Tigers’ minor-league report: Green is red hot
TRIPLE A TOLEDO
Who’s hot …
Dean Green, 1B/DH: Still with a chance to crack the big leagues because of a left-handed bat that tends to find the ball. Green’s batting .424 in his last 10 games, with two home runs and 10 RBIs. In his 26 games since joining the Mud Hens following an earlier stint at Double A Erie, Green, 27, is batting .318 with an .875 OPS. He is 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, and was an 11th-round pick in 2011 (Barry University).
And who’s not …
Dixon Machado, SS: Same story, repeatedly, with Machado: Hot, cold, and too often cold. He’s at .162 in his last 10 games.
DOUBLE A ERIE
Who’s hot …
Connor Harrell, CF: .313 in his last 10 games. Harrell bats right-handed and was a seventh-round pick by the Tigers in 2013 (Vanderbilt). He’s 6-3, 215.
Joe Jimenez, RH reliever: Jimenez won’t take a break from the weekly list of Tigers luminaries, even if he had a game last week when he – news bulletin – allowed two runs. It happened in a one-inning stint against Bowie when Jimenez, or someone impersonating him, was socked for three hits and a walk. He otherwise has been his old sterling self in 2016: 37 games, 1.22 ERA, 0.81 WHIP.
And who’s not …
Harold Castro, 2B: Another dismal stretch for Castro, who is only 22, but whom it would behoove to get rolling: .154 in his last 10 games.
Young arms delight on Tigers’ Connecticut club
SINGLE A LAKELAND
Who’s hot …
Christin Stewart, LF: Tigers aren’t surprised by his power (21 home runs). It’s the walks (69 in 91 games, helping his .407 on-base percentage), and the way, during a brutally hot summer in Florida, his average continues to climb (.353 in his last 10 games) for a 22-year-old in his first full season of professional baseball. A couple of stairs yet to climb, but the Tigers could see this left-handed hitter at Comerica Park in 2017.
And who’s not …
Joey Pankake, 2B: He has 15 home runs, which is a serious number for any middle infielder playing in the Florida State League. The problem for Pankake in his second full season on the farm is that batting average: .222 on the year and .147 .139 in his last 10 games. Pankake, 23, is a right-handed hitter who was grabbed in the seventh round of the 2014 draft (University of South Carolina).
SINGLE A WEST MICHIGAN
Who’s hot …
Will Maddox, 1B: Doesn’t matter that he’s 24, on the small side for a first baseman (5-10, 180), and that he has only one homer in 2016. This left-handed slasher is batting .457 .413 in his last 10 games. For the year: .357 .356, with an .811 OPS.
And who’s not …
Jose Azocar, CF: Everything’s relative, including a minor slump. Azocar is batting .214 .233 in his last 10 games, but is still at .301 for the year. Not bad for a youngster who turned 20 in May and who today is one of the top five position prospects in the Tigers system.
SINGLE A CONNECTICUT
Who’s hot …
Blaise Salter, 1B: He was snared by the Tigers in the 31st round in June after a handsome career at Michigan State. He’s been on a .425 romp in his last 10 games, with two home runs. Salter, 23, is 6-5, 245, and bats right-handed.
Ryan Castellanos, RH pitcher: The younger brother of Nick, and a 25th-round pick in 2015 (Nova Southeastern), is 5-2, with a 2.86 ERA in seven starts. He has a 1.10 WHIP and a .244 opponent batting average. Castellanos, 22, is 6-3, 215.
And who’s not …
Emanuel Chavez, RH reliever: 7.36 ERA in 10 games, which has been made possible by 16 hits allowed and nine walks in 11 innings, offsetting those 15 strikeouts. Chavez is 21 and was signed out of La Gina, Dominican Republic.
GULF COAST LEAGUE EAST
Who’s hot …
Wladimir Pinto, RH reliever: Impressive work, particularly when you’re 18 and only two years from signing a contract out of Maracay, Venezuela. Pinto, who is 5-11, 170, has worked in 10 seven games, spanning seven 10 innings. He’s allowed five hits, has walked three, and struck out 13.
Francisco German, RH starter: Nice summer efforts by German, 19, who is 6-2, 160, and who in five starts has a 2.74 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, courtesy of 23 innings, 19 hits, 27 strikeouts, and – work is needed here – 10 walks. He was signed out of Sabana Grande de Palenque, Dominican Republic.
And who’s not …
Bairon De La Rosa, RH reliever: He only turned 20 last week, so the Tigers aren’t exactly disturbed that The Bairon has had his issues early: six games, 19.50 ERA, 3.83 WHIP, all due to six innings of certified carnage: 13 hits and 10 walks, with only two strikeouts mitigating the blight.
Hector Hernandez, RF: Time for Hector to have a nice, cool beverage and reconcile himself to the fact this has been a rugged start that needn’t be regarded as a future portent. The young man (20) is batting .048 in his last 10 games and .133 during this most unpleasant 2016 campaign. He is from El Paraiso, Venezuela, and knows, as do his countrymen, that fates can and must change.GULF COAST LEAGUE WEST
Who’s hot …
Daniel Gonzalez, RH starter: He is 20 years old, a sturdy 6-3, 200, and has been working at Connecticut as well as at the GCL rookie stop. Combined numbers: five games, 2.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 22 1/3 innings, 20 hits, 21 strikeouts, six walks. He is from Caracas Maracay, Venezuela.