Hagen Smith has a promising future on the South Aspect. Drafted fifth total in 2024 out of the College of Arkansas, the 22-year-old left-hander within the Chicago White Sox system is No. 81 on The Board with a 50 FV. At the moment making up misplaced innings within the Arizona Fall League — he missed six weeks this summer season as a consequence of elbow soreness — Smith has been described by Eric Longenhagen as possessing “a killer fastball/slider combo.”
The erstwhile Razorback’s go-to breaker — a pitch our lead prospect analyst has assigned a 70 on the scouting scale — isn’t notable solely for its bat-missing attributes.
“No, under no circumstances,” Smith replied when requested if his slider grip is pretty customary. “I truly don’t maintain any laces on the ball. My first yr of school — it was a begin in Omaha — I used to be warming up within the outfield and simply type of tweaked the grip. That’s what it’s been since then. I actually don’t know why it really works in addition to it does. I imply, it’s a great pitch metrically, however exterior of that I suppose it simply performs nicely off of my heater. It comes out of the identical tunnel, and it additionally helps that I can throw it slower or tougher once I need to.”
How has Smith’s slider appeared within the AFL?
“Comfortably plus at 82-86 mph,” Longenhagen advised me a couple of days in the past. ”The higher ones are usually the slower ones. He can backdoor his slider for strikes.”
As for the teen’s four-seamer, Longenhagen has seen “93-96 with rise/run form” in his latest appears to be like. The southpaw supplied his personal ideas on the providing once I talked to him following a latest outing.
“I knew coming into professional ball that I had a low method angle, and that it helps my heater play up,” mentioned Smith. “Metrically, there’s not essentially loads of carry, however it does have some. It additionally has arm-side run. Nothing loopy, although. It’s perhaps 15 vert and 12 horizontal.”
Mastering a 3rd pitch may very well be a difference-maker for the high-profile hurler, particularly if his future is as a starter, and never as a late-inning reliever (a risk that Longenhagen has raised). Smith tinkered with a slurve throughout the common season, though a work-in-progress split-change will be the higher guess going ahead. Even so, he’s solely thrown a smattering of them in Arizona, which was additionally the case throughout the common season.
“I’m on the skin of the 2 seams with my ring finger on the aspect of the ball, so it’s type of a splitter/changeup factor,” Smith defined. “It’s extra of a changeup, however mentally I have to assume splitter. I threw one tonight within the third inning. I did have an okay [changeup] in faculty, however I knew coming into professional ball that I wanted one thing higher.”
Bettering his command is one other step Smith must make if he hopes to method his ceiling. His 3.57 ERA and 33.9% strikeout charge over 75-and-two-third frames in Double-A have been positives, however his 17.6% stroll charge was a little bit of crimson flag. He’s engaged on that. In response to Longenhagen, Smith’s command within the AFL “hasn’t been nice, however it has been higher than it was throughout the common season when he was concerningly wild.”
Smith has thrown 12 innings within the AFL, permitting seven hits, six walks, and 4 runs. He has punched out 17 batters.
———
RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Rusty Staub went 28 for 73 in opposition to Nelson Briles.
Nelson Cruz went 15 for 35 in opposition to Kendall Graveman.
Rocky Nelson went 15 for 30 in opposition to Lew Burdette.
Nelson “Rooster” Hawks went 7 for 11 in opposition to Flint Rhem.
Nellie Fox went 28 for 68 in opposition to Don Larsen.
———
Nelly Taylor confronted various high quality arms this yr whereas enjoying for the Excessive-A Greenville Drive. Which ones most impressed the 22-year-old outfielder within the Boston Pink Sox system?
“I can’t keep in mind his identify, however he was with Rome and threw a whole recreation in opposition to us,” replied Taylor, who’s ending up his season with the Arizona Fall League’s Salt River Rafters. “I do know that he pitched within the Futures Recreation. It was bizarre, as a result of he wasn’t throwing all that onerous. It was 90-92 [mph], however it felt like 97-98 that day for some cause. His stuff was phenomenal, and he blended it nicely and stored us off steadiness.
