MWL Fort Wayne TinCaps

Padres Add Top Prospects to Fort Wayne Roster

August 28, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The San Diego Padres announced on Saturday that outfielder Robert Hassell III has been transferred from Low-A Lake Elsinore to High-A Fort Wayne. Hassell was the Padres' first round selection (eighth overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft. Infielder Euribiel Angeles and catcher Brandon Valenzuela also have been called up to the TinCaps from the Storm.

Hassell, who turned 20 this month, is the No. 3 prospect in San Diego's organization, according to MLB.com. He's also rated as the 47th best prospect in all of baseball. MLB.com ranks the 19-year-old Angeles as the 13th best Padres prospect and the 20-year-old Valenzuela at No. 19.

In 92 games with Lake Elsinore this year, Hassell hit .323 with a .415 on-base percentage and .897 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). Along the way, he hit seven home runs with 65 RBIs. He also showcased his speed, stealing 31 bases. Of his 118 hits, 51 were for extra bases, including a Low-A West-leading 31 doubles. He started 84 games for the Storm in center field and two in right.

Hassell is from Franklin, Tennessee, and attended Independence High School in Thompson's Station. He was a two-time winner of the Gatorade Player of the Year Award in Tennessee. During his junior season at Independence in 2019, Hassell hit .423 with 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. He also excelled on the mound, striking out 113 hitters and accumulating a 1.07 ERA in 59 innings, with his fastball reaching 93 miles per hour. His senior campaign was cut short last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the 2019 18-U World Cup in South Korea, Hassell hit .514 with a 1.434 OPS over nine games to lead USA's 18-U National Team in nearly every offensive category. Hassell was named the International Player of the Year following his mammoth performance. Even earlier in Hassell's baseball career, he shined as a little leaguer in South Nashville, with his team making it all the way to the 2014 Little League World Series in Pennsylvania.

While Hassell ranked third in the eight-team Low-A West in batting average, Angeles was leading the league at .343 and Valenzuela ranked ninth at .307. Meanwhile, Hassell was second in OBP with Angeles sixth (.397) and Valenzuela ninth (.389, best among catchers). Defensively, Valenzuela was also leading the league with 24 caught stealings.

The trio of prospects joins the TinCaps with 20 games remaining in the regular season. Fort Wayne has eight home games left at Parkview Field, including tonight and tomorrow versus the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds affiliate), and then Sept. 7-12 against the Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland A's affiliate). Tickets remain available at TinCapsTickets.com.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (48-52) vs. Dayton Dragons (52-48)

Saturday, Aug. 28 (6:35 p.m.) | Parkview Field | Fort Wayne, Ind.

Game 5 of 6 in Series | Home Game 53 of 60 | Game 101 of 120

LHP Noel Vela (3.06 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Bonnin (High-A Debut)

TV: Comcast Network 81 & MiLB.TV | Radio: 1380 The Fan & 100.9 FM + TinCapsRadio.com

LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps and Dragons split a doubleheader. In the continuation of the game suspended by rain Thursday, the 'Caps won, 4-2. But after leading 2-0 in the nightcap, Fort Wayne ultimately fell, 6-4.

TRANSACTIONS: The Padres have added the following top prospects to Fort Wayne's roster from the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm - 20-year-old outfielder Robert Hassell (MLB.com's No. 3 Padres prospect and No. 47 in all of baseball), 19-year-old infielder Euribiel Angeles (No. 13), and 20-year-old catcher Brandon Valenzuela (No. 19)... Meanwhile, first baseman Yorman Rodriguez has been transferred to Triple-A El Paso, catcher Tyler Malone to Lake Elsinore, and lefty reliever Mason Feole has been placed on the 7-Day Injured List.

PITCHING IMPROVING: Sunday @ West Michigan marked the 5th shutout victory for the TinCaps this season. Over their last 46 games since July 7, TinCaps pitchers have the lowest ERA out of all 30 teams in High-A at 3.53, as the team has gone 25-21. Over their first 54 games, they ranked 9th/12 in High-A Central at 5.25, and had a 23-31 record. In this time, 'Caps pitchers also have allowed the fewest homers in High-A: 21.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: This is the final fifth of the High-A Central schedule. The regular season ends on Sept. 19. The clubs with the 2 best records in the 12-team HAC will meet in a best-of-5 championship. Entering today, the Quad Cities River Bandits are in first place at 66-33. The Cedar Rapids Kernels have the second-best record at 56-44. The TinCaps are 8 back of the Kernels with 20 games remaining. In the East Division, for bragging rights, Fort Wayne is 6 back of the Lake County Captains (54-46).

DOUBLES LEADER: As a team, the TinCaps lead the HAC in doubles with 187. Individually, outfielder Tirso Ornelas leads the league in 2B with 30, while infielder Justin Lopez ranks 10th with 19. Ornelas also has the 5th highest contact rate in the league at about 92%.

PATIENT APPROACH: The TinCaps lead the HAC in free passes (walks and hit by pitches), averaging about 5 per game. Fort Wayne is walking in approximately 12% of its plate appearances. The rest of the league has walked at a 10% rate. For context, the Yankees lead MLB in BB% (10.7%). The Padres rank 2nd (9.9%).

BIG MONTH FOR LITTLE: In 19 games in August, outfielder Grant Little has hit .300 with a .424 OBP and .800 OPS. On Aug. 4 @ Great Lakes he broke the franchise single-game record for stolen bases with 5. On Aug. 20 @ West Michigan, he hit his first MiLB home run.

LOPEZ LOCKS IN: Infielder Justin Lopez got off to a slow start in August, but over his last 11 games since the 13th, he's hit .350 with a .395 OBP and .820 OPS. Lopez has 3 doubles (1 should have been a HR) and 8 RBIs in the stretch.

CATCH 'EM ALL: Adam Kerner leads High-A Central catchers in runners caught stealing with 26. He's done that in 49 starts behind the plate.

REY RUNS: Reinaldo Ilarraza ranks 5th in the HAC in stolen bases (32).

CLOSE CALLS: The TinCaps are 13-8 in games decided by 1 run, and 9-12 in 2-run games... The 'Caps are 3-2 in extra-innings.

260 TO THE SHOW: 53 former Fort Wayne players have appeared in the big leagues so far this season, including All-Stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Trea Turner. Since the franchise was founded in 1993, a total of 197 past players have ascended to The Show.

NL WILD CARD RACE: Fort Wayne's parent club, the Padres, trail Dayton's parent club, the Reds, by 2 games for the second NL wild card.

Attached:

- Fort Wayne Updated Roster, Game Notes & Release

- Dayton Updated Roster & Game Notes

- Tonight's Starting Lineups

Check out the Fort Wayne TinCaps Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 28, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central