Double-A Transition Monitor: Carlos Triunfel and Lonnie Chisenhall

by John Sickels on Sep 14, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

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U.S. Futures All-Star Lonnie Chisenhall of the Cleveland Indians at bat during the 2010 XM All-Star Futures Game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 11 2010 in Anaheim California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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Double-A Transition Monitor:

Lonnie Chisenhall,3B, Cleveland Indians: Chisenhall first got to Double-A in August of 2009, hitting .183/.238/.387 in 93 at-bats for Akron. This was compared to the .276/.346/.492 mark he posted at High-A Kinston before his promotion, but he was just 20 when promoted last year and no one was surprised that he was a bit overmatched. Returning to Akron this year, he hit .278/.351/.450 with 22 doubles, 17 homers, 46 walks, and 77 strikeouts in 460 at-bats, giving him a +10 percent OPS, somewhat down from the +18 he posted in the Carolina League, but at least above average.
    His defensive stats were mediocre, but at least better than what he did in '09 in terms of reliability, increasing his fielding % from .915 to .929. We'll see what Total Zone comes up with when it comes out.
    Chisenhall's biggest offensive weakness is a sharp platoon split: .234/.320/.383 against lefties, .301/.367/.484 against right-handers. Overall his numbers are pretty good and he made a decent transition, but the scouting reports on him still seem more glowing than the statistics. I gave him a B+ in the book but might drop that slightly to Grade B.

Carlos Triunfel, SS, Seattle Mariners: Carlos Triunfel has been living on his youth and scouting reports for three years now, but at some point he's got to produce. Apparently that wasn't going to be in 2010: he hit .257/.286/.332 in 129 games for Double-A West Tennessee, with 13 walks and 54 strikeouts in 470 at-bats. Although scouts still praise his bat speed, his swing mechanics don't translate his strength into power, and his extreme impatience doesn't help. His defense is still a problem too; he made 31 errors with a horrible 3.81 range factor, granted RF is a flawed stat, but it reflects reports that while he has a strong arm, he lacks the quickness for shortstop. Of course, if he moves to third base the pressure on his bat will increase.
    Reasons for optimism? Triunfel is still just 20 years old, he may have still been shaking off rust from missing almost all of 2009 with injury, and his strikeout rate is low. Hope is not lost, but I gave him a B- last year and that's down to at least a C+ now and maybe a C.

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Read More: Carlos Triunfel (SS - SEA), Lonnie Chisenhall (3B - CLE), Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners

Comments

One thing to keep in mind with Chisenhall

is the shoulder issue he had early in the year. His numbers since the start of June once he was healthy are .278/.351/.500 with 16 doubles, 16 HR and a 35/61 K/BB ratio in 382 PA’s.

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by gatling on Sep 14, 2025 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

and even better towards the end of the year. He’s a top 25-30 propsect for me, which would certainly put him in my B+ category.

by BryceHarper on Sep 14, 2025 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Same here

though he might crack my top 20. I know the splits aren’t too pretty, but he’s maintaining his plate discipline(8.5% BB rate vs. LHP and 8.8% overall, 15.3% K/PA vs. LHP and 14.7% overall). I don’t want to write it off as unlucky because of sample size, but his BABIP vs. LHP is pretty low(.234 this year, .267 last year). It’s entirely possible he’ll never hit well against lefties because his GB% spikes dramatically against them which could mean he makes weak contact against them in general. He does get a hold of a pitch now and then against them though, hitting 10 HR in less than 250 AB’s vs. LHP, so maybe there is some hope there?

I have to say that unless we get really negative scouting reports on his defense this fall, I can’t get on board with a grade reduction.

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by gatling on Sep 14, 2025 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I tihnk that top-20 is a little much

I mean, I’m a pretty big Chisenhall supporter in my own right, but I’m not sure that I’m ready to project so much of him that I could justify putting him in my top-20.

Obviously the swing is pretty and the numbers have been there since June, but I think that we could put together a list of 20 prospects that would generally be considered better than Lonnie.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Sep 14, 2025 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really sure it takes that much projection

He posted a wOBA of .376 last year and .360 this year(with the shoulder issue). I think he can achieve those numbers in the majors with potential for more at his peak. If he’s a neutral defender at 3B those wOBA numbers would put him at ~4 wins or so.

I’m not saying he’s a lock to be inside my top 20, but I don’t see a huge difference from say #19 to #27 or something like that. I counted up 18 players from the end of season grade thread that I graded that could rank ahead of Chisenhall, though some of those could change based on offseason scouting reports.

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by gatling on Sep 14, 2025 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

shoulder

I’d forgotten about the shoulder injury, and it needs to be factored in. I’ll see what final scouting reports say before making the Grade B or B+ call. Keep in mind that a Grade B is still a strong grade from me, it means he has a good chance to be a regular player.

by John Sickels on Sep 14, 2025 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's a pretty fair call

I lean towards giving him the B+, given the overall skill set and solid performance at the Double-A level in the last few months. But I don’t think giving him a B would be any sort of problem, although I get the vibe that gatling would disagree.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Sep 14, 2025 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless the scouting reports

show his defense is an issue, I wouldn’t see a reason to reduce his grade. The shoulder injury doesn’t appear to be a chronic one and his numbers once he came off the DL were as strong or stronger than his numbers last year. I understand a B is a strong grade from John, but I wouldn’t ding him that much for the shoulder injury when he appears to be fully healed.

