Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Money Mazara
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Does it seem to anyone else that the Nomar Mazara story is kind of flying under the radar nationally?
Considering his age (he turned 21 years old just 30 days ago) and his production level (a .320/.365/.500 batting line over his first 167 plate appearances), this should be one of the most talked about players in the major leagues. Maybe it’s that he didn’t carry the hype of some other top prospects entering the 2016 season. He was 20 years old on Opening Day and coming off a relatively underwhelming .808 OPS in 2015 between Double-A and Triple-A. Mazara has long been considered a well-rounded, advanced-for-his-age prospect, though, so maybe his swift emergence shouldn’t be catching everyone off guard. We can held out on the hyping end if needed.
Mazara slugged a 491-foot home run into the upper right field deck Wednesday afternoon in Arlington, Texas, the longest home run from any major leaguer this season per MLB.com’s Statcast calcuations. It is also the longest home run in the history of Globe Life Park, which opened in 1994 and has housed all-time-great sluggers like Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmiero, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, and Prince Fielder.
“I didn’t feel it when I hit it, but I put a good swing on it,” Mazara told Jeff Wilson of the Forth Worth Star Telegram after Wednesday’s 15-9 defeat of Anaheim. “A slider up and in. It’s cool to hear that (about the distance record).”
The following comparison is totally cherry-picking and mostly just for fun, but it does point to what kind of rarified air Mazara is currently soaring through …
39 games into his age-21 season, Bryce Harper had a .765 OPS, three home runs, 12 RBI, and 16 runs scored. Mazara through 39 games at age 21? .865 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 21 runs scored.
The kid was drafted in only four percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues this spring.
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Dodgers’ Ryu Coming Back Soon
Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu climbed a step closer to returning to the majors on Wednesday, throwing four scoreless innings in a rehab appearance at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He struck out three, walked none, and scattered four hits over his four shutout frames while inducing seven groundouts to one flyout. Those groundouts are a pretty good indication that Ryu’s stuff is working (he holds a 49.2 percent groundball rate for his career).
Ryu now boasts a 1.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 6/0 K/BB ratio in nine rehab innings (three rehab starts) between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A OKC. If he can make it through two or three more minor league appearances without encountering a physical setback — Ryu totaled 55 pitches on Wednesday — the South Korean lefty figures to get the call to Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old missed all of 2015 following major shoulder surgery, but he owns a 3.17 ERA, 1.198 WIHP, and 293/78 K/BB ratio in 344 career major league innings and makes for a worthwhile stash in mixed fantasy leagues with his season debut currently projected for early-to-mid June. There’s essentially a vacant rotation spot waiting for him, where Mike Bolsinger and Ross Stripling have been filling in.
Travis Activated, Could Jump To Leadoff
It came as a nice surprise Wednesday when the Blue Jays announced that they were activating second baseman Devon Travis (shoulder) off the disabled list for his first game since last July 28, and manager John Gibbons offered even more reason for excitement when he told MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm that Travis could move quickly up to the leadoff spot if he looks sharp out of the gate offensively.
Travis went 1-for-4 with a single and a run scored in the Blue Jays’ 8-4 win over the Yankees on Wednesday night in New York, playing a full nine innings at second base. He hit eighth, but Gibbons has offered good reason to believe that will be a temporary thing.
Travis slashed .304/.361/.498 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, three stolen bases, and 38 runs scored in 62 games (60 starts) last season for the eventual American League East champions. Out of those 60 starts, the rookie infielder batted leadoff 22 times. There’s presumably a comfort level with him in that spot, and Gibbons is probably looking forward to pushing Jose Bautista a rung or two lower.
Travis can have a huge real-life and fantasy impact over the next four-plus months.
National League Quick Hits: Mets left-hander Steven Matz worked eight scoreless innings Wednesday in the Mets’ blanking of the Nationals … Brandon Belt was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Padres with a minor left ankle sprain … Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart hinted Wednesday that there will be conversations about demoting struggling starter Shelby Miller … Giants right fielder Hunter Pence (hamstring) remained absent from the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Padres … Giancarlo Stanton was given the day off Wednesday due to soreness in his right side … Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco suffered a right ankle sprain in Wednesday’s game against the Tigers … Matt Harvey will take his next turn in the Mets’ rotation Monday versus the White Sox despite an ugly string of recent outings … Kris Bryant finished 2-for-3 with three RBI as the Cubs topped the Cardinals on Wednesday … Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich remains day-to-day with back spasms … Jhonny Peralta (thumb) will shift his rehab assignment to Double-A Springfield this weekend and could return to the Cardinals early next week … Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez earned his 17th save of the season on Wednesday versus Detroit … Wil Myers was held out of the Padres’ lineup again on Wednesday due to discomfort in his left forearm … Gregory Polanco went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday’s win over the Diamondbacks … Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter could be placed on the paternity leave list Thursday … Jean Segura avoided a concussion after taking a pitch off his helmet late Tuesday night … Travis d’Arnaud (shoulder) has reported to the Mets’ spring training facilities in Florida and is scheduled to begin full baseball activities Thursday … Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was removed from Wednesday’s game with back spasms … Marlins closer A.J. Ramos secured his 15th save of the year with a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Rays … Scott Kazmir struck out 12 batters over six innings of one-run ball Wednesday versus the Reds … Matt Thornton (heel) is on track to join the Padres’ bullpen this weekend in Arizona … Rockies manager Walt Weiss announced that Jorge De La Rosa has been moved to the bullpen for the time being.
American League Quick Hits: Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia made an early exit from Wednesday’s game against the Rockies with right hamstring tightness … Jackie Bradley Jr. extended his hitting streak to 29 games Wednesday versus Colorado … Alex Rodriguez (hamstring) hit a two-run homer in his final rehab game Wednesday at Double-A Trenton and will be activated Thursday … Indians ace Corey Kluber threw 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball while striking out nine Wednesday in a win over the White Sox … Rougned Odor’s eight-game suspension appeal decision is expected to come down Thursday or Friday … Mike Moustakas will have his bruised knee examined by team doctors on Thursday in Kansas City …Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira received a cortisone injection in his neck Wednesday after experiencing renewed discomfort … Evan Gattis had a two-run homer and a double to help the Astros edge the Orioles on Wednesday … Troy Tulowitzki was held out of the Blue Jays’ starting lineup again on Wednesday due to right quad discomfort … Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) will make his next rehab start with Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday … Russell Martin finally busted out of his power slump and hit a pair of homers in Wednesday’s win over the Yankees … Ian Kinsler remains day-to-day with flu-like symptoms … Kevin Jepsen earned his fourth save of the season Wednesday in the Twins’ defeat of the Royals … Tigers right-hander Shane Greene (blister) tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo … Blake Swihart tripled twice and knocked in two runs as the Red Sox left fielder Wednesday versus the Rockies … Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup (elbow) threw another scoreless inning Tuesday night at Triple-A Buffalo … Mark Canha underwent season-ending hip surgery on Wednesday … Rays first baseman Logan Morrison continued his hot streak on Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a two-run homer against the Marlins … Leonys Martin left Wednesday’s game against the A’s with a tweaked left hamstring … Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez (rib cage) homered Wednesday in his second rehab game at Double-A Corpus Christi.
