Sunday Notes: AFL-Sure, Hao-Yu Lee Eyes Return to Comerica Park

Hao-Yu Lee will probably be considered one of eight Detroit Tigers prospects taking part within the forthcoming Arizona Fall League, and whereas he doesn’t possess the best profile of the bunch, he does have the most-traveled backstory. Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on the commerce deadline in trade for Michael Lorenzen, the 20-year-old infielder hails from Taiwan and started dreaming of taking part in professionally within the United States at age 16 after a robust efficiency in a U-18 match, in Korea. Two years earlier he’d excelled in a match that passed off 15-plus miles southwest of Comerica Park.

The Phillies signed Hao-Yu in June 2021—the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays have been among the many different MLB groups that had expressed curiosity — as soon as he’d completed highschool. No. 8 on our Phillies Top Prospects listing with a 40+ FV coming into this season, he slashed .273/.362/.399 earlier than occurring the shelf with a quad pressure in mid-August. He ended up taking part in in simply eight video games for the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps earlier than lacking the length of the marketing campaign.

The first big-league recreation Hao-Yu attended was in 2017 when he was competing within the Junior League World Series, which is held yearly in Taylor, Michigan. He doesn’t keep in mind if the Tigers received that day, however he does recall his first impression of Comerica Park. “I told my teammates that I was going to play here someday,” the assured teen stated of the expertise.

He additionally remembers the match, and for good purpose. Not solely did Taoyuan, Taiwan seize the worldwide bracket, they went on to beat Kennett Square, Pennsylvania within the finals. Moreover, Hao-Yu “raked that tournament; five games, five homers!”

The AFL-bound infielder has a giant persona, and it got here out after I requested him how he would describe his recreation. “I’m a shower, not a teller,” Hao-Yu stated with a smile. “What you see is what I am.”

Hao-Yu’s mother and father — his father is a bus driver, his mom a dental assistant — had but to see him play within the United States after I spoke to him throughout his quick stint with the Whitecaps. He totally expects that to vary.

“The flight is too expensive for them to come now,” Hao-Yu defined. “So here in the minors, no. When I get to the big leagues, yes.”

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Gary Matthews went 8 for 13 in opposition to J.J. Putz.

J.J. Hardy went 7 for 11 in opposition to Kyle Gibson.

Kirk Gibson went 9 for 14 in opposition to Mark Clear.

Boileryard Clarke went 11 for 23 in opposition to Norwood Gibson.

Willie Norwood went 6 for 9 in opposition to Rich Wortham.

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I’ve not too long ago been asking MLB managers which opponent has most impressed them this season, and I added a twist when posing that query to David Ross earlier this week. I requested the Chicago Cubs skipper which American League crew has most impressed him.

“I would probably say Houston,” Ross replied. “They were good when we played them [in mid-May]. Baltimore was good. We took two of three. When you beat a team you feel like they’re not as aggressive as when they beat you, right? That’s how it is. We handled Tampa Bay pretty well. Anaheim swept us, too. It’s like you go in there and it’s, ‘Wow, they’re better than you think they are,’ blah blah blah. We played well against Texas and Seattle when they came in here.”

The Cubs received 10 of the 15 sequence they performed in opposition to AL groups. The Angels and Astros have been the one golf equipment they didn’t submit a W in opposition to.

“Houston had firemen there,” Ross recalled. They’ve acquired some energy hitters. They’ve acquired some pitching. Their lineup felt deeper. They’re well-rounded, versatile. Sure, that each one sort of modifications as a season goes alongside, however I feel I’m biased to whenever you play. I say that lots. It’s not who you play, however whenever you play them.”

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A quiz:

Dusty Baker had 39.7 fWAR throughout his taking part in profession, essentially the most amongst present MLB managers. Which of his contemporaries ranks second in that class?

The reply may be discovered beneath.

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NEWS NOTES

The Chicago White Sox introduced three additions to their baseball operations division on Friday. Josh Barfield, who had been serving because the director of participant growth for the Arizona Diamondbacks, was employed as an assistant basic supervisor. Brian Bannister, who’d been the director of pitching for the San Francisco Giants, was employed as senior advisor to pitching. Gene Watson, who was VP of major-league scouting/assistant basic supervisor with the Kansas City Royals, would be the ChiSox’s director of participant personnel.

Steve Klauke, the voice of the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees (previously the Salt Lake Buzz) for the final 29 years, is retiring following right now’s season finale. Klauke was named Ballpark Digest Broadcaster of the Year in 2014.

Roric Harrison, who had 30 wins and 10 saves whereas showing in 140 video games for 4 groups— primarily the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles — from 1972-1978, died earlier this week at age 76 (per Baseball Player Passings). The right-hander went 15-for-24 on the plate, with six of his hits leaving the yard.

