Binghamton has been in the national news lately due to its selection of six names as finalists for its rebranding in 2017. Speaking of rebranding, I wonder how the “Flying Squirrels” was first received in Richmond? Getting back to baseball, Richmond comes to NYSEG Stadium on Monday, 5/23, with seven top prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization. The team is led with the top two overall prospects—shortstop Christian Arroyo and right handed pitcher Tyler Beede. Here are some thumbnail sketches of the top prospects. The presence of these prospects on the roster is NOT translating into wins, however, as Richmond had an unsightly record of 10-30 in its first 40 games.
The B-Mets defeated Richmond for the 2014 Eastern League Championship in 2014 and a handful of players from both teams are veterans of that series—Kyle Johnson, Jorge Carrillo (MVP), Tyler Pill, and Rainy Lara are the returnees for the B-Mets. Veterans of that series for the Flying Squirrels are pitchers Kyle Crick and Adalberto Mejia and outfielder Daniel Carbonell.
Manager Pedro Lopez gives Kyle Johnson a hug after the B-Mets beat Richmond for the Eastern Leage Championship in 2014. Both are trying to bring home another championship for Binghamton this year
Christian Arroyo, #1 Prospect. Arroyo won’t turn 21 until May 30th, beating Binghamton’s Dominic Smith to that milestone by 5 days. Arroyo was the 25th overall pick in the 2013 draft and has an above average arm. He is a steady defender who has shown he can play second as well as short, and his above-average arm can also allow a move to third. Currently San Francisco is set at short with Brandon Crawford and second with Joe Panik. Matt Duffy is also entrenching himself at 3B for the Giants, so if Arroyo is to gain a starting position in the big leagues in the next few years, he may have to be traded or exceed expectations as a hitter. In 926 at-bats in the minors, he has hit for a .303 average, with 17 homers and 143 RBIs. He is not a base-stealing threat, as he only as 17 career stolen bases. As of May 21st, Arroyo was hitting .261 with one home run so far this season.
Tyler Beede, #2 prospect. Beede, a 6’-4” right handed power pitcher, was the 14th overall pick in the 2014 draft, being selected behind shortstop Trea Turner. That 2014 draft was loaded with talent, as Kyle Schwarber (4th pick) and Michael Conforto (10th pick) have already left their mark in the majors. Beede struggled in Richmond last year, going 3-8 with a 5.23 E.R.A. He is off to a better start in his second stint, bringing a 2-2 record with a 3.65 E.R.A. into this week. He supplements his fast ball and cutter with a changeup and still-developing curveball. His biggest hurdle thus far has been his control, as he entering 2016 he had walked 51 batters in 141 innings. His increased success this year can be traced at least in part to better control, as he has walked 10 in his first 37 innings.
Adalberto Mejia, #10 prospect. Mejia had an outstanding year for Richmond in 2015, going 5-2 with a 2.45 E.R.A. in 9 starts. The lefty not turn 23 until June 20th and has already won 34 games in the minors, including 12 game for Richmond in previous stints the past two years. Mejia throws a fastball, slider, and changeup. He was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2011.
Chase Johnson, #14 prospect. This right handed pitcher was drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft, out of California Polytechnic Institute. In 2015 he went 8-3 with a 2.43 E.R.A. at San Jose before he made three starts at Richmond. He has an outstanding fastball (94-94 mph) and mixes in a changeup and slider.
Jake Smith, #22 prospect. Smith, a right-handed pitcher, will turn 26 on June 2nd and is off to rough start this year, giving up 12 runs in 13 innings. This year has been a disappointment so far for Smith, who saved 16 games last year in Single-A, while also striking out 118 hitters in 84 innings last year. This year he has struck out 20 hitters in 13.2 innings, but has also given up 9 earned runs while walking 13. Opponents are hitting at a .245 clip against him and he has registered one save in three save opportunities.
Kyle Crick, #27 prospect. Crick, a first round supplemental pick in the 2011 draft, has been going backwards in the ranking of Giants prospects. Last year Baseball America had him ranked as San Francisco’s #3 overall prospect entering the season. Crick throws a 96-97 mph fastball, but his lack of command of his secondary pitches has stagnated his development. He struck out 73 hitters in 63 innings last year working out of the bullpen at Richmond, but amazingly, walked 66. This year the right hander is back to starting, posting a 1-2 record with a 4.80 E.R.A. entering play on Sunday, May 22nd. He has walked 21 in 30 innings.
Hunter Cole, #30 prospect. Cole was drafted out of Georgia in the 26th round in 2014. He has played first, second, third and the corner outfield spots as a pro and carried a .293 average minor league batting average into this season. Last year he hit .293 for Richmond, in a little under 200 at-bats. Entering play on Sunday, Cole was hitting .252 with two homers and 14 RBIs.
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