“I feel it might need been a mixture of his extension and the background,” Taylor mentioned of the the righty’s perceived velocity. “There have been white indicators within the background that have been enjoying into his arm slot, however the extension was there, too. His stuff undoubtedly performed up. He was actually good.”
The pitcher in query would have been JR Ritchie. Drafted thirty fifth total in 2022 by the Atlanta Braves out of a Bainbridge Island, Washington highschool, the 22-year-old right-hander threw a one-hit shutout with 9 strikeouts in opposition to Greenville on Could 10. At the moment ranked the No. 7 seven prospect within the Atlanta system with a forty five+ FV, Ritchie recorded a 2.64 ERA, a 3.84 FIP, and a 24.8% strikeout charge throughout three ranges. He completed the yr in Triple-A.
———
A quiz:
Nolan Ryan turned MLB’s all-time strikeout chief twice, first in 1983 and once more 1984. Which pitchers held the data previous to Ryan’s breaking them?
———
NEWS NOTES
The Los Angeles Angels have employed Mike Maddux as their new pitching coach. The 64-year-old Maddux, who served in that function with the Texas Rangers for every of the previous two years, is new supervisor Kurt Suzuki’s first teaching rent. The membership’s different teaching positions stay open.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have employed Invoice Murphy as their new pitching coach. The 36-year-old Murphy has been with the Houston Astros group since 2016, most lately as co-pitching coach on the big-league degree together with Josh Miller.
The New York Mets have employed Rachael Folden to be the hitting coach for his or her Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. The 37-year-old Folden has been with the Chicago Cubs group since 2020, most lately because the hitting coach for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. She has additionally served because the group’s minor league hitting coordinator.
Mickey McGuire, an infielder who performed briefly for the Baltimore Orioles within the 1962 and 1967 seasons, died on October 19 at age 84. The Dayton, Ohio native notched 4 big-league hits, the primary of them an RBI single off of Boston’s Sparky Lyle that drove dwelling Luis Aparicio. McGuire later spent two seasons in Japan with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Invoice Pleis, a left-hander who appeared in 190 video games for the Minnesota Twins throughout the 1961-1966 seasons, died on October 17 at age 88. A St. Louis native, Pleis posted a file of 21-16, with 13 saves and a 4.07 ERA. He threw one mop-up inning in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers within the 1965 World Sequence, surrendering a gopher to Lou Johnson.
———
The reply to the quiz is Walter Johnson and Steve Carlton. Ryan broke Johnson’s all-time file in April 1983, solely to have Carlton end that season with extra profession strikeouts. Ryan then surpassed Carlton throughout the 1984 season.
———
I put collectively a handful of articles on pitcher game-prep this season, one that includes Kevin Gausman, Lucas Giolito, and Ryan Pepiot, and one other with Nestor Cortes and Matt Blake. All 4 of the hurlers I spoke to are starters — Blake is a pitching coach — and their preparation differs fairly a bit from that of relievers. I touched on that as nicely. My August 17 Sunday Notes column included Brent Suter’s description of his considerably atypical routine.
Pete Fairbanks isn’t precisely a lone wolf with how he prepares, however the Tampa Bay Rays nearer may be very a lot his personal man. The bullpen coach walks him via the primary 4 hitters he’ll face when he comes right into a recreation — “I’ve my little micro notes once I get to the mound” — however he’s principally going to be pitching to his personal strengths. Furthermore, that method extends to the conversations he has together with his bullpen brethren.
“As relievers, all of us type of do what we do in opposition to hitters,” mentioned Fairbanks, who has averaged 25 saves over the previous three seasons. “The vast majority of stuff we speak about is the way you assault guys — perhaps it’s particular pitches — or it may very well be one thing extra normal, like the way you’re capable of impart pressure on the baseball. However all people right here does one thing totally different when it comes to how they make the ball transfer, or no matter else it may be.
