The Chicago White Sox have designated veteran right-hander Mat Latos for assignment and promoted pitching prospect Tyler Danish to the major league roster. Here's a quick look at the newest member of the Pale Hose staff.
Danish was a second round pick in 2013 from high school in Plant City, Florida. He had an excellent 2014 season (2.08 ERA, 103/33 K/BB in 128 innings in A-ball) but was less impressive on reaching Double-A in 2015 (4.50 ERA, 90/60 K/BB in 142 innings, 175 hits allowed).
From the 2016 Baseball Prospect Book
Tyler Danish, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Bats: R Throws: R HT: 6-2 WT: 190 DOB: September 12, 1994
2014: Grade B-; 2015: Grade B
I was aggressive with a Grade B for Tyler Danish last year but his mediocre 2015 season provided ammunition for the skeptics. In 2014 he showed a nasty low-90s sinker, a plus slider, and a solid-average change-up to go with good command, a deceptive delivery, and intense mound presence. He still showed much of that in Double-A: competitiveness, delivery funk, lots of grounders (1.85 GO/AO) and a change-up which improved into the plus range. However, his fastball and slider each lost a step, his velocity down in the 88-90 range and the slider losing enough sharpness that some observers rated it as below average after seeing it as plus in ‘14. As a result he was a lot more hittable (for both frequency and distance) and the pattern persisted all year. Odds of a rebound? Assuming that there is no underlying injury problem, Danish seems like the type of guy who can adjust and adapt, but even before ’15 many observers felt his stuff would fit better in the bullpen than in the rotation and the Birmingham run supports their argument. I still like him, but last year’s grade was too enthusiastic. Grade C+.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY
Danish's 2016 season is superficially similar to 2015: in 12 starts for Double-A Birmingham he has a 4.42 ERA in 75 innings, with 71 hits allowed and a 47/16 K/BB, 1.81 GO/AO. The ERA and his strikeout rate are virtually identical to last year, but his control is much better, his BB/9 dropping from 3.80 to 1.90, and he hasn't given up as many hits. The latter could be a matter of better luck on BABIP, but the control improvement is undeniable.
The scouting reports haven't changed much: he relies on sink, deception, location, and excellent makeup, projecting as a number four starter or perhaps a sound middle reliever.
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