Draft League Week in Review: June 15-20

Week in Review: June 15-20

Frederick Keys

SS Zach Dezenzo hit two home runs to power the Keys to their first Draft League series win, as they bested Trenton, 2-1, in last weekend’s three-game set. Dezenzo did damage at the plate hitting three balls over 100 mph and showing a good eye at the plate, with a 78% swing-decision rate.

LHP Ronan Kopp was a pitching standout for the Keys, striking out five in four innings of work on Saturday. Kopp blew hitters away with a fastball that topped out at 96 mph, and hitters are batting a pitiful .091 against it this season.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

OF Bobby Sparling led the charge for the Scrappers this week offensively by amassing a .449 wOBA and totaling five extra-base hits. He smashed two doubles, one of which he hit with a 104-mph exit velocity, en route to three RBI. Sparling also showed great discipline, recording an 85% swing-decision rate.

RHP Andrew Hoffman became a rising star out of the Scrappers’ bullpen last week, dealing 3.2 scoreless innings and giving up only two hits. Hoffman was a crucial piece in Mahoning Valley’s come-from-behind victory last Thursday against State College, throwing two scoreless innings. He induced weak contact, holding hitters to a .231 slugging percentage, and struck out six while only allowing one walk.

State College Spikes

C Matthew Ellis hit the cover off the ball for the Spikes this past week, batting a whopping .571 on all balls in play that had exit speeds in excess of 100 mph. Ellis was an anchor in the middle of the order for State College on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.

RHP Richie Holetz kept the Crosscutters’ offense at bay on Friday, only allowing two hits. He worked five innings, allowing only one run, to earn the win. Holetz displayed superb movement on his fastball, achieving a 48% chase rate to rack up nine strikeouts.

Trenton Thunder

SS Carson Matthews provided raw power for the Thunder as he recorded the Draft League’s first-ever multi-homer game on Saturday. He finished the week with a 1.091 slugging percentage after hitting 70% of balls in play greater than 90 mph. Matthews led the way last Tuesday in Trenton’s thrilling win over West Virginia, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. He has also been a difficult out plate, drawing eight walks and whiffing on only 10% of pitches, while wearing pitchers down by seeing 4.8 pitches per plate appearance. 

RHP Dylan Heid was able to keep the Trenton lineup at bay last Saturday throwing three scoreless innings and not allowing a hit. Heid’s fastball was lethal, breaking up to 24 inches vertically and pumping 94 mph on the gun. Heid’s deception led to a 41% chase rate and five strikeouts over the outing. 

West Virginia Black Bears

C Tucker Mitchell has done some serious damage for the Black Bears over the past week, batting .400. He excelled in last Saturday’s tie against Mahoning Valley, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run -- his second Draft League homer -- that traveled 414 feet. Mitchell has also stayed disciplined at the plate, posting an 82% swing decision rate along with a 13% whiff rate.

RHP Lane Flamm led the way for West Virginia on the mound, throwing five scoreless innings and striking out five in Wednesday’s win against Trenton. Flamm relied heavily on his fastball in the start, which broke as much as 18 inches vertically and caused the Thunder to hit the ball into the ground at a 75% clip. Flamm also was deceptive with a 40% chase rate, thanks in large part due to a curveball that he spun at 2550.

Williamsport Crosscutters

OF Lance Logsdon put on a show this week from the middle of the Crosscutters’ lineup by hitting .417 with a 16% whiff rate. Logsdon was at his best in Williamsport’s Tuesday win against Frederick, going 2-for-3 with a 95-mph double, a walk and two runs scored. He has also shown flashes of power, pummeling five balls at 90 mph or higher, with the climax being a 104-mph screaming double against State College on Friday.

RHP Chase Costello carried the Crosscutters’ pitching staff in Thursday’s win over Frederick, allowing only three hits and striking out five. Costello’s fastball worked well in the start, breaking as much as 21 inches vertically and hitting 93 mph. He was able to limit the Keys’ power, permitting a .176 slugging percentage in the outing.