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The reply to the quiz is Chicago Cubs supervisor David Ross, with 22.5 fWAR. Oakland’s Mark Kotsay (20.5) and Colorado’s Bud Black (18.2) rank third and fourth, respectively.

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The extent to which Kansas City qualifies as considered one of this season’s most disappointing groups is a matter of opinion. Unlike the Cardinals, Padres, and the 2 New York-based golf equipment, they weren’t seen as severe contenders. At the identical time, they weren’t anticipated to be this unhealthy. Even with 9 wins of their final ten video games, the rebuilding Royals have gone 53-102. Only the Oakland Athletics, who’re deliberately being run into the bottom by ignominious proprietor John Fisher, have received fewer video games.

Earlier this month, I requested Kansas City supervisor Matt Quatraro about his stage of disappointment with the crew’s won-loss file.

“I tried to come into the season without a lot of expectations as far as what our record would be,” stated Quatraro, who changed Mike Matheny on the helm following final 12 months’s 97-loss season. “I knew it was a young team. We’re disappointed with what our won-lost total is. The thing I’m not disappointed with is the effort [and] and the processes they’ve been following. Hopefully they’re going to start to see some of those things come to fruition. So, I don’t have an answer for you on what I thought our record would be, but am I disappointed with what it is? Yes.”

Following up, I requested the previous Tampa Bay Rays bench coach if it’s potential to elucidate why the crew has underperformed to the extent that it has.

“At various points of the year we have done everything poorly,” replied Quatraro. “At some point or another we’ve pitched poorly, we’ve hit poorly, we’ve struggled defensively, we’ve given away outs on the bases — not all at the same time, but at varying times. Those things lead to losses.”

Quatraro didn’t use accidents as an excuse — this regardless of quite a few notables having missed time — nor did he wish to level to the youthful roster. My suggestion that lack of expertise has been an element elicited a specific amount of pushback.

“Some of it is that, but some of it is just not playing well,” responded Quatraro. “Veteran teams do those things as well. I didn’t say that [it was inexperience]. That’s baseball, right? There are plenty of times where your team underperforms, and it doesn’t have anything to do with youth.”

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Trevor May supplied a solution I wasn’t anticipating when requested about standout moments in his nine-year big-league profession. I posed the query to the Oakland A’s reliever on the ninth of July, and the sport he cited had taken place only a handful of weeks earlier.

“There are a few really cool ones,” replied May, who has now made 356 regular-season appearances plus six extra within the postseason. “Honestly, getting the save in the reverse boycott game [on June 13] was something I won’t forget anytime soon. Being able to do that against the team with the best record in the league [the Tampa Bay Rays] and win our seventh in a row, especially with how the year has gone, was the highest of the highs after the lowest of the lows. That was a big one for me.”

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Orix Buffaloes captured their third consecutive NPB Pacific League pennant this week and have NPB’s second-best file at 80-47. The Osaka-based membership completed in final place 4 years in the past.

Hanshin Tigers outfielder Koji Chikamoto grew to become the primary NPB Central League hitter to log at the very least 12 triples in a season since 1960 when he reached that mark on Wednesday. The 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .286/.378/.435 on the 12 months.

Guillermo Heredia is slashing .325/.385/.472 with 12 residence runs for the KBO’s SSG Landers. A veteran of seven MLB seasons, the 32-year-old outfielder performed for the Atlanta Braves final 12 months.

Chang-ki Hong is slashing .339/.456/.426 with the LG Twins. The 29-year-old outfielder leads the KBO in OBP, runs scored, doubles, walks, and HBPs. He is 21 for 41 in stolen base makes an attempt.

William Cuevas is 9-0 with a 2.86 ERA in 91-and-a-third innings for the KT Wiz. The 32-year-old right-hander, who briefly pitched for the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers from 2016-2018, signed with the KBO membership after being launched by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June.

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Ian Hamilton is having an excellent 12 months with the New York Yankees. Working primarily out of the bullpen — he’s served as an opener thrice — the 28-year-old right-hander has a 2.65 ERA over a profession excessive 37 appearances. Arguably extra notable is that he encompasses a “slambio.”

“It’s essentially a cut-change that kind of just drops a little bit,” defined Hamilton, who beforehand pitched for the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. “It’s low spin, almost gyro-y, and according to my catchers it sometimes moves erratically, almost like a knuckleball. If it backs up, it kind of shakes a little bit. It’s unique, I guess.”

Hamilton isn’t fully positive why it strikes prefer it does. The pitch is delivered with a circle-change grip, his center finger is the final contact level as he releases the ball, and it merely does what it does. He started “messing around with it in high school [in Vancouver, Washington], throwing it at a stationary target,” and from there was born… nicely, what precisely is it?

“Honestly, I think there have been five names for it throughout my whole baseball career,” stated Hamilton. “It’s been a circle-change, a cutter, a cut-change, a slider, and now people are calling is a slambio. It is what it is, I guess.”

