Dean Jones Report

Dean Jones Report: Harvey’s surgery a bear; Sisco continues to be bullish

By Dean Jones

Posted on May 3, 2016

The biggest news in the Orioles’ minor leagues over the past week happened Monday, when it was revealed that right-hander Hunter Harvey will undergo sports hernia surgery. This setback obviously delays his season debut for at least another month.

And the struggles also continued on the field for most of the club’s full-season affiliates. Half of the Orioles’ four minor league teams posted winning records since my last update a week ago, but three of the clubs remain below .500 this season.

Triple-A Norfolk had a 3-4 record over the past week, but the Tides (9-16) still have the worst record in the International League. Double-A Bowie’s game in Richmond was rained out Monday, so the Baysox finished the previous week with a 3-2 record. They’re now 11-12 overall and trail Akron by 4 1/2 games in the Eastern League’s Western Division.

High-A Frederick routed Wilmington, 11-2, on Monday night to improve to 3-4 in the past seven games. The Keys are 9-16 overall, which is the second-worst record in the eight-team Carolina League. Low-A Delmarva (14-10) split a doubleheader with West Virginia on Monday to finish 4-2 in the past week.

In case this is your first time catching “The Dean Jones Report” this year, here’s a quick synopsis of what it is: Each Tuesday, I’ll update how the minor leaguers on Baseball America’s Orioles 2016 Top 10 prospect list have played in the previous seven days.

I’ve categorized the seven players as rising stocks (bullish) or falling stocks (bearish), based on their recent performance. Right-handed pitchers Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens and Mike Wright aren’t included, obviously, because they’re with the Orioles. I’ve also listed some statistics for each player along with a link to his MILB.com Player Page in case you’d like to take a deeper look into the numbers.

Below that section, I have selected a handful of additional players – divided into two categories (surging and falling) – who deserve some attention for what they’ve done lately. The names could change from week to week, depending on who’s hot and who’s not in the system. This week, all seven are pitchers.

And, at the bottom of the post, I’ve listed the upcoming schedule for each of the minor league affiliates. Don’t forget to give me your analysis of the players who impress you at any minor league games you attend this season. You can post them in the comments below each post.

Now, here’s how the players have fared recently:

TOP PROSPECTS

Hunter Harvey, RHP, extended spring training
BEARISH
Statistics: N/A
MILB.com Player Page

The bad news continues for the 21-year-old right-hander who hasn’t pitched in a minor league game in nearly two full years. Harvey, ranked No. 2 in the organization, will likely miss four to six more weeks after having sports hernia surgery today in Philadelphia. Performed by Dr. William Meyers, who conducted similar operations on former Orioles Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis, Tuesday’s surgery on Harvey was deemed a success. The 2013 first-round pick (22nd overall) made three appearances in spring training for the Orioles – allowing six runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings – before suffering the groin injury during a minor league intrasquad game in late March. Since Harvey last pitched for Low-A Delmarva in July 2014, he has been bothered by arm, leg and groin injuries.

Chance Sisco, C, Double-A Bowie
BULLISH
Statistics: .321 average, 0 HRs, 10 RBIs, 5 2Bs in 17 games
MILB.com Player Page

Since last week’s update, the 21-year-old catcher improved his average 44 points (from .277 to .321) in three games. Sisco, the club’s No. 3 prospect, had an RBI single in the first inning and a bases-clearing double in the fifth as Bowie beat Richmond, 6-3, at Prince George’s Stadium on Wednesday. Two nights later, the 2013 second-round selection was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored as the Baysox topped Harrisburg, 4-3. And in Bowie’s 3-2 victory over the Senators on Saturday, Sisco had two singles and two walks in five plate appearances. Overall, he has walked 15 times in 17 games and leads the Eastern League – and all Orioles minor leaguers – with a .465 on-base percentage.

Jomar Reyes, 3B, High-A Frederick
BEARISH
Statistics: .233 average, 3 HRs, 13 RBIs, 16 runs in 24 games
MILB.com Player Page

Once again, the 19-year-old third baseman had an up-and-down week for Frederick. Reyes had two multi-hit games during that stretch, but he also went hitless in three others. The organization’s fourth-ranked prospect connected for his third home run of the year – a solo shot in the sixth inning – during Frederick’s 9-8 loss to Winston-Salem at Harry Grove Stadium on Saturday. Reyes was 2-for-5 with an RBI triple and two runs scored in the Keys’ 11-2 win over Wilmington on Monday. He is currently tied for seventh in the Carolina League with 24 strikeouts in 24 games, including nine in seven games over the past week.

Chris Lee, LHP, Double-A Bowie
BULLISH
Statistics: 4-0, 2.49 ERA, 12 Ks, 0.91 WHIP in 25 1/3 innings
MILB.com Player Page

The 23-year-old left-hander kept his streak of wins going in Bowie’s 3-2 victory on the road against Harrisburg on Saturday. Lee, ranked sixth in the minor league system, held the Senators to one run and six hits in seven innings. He had three strikeouts and didn’t walk anyone in the game. For the season, Lee – who was acquired from the Houston Astros in a May 2015 trade – only has 12 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. But he ranks in the top 10 in the Eastern League with a 0.91 WHIP. And left-handers are batting just .080 against him through the first month of the season.

Ryan Mountcastle, SS, Low-A Delmarva
BEARISH
Statistics: .178 average, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 22 Ks in 20 games
MILB.com Player Page

In the nightcap of Delmarva’s doubleheader split Monday, the 19-year-old shortstop picked up his first RBI since April 22 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Mountcastle, the No. 7 prospect in the organization, also had a double in the first game at Perdue Stadium. The 2015 first-round selection (36th overall) hit safely in four of his five games during the week, but he has just three multihit games this year. Three of Mountcastle’s five extra-base hits have come in the past five games, but he’s still only slugging .288 in 20 games this year.

