Washington Nationals Promote Top Hitting Prospect Trea Turner to Syracuse (AAA), Goes Hitless in Debut

By Peyton Wesner

He is "moving on up!" 

It only took ten games at Harrisburg for Washington Nationals' prized prospect Trea Turner to further prove he had mastered the level of Double-A. Turner, mostly known for playing in the San Diego Padres' organization while his rights were with the Nationals, finally was allowed to play for HIS organization on June 16 after hitting five homeruns, collecting thirty-five RBIs, and stealing eleven bases with a .322 average in fifty-eight games for Double-A San Antonio of the Texas League. During his ten game stint with the Harrisburg Senators, the twenty-one year old continued his success at the plate by smacking fourteen hits, five of which were for extra bases, in thirty-nine at bats (.359 average). Would his dominance of pitchers continue in the new waters of the International League (Triple-A)? 

Tonight, Turner's Triple-A debut was on the road against the Indianapolis Indians, top affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The starting pitcher for the Indians was Radhames Liz, who has a 3.63 earned run average and eighteen strikesouts in seventeen and one/third innings pitched during eleven appearances for the Pirates, and from the get-go he was throwing heat. The NC State star was no match for Liz's fastball as he was called out on strikes in his first Triple-A plate appearance. 

Later in the third inning, Turner stepped back into the batter's box with a runner on first and two outs. He would rip an offering to right field, but unfortunately, the ball was hit straight to Indians' right fielder Willy Garcia for the third out of the inning. 

While the Syracuse Chiefs' had trouble plating runs on Friday night, the Indianapolis Indians were hitting the ball off of Syracuse starter Scott McGregor the same as if a coach were throwing to them during batting practice. Former Washington Nationals' shortstop Steve Lombardozzi, RBI single! John Bowker, RBI single! Wilkin Castillo, RBI single! Gorkys Hernandez, RBI single! Indians' pitcher Radhames Liz, 2 RBI single! When the dust finally cleared at the end of the first inning, Indianapolis had posted six runs! 

Once the Indians had the lead, they never relinquished it and marched on to a 9-1 victory this evening, In his last two at bats during the sixth and eighth innings respectively, Syracuse shortstop Trea Turner grounded out into fielder chocies, ending his Triple-A debut hitless. 

Tomorrow, Turner will put tonight's tough debut behind him and continue to look for his first Triple-A hit against Indianapolis' right hander Wilfredo Boscan in game two of the three game set.

Minnesota Twins Promote Top Pitching Prospect Alex Meyer

By Peyton Wesner

Two All-Star Future Game selections, one injury and swap of organizations, and a change in position from starter to reliever. All have been accomplishments and growing pains experienced by Minnesota Twins' prospect Alex Meyer. 

Meyer, the twenty-third overall selection by the Washington Nationals in the 2011 MLB Draft, spent only one full season with the organization (2012) before being traded individually for center fielder Denard Span the next offseason. In his first year in the Twins' system, the University of Kentucky product suffered a shoulder sprain that resulted in him missing most of the 2013 season. Luckily, Meyer was able to make up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, which gave him confidence since his velocity returned. Yet two years later, the right hander would not struggle staying healthy but with his control. MLB.com's twenty-third top prospect started his 2015 campaign with a 2-3 record, a 7.09 earned run average, and twenty-four walks in thirty-nine and one/thirds innings pitched during eight starts with Triple-A Rochester. His ineffectiveness on the mound led to Meyer's transition to the bullpen, which was only suppose to be until he showed he was ready to rejoin the rotation. The twenty-five year old never re-joined it, but he has received a promotion to join the Minnesota Twins thanks to his play out of the pen over the last month (one earned run surrendered in seventeen innings pitched with twenty strikeouts). 

Meyer relies heavily on a fastball that is reguarly clocked in the upper nineties and a power slider, which have both helped him average 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The six foot, nine inch pitcher joins a Twins' bullpen needing all the help it can get as the unit has the twelveth best earned run average (3.81) and the fewest strikeouts (one hundred and forty-one strikeouts in two hundred and twelve and one/thirds innings) in the American League.

Mets to Promote Top Prospect Steven Matz

By Peyton Wesner

The youngest rotation with the most potential just became a whole lot better as the New York Mets will recall their top prospect in the organization and MLB.com's fifty-fourth top prospect Steven Matz to be a part of a six-man rotation with the purpose of limiting the strain and innings of the young arms pitching. 

Despite Matz, a left hander, being phenomenal since making his professional debut in 2012 with Kingsport (Rookie League), most Mets' fans feel like he should have already been in the Major Leagues with Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Noah Syndergaard. This is the case because of the Stony Brook, New York, native's arm injuries, which eventually resulted in him undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. 

