Getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure and simply hitting the bottom operating is much more tough than we are inclined to suppose. Oh positive, in the long term, most guys have a tendency to come back again from Tommy John trying kind of like they did earlier than the harm ultimately, which may make it laborious to recollect how rocky the street again might be for lots of fellows.
We have gotten a number of examples of that this season. Sandy Alcantara has struggled mightily, Felix Bautista hasn’t been the identical dominant power, and Shane McClanahan hasn’t even been in a position to get again on a mound after coping with a separate arm harm; the jury is out on Eury Perez, nevertheless it hasn’t been an overwhelmingly dominant first couple of begins again thus far. All of these guys ought to be good Fantasy choices sooner or later, however they have not stepped on the mound and instantly dominated like we hoped and, frankly, anticipated.
It is essential to maintain expectations in verify for guys getting back from main accidents, in different phrases. And that is very true for somebody like Emmet Sheehan, who hardly has a observe document corresponding to any of these different guys, with simply 60.1 innings of a 4.92 ERA to his title on the MLB degree again in 2023. However he gave us an terrible lot of causes to get enthusiastic about along with his season debut towards the Padres Wednesday.
Making his first begin since September of 2023, Sheehan solely pitched 4 innings on 65 pitches, however he dominated in these 4 innings. He allowed one run on three hits, whereas putting out six and, maybe most significantly (in case you’ve been watching Alcantara carefully), zero walks.
Sheehan’s velocity was principally proper the place it was previous to the harm – his changeup was notably up 2.5 mph, with a special motion profile that means it is a wholly new pitch – however the strong command was most likely the largest factor. It wasn’t pinpoint management, however he usually did job protecting the fastball up and the changeups down; there have been a couple of sliders in the course of the strike zone, which led to some loud contact, in order that’s one place to enhance in his subsequent outing.
Sheehan wasn’t excellent, however he appeared fairly good. He compelled 10 swinging strikes on 65 pitches whereas flashing a formidable four-pitch combine, and that was coming off a rehab task the place he struck out 21 in 11.1 innings of labor. And, with the Dodgers‘ accidents within the rotation, there must be room for him to stay round for so long as he deserves it.
Is Sheehan a must-add pitcher coming off this begin? I would not go that far; the Dodgers are going to watch out along with his workload, so I would not count on many high quality begins, which limits his upside in factors leagues. And people are typically shallower, with 12-team leagues usually rostering solely round 250 gamers complete. In deeper leagues than that, I am seeking to take a flier on Sheehan and the upside he has proven. Stick him on the bench for his subsequent scheduled begin in Colorado and let’s examine if he can construct on it.
Here is what else you’ll want to learn about from Wednesday’s motion round MLB:
Thursday’s waiver-wire targets
Chase Burns, SP, Reds (61%) – Burns made his second begin at Triple-A Wednesday and continued to appear to be the perfect pitching prospect in baseball. He racked up 17 whiffs on 88 pitches, whereas averaging 98.5 mph on his four-seamer and producing 12 whiffs on 24 swings along with his slider. He has 14 strikeouts in his first 12.1 innings of labor at Triple-A, and at this level, I am simply undecided he’ll be challenged till he will get to the majors. He has thrown 66 pitches this season after throwing 100 in faculty in 2024, so there must be loads of runway for him to make it by to the tip of the season, and the Reds really want him with Hunter Greene on the IL. I believe we’ll see him earlier than the All-Star break, and I do know Scott White agrees with me – in his newest Prospects Report column, he has upgraded Burns to be the highest pitching prospect to stash from the minors.
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (74%) – It is all occurring. Kurtz homered for the third time in 4 video games Wednesday (he solely had a double Tuesday) and has now homered eight occasions in his previous 20 video games. Kurtz was a vastly hyped prospect who acquired off to a sluggish begin (would not be the primary), however the upside to be a distinction maker has all the time been there, and it appears like he is figuring it out. I do know being affected person with younger gamers after they wrestle might be robust, however Kurtz is the type of expertise you must completely be shopping for into when it appears like he is figuring it out. And it does.
Jo Adell, OF, Angels (52%) – As Jay Jaffe wrote on FanGraphs.com earlier this week, Adell is starting to figure it out. He confirmed flashes final season, however the underlying talent set appears even stronger thus far this season, and the manufacturing is beginning to catch up. He hit one other homer Wednesday, his twelfth because the begin of Could, a stretch throughout which he’s hitting .240 (okay, that is not nice) however with a .326 OBP and .547 slugging share, and even two steals. Adell is hitting the ball laborious and has the bottom strikeout price of his profession, resulting in a career-best .264 anticipated batting common. If he can get there whereas persevering with to hit for energy, there’s some critical utility right here. At the least whereas he is sizzling, why not add him and see if it is for actual?
Addison Barger, 3B, Blue Jays (60%) – Barger did not homer Wednesday, however he did nonetheless handle an enormous recreation, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and a stroll. And he did it whereas beginning towards a lefty, one thing the Blue Jays are letting him do extra of currently as he continues to be a key a part of their lineup. He’s hitting .275/.335/.515 for the season, which is spectacular sufficient, however his underlying numbers counsel he is really deserved even higher than that, because of a 93.7 mph common exit velocity and 51.2% hard-hit price, really large numbers. It is nonetheless a restricted pattern dimension, however with the enjoying time issues melting away with each extra-base hit, I simply do not see a lot cause to not purchase in, simply in case that is for actual.
