Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Josh K Keeps on Hitting

Another loss for Buffalo but at least they scored five runs. Trenton Wallace could not escape the first inning. Josh Kasevich homered, again. Scranton hit four home runs, two by former Yankee Oswaldo Peraza.

Scranton 8 Buffalo 5

Three Stars

Third Star - Will Robertson

Second Star - Josh Kasevich

First Star - Orelvis Martinez

Boxes

NOTES

Trenton Wallace is not finishing 2024 on a high note. On Saturday he was unable to get out of the first inning. Two of the first four hitters homered. He then loaded the bases on a single and two walks. A double cleared the baes and sent Wallace to the showers.

The Bisons did get three of the five runs back in the first inning with some help from Scranton. Orelvis reached on a two out strikeout. Two singles and a walk later made it 5-1. An error made it 5-2 and a bases loaded walk 5-3. Josh Kasevich homered to make it 5-4 in the second but that was a close as Buffalo got.

Orelvis had a nice game going 3-5, all singles, although he did make his 15th error. Will Robertson also had two hits. Robertson had a good RBI season with 71, but he hit over .200 is three months and .200 or under in three more.

A word on Josh Kasevich. First, he gets no respect. He is 23 years old playing in AAA. He started the season in AA and hit .338 in April, 284 in May and .300 in June. Lots of people thought that was a fluke and he would come back to earth. He did in July hitting just .203. Nevertheless the Jays promoted him to Buffalo on August 7th. we went hitless in his first game and was hitting .154 after four games. But then he had eleven hits over the next six games, raising his average to .345. And it has remained in that neighborhood ever since. In September, with one game to go, Kasevich is hitting .397 for the month. With three doubles and two home runs, and as many walks as strikeouts, he has his OPS for the month over 1000.

We also know that Josh controls the strike zone. In 2023 he walked as much as he struck out. That has slipped this season, he has 24 K's in Buffalo and 13 walks. That is expected as you move up and face better pitchers. In the field he has made 12 errors this season which is very good. We don't have AAA range factors.

Posted by Gerry on Saturday, September 21 2024 @ 04:32 PM EDT.

Josh K Keeps on Hitting | 6 comments | Create New Account

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jerjapan - Saturday, September 21 2024 @ 05:04 PM EDT (#452811) #

Agreed on Josh Kasevich. My impression is that he's a plus defender at short, and if he continues to outperform hitting projections, he's a top-ten prospect for us.

I could see the team moving Clement or Jimenez if he continues to play this well in Buffalo next year.

uglyone - Saturday, September 21 2024 @ 07:33 PM EDT (#452816) #

I'm still low on Kasevich. His AAA line is being completely carried by his near .400babip and he's never shown any kind of babip skill before.

But nice to see him producing now that he's at an age appropriate level. Definitely getting closer to looking like a real prospect. His line right seems to now only need one major area of improvement and it doesn't really matter which one... though power would be the most upgradeable.

John Northey - Saturday, September 21 2024 @ 10:59 PM EDT (#452820) #

Kasevich had a nice interview on the Deep Left Field podcast recently. He and Roden seem very close and fun to listen to. One hopes they both can make it. Kasevich has the tougher road though due to Bo being there now, Jimenez the 'next guy in line' and Arjun Nimmala looking like the next great thing (probably in A+ to start next year but wouldn't be shocked to see him in AA by August if he keeps up what he did this year, 790 OPS with 16 HR in 82 games in A - legit 30+ HR power at 18 isn't common especially for a SS). FYI: Nimmala did play with Votto - one heck of an age spread for the #2/3 hitters in Dunedin (many games) - Votto born in 1983, Nimmala in 2005 - the game I linked they both had 2 hits in. Hopefully Nimmala listened to Votto a lot and learned a lot.

Right now I like the Jays depth at SS - an all-star in the majors, solid looking kid in Jimenez who will caddy for Bo in 2025 while trying to win 2B, Kasevich on the doorstep knocking. Nimmala charging hard in the lower minors.

Ducey - Sunday, September 22 2024 @ 12:09 AM EDT (#452822) #

"I could see the team moving Clement or Jimenez if he continues to play this well in Buffalo next year."

Send that longhair with the broken middle finger away. Let Kasevich have another 1/2 season in AAA.

Glevin - Sunday, September 22 2024 @ 01:08 AM EDT (#452823) #

Agree with Ugly on Kasevich. His stats in AAA are BABIP driven. I can see utility player in his future if things develop well. If he's to be anything more, something fundamental will need to change (as Ugly says, power is easiest way)

Kelekin - Sunday, September 22 2024 @ 03:09 AM EDT (#452824) #

I also agree on Kasevich - his .362 wOBA has outpaced his .310 xwOBA. His barrel rate is an atrocious 1.6%; however, his 41.4% hard hit rate, 90.1 avg EV, and 104.2 90th percentile EV are all quite good. He is known to be a good defender. He will be a major leaguer, but in what capacity?

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