Marlins Minor League Report: August 12-18

Each week, Fish Stripes will be recapping the past week’s performances throughout the Marlins minor league system. We highlight the players who either had an outstanding week, or one they would like to put behind them.

All stats updated entering August 19.

Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes (4-2, 67-56 overall)

The New Orleans Baby Cakes were on fire to begin this past week. As they opened the week with a four-game winning streak. Both their offense and pitching staff deserves to be recognized for their performances during this win-streak. The Baby Cakes’ offense produced an average of 6.5 runs/game during their winning streak. But, they then faltered during their final two games of the week. By only producing a total of four runs during those games.

Similar to their offense, the Baby Cakes’ pitching staff started out strong but then struggled during the final two games of the week. As they surrendered an average of just 2.5 runs/game. But, they then gave up a combined 13 runs through the final pair of games.

Outstanding Player: Magneuris Sierra

The 23-year-old who has gone a little under the radar this season had one of his best performances of the season this past week. Magneuris Sierra went 10-for-29 (.345 AVG) along with a triple, a home run, three RBIs and a pair of stolen bases.

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Coming over in the Marcell Ozuna trade, Sierra obviously needed more developmental time after 2018’s struggles. Even after a considerable hot streak, his slash line of .268/.295/.408/.703 through 66 games with the Baby Cakes won’t blow you away.

Nonetheless, it is encouraging. He is a prime candidate to join the major league club as a September call-up

Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (3-3, 61-63 overall)

Inconsistency from both the pitching staff and the offense is what led to this average performance from the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp this past week. Through half of their games, the Jumbo Shrimp’s offense scored a total of 13 runs. However, the production dried up after that with a total of just five runs during the other half of their games.

For the pitching staff, they held their opponents to an average of just 1.7 runs/game through half of the games, then gave up an average of 5.7 runs/game during the final three contests.

Outstanding Player: Trevor Rogers

The No. 9 Marlins prospect per MLB Pipeline, Trevor Rogers was dominant once again in his recent outing against the Tennessee Smokies. The 21-year-old threw 92 pitches through his seven innings of work and allowed just two hits and a walk. Rogers also came just short of tying his season-high in strikeouts.

The first-round pick by the Marlins back in 2017 has now recorded ten strikeouts in two of his last four starts. With just a few weeks remaining, Rogers will be looking to continue to impress since his promotion to the Jumbo Shrimp back on Aug 3.

High-A Jupiter Hammerheads (4-2, 50-70 overall)

Terrible weather conditions were an issue once again for the Jupiter Hammerheads this past week. But this time, the Hammerheads didn’t allow the poor playing conditions to affect their performance on the field. They scored an average of five runs/game, which was a massive improvement from last week.

The Hammerheads pitching staff also performed extremely well. Aside from the nine runs allowed during their first game of the doubleheader on Aug. 14., their pitching staff held their opponents to an average of just two runs/game during their other five games.

Outstanding Player: Lazaro Alonso

The 24-year-old has been leading the Hammerheads offense all season long and this past week was no different. Lazaro Alonso hit 9-for-19 (.474 AVG) along with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Alonso also recorded five walks and five strikeouts this past week as well.

Alonso used to have a major problem getting on base, but lowering his strikeout rate by 9.7% this season has gone a long way toward addressing that. He projects to spend the 2020 season in Jacksonville.

Low-A Clinton LumberKings (4-2, 61-56 overall)

For the most part, the Clinton LumberKings have been successful recently. That’s despite being without reigning Midwest League Player of the Week Peyton Burdick in their last three games due to a hand injury.

Clinton’s offense produced just four runs during the LumberKings two losses, but scored 13 during their final two games of the week. The pitching staff was virtually unhittable as they surrendered an average of just 2.2 runs/game through five of their six games (although they allowed seven runs on Sunday).

Outstanding Player: George Soriano

George Soriano was extremely impressive in his start against the Peoria Chiefs this past week. The 20-year-old went seven innings and allowed just two hits and struck out six batters. Soriano’s performance has now extended his scoreless streak to 12 innings overall. He also hasn’t allowed a walk during that stretch, which is a very encouraging sign for the righty (he is currently tied for the eighth-most walks in the Midwest League).

It should be interesting to see how much further Soriano will be able to carry either of his streaks through the rest of the season.

Short Season A Batavia Muckdogs (1-6, 34-29 overall)

Not much for the Batavia Muckdogs to celebrate about. The Muckdogs offense was held scoreless different three times, and the pitching staff didn’t perform much better. They surrendered 10 runs or more twice and gave up an average of seven runs/game this past week.

As a result, the Muckdogs fell out of first place in the Pinckney division.

Outstanding Player: Harrison Dinicola

The biggest story in the New York-Penn League had nothing to do with on-field play. Dinicola and Ryan Haug of the West Virginia Black Bears spent an entire game staring across the field at each other from their respective dugouts. Batavia’s Dinicola was declared the winner.

The first baseman drafted in 2018 is slashing .271/.349/.323 in 42 combined games with the Muckdogs and Hammerheads.

Disappointing Player: Julio Frias

Unfortunately, Julio Frias’ struggles continued in his start against the Black Bears this past week. The 21-year-old threw 84 pitches through just four innings and surrendered five runs on eight hits.

Frias has now allowed eight hits and five runs or more in two of his last three starts. His season ERA has risen from 1.93 coming into August to 2.82.