“I actually don’t speak with a ton of pitchers, to be trustworthy,” added Fairbanks. “I’m fairly far faraway from every part, simply given the character of how I put together and the way I pitch. Most of my focus is on simply doing what I do. My stuff is my stuff.”
———
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks defeated the Hanshin Tigers to seize this yr’s Japan Sequence. Isami Nomura was the Recreation 5 hero, catapulting an Eleventh-inning dwelling run in a 3-2 win on Thursday. Three innings earlier, his teammate, Yuki Yanagita, tied the competition with a two-run blast. SoftBank slugger Hotaka Yamakawa was named sequence MVP.
The LG Twins took the Korean Sequence, beating the Hanwha Eagles of their best-of-seven matchup. Erstwhile Toronto Blue Jays prospect Anders William Tolhurst was the successful pitcher within the clinching Recreation 5, whereas former Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Hyun Soo Kim went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Taiwan Sequence was additionally wrapped up in 5 video games, with the Rakuten Monkeys beating the CTBC Brothers. Former Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Leibrandt began for the champions within the clincher, which the Monkeys gained 9-7 in 11 innings.
Hsu Jo-Hsi will reportedly be posted this winter. The 25-year-old (as of yesterday) Taiwanese right-hander had a 2.05 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 114 innings this season with the Chinese language Skilled Baseball League’s Wei Chuan Dragons.
———
A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Mickey Klutts performed bit roles on three powerhouse New York Yankees groups within the Nineteen Seventies, then did the identical for an Oakland Athletics squad that gained an AL West title earlier than shedding to the Bombers within the 1981 ALCS. An infielder who appeared in simply 199 video games over his eight MLB seasons — his last yr was spent with the Toronto Blue Jays — Klutts recorded 129 hits, with 14 of them leaving the yard.
He had a pair of two-homer video games. One got here on September 26, 1981 in a 5-1 Oakland win over the Chicago White Sox, the opposite on June 26, 1983 in a 19-7 Toronto win over the Seattle Mariners. His 1975 season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs instructed that extra video games like that may very well be forthcoming. Then simply 21 years previous, Klutts slashed .319/.371/.551 with 24 dwelling runs and was named co-MVP of the Worldwide League.
———
FARM NOTES — ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE
Max Anderson leads all AFL hitters with a .486 batting common, and he additionally boasts a .648 OBP and a .919 SLG to go along with 4 dwelling runs in 54 plate appearances for the Scottsdale Scorpions. The 23-year-old infielder within the Detroit Tigers system had 19 dingers and a 135 wRC+ this yr between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo.
Esmerlyn Valdez has an AFL-best eight dwelling runs to go along with a .419/.565/1.053 slash line in 62 plate appearances with the Salt River Rafters. The 21-year-old outfielder within the Pittsburgh Pirates group had 20 dwelling runs and a 156 wRC+ this yr between Excessive-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.
Aiden Could has allowed 5 hits and three earned runs, with three walks and 12 strikeouts, over nine-and-two-thirds innings with the Mesa Photo voltaic Sox. Drafted seventieth total in 2024 out of Oregon State College, the 22-year-old right-hander within the Miami Marlins system had a 2.63 ERA over 27-and-a-third frames between the FCL and Low-A Jupiter after having the beginning of his season delayed by arthroscopic elbow surgical procedure.
———
Blake Butera being employed to handle the Washington Nationals earlier this week delivered to thoughts a couple of of the conversations I’ve had with him through the years. The 33-year-old former Boston School Eagle had been working in participant growth for the Tampa Bay Rays, and again in December 2022 he advised me a couple of then-19-year-old prospect who’d completed that season in Low-A.
“The bat is actually thrilling,” Butera mentioned of Junior Caminero. “It’s a loud bat with loads of energy, but additionally with a extremely good really feel for hit. He’s capable of get the barrel on the ball. He additionally acknowledges offspeed early, which is one thing that usually comes in a while with growth and expertise… [He] goes to hit for energy within the massive leagues.”