Trey Mancini, 1B, Triple-A Norfolk
BULLISH
Statistics: .214 average, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs, 9 Ks in 7 games (at Norfolk)
MILB.com Player Page

After going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in his first two Triple-A games, the 24-year-old first baseman broke through in his third game with the Tides. Mancini, the club’s eighth-rated prospect, finished a home run shy of the cycle in Norfolk’s 7-6 win over Indianapolis in 12 innings Wednesday. The 2013 eighth-round pick then singled in the next three games before going 0-for-2 with two walks in Norfolk’s 4-0 loss to the Indians on Sunday and 0-for-3 as the Tides lost, 1-0, to Louisville the next night. Mancini is 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position during his first week at the Triple-A level.

D.J. Stewart, OF, Low-A Delmarva
BEARISH
Statistics: .203 average, 0 HRs, 8 RBIs, 17 BBs, 22 Ks in 21 games
MILB.com Player Page

In six games since raising his average to a season-high .235 on April 24, the 2015 first-round selection (25th overall) has gone 2-for-18 (.111) with two RBIs and eight strikeouts. Stewart, 22, had an RBI single and a run-scoring groundout in Delmarva’s 5-3 victory over Greenville on Wednesday. With his recent slump, the left-handed-hitting outfielder’s average has dropped to .203 overall. Despite his inconsistency, Stewart – the No. 9 prospect in the organization – has shown some discipline at the plate. He is tied for second in the South Atlantic League with 17 walks. In 13 games at home this year, Stewart is 6-for-43 (.140) with 19 strikeouts. On the road, however, he is 8-for-26 (.308) with only three strikeouts.

SURGING

Pedro Beato, RHP, Triple-A Norfolk: The 29-year-old right-hander has tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his past five appearances, striking out seven and giving up just one hit in that stretch. In an eventual 1-0 loss to Louisville on Monday, Beato escaped a self-created bases-loaded situation by striking out Jermaine Curtis to keep the game scoreless. In 11 2/3 innings this season, Beato has a 0.77 ERA and 11 strikeouts.

Matthew Grimes, RHP, High-A Frederick: The Orioles’ 18th-round selection in 2014 was honored Monday as the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week. Grimes, 24, earned victories in both of his starts last week, holding his opponents to three runs and 10 hits in 11 2/3 innings. Despite the award, Grimes’ ERA actually increased from 1.29 to 1.75 in that span.

John Means, LHP, High-A Frederick: In a 9-8 loss to Winston-Salem on Saturday, the 2014 11th-round pick struck out seven batters and allowed only one unearned run in five innings. The no-decision snapped a streak of three straight wins for Means, but he still has not allowed more than two runs in a start yet this season.

Ofelky Peralta, RHP, Low-A Delmarva: The hard-throwing right-hander, who signed with the Orioles out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, had 10 strikeouts in five innings Saturday as the Shorebirds edged Charleston, 2-1, in 10 innings. Although he has struggled with his control – 67 walks in 86 1/3 career innings – Peralta has danced around trouble so far this season with a 2.60 ERA in four starts.

FALLING

Jason Garcia, RHP, Double-A Bowie: Another week, another lackluster start for the 23-year-old right-hander. Garcia, the Orioles’ Rule 5 acquisition from the Boston Red Sox last year, gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings Sunday as the Baysox lost, 9-3, at Harrisburg. In 19 2/3 innings so far this season, Garcia has an abysmal 1.98 WHIP (26 hits, 13 walks).

Chaz Roe, RHP, Triple-A Norfolk: After being nearly unhittable to start the season, the 29-year-old right-hander has allowed opponents to score in two of his past three appearances. Roe’s ERA has jumped from 1.04 to 2.77 during that stretch. Still, he has struck out an impressive 20 batters in 13 innings.

Tanner Scott, LHP, High-A Frederick: The 2014 sixth-round pick, who impressed a lot of people with his powerful arm during spring training, has had a lot of trouble in his first month with the Keys. Scott, 21, allowed four walks, two hits and seven runs in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against Salem. Overall, he has a 10.22 ERA in 12 1/3 innings.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Triple-A Norfolk
May 3 – at Louisville, 7:05 p.m.
May 4 – at Louisville, 11:05 a.m.
May 5 – OFF
May 6 – at Durham, 7:05 p.m.
May 7 – at Durham, 5:05 p.m.
May 8 – at Durham, 5:05 p.m.
May 9 – vs. Charlotte, 6:35 p.m.

Double-A Bowie
May 3 – at Richmond (doubleheader), 5:35 p.m.
May 4 – at Richmond, 6:35 p.m.
May 5 – at Richmond, 10:35 a.m.
May 6 – vs. Erie, 7:05 p.m.
May 7 – vs. Erie, 6:35 p.m.
May 8 – vs. Erie, 2:05 p.m.
May 9 – vs. Hartford, 6:35 p.m.

High-A Frederick
May 3 – at Wilmington, 6:35 p.m.
May 4 – at Wilmington, 6:35 p.m.
May 5 – at Potomac, 7:05 p.m.
May 6 – at Potomac, 7:05 p.m.
May 7 – at Potomac, 6:35 p.m.
May 8 – at Potomac, 1:05 p.m.
May 9 – OFF

Low-A Delmarva
May 3 – OFF
May 4 – at Lexington, 12:35 p.m.
May 5 – at Lexington, 7:05 p.m.
May 6 – at Lexington, 7:05 p.m.
May 7 – at Asheville, 6:05 p.m.
May 8 – at Asheville, 2:05 p.m.
May 9 – at Asheville, 7:05 p.m.