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FARM NOTES

Austin Shenton has 45 doubles this 12 months, essentially the most within the minors. The 25-year-old nook infielder within the Tampa Bay Rays group is slashing .304/.422/.578 with 28 residence runs between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham.

Yunior Severino and Shay Whitcomb co-lead the minors with 35 residence runs every. The former is a 23-year-old infielder within the Minnesota Twins group who’s slashing .274/.355/.551 between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. The latter is a 24-year-old infielder within the Houston Astros system who’s slashing .242/.301/.474 between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land.

Justyn-Henry Malloy has drawn 110 walks, essentially the most within the minors. The 23-year-old outfielder/third baseman within the Detroit Tigers system is slashing .280/.419/.478 with 23 residence runs for Triple-A Toledo.

Nick Avila is 14-0 with three saves and a 3.04 ERA for Triple-A Sacramento. The 26-year-old right-hander within the San Francisco Giants group has made 55 appearances and has 63 strikeouts in 71 innings.

Orion Kerkering is 4-1 with 14 saves and a 1.51 ERA over 49 appearances throughout 4 ranges within the Philadelphia Phillies system. The 22-year-old right-hander started the 12 months in Low-A Clearwater and is ending it with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Yu-Min Lin went 6-5 with a 3.86 ERA between High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo. A local of Taitung, Taiwan, the 20-year-old left-hander within the Arizona Diamondbacks group had 140 strikeouts in 121-and-a-third innings.

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Jake Rogers is placing up stable energy numbers this 12 months — the Detroit Tigers backstop has 20 bombs in 349 plate appearances — and a school teammate now pitching for the Houston Astros is amongst these taking discover.

He’s having an excellent 12 months,” stated J.P. France, who was with Rogers at Tulane University. “We were able to catch up for the first time since 2016 when we went Detroit, and it was awesome for us to be playing against each other in the big leagues. To this day, he’s one of the top catchers I’ve thrown to. He’s great back there. He’s also got a cannon for an arm and a good bat. On top of that, he’s a great guy. It’s exciting to see him playing well.”

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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

An information science and economics scholar at Northeastern University named Nick Calvin is presently doing knowledge analytics with NPB’s Hiroshima Carp. Cody Mello-Klein has the story at Northeastern Global News.

Adam Wainwright willed his approach to his two hundredth profession win on Monday. Derrick Goold wrote about it for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Purple Row’s Samantha Bradfield wrote about Colorado’s Ryan Feltner returning to the mound 4 months after being hit within the head by a line drive.

Which groups maintain the tiebreakers heading into the finals week of the season? MLB.com has the reply.

The Arizona Fall League rosters may be discovered right here.

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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

Miguel Cabrera has 3,168 hits: 2,017 singles and 1,151 extra-base hits.
Adrian Beltré had 3,166 hits: 2,015 singles and 1,151extra-base hits.

Ronald Acuña leads the Atlanta Braves in runs scored this 12 months with 143.
Ryan Noda leads the Oakland Athletics in runs scored with 60.

Luis Arraez has a 5.5% strikeout fee, a 5.7% stroll fee, and a .361 BABIP.
Kyle Schwarber has a 30.0% strikeout fee, a 17.6% stroll fee, and a .213 BABIP.

Shohei Ohtani has a 179 wRC+, the best in MLB amongst certified hitters. Javier Báez has a 61 wRC+, the bottom amongst certified hitters.

Cody Bellinger’s 438-foot blast on Tuesday was the 15,000th residence run in Chicago Cubs franchise historical past (they now have 1,506). The New York Yankees (16,998) and San Francisco Giants (15,365) are the one franchises to have hit extra residence runs.

Jack Morris completed his profession with the impartial Northern League’s St. Paul Saints in 1996. The Hall of Fame right-hander, then 41 years previous, pitched in 10 video games and went 5-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

The New York Yankees hit six residence runs, together with two every by Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, in opposition to Red Sox pitching on right now’s date in 2010. Despite the gophers, Boston received 10-8.

On right now’s date in 1982, the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3 within the completion of a suspended recreation that had begun on June 9. The 18-inning affair at Tiger Stadium ended when Alan Trammell scored on an Ed Glynn wild pitch.

Players born on right now’s date embrace Gorman Heimueller, a southpaw out of California Polytechnic University — Ozzie Smith was a school teammate — who went 3-6 with a 4.67 ERA whereas showing in 22 video games for the Oakland Athletics in 1983 and 1984. The final pitch Heimueller threw within the large leagues was hit for a Tenth-inning walk-off grand slam by Boston’s Jim Rice on the Fourth of July.

Also born on right now’s date was Kewpie Pennington, a right-handed pitcher who threw a scoreless inning for the St. Louis Browns in his lone big-league look. Eddie Cicotte tossed a no-hitter for the Chicago White Sox in opposition to Kewpie’s membership within the April 14, 1917 contest.