RE: Kent Baseball Players in the Pros - 2021 Version
Minor League Players:
Luke Albright - didn't have the season I expected at Kent, but obviously has great potential and was taken in the 6th round by Arizona. Had a solid 6 starts for Arizona's Low-A full season club (because there are no more half-season clubs), with a 3.47 ERA, but none of his rate stats (K/9, BB/9 & HR/9) were all that great. It's too soon to read too much into it though and next year will be interesting.
Brian Clark - At 28, he pitched for High Point in the Atlantic League (the highest talent independent league) and did not pitch well with a 9.50 ERA. He really had no control with a lot of walks and more than a few HBPs. I'm not sure what went wrong because he's always been a solid AA/AAA pitcher type, but it's really hard to get info on minor league players that aren't prospects.
Patrick Dayton - Got absolutely slaughtered at AA with a 18.80 ERA. Opposing batters hit 443/542/784. Was released in July and didn't latch on elsewhere, so he might be done.
John Fasola - At 29, Fasola also pitched for High Point in the Atlantic League, pitching fairly well (2.63 ERA) in limited action. Fasola had some potential, but injuries really derailed him (missing all of 17 and limited play from 18-20). I could see him staying an independent league pitcher, but I think his window to the bigs is likely closed.
Jake Lanz - Okay, if Kent's coaches consider him Kent, then so should I. He spent one year with the Flashes, but was a red-shirt, so he never played for Kent. He pitched solidly for AA/AAA in the Texas organization, but not great and did get one big league start for the Rangers against the Indians. He has a plus K/9 rate, so he could get other shots at the bigs, even though he currently isn't on the 40-man roster.
John Matthews - pitched in a mixed role for Texas' Low-A team with a large 6.78 ERA. His rate stats were that bad, except for HR/9,which was pretty bad.
Joey Murray - assigned to AAA, but was hurt all year, only getting a short rehab start, lasting just 2/3 of an inning. I'm not sure what's wrong, but I've always like Murray's potential and am interested to see what he can do in the high minors if he is healthy.
Pavin Parks - cut by the Tigers, Parks ended up in the newly independent Pioneer League and hit the pitching well (330/427/568). While, on paper, that might seem like a great year, this was a hitter's league (teams averaged 7.6 runs a game) and it's good, but not great.
Dylan Rosa - split time between AA Erie and AAA Toledo in the Tiger's organization, going up 3 times and down 4 times in the year. At 25, he is an organizational soldier with talent (232/287/435 is okay), but strikes out far too much and doesn't walk enough to be considered a prospect.
Zach Willeman - Okay, finally someone having a good year, Willeman pitched in Tulsa for the Dodger's AA team, posting a 3.78 ERA in relief. Like Lanz, he had a good strikeout rate, but I really never hear about him as a prospect. He will have to continue to pitch well to get a shot.
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