What's Up with These Guys?- January 2022
These are not necessarily breakout players. Could they be? Sure. These are more "on your radar kind of guys." Depending on how deep your league is of course.
These are guys I kept coming across this off-season either on leader boards or just guys some people seem to think hung the moon and others don't even know their name. They are guys I kept asking myself "What's up with these guys?" and "what do you make of these guys?"
So, I ask you, what do you make of these guys?
Ryan Murphy, P, SFG:
In 2021 who led the minor leagues in strikeouts? Cade Cavalli with 175.
Who was second? Carson Ragsdale. He's 6'8" and struck out 167 at Low A at the age of 23...but with a 4.43 ERA.
Just behind Ragsdale was Giants pitcher Ryan Murphy. The 21 year old threw 107.1 innings across Low and High A striking out 164 and walking just 26. Wow! That is perhaps the quietest 13.8 K/9 season I can remember. If he hadn't injured his back he probably would have led all of minor league baseball in strikeouts.
Murphy was a fifth round selection by the Giants in 2020 out of Le Moyne College. Where? The same school that produced Josiah Gray...so what's up with Murphy?
Control and command are the name of the game for Murphy. He pounds the strike zone. His fastball isn't overwhelming, sitting 91-94. He has 3, maybe 4 additional pitches. A slider, curveball, developing change-up, and cut fastball off some of his sliders.
This probably isn't a huge ceiling profile for a pitcher but certainly there is some good floor. Add in the Giants voodoo with pitchers of late and this is certainly an intriguing arm that's not getting enough hype.
Jayce Easley, OF, TEX:
Same game different category. Who led all of MiLB in steals last year? Answer: Jayce Easley, son of former big leaguer Damion Easley. And just what did that season look like? 70 steals in 80 attempts....in just 98 games.
Now wait just a second. All of this was in A Ball where they had the wonderful idea that to speed up the game the pitcher could only throw over twice...because that was being so abused, right? That is to say though that played a factor in this. Still, that doesn't account for all 70 steals.
Ok, so he's fast. But what if I told you he also walked 78 times to 83 strikeouts in 401 plate appearances. He hit .244 with a .403 OBP. He also added 15 extra base hits (1 Home Run, 11 doubles, 3 triples). All at just 21 years old so he wasn't necessarily old for the level either.
So what do you make of this? I don't know...the speed and plate discipline are intriguing. The MLB pedigree is there. I'm certainly intrigued but I need to see more. He's one I'm watching closely as he climbs the ladder.
Carlos Jorge, SS, CIN:
The Dominican League is about as boom or bust as it comes. It's where breakouts seem to start or where busts become apparent. Sometimes both can happen. A player breaks out in the Dominican League and then they never show anything again. All that said, the leader from the Dominican League last Summer in OPS? Carlos Jorge of the Reds. He came onto my radar from one of Michael Richards @MPRichards1981 tweets. If you aren't following him, do it.
He hit .346 AVG. with a .436 OBP. 3 Homers and 27 steals in 32 attempts. He also added 8 doubles and 10 triples.
Is this the start of a breakout? Only time will tell, but I'm certainly interested. He wasn't a huge signing bonus guy for the Reds but that doesn't mean he couldn't have been a steal.
Johan Rojas, OF, PHI:
Rojas didn't lead any categories he's just an interesting profile I keep coming across. People either love him or have no idea who he is. His 2021 was certainly interesting.
Across Low and High A (and one Rookie league game) he hit:
.262/.329/.417, 11 HR, 34 SB
The power speed is interesting. He was just 20 this year. The small 17 game sample of High A in particular was very interesting. His success or failure will depend on his plate discipline. There's some swing and miss, although not an overly concerning amount of strikeouts. But he just isn't walking enough yet.
Last spring Rojas was getting rave reviews everywhere- writers, coaches, front office. He certainly impressed in 2021 but didn't skyrocket up rankings. That doesn't mean he won't. He's another one to watch how he looks out of the gates in 2022.
Photo credit: prospects1500.com
