New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Royals flush with prospects from CT
There are two things that will get you to the head of the class on Hearst Connecticut Media’s annual top 20 list of minor-league prospects with Connecticut ties: be a pitcher, and be in the Kansas City Royals’ organization.
Former East Catholic ace Frank Mozzicato covers both of those bases, and he’s back on top of the list for a third straight year. But Mozzicato, the Royals’ top draft pick and No. 7 overall two years ago, was joined in the organization this summer by two more pitchers with local connections. Staples High flamethrower Hiro Wyatt was selected in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball draft in mid-July and quickly signed with the Royals, with whom he is the No. 25 prospect in the system, per Baseball America.
A couple of weeks later, Darien’s Henry Williams was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Royals’ organization, and he’s now KC’s No. 19 overall prospect.
That makes three Connecticut public high school products among the Royals’ top 25 prospects, as well the top five prospects on this list.
Mozzicato is also one of two Nutmeg State products currently rated as the top prospects in their respective organizations, per Baseball America. Darien’s Emmet Sheehan tops the loaded Dodgers’ farm system.
In all, the top seven players on this list were all pitchers, one of whom is trying to balance both pitching and hitting — though pitching seems to be taking precedence right now.
• Frank Mozzicato, LHP, Ellington, High-A, Royals:
After dominating (3.04 ERA, 85 K’s/56.1 IP, .180 BAA) the first half of the season with Class-A Columbia, despite getting injured by a line drive to the face, the East Catholic product got hit hard in first five starts with Quad Cities. But has really found his groove over his last
three starts, with 22 K's and two earned runs in 15 innings. Has jumped up to the No. 1 prospect in Kansas City's organization, per Baseball America.
• Emmet Sheehan, RHP, Darien, Triple-A, Dodgers: Dominated at Double-A Tulsa (4-1, 1.86 ERA, 88 K's/53.1 IP, .131 BAA) and earned a surprise call-up to join depleted Dodgers' staff, where he held his own for eight starts before being sent to Oklahoma City. BA's No. 1 prospect in a loaded Dodgers' organization, and No. 23 prospect in all of minors.
• Reggie Crawford, LHP/1B,
UConn, High-A, Giants: Two-way star and 2022 first-round draft pick has pitched well with Eugene, posting a 1.13 ERA in six starts (but just eight innings) with 14 K's and six BB's. Has only had one at-bat since mid-July promotion to Eugene, however, so perhaps the dream of being the next Shohei is over? BA's No. 10 prospect in Giants' organization.
• Henry Williams, RHP, Darien, Class-A, Royals:Returned after two-year hiatus following Tommy John surgery and struggled (5.74 ERA) in 12 starts for Padres' Class-A affiliate, but a July 31 trade to Kansas City organization seems to have done him wonders: 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 0.93 WHIP in three starts. Royals' No. 19 overall prospect, per BA.
• Hiro Wyatt, RHP, Westport,
Royals: Staples High superstar was taken in third round of July's MLB draft by Kansas City and signed for around $950,000, backing out of his commitment to pitch at USC. BA's
No. 25 prospect in Royals' system hasn't pitched yet as a pro.
• Michael Burrows, RHP, Waterford, Triple-A, Pirates: Beginning season in Indianapolis, where he finished 2022 season, Waterford High product made two starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery in late-April. Still ranks as BA's No. 22 prospect in Bucs' organization.
• Ben Casparius, RHP, Westport, Double-A, Dodgers: After dominating at High-A Great Lakes (4-0, 2.68 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in eight starts), ex-Staples star struggled early on after promotion to Tulsa. But has allowed just one earned run over his last three starts (13.2 innings), striking out 15. BA's 26th-ranked prospect in Dodgers' sytem.
• Jake DeLeo, OF, Norwalk, Class-A, Marlins: Avon Old Farms/Georgia Tech product has gotten off to good start after being picked in sixth round of July's draftby Miami: .272, 4 HR, 14 RBI in 103 at-bats with Jupiter.
• Patrick Winkel, C, Orange/ UConn, Double-A, Twins: After a slow start with Wichita, former Amity High star has turned it up in August, hitting .318 with 4 HRs, 14 RBIs in 66 at-bats to boost his season numbers to .268/9 HR/44 RBI.
• Anthony Prato, OF, UConn, Triple-A, Twins: Despite an awful (.171) start at Double-A, got unexpected promotion to St. Paul in early June and has run with it: .311, 8 HR, in 193 at-bats for Saints.
• Pat Gallagher, RHP, UConn, High-A, Blue Jays: Pitched strong (3.29 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) at Class-A Dunedin before earning Aug. 1 promotion to Vancouver, where he's now on injured list after three good starts (2.38 ERA).
• Luke Shliger, C, Danbury, Class-A, Giants: Sixth-round pick in July by San Francisco out of Maryland has shown he knows his way around San Jose: .261 in 46 at-bats.
• Caleb Wurster, LHP, UConn, Double-A, Marlins: Posted a 2.47 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and .163 BAA with 72 K's in 54.2 innings at High-A Beloit before getting promoted a couple of weeks ago to Pensacola, where he's thrown three scoreless innings so far.
• Andrew Marrero, RHP, New Haven/UConn, High-A, Cardinals: Hard-throwing former Wilbur Cross star has spent entire season playing in Peoria, where he's posted 11 saves and struck out 77 batters in 55.1 innings.
• Rohan Handa, LHP, Yale, Class-A, Giants: Fifth-round draft pick in 2021 underwent shoulder last fall and has yet to throw a pitch as a professional.
• Austin Peterson, RHP, UConn, Class-A, Guardians:
Ninth-round pick in 2022 draft has spent entire season at Lynchburg, going 6-7 with a 4.21 ERA in 22 starts.
• Tim Cate, LHP, Manchester/ UConn, Triple-A, Nationals: Former second-round draft pick earned first promotion to Triple-A , posting a 5.19 ERA while making transition to bullpen.
• Nick LoRusso, 3B, Monroe, Class-A, Mets: After leading nation in RBI (105) with Maryland, was selected in ninth round of July draft by Mets and has started his career with St. Lucie.
• Trey McLoughlin, RHP, Shelton/Fairfield, Double-A, Mets: Shoved at High-A Brooklyn (1.65 ERA, 26 K's/16.1 IP) and has continued to pitch well for Binghamton. He'll be in Hartford Sept. 5-10 when Rumble Ponies face Yard Goats at Dunkin' Park.
• Dominic Perachi, LHP, Washington Depot, Class-A, Pirates: An 11th-round pick out of Salve Regina in 2022, has gone 5-0 with a 4.78 ERA in 20 games (16 starts) for Bradenton.