2024 Minor League Thread

[Meatwad]

Tugboat getting some national attention from The Athletic today.

Twenty underrated MLB prospects off to fast starts: Matt Wilkinson, Jonah Tong and more​

By Melissa Lockard

Every year, players emerge from relative obscurity to establish themselves as legitimate prospects for their organizations. Now that we are nearly a month into the 2024 minor-league season, it’s a good time to see if we can identify who some of those breakout prospects will be. Below are 20 players who weren’t ranked among their organization’s top-10 prospects at the start of the season but are off to notable starts, beginning with a left-hander in the Guardians organization who has earned a significant online following with a strong April.

...

Matt Wilkinson, LHP, Cleveland Guardians (not ranked): Wilkinson is a 6-foot-1, 270-pound left-hander from British Columbia who went to Central Arizona Junior College and has the nickname “Tugboat.” Even if Wilkinson wasn’t pitching like a young Clayton Kershaw, we probably should have been talking about him, but the fact that he is dominating in historic fashion makes him the perfect person to kick off this piece.

Wilkinson was Cleveland’s 10th-round pick last year out of Central Arizona, where he had a 1.38 ERA and struck out 221 batters in 137 innings over two seasons. He threw only one inning in his pro debut last year, so this is the first we are really getting to see Wilkinson in pro ball. The results have been dazzling. On Thursday, he threw six hitless innings for Low-A Lynchburg, striking out 15 of the 19 batters he faced. Lest you think that was a fluky outing, Wilkinson came into that start having allowed just one run in 14 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts.

​

Wilkinson arrived in pro ball with an above-average spin rate on his low-90s fastball, which he commands extremely well. He also features a changeup and slider, both of which he can throw for strikes. He turned 21 in December but it may not be much longer before the Guardians see if he can plow through rougher waters in High A.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

 

[BimboColesHair]

Tugboat getting some national attention from The Athletic today.

Twenty underrated MLB prospects off to fast starts: Matt Wilkinson, Jonah Tong and more​

By Melissa Lockard

Every year, players emerge from relative obscurity to establish themselves as legitimate prospects for their organizations. Now that we are nearly a month into the 2024 minor-league season, it’s a good time to see if we can identify who some of those breakout prospects will be. Below are 20 players who weren’t ranked among their organization’s top-10 prospects at the start of the season but are off to notable starts, beginning with a left-hander in the Guardians organization who has earned a significant online following with a strong April.

...

Matt Wilkinson, LHP, Cleveland Guardians (not ranked): Wilkinson is a 6-foot-1, 270-pound left-hander from British Columbia who went to Central Arizona Junior College and has the nickname “Tugboat.” Even if Wilkinson wasn’t pitching like a young Clayton Kershaw, we probably should have been talking about him, but the fact that he is dominating in historic fashion makes him the perfect person to kick off this piece.

Wilkinson was Cleveland’s 10th-round pick last year out of Central Arizona, where he had a 1.38 ERA and struck out 221 batters in 137 innings over two seasons. He threw only one inning in his pro debut last year, so this is the first we are really getting to see Wilkinson in pro ball. The results have been dazzling. On Thursday, he threw six hitless innings for Low-A Lynchburg, striking out 15 of the 19 batters he faced. Lest you think that was a fluky outing, Wilkinson came into that start having allowed just one run in 14 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts.

​

Wilkinson arrived in pro ball with an above-average spin rate on his low-90s fastball, which he commands extremely well. He also features a changeup and slider, both of which he can throw for strikes. He turned 21 in December but it may not be much longer before the Guardians see if he can plow through rougher waters in High A.

He shouldn’t have problems until he’s in AA.

99% of guys in A ball aren’t used to guys who command everything well at that point, especially from a lefty, and he commands the ball very well.

Deceptive with his size and his delivery, everything he throws moves, and he can command any pitch in any count and avoids the middle of the plate. That’s hell on 18 or 19 year old hitters with 50-70 complex ABs under their belt, which is the majority of Low A players.

 

[Criznit]

I have been watching a fair amount of Lake County games this year and a name you are going to hear a lot more going forward is C.J Kayfus.

Kayfus puts up extremely professional looking at bats and his power is probably underestimated at this point. He is already playing very well, but IMO he has more in store. At this rate he might make it to Columbus before the season ends.

A ball is loaded with talent and the upper minors in general is a bit stagnant. There might be a bit more of A/AA movement than we are used to seeing.

A ball is really fun this year... So far.

 

[sportscoach]

He shouldn’t have problems until he’s in AA.

99% of guys in A ball aren’t used to guys who command everything well at that point, especially from a lefty, and he commands the ball very well.

Deceptive with his size and his delivery, everything he throws moves, and he can command any pitch in any count and avoids the middle of the plate. That’s hell on 18 or 19 year old hitters with 50-70 complex ABs under their belt, which is the majority of Low A players.

