Guardians Baseball Insider

Photo credit: TCP Photography/Courtesy Lake County Captains

With the playoffs on the line and a short roster for quite some time due to the promotions of OF Johnathan Rodriguez and INF Angel Matinez, the Lake County Captains kept on winning last week against the Cedar Rapids Kernels and continue to roll, controlling their own playoff destiny. They currently hold a three game lead for a second half playoff berth over the West Michigan Whitecaps. And this week the Capains finally got some reinforcements, although they had more promotions as well, but not without more help coming first.

Results

8/24/22: W, 10-9 vs. Cedar Rapids
8/25/22: W, 8-4 vs. Cedar Rapids
8/26/22: L, 5-1 vs. Cedar Rapids
8/27/22: W, 6-0 vs. Cedar Rapids
8/28/22: W, 8-7 vs. Cedar Rapids 
8/30/22: W, 8-1 at Great Lakes

Prospect of the Week

1B Joe Naranjo: 8-22, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4K/0BB, SB – .364/.364/.682

Naranjo has run hot and cold all season but he’s racked up some decent power numbers for a guy that nobody was sure the power would be there for. His profile, once thought to be hit over power, looks a lot more like power over hit in High-A. He’s struck out and walked more this year, sort of embracing a three-true-outcome type approach now.

Who’s Hot

OF Connor Kokx: 5-16, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 3K/3BB, 2 SB/1CS – .313/.400/.500

Kokx has done well in his more consistent playing time since the promotion of Johnathan Rodriguez, showing off a nice set of skills and producing the way many thought he would early in the season.

RHP Aaron Davenport: 6IP, H, 2BB, 8K

Davenport took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and gave up just one hit finishing that inning and his outing with a strikeout, probably one of his best performances of the season.

RHP Jack Leftwich: 6IP, 3H, ER, HBP, 9K 

On the other hand, Leftwich has had many good performances this season for Lynchburg and Lake County, dominating a good Great Lakes lineup to kick off the final road series for the Captains before the playoffs.

Who’s Not

RHP Zach Hart: 1.2IP, 3H, 3ER, HR, BB, 2K

That one outing was kind of typical for Hart. He struck out two batters of the five he retired. He misses bats. He also got touched for a homer and three hits.

OF Alexfri Planez: 3-19, HR, 3 RBI, 6K/BB –  .158/.227/.316

Planez has had a hard time recapturing the hot streak he had at midseason that made him look like a breakout. Hot and cold streaks are typical of players with his approach.

Transactions

08/30/22 LHP Jaime Arias assigned to Lake County Captains from Akron RubberDucks
08/30/22 RHP Jordan Jones assigned to Lake County Captains from Akron RubberDucks
08/30/22 LHP Doug Nikhazy assigned to Akron RubberDucks from Lake County Captain
08/29/22 OF Cesar Idrogo assigned to Lake County Captains from Lynchburg Hillcats
08/29/22 LHP Will Dion assigned to Lake County Captains from Lynchburg Hillcats
08/27/22 SS Yordys Valdes assigned to Lake County Captains from Lynchburg Hillcats

On Deck

8/31-9/4 AT Great Lakes

9/6-9/11 HOME vs. Fort Wayne