Dan's Baseball Digest: 2025 Week 3
First Pitch
Torpedo alert! Torpedo alert! New torpedo shaped bats have been around for a couple years (see article roundup), but they've fully announced their arrival this week with offensive outbursts by every hitter that's chosen to pick one up. First the Yankees erupted for 9 homers, then Elly had a 2 homer 11 TB day, and now everyone and their daddy is looking to get one made.
On the other end of the spectrum, we've got Rafael Devers striking out at a cool 55% clip. Surely he'll turn it around, but it's been a rough start for the Red Sox slugger. Maybe he should grab a torpedo bat! Could the new shape even help the Pirates woeful offense get a few more hits? Unlikely, but hey it's worth a shot.
Article Roundup
Baseball Prospectus: Not Instant, but Close Enough (Paid) - I go back and forth on if video replay was a good idea or not. I'm usually against it these days, but ABS is super fast and could potentially get rid of the awful K-zone on TV.
Fangraphs: Torpedo Bats in Acquisition - There's been a ton of articles about the new bats this week, but I think this was my favorite.
Fangraphs: The Latter Years of Jacob deGrom - Your weekly dose of pitcher breakdowns.
Important Transactions, Injuries, etc
- Jurickson Profar suspended 80 games for PEDs. The already ailing Braves outfield took another hit with the news that Profar pissed hot for hCG. I dunno what it does, but it's lucky for him that he inked his $42 million dollar deal before he got caught! Perhaps the Braves will call up newly acquired Eddys Leonard to take his place?
- Brewers place SP Aaron Civale on 15 day IL. Another already banged up group gets more banged up. In addition to their numerous injuries, Nestor Cortes pitched 2 innings and gave up 8 earned in an inauspicious start to his Brewers career.
- Colton Cowser placed on IL with broken thumb. The Milkman will be out 6-8 weeks. A loss for the Orioles, but they likely have enough hitting depth to cover it.
- Esteury Ruiz DFAed by the A's and picked up by the Dodgers. He's fast as hell, but he can't hit or defend. Many such cases! I can't see him cracking the Dodgers MLB roster, but stranger things have happened.
- Eguy Rosario cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA. What the fuck, man. My dawg. My guy. Cleared waivers?? He's better than that.
- Jesse Chavez DFAed, cleared waivers, and elected free agency. Not surprised he cleared, but jeez Braves he's YOUR guy!
On Deck
- The Mariners had right hander Luis Castillo start yesterday... and will have right hander Luis F Castillo start today!
- Gunnar Henderson will likely make his 2025 debut this weekend. One would imagine Ramon Laureno or Jorge Mateo will get sent down to make room.
- Sean Murphy will likely make his 2025 debut next week. Drake Baldwin has had a rough start and could see himself back in Gwinnet as the corresponding move.
Highlights of the Week
Carson Kelly hits for the first cycle of the season
Elly picked up a torpedo bat and had himself a time
A clock determined the outcome of a college baseball game, but it wasn't the pitch clock! Cheap way to win one, imo.