How quick do you think he will get to AA... Next season?

 

[CDAV45]

He shouldn’t have problems until he’s in AA.

99% of guys in A ball aren’t used to guys who command everything well at that point, especially from a lefty, and he commands the ball very well.

Deceptive with his size and his delivery, everything he throws moves, and he can command any pitch in any count and avoids the middle of the plate. That’s hell on 18 or 19 year old hitters with 50-70 complex ABs under their belt, which is the majority of Low A players.

So is there a chance he skips high A? They could always send him to LC if he struggles terribly in Akron.

 

[Criznit]

So is there a chance he skips high A? They could always send him to LC if he struggles terribly in Akron.

Absolutely not. Tugboat will not be skipping A+, especially with guys like Messick and Peterson still there IMO.

 

[macbdog]

Thank God he recovered from his early season fall from prospect status.

 

[Criznit]

Twenty underrated MLB prospects off to fast starts: Matt Wilkinson, Jonah Tong and more​

By Melissa Lockard

Every year, players emerge from relative obscurity to establish themselves as legitimate prospects for their organizations. Now that we are nearly a month into the 2024 minor-league season, it’s a good time to see if we can identify who some of those breakout prospects will be. Below are 20 players who weren’t ranked among their organization’s top-10 prospects at the start of the season but are off to notable starts, beginning with a left-hander in the Guardians organization who has earned a significant online following with a strong April.

Is she talking about us?

 

[Mott the Hoople]

So is there a chance he skips high A? They could always send him to LC if he struggles terribly in Akron.

What's the rush? Send him to LC and see how he does. Technically, it's still April. If he does well, Akron will still be there after the All-Star break. If he then succeeds at AA, he shoots way up the prospect boards.

 

[sportscoach]

What's the rush? Send him to LC and see how he does. Technically, it's still April. If he does well, Akron will still be there after the All-Star break. If he then succeeds at AA, he shoots way up the prospect boards.

The norm would be at least half a season at each level, so I doubt he reaches Akron this season... though injuries could allow him to move up his timeline, but for now, I doubt he will be there in 24...

 

[Mott the Hoople]

BTW. Tugboat is from Canada. Between him and the Naylors we should run a ferry across the lake to bring in fans.

 

[Tondo]

I have been watching a fair amount of Lake County games this year and a name you are going to hear a lot more going forward is C.J Kayfus.

Kayfus puts up extremely professional looking at bats and his power is probably underestimated at this point. He is already playing very well, but IMO he has more in store. At this rate he might make it to Columbus before the season ends.

A ball is loaded with talent and the upper minors in general is a bit stagnant. There might be a bit more of A/AA movement than we are used to seeing.

A ball is really fun this year... So far.

Absolutely.

Kayfus and Ingle are the gems on the LC roster. Agree that his ABs just look good, very composed. You know you're seeing a special prospect when even his outs look good more often than not.

Kayfus is also way more athletic than your average 1B prospect and can play a solid OF too.

He could become our Alex Kirilloff.

Ingle is unique. A Kwan type that could catch is pretty unique.

My hidden gems are Jonah Advincula and Guy Lipscomb. I'm shocked Lipscomb doesn't get regular playing time at the expense of Justin Boyd and Jose Burgos. He's a much better talent than both. Boyd was a terrible mistake they're trying to polish, but I hope they realize quickly that he doesn't have MLB upside. Burgos is an ok periphery prospect worth giving playing time, but Lipscomb should be priority.

Jonah Advincula reminds me of Wil Brennan, but with Kwan's approach. Special mix.

 

[Tondo]

BTW. Tugboat is from Canada. Between him and the Naylors we should run a ferry across the lake to bring in fans.

I have a handful of Canadian and Australian college players targeted for the upcoming draft. Something special about those.

 

[Criznit]

Absolutely.

Kayfus and Ingle are the gems on the LC roster. Agree that his ABs just look good, very composed. You know you're seeing a special prospect when even his outs look good more often than not.

Kayfus is also way more athletic than your average 1B prospect and can play a solid OF too.

He could become our Alex Kirilloff.

Ingle is unique. A Kwan type that could catch is pretty unique.

My hidden gems are Jonah Advincula and Guy Lipscomb. I'm shocked Lipscomb doesn't get regular playing time at the expense of Justin Boyd and Jose Burgos. He's a much better talent than both. Boyd was a terrible mistake they're trying to polish, but I hope they realize quickly that he doesn't have MLB upside. Burgos is an ok periphery prospect worth giving playing time, but Lipscomb should be priority.

Jonah Advincula reminds me of Wil Brennan, but with Kwan's approach. Special mix.

I keep wanting to comp Collado to Luis Arraez but I know that is a lil crazy... Collado dropped an easy pop fly the other day, and the fact he is 1B only (despite being a smaller guy) tells me he is really a DH at this point. I kind of like him, but he's going to have to hit very well because he doesn't seem to have any defensive value.