Triple-A
Dan Gamache
Dan Gamache was taken in the 6th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has climbed all the way up the ladder and even had an invitation to spring training this year after hitting .312 in 2015. He’s spent all of 2016 at the Triple-A level for the Pirates hitting .264 with a .369 on-base-percentage in just 103 plate appearances. However, he’s hitting .290 against lefties so it’s possible they Pirates are being to look at him as a left-handed bat off the bench.
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Casey McElroy
Taken in the same year as Gamache, Casey McElroy was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 11th round in 2011. He has also hit well everywhere he’s been as he moved all the way through the system and up to Triple-A in 2015. He’s really hitting the ball well this season for the El Paso Chihuahuas. Through 178 at-bats he’s batting .309 with a .375 on-base-percentage to go along with 28 runs and 25 RBIs. McElroy has proven his versatility playing at second base, third base and shortstop all in 2016. He could be a very reliable utility player for the Padres pretty soon.
Grant Dayton
Grant Dayton was taken in the 11th round of the 2010 draft by the Florida Marlins. He has since switched teams and is now in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization where he’s made it all the way to their Triple-A team in Oklahoma City. In 18.2 innings at the Triple-A level this season he has a 2.89 ERA with 34 strikeouts, giving him an amazing 16.4 strikeout rate. He started the season in Double-A where he also had a strikeout rate over 16 through 15.2 innings. During his seven seasons in the minors he has a career K/9 rate of 11.4, which is more than good enough to be a major league pitcher. If Dayton keeps striking out batters at that rate the Dodgers will have no choice but to give him a chance in the big leagues.
Next: Major League Baseball