-5, 180, and in 2014 was an 11th-round pick (Wichita State).
Kade Scivicque, C: .293 in his last 10 games, and holding up well during a solid first full season in professional baseball after the Tigers got him out of LSU a year ago with their fourth-round pick. Scivicque bats right-handed and is 6-foot, 225.
And who’s not …
Zac Shepherd, 3B: He won’t have a tougher year than 2016, which has been grueling for a 20-year-old from Australia: .150 in his last 10 games and .184 for 2016, with a .583 OPS. Just a rugged time for this 6-foot-3, 185-pound, right-handed hitter.
SINGLE A WEST MICHIGAN
Who’s hot …
Derek Hill, OF: Important development story here for the Tigers as Hill puts together a healthy June (.302) two years after he got his high school diploma. He’s 6-2, 195, and the Tigers’ first-round pick in 2014.
Beau Burrows, RH starter: So steady in his first full season of professional baseball after the Tigers snatched him in the first round in 2015: 2.77 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, in 11 games and 10 starts. He is 6-2, 200, and is only 19.
Toller Boardman, LH reliever: Very helpful arm for the Whitecaps: 1.84 ERA for the year (18 games), with a 1.25 WHIP. He was a 22nd-round pick in 2015 (New Mexico).
Drew Smith, RH reliever: Solid season for Smith, who was last year’s third-round pick (Dallas Baptist). Since returning in May following a stint on the disabled list, Smith has a 2.87 ERA in 13 games, with a .130 opposing batting average and 0.89 WHIP. Needs to cut down on his walks, but has 20 strikeouts in 15.2 innings and has allowed only six hits. He’s 6-2, 190.
And who’s not …
The Whitecaps are applauded for their generally satisfactory behavior of late.
lynn.henning@detroitnews.com
Twitter @Lynn_Henning