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Tampa Bay Rays: Jacob Faria’s bad luck leads minor league notes

By Brody Hilgenkamp

Mar 13, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jacob Faria (34) throws the ball in the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jacob Faria (34) throws the ball in the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Cleveland Indians prospects are putting up similar numbers in the Eastern League. Entering Wednesday, Bradley Zimmer and Nellie Rodriguez were tied for ninth in the league with a 133 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) while Clint Frazier (128) was 12th. All three had walk rates above 10 percent but below 14 percent; all three were slugging between .460 and .490; and all three had at least 20 doubles and 10 home runs.

While the numbers themselves are strikingly similar, they are doing it in different ways. Zimmer has the threat of speed, leading the bunch with six triples and 31 stolen bases; Frazier is the next closest with 12 swipes. Rodriguez leads the group with 18 home runs—Zimmer is second with 14, Frazier has 11—but he strikes out the most by far, whiffing in 33.1 percent of his plate appearances.

Frazier is the youngest of the three, so it’s no surprise his power is the least developed, but his hitting approach is ahead of his experience and the power potential will come as he matures.

In the Southern League, Jake Bauers is making the Rays brass look smart for acquiring him in the Wil Myers trade. He’s slashing .283/.370/.431 with 11 home runs this season. Since the trade, he’s hitting .277/.356/.426, which included a .254/.342/.403/2 HR line in the Arizona Fall League.

Entering Wednesday’s start, Francis Martes had been decent but not great. He was dominant from May 17 to June 25 with a 1.80 ERA, a .208 average against and 38 strikeouts in 40 innings. The next three starts had mixed results as he struck out 19 batters in 14.1 innings but walked eight and allowed eight runs. Wednesday he allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Next: Class A Advanced

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