Up To the Minute Top Five MLBbro Pitchers Contributing To the Talent Pool and Culture

Up To the Minute Top Five MLBbro Pitchers Contributing To the Talent Pool and Culture

by | Aug 21, 2024 | THE LEAD OFF

The MLB season is going into the final stretch with less than 40 games left.

Now that the All-Star Game and trade deadline are in the rearview mirror, the contenders are battling for playoff seedings while the rest of the teams are getting ready for changes in the offseason.

For MLBbro.com, it’s time to check in on the progress of MLBbros not named Aaron Judge or Mookie Betts and how they stack up against their peers.

MLBbro.com has a weekly version of the top five players who have stood out for their respective teams…

But now this top five list will be expanded to the top five African-American pitchers in baseball up until this point in the season.

Believe it or not, one of the pitchers is on the board as one of the top five players of the week.

Hunter Greene (Cincinnati Reds):

The Reds franchise and its fan base had to be scared when our MLBbro went on the IL for elbow soreness. Luckily for the team and Hunter, the injury is not serious and he could be back on August 29.

Greene is one of the cornerstones of the franchise with the Reds investiing $53 million contract extension guaranteed through the 2028 season.

Up until the injury, Hunter Greene was on the shortlist for the NL Cy Young Award.

His 9-4 record with a 2.83 ERA (third in the league), 1.02 WHIP (5th) and 162 strikeouts (4th) in only 143 ⅓ innings shows why.

With his bobblehead promotions rewarding school kids for good grades or shoe donations for high school kids and potential players in Africa, Greene is making a difference on and off the field as a role model.

Marcus Stroman (New York Yankees):

This MLBbro is so high on the list because the  Yankees need him to perform at a high level not only to hang on to the American League East but more importantly, a World Series run.

His 8-6 record with a 3.82 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 92 strikeouts is solid but not enough for the famous “Championship or Bust” Yankees fanbase.

After a midseason slump that ballooned his ERA to 4.10, two strong starts seemingly have him back on the right track.

With a bullpen that has been inconsistent, the Yanks need more Stroman starts to last well past the fifth inning with the precise pitching shown in his last two starts.

Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota Twins):

Simeon Woods Richardson is still developing as a starting pitcher after coming over to Minnesota in the Jose Berrios trade.

After trying to gain footing with the velocity of his fast ball, our MLBbro has found a spot in the rotation as the middle to back of the rotation starter. With over 100 innings, an ERA of 3.78 and a 1.18 WHIP, Woods Richardson is moving in the right direction.

But that has come with hard work and changes in his pitching mechanics…

If this keeps up, Simeon Woods Richardson will be near the top of the rotation before you know it.

Taj Bradley (Tampa Bay Rays):

Taj Bradley’s performance this season basically mirrors Tampa Bay’s.

As of Tuesdsy afternoon, the team’s record is .500 (62-62) and so is Bradley’s (6-8). A slow start due to a right pectoral muscle in spring training held him out until May 10. His 3.55 ERA doesn’t knock anyone out of their socks on the surface but considering a 1-4 record and a 5.81 ERA at the beginning of June, his run in July was Cy Young worthy!

How did he do it?

Bradley had an eight game start stretch that would have made Dwight Gooden proud.

From June 8 through late July, our MLBbro posted an ERA of 0.92 which was the lowest in the majors.

The 2018 150th pick of the Rays has thrived moving up the pipeline to becoming one of the more consistent pitchers on Tampa Bay’s staff.

Triston McKenzie (Cleveland Guardians) currently in the minors:

An MLBbro.com favorite, “Sticks” exploded on the scene in 2020 as Cleveland’s number one prospect. The improvements kept coming through the 2022 season.

Then the UCL injuries derailed his career from missing most of the 2023 season and the ultimate decision to send him to the minors this season.

With this being an arbitration-eligible season, McKenzie decided to forego surgery and go the rehab route.

Meanwhile, Triston could look to develop a sinker to add to his portfolio of pitches that are losing velocity.

To get that velocity back, surgery might be the only option to keep this MLBbro from being one of the biggest “What ifs” in MLBbro history.

It Ain’t Easy Being Greene !

Movin’ On Up | Reds Ace Hunter Greene is Advancing From All-Star to Cy Young Contender

by | Aug 7, 2024 | THE THREE SPOT

Hunter Greene has been sensational so far during his 2024 All-Star campaign. The hard-throwing right-hander has been virtually untouchable and currently ranks in the National League’s top five in strikeouts (149), ERA (2.83), WHIP (1.02), and wins. Among pitchers with at least 125 innings pitched this season, Greene carries the fifth-lowest ERA in the Majors.

Over his last four starts, Greene enjoyed one of the most productive stretches of his career, going 3-0 with a 0.35 ERA, 33 strikeouts, and just 7 hits allowed during that span. This includes a dazzling 11-strikeout, one-hit performance in his most recent start against the Giants that extended his scoreless streak to 21 innings. Given his efficiency, the 25-year-old Greene should be in consideration for the National League Cy Young Award – a rare feat for Black big leaguers.

“The overall growth that he has made all-around in his game this year has been a pleasure to watch,” Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said. “He’s the ace of this team, and he’s showing that.”

It’s been 12 years since a Black pitcher won the illustrious Cy Young Award. To find the most recent Black recipient of the National League Cy Young Award, one would have to revert 39 years to Dwight “Doc” Gooden’s historic 1985 season with the Mets. This year, Greene could buck the trend and finish his breakout season as the Cy Young Award winner.

In his third season with Cincinnati, Greene has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the Majors. His improved command has proved difficult for batters to contend with, and Greene’s lively fastball has been as effective as ever. While the average velocity on Greene’s fastball has dipped a bit, as has the whiff rate, opponents are batting just .183 against it. Comparatively, batters hit .265 against it last year and .261 against it in 2022.

Despite a slight drop in velocity, Greene’s fastball is still one of the best in baseball and ranks as the second-fastest pitch (97.7 MPH) among pitchers to throw at least 750 fastballs, trailing only the Angels José Soriano (98.1 mph). Improving his fastball location has opened things up for his splitter and slider and has the right-hander on the verge of a 200-strikeout season.

“His command has been unbelievable,” said Stephenson. “When he’s sitting there painting corners and he’s throwing as hard as he is and being able to throw his slider whenever he wants in counts, I just feel like his command has been a game-changer.”

During the first half of the season, Greene posted an impressive 1.11 WHIP and ranked ninth in the Majors in strikeouts. The former second overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft was then justifiably rewarded with his first All-Star selection.

“Being an All-Star is a huge privilege,” Greene said. “It means a lot. It’s a blessing. When you can get an All-Star [selection] this early in your career, I think it propels you in a lot of different ways.”

Greene has certainly elevated his game this season. The young hurler hasn’t just been good, he’s been historically good. Per OptaSTATS, Greene is the only MLB pitcher in the modern era to throw at least 30 innings while allowing no more than 10 hits and no more than 1 run over a five-start span. His ten combined hits over his past five outings are the fewest by a Reds pitcher (min. 25 IP) in a calendar month since 1900.

While fellow aces Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, Tyler Glasnow, and Paul Skenes will challenge him for the award, Greene’s mind-boggling numbers should keep him in strong consideration for the National League Cy Young honors. For Greene, however, accolades aren’t the goal, and the Reds ace is focused on constant improvement.

“The work — it doesn’t stop,” Greene said. “I’m trying to pick things out in my game that I can get better at throughout the game. That’s been my focus, my mindset. I’m trying to find ways to be even better.”