Luis Devers – Picture by Stephanie Lynn

When I wrote this yesterday afternoon, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at just exactly who is hot this month. It’s not an all star team, and those of you that follow the All-Star teams regularly know that a player can be hot for two weeks and cold for two weeks . Try not to read too much into this as it just shows who got off to a really good start this month. The stats are not cumulative. They are from June through the 15th, the midway point of the month.

This list is just for full season affiliates. The rookie leagues will have their own hotlist on Sunday night when I do the rookie league recap.

I’m starting with hitters today. All stats were as of 6.16 at 8 A.M. Last night’s games were not included.

Iowa

The entire team is very hot at the plate this month. Darius Hill, scorching! Narciso Crook, steaming! Dixon Machado, hot! Greg Deichmann, John Hicks, and Nelson Maldonado…every single one is above .300 this month. And, Jared Young, Levi Jordan, and Nelson Velazquez aren’t too far off in joining them.

Tennessee

It has been a good month for Alexander Canario, Jake Slaughter, Matt Mervis, and Chase Strumpf. In fact, this has been Strumpf’s best month as a pro hitting over .300 with an OBP of over .400 and 4 dingers halfway through the month. The only concern with him is he has struck out 15 times in 42 ABs, yet he is connecting and hitting the ball hard otherwise.

South Bend

Newcomer BJ Murray brings with him a .300 average from Myrtle Beach but the rest of the offense for South Bend has kind of hit a wall this month. Yeison Santana and Yohendrick Pinango are the only other ones above .280 in June. Hopefully, they bust out after they scored 15 on Wednesday against the Quad Cities.

Myrtle Beach

It is easy to see why this team is still hot after PCA’s promotion. 4 guys above .300 are in the lineup as Ezequiel Pagan leads the way at .368 followed by Felix Stevens, Kevin Alcantara, and Juan Mora, who rounds out that list. 

Starting Pitchers

Iowa

Cam Sanders is in contention for Pitcher of the Month. RIght now, he has a 1.93 ERA with 11 Ks in 14 innings. Chicago is beginning to look a lot closer lately. 

Tennessee

Javier Assad is still the man as he has a 2.00 ERA after 2 starts in June. Iowa cannot be far behind now. It’s just a matter of time and a space for him to slide into. He’s show all season he can get the job done; his June performance is just further confirmation.

South Bend

Joe Nahas is slotted in this category because he did actually start one game. In fact, he should start every five days. With a nice 0.69 ERA, he is the only SP to make the list from South Bend. 

Myrtle Beach

Half the starting pitchers listed today can be found in Myrtle Beach. Get a load of these numbers (ERAs) – Porter Hodge, 1.00; Luke Little, 1.35; Luis Devers, 1.80. That’s three starting pitchers with ERAs under 2.00! That’s just ridiculous!

Relievers

Iowa

Wyatt Short has a 1.93 ERA in 3 games. But Erich Uelmen has been doing yeoman’s work in four outings over 6.2 innings with 9 Ks and a 1.35 ERA this month.

Tennessee

The bullpen here has been outstanding! Danis Correa and Bryan King have yet to allow a run. Nicholas Padilla has broken out and Blake Whitney has figured some things out! I am putting Jeremiah Estrada here. He just arrived from South Bend where he has not allowed a run this month and he did give up one in his debut for Tennessee on Wednesday.

South Bend

Riley Martin and Jarrod Wright are both doing well this month. It is good to see Martin doing well after a rough May. I like it when players bounce up off the dirt and get right back at it.

Myrtle Beach

Most of Myrtle Beach’s bullpen makes this list. Talk about a shut down pen, this team has it. Angel Hernandez, Adam Laskey, and Frankie Scalzo have 0.00 ERAs while Tyler Santana (a piggyback starter) has a 1.29 ERA. 19-year-old Angel Gonzalez is at 2.08 and improving every outing and Jose Miguel Gonzalez is at 2.70.