Early Spring Training Standouts
Spring Training is finally under way and the opener is less than a month away. While Spring Training stats don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, its nice to see some prospects show what they can do while playing with the big league club. Here is two pitchers and two hitters who is off to a hot start this spring.
HITTERS
It’s early in the spring but Dawson is showing some of the abilities that led him to be a second round pick in 2016. He is currently 5-for-10 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI, and 2 SB. He has also only struck out once. Dawson should start the season in AA and hopefully he will pick up where he left off last season when he had a .859 OPS in 29 AA games.
Tanielu has been in the Astros system but missed the majority of the 2017 season due to a torn ACL. He has looked sharp this spring though going 4-for-8 with with a 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI and 2 BB while not striking out. He is 26 years old but has proven over the years that he can hit all levels of pitching.
PITCHERS
I was tempted to say Whitley here but most know who he is and what he has done. Bailey has appeared in one game this spring but was dominant striking out 4 over 2 perfect innings. He also recorded two groundball outs. Bailey was acquired in the Laureano trade last year and struck out 120 in 91 innings between A+ and AA in 2018.
Bielak also pitched in one game this spring and looked very good striking out two over two hitless innings. The only baserunner he allowed was on a walk. He is following up a great 2018 season which saw him post a 2.23 ERA with 131 K in 117 innings in his first full season in the minors. He is another great pitching prospects from the 2017 draft.
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**Photo Credit: Tammy Tucker**