As mentioned, Matz has been great when on the mound in the Mets' organization as he owns a 24-20 record with a 2.28 earned run average and three hundred and eighty strike outs in three hundred and sixty-six and one/thirds innings pitched. This season, the twenty-four year old is 7-4 with a 2.19 earned run average and ninety-four strikeouts in ninety and one/thirds innings with Triple-A Las Vegas, which is very impressive considering how many good pitchers struggle in the hitter friendly ballparks of the Pacific Coast League. For example, future teammate of Matz and former top organizational prospect prior to his promotion, Noah Syndergaard was roughed up in his first season in Las Vegas (2014) and possessed an earned run average of 4.60 in twenty-six starts! 

The southpaw that has a repertoire of a mid-nineties fast ball (best pitch), a sinking change-up (second best), and a curveball was more than likely to have started the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game in Omaha, Nebraska, against the International League considering his fantastic stats and him leading the PCL in votes at the starting pitcher position. Nonetheless, one has to think that Matz is going to treasure his Major League Debut, expected to be Sunday versus Cincinnati, more than one inning in an all-star game.

BREAKING: Atlanta Hawks "Select" Jerian Grant with Nineteenth Pick in 2015 NBA Draft. Trade Him to New York for Tim Hardaway Jr.

By Peyton Wesner

"With the nineteenth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select Jerian Grant from the University of Notre Dame." 

2015 ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player Jerian Grant walked to the stage at the Barclays Center as the nineteenth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft with the thought that he would suit up for the Washington Wizards next season. What Grant didn't know was the Atlanta Hawks had traded their fifteenth pick, Kelly Oubre, to Washington for the ninteeth selection. So Jerian would be a part of the Atlanta Hawks next season? Nope! Grant's draft night journey ended with the Hawks trading him to the New York Knicks for Tim Hardaway Jr. 

Out of all the scenarios that could have happened last night for the twenty-two year old, going to the New York Knicks was the best possible. Not only will Grant be able to play significant, meaningful minutes for an NBA team, but he will fight for the starting point guard position with Jose Calderon and Shane Larkin. 

The son of seven thousand point NBA player Harvey Grant and brother of Philadelphia 76ers' guard Jerami Grant was the star for the Fighting Irish this past season as he posted 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while leading his team to the Elite Eight. 

Jerian Grant's strongest attribute has to be his playmaking ability as he can make jumpers off the dribble, take the ball to the rim for "and one" opportunities, and find the open man while penetrating the lane. In addition, he is extremely unselfish and will do whatever it takes to win whether that is having six points and fifteen assists or recording a triple-double. Despite his defensive play being subpar at times, Grant shows moments of good play due to his instincts and anticipation skills in the passing lanes. 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Jerian Grant

---16.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.7 APG, & 1.7 SPG. (At University of Notre Dame) 

SG-Langston Galloway

***2014-2015 All-Rookie Second Team 

---11.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, & 1.2 SPG.

SF-Cleanthony Early

---5.4 PPG & 2.5 RPG.

PF-Carmelo Anthony

***2015 All-Star Game Starter for East 

---24.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, & 1.0 SPG.

C-Kristaps Porzingis

---11.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, & 1.0 BPG. (With Baloncesto Sevilla)

6th-Jose Calderon

---9.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, & 3.0 APG. 38

Don't worry Knicks' fans, year two of the "Phil Jackson Era" should be much better than year one. Since Carmelo Anthony is expected to be one hundred percent healthy for the start of the regular season, the Knicks will have their best player back on the court where he belongs. Yet with players such as like Andrea Bargnani and Jason Smith leaving as unrestricted free agents, one should look for General Manager Steve Mills to sign players that can be productive in the post. The purpose of signing a post presence would be to keep Carmelo Anthony from playing the power forward spot on a nightly basis as it would take a toll on him over the course of an eighty-two game season. But no matter how one "views the glass", the Knicks will not make the 2016 NBA Playoffs and are a long way from it.

BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers Select Anthony Brown with Thirty-Fourth Pick in 2015 NBA Draft.

By Peyton Wesner

"With the thirty-fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select Anthony Brown from Stanford University."

He may not have been the best player on the 2014-2015 Stanford Cardinal NIT Championship team, but he was the only one drafted on Thursday night as small forward Anthony Brown will be taking his talents five and a half hours south of Palo Alto, California to Los Angeles to begin his NBA career for the purple and gold. 

The six foot, seven inch, sharpshooter was the second collgiate Senior to be selected by the Lakers in a string of eight picks (twenty-seventh to thirty-fourth) as they took Larry Nance Jr. from Wyoming with the twenty-seventh pick. 

Although Anthony Brown has average athleticism compared to others at his position, he is a spectacular three point shooter as he shot 44.1% from beyond the arc (better than lottery picks D'Angelo Russell and Frank Kaminsky). In fact, a little over forty-three percent of his points last season came from made three pointers! With his accuracy from downtown comes Brown's ability to rebound the basketball. In sixteen of the California native's thirty-seven games during his Senior season, he grabbed eight or more rebounds, including twelve pulled down in the 2015 NIT Championship against the University of Miami (Florida) and thirteen ripped down against conference rival Colorado on the road. 

