Wisconsin Timber Rattlers May – Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

Wow, Steven, a week late on the May update, huh?

The Timber Rattlers went 13-16 in May, despite some solid efforts out of their hitters, and the usual dominance of their pitchers. Nearly every starting pitcher for the team posted sub-3.00 ERAs/FIPs this month, so if they aren’t included here, you can safely assume they were still pretty great.

Who’s Hot

1B/LF David Denson

Denson slashed .298/.385/.524 with seven doubles and four home runs in 84 at-bats in May, displaying the power potential that evaluators have been insisting is stored in the young man’s bat. His strikeout rates in May were also at a healthier 21.9%, a pleasant contrast from his 32.5% K-rate with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2015.

2B Blake Allemand

The 23 year old looks ready for another shot at High-A Brevard County after a rough start to the season there. He has hit well since joining the T-Rats, including slashing .312/.370/.459 in May.

RHP Freddy Peralta

Don’t let Peralta’s 4.58 ERA fool you, he was lights out in May. The 20 year old struck out 29 in just 19 2/3 innings, while walking eight in three starts and two extended relief appearances. Peralta also held opponents to an OPS just above .500, earning a 1.87 FIP in the process.

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RHP Nate Griep

If the Timber Rattlers have  a closer, it’s Griep, who has seven saves on the year. Griep was virtually unhittable in May, holding opponents to a .156/.182/.219 slash while walking just one batter and striking out nine. Obviously relievers deal in particularly small sizes, but Griep has been solid all year.

Who’s Not

OF Troy Stokes

One of my main under the radar prospects, Stokes got off to a nice start to the season before being placed on the disabled list. Upon return in early May, Stokes struggled significantly, and slashed just .125/.228/.146 for the month while seeing less consistent playing time.

OF Monte Harrison

The toolsy, high-upside outfielder may be looking at another stint with the Helena Brewers when their season officially kicks off. Harrison has been slightly better in Wisconsin than he was in his first stint in 2015, most notably by cutting his strikeout rates, but in May, Harrison hit just .165/.242/.235.

RHP Devin Williams

Regarded as one of the Brewers’ top pitching prospects, Williams got off to a slow start in 2016. He joined the team on May 12, pitching in four games with a 6.00 ERA (6.25 FIP). While he held opponents to a low average, he gave up three home runs and walked eight in 15 innings of work.

Thanks to my late posting of this article, I can report that Williams tossed six scoreless innings on June 2 with six strikeouts, just four hits allowed, and a pair of walks.

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1B Alan Sharkey

While an improvement on his month of April, Sharkey continued to struggle at the plate in May, slashing .214/.302/.268 at the game’s most offensive position. He did draw walks 10.9% of the time, and plate discipline remains his greatest strength.

RHP Jake Drossner

Drossner had a month of extremes, with a hard luck BABIP (.393), a high strikeout rate (10 K/9) and a high walk rate (6.6 BB/9). This all added up to a 4.58 ERA and a 4.47 FIP over six games (four starts). Much of his struggles in May can be attributed to one blow-up start, when Drossner walked three and allowed seven runs (three earned) in just 2/3 of an inning.

Drossner’s longest appearance was 4 1/3 innings, and with his tendency toward walking (and striking out) batters, he could be bound for the bullpen.

SS Isan Diaz

One of the Milwaukee Brewers top infield prospects behind Orlando Arcia, Diaz struggled while playing nearly every day in May. The recently turned 20 year old slashed .218/.277/.282 without much of the pop or plate discipline that makes him such an intriguing prospect. However, Diaz is on a tear in early June, walking five times in five games while hitting .385/.526/.1.000 with more home runs and doubles (two each) than singles.