Now 22 years previous, Caminero is coming off of a first-full MLB season through which he homered 45 occasions and put up a 129 wRC+ whereas hitting in the midst of the Tampa Bay lineup. His strikeout charge was a more-than-acceptable 19.1%.
———
LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
At CBC Information, Diona Macalinga wrote about how the St. Catharines Blue Jays have been the beginning of a dream for Carlos Delgado and different MLB stars.
MLB.com’s Matt Monagan launched us to the Blue Jays bar on the finish of the world.
MLB.com’s Michael Clair gave us a behind-the-scenes have a look at how the Dodgers turned a hotbed for Japanese expertise.
Tigers Minor League Report’s Chris Brown believes that Detroit has a pitching growth downside.
The Athletic’s Sam Blum has been protecting the trial of former Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay, who’s in federal jail for offering the fentanyl-laced capsule that led to Tyler Skaggs’ loss of life in 2019. A latest installment contains testimony from Kay’s ex-wife.
———
RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Max Scherzer’s 78 profession hits embody one dwelling run. Then with the Washington Nationals, he went yard with two runners on board within the second inning of a recreation at Marlins Park on August 1, 2017. Chris O’Grady coughed up the gopher.
Tyler Glasnow has six profession hits, half of them coming with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3-for-3 effort in opposition to the Atlanta Braves on Could 23, 2017. Glasnow recorded these knocks in opposition to knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
Chief Bender and Jack Coombs mixed to pitch 45-and-two-thirds innings because the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in 5 video games to seize the 1910 World Sequence. The appropriate-handers have been the one two pitchers to take the mound for Connie Mack’s victorious aspect over the seven-day stretch.
The Detroit Tigers misplaced in every of the 1907, 1908, and 1909 World Sequence, falling twice to the Chicago Cubs and as soon as to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ty Cobb slashed .350/.393/.486 throughout these common seasons, however simply .262/.314/.354 within the Fall Traditional.
Pablo Sandoval slashed .426/.460/.702 in 50 World Sequence plate appearances.Lance Berkman slashed .410/.520/.564 in 50 World Sequence plate appearances.
Hilldale Membership captured the 1925 Negro Leagues World Sequence, successful 5 of six video games in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Monarchs in a best-of-nine sequence. Often known as the Darby Daisies — the workforce was based mostly in Darby, Pennsylvania — Hilldale Membership was led by Corridor of Famers Biz Mackey and Judy Johnson.
The Atlanta Braves traded Henry Aaron to the Milwaukee Brewers in alternate for a PTBNL (Dave Could) on at the moment’s date in 1974. Aaron then performed his last two seasons in Milwaukee, hitting 22 of 755 profession dwelling runs.
On at the moment’s date in 1985, the Texas Rangers acquired Pete Incaviglia from the Montreal Expos in alternate for Jim Anderson and Bob Sebra. Incaviglia went on to make his MLB debut on April 8, 1986, having by no means performed within the minors. The eighth-overall choose within the 1985 draft hit 124 dwelling runs in 5 seasons with the Rangers, together with 30 in his rookie marketing campaign.
Gamers born on at the moment’s date embody Dutch Zwilling, who sandwiched two robust seasons with the Federal League’s Chicago Whales between a pair of transient stints with the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. Zwinning put up a 141 wRC+ over 1,184 plate appearances as a Whale, whereas going a mixed 22 for-140 with the AL and NL entities. He and Rollie Zeider are the one gamers to carry out for all three Chicago golf equipment.
Additionally born on at the moment’s date was Ron Reed, a 6-foot-6 right-hander who went 146-140 with a 3.46 ERA and 103 saves whereas pitching for 4 groups — primarily the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies — from 1966-1984. A two-sport athlete on the College of Notre Dame, Reed performed two seasons for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and had a 30-point recreation in opposition to the Baltimore Bullets in 1966.