A concern in Brown's game rises at his inconsistancy on a gamely basis and offensive passiveness during the course of a game. Even though there will be times next year that he will need to allow guards Kobe Bryant and D'Angelo Russell to penetrate and score the basketball, Brown must always be ready to catch a pass and knock down the open trey as a three point specialist. 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Jordan Clarkson

***2014-2015 All-Rookie First Team 

---11.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, & 3.5 APG.

SG-Kobe Bryant

---22.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, & 1.3 SPG.

SF-Nick Young

---13.4 PPG & 2.3 RPG.

PF-Julius Randle

---15.0 PPG & 10.4 RPG. (At University of Kentucky)

C-Jordan Hill 

---12.0 PPG & 7.9 RPG.

6th-D'Angelo Russell 

---19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, & 1.6 SPG. (At Ohio State University) 

BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers Select Larry Nance Jr. with Twenty-Seventh Pick in 2015 NBA Draft.

By Peyton Wesner

"With the twenty-seventh pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select Larry Nance Jr. from the University of Wyoming." 

Overcoming challenges is no new task to Larry Nance Jr.. During his Sophomore year of high school, the son of three-time NBA All-Star and fifteen-thousand point scorer Larry Nance was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. As a result, he receives infusions of medication every seven weeks just to have the energy to play basketball! Five years later, the six foot, nine inch, post player tore his ACL in the Feburary of his Junior season and had to fight his way back by enduring a grueling rehabilitation process. Tonight, he was rewarded for never wavering to his hardships. 

This past season, Nance Jr. posted numbers of 16.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in route to leading the Wyoming Cowboys to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2002. 

On offense, Nance Jr. is most effective when in catch and shoot situations as he made more than half of his attempts last season. Although, he is good at cleaning up teammates' misses, cutting to the basket, and running the floor in transition, Nance Jr. lacks conversions of post moves, such as the double drop step and the jump hook, that other big men like Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns have mastered. 

On defense, the Akron, Ohio, native claimed Co-Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors his Senior year as he showed outstanding skill guarding post players inside and outside of the paint. In addition, Nance Jr. is capable of defending bigger opponents on the wing, an attribute necessary when playing the small forward position in the NBA. 

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Jordan Clarkson

***2014-2015 All-Rookie First Team 

---11.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, & 3.5 APG.

SG-Kobe Bryant

---22.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, & 1.3 SPG.

SF-Nick Young

---13.4 PPG & 2.3 RPG.

PF-Julius Randle

---15.0 PPG & 10.4 RPG. (At University of Kentucky)

C-Jordan Hill 

---12.0 PPG & 7.9 RPG.

6th-D'Angelo Russell 

---19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, & 1.6 SPG. (At Ohio State University) 

BREAKING: Toronto Raptors Select Delon Wright with Twentieth Pick in 2015 NBA Draft.

By Peyton Wesner

"With the twentieth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Delon Wright from the University of Utah." 

From JUCO transfer to NBA draft pick two years later, Delon Wright, brother of current Portland Trailblazer Dorrell Wright,  brings a unique set of talents to Canada starting with his defense. The twenty-three year old has quick feet and excellent instincts, which allows him to get into passing lanes at moments that not only lead to steals but baskets on the offensive end of the floor as well.

Speaking about offense, the Los Angeles native is great at pentrating defensive gaps and passing to open shooters. During his Junior and Senior seasons at Utah, the point guard averaged 15.0 points per game to go along with 5.2 assists per game. Although his three point percentage may indicate it (35.6%), Wright does not shoot jump shots very well (30% shooting from outside the last two seasons) as it is a weakness of his. Clearly he is not the best scorer in the 2015 NBA Draft nor in the state of Utah (BYU's Tyler Haws), but he can put the "ball in the hole" thanks to his craftiness and getting to the charity stripe, where he shoots 83.6%.

2015-2016 Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Kyle Lowry

***2015 All-Star Game Starter for East 

---17.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.8 APG, & 1.6 SPG.

SG-DeMar DeRozan

---20.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, & 1.2 SPG.

SF-Terrence Ross

---9.8 PPG & 2.8 RPG.

PF-Patrick Patterson

---8.0 PPG & 5.3 RPG.

C-Jonas Valanciunas

---12.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, & 1.2 BPG.

6th-Louis Williams

***2014-2015 Sixth Man of the Year

---15.5 PPG, 2.1 APG, & 1.1 SPG. 

After being swept in the first round as the four seed in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, the question does not become "are the Raptors good" but "can Toronto win a playoff series?" The pieces to be an Eastern Conference contender are currently in the North with point guard Kyle Lowry, scorer DeMar DeRozen, and big man Jonas Valanciunas, yet victories in mid to late April seems to allude the organization. Tonight, General Manager Masai Ujiri traded away back-up point guard Grevis Vasquez for the forty-sixth pick in the draft, which was used to select UCLA's Norman Powell. What is the significance? By getting rid of Vasquez, a spot for more playing time has opened for Delon Wright, who may be a piece in the "contender puzzle" that Head Coach Dwayne Casey has been trying to solve.