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by gatling on Sep 14, 2025 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

He was actually supposed

to go to the AFL but both Chisenhall and the Indians felt it would be better to rehab the shoulder wihich is still bothering him so Phelps was sent instead. The shoulder also accounts for the large number of throwing errors.

by sdtribefan on Sep 15, 2025 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

He is one of the higher B+’s for me. He will most definitely get top 20 consideration (I would bet on him making it).

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by jar75 on Sep 14, 2025 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

So Chisenhall ahead of Freeman then?

I’m not going to get this thread off track by arguing it, but I really struggle to see that. Freeman’s bat is already making up the positional adjustment at a higher level while being a year younger.

by nixa37 on Sep 14, 2025 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, I would take Chisenhall over Freeman

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by jar75 on Sep 14, 2025 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough

I still think you are over-penalizing 1B, but I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on that one.

by nixa37 on Sep 14, 2025 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

John - do you think that people overrated Triunfel in the first place?

Obviously the scouting reports find a lot of things to like, but at his performance-level peak he was putting up a .287/.336/.406 line with a 6.3 BB%, 10.8% BB%, and a .119 isolated power as an 18-year-old in Advanced Single-A… but it was done in High Desert.

Obviously the contact ability was impressive for someone of that age, but there were clear issues about his defense at shortstop and his power was underwhelming. Do you think this is a situation where Triunfel was maybe a bit overrated in the first place, or has he simply not developed remotely like anyone expected/hoped?

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Sep 14, 2025 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

That wasn't his peak.

His peak was the year before that. The numbers you quoted were a below-average season in the Cali league (Cali league 2008 averaged .273/.340/.412). The performance that put him on the map was his above average debut in the MWL the year before that. He hit .309/.342/.388 against a league average of .255/.324/.372.

by slamcactus on Sep 14, 2025 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Err.. I disagree

You’re talking about a 164 PA sample where he put up 3.0% BB% and 14.0% K%, which he followed up with a poorer overall line once called up. I’m talking about a 479 PA sample where he put up a 6.3% BB% and a 10.8% K%, at the higher level that he previously had somewhat struggled with.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Sep 14, 2025 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

It was a small sample...

but it’s also what drove the hype in the first place. That’s the only time he’s ever been above average anywhere. He was below average in the Cal League at large in 2008, and that’s before even considering high desert. It was a very disappointing season.

by slamcactus on Sep 14, 2025 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Case in point...

BA ranked Triunfel #62 overall coming off his 2007. After ’08 he fell to #89, and after that he was off the list entirely. It was also on the back of his 2007 campaign that Keith Law (who has always liked him more than others) suggested Triunfel might be the best prospect in baseball.

You’re entirely right that his 2007 wasn’t a very good performance, but his above-average line in the MWL was the best performance he’s ever demonstrated in the minors, and the basis for people hyping him in the first place. No one, and I mean NO ONE, was happy with his 2008 season.

by slamcactus on Sep 14, 2025 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I would say it's more than that.

Maybe a bit overrated, but lots of projection+missing a full season with injury+questions about attitude+always be younger than the league… its a recipe for not living up to expectations and being called “overrated”

by Humbled Fan on Sep 14, 2025 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

It's easy for scouts to overrate guys with good tools, and Triunfel has them.

But it’s like Halman in a way… lots of tools, but the learned skills are coming along slower. Having great bat speed, hand-eye coordination, and power are mostly natural abilities. Making contact, recognizing pitches, plate discipline, etc are all skills that are learned as you play.

This is, of course, assuming you aren’t blind like I am and would have a hard time learning pitch recognition and plate discipline because you can’t see dick.

I’m not giving up on Triunfel yet, though I’m not sure what his upside is at this point.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Sep 14, 2025 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

If I were Triunfel, I'd work on finding a way to prove yourself at SS because he loses almost all of his upside in my mind if he moves to 3B.

by Humbled Fan on Sep 14, 2025 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Impressive use of all three singular pronouns right there.

by limozeen on Sep 14, 2025 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

The other thing is that Triunfel is a high contact, free swinging kind of hitter.

Which means his slash lines are going to live or die based on his BABIP. If more balls fall in, he looks good. If more don’t, he looks bad. It’s a natural broad result spectrum that seems to plague most hitters that use this approach.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Sep 14, 2025 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

His "tools" ---

See, I’ve never been a believer in Triunfel, namely because he doesn’t actually have good “tools.” He has two plus tools - his “hit” tool is good, resulting in good contact rates, and his arm is good. Everything else is pretty suspect. He’s been a below average runner since he was 17, his defense is pretty lousy, and he’s never shown even average raw power. That’s not a great tools package. It’s a great swing and a good arm and ZERO production.

My biggest problem with Triunfel is he hasn’t really improved in any way whatsoever in his four seasons as a pro. That sucks.

by slamcactus on Sep 14, 2025 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

triunfel

A LOT of Triunfel’s attraction to scouts was that he was so young for his leagues. But this is just one factor among many that needs to be considered…sometimes ARTL gets overrated.

by John Sickels on Sep 14, 2025 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Among Seattle's crop for the last several years..

…Triunfel has been the most untouchable during a period where the Ms have pulled off a lot of trades involving solid young players while Triunfel was in the organization.

Does this hurt them that he hasn’t produced yet? Are they all-in on this player? Can they afford him not reaching his cieling?

by basemonkey on Sep 14, 2025 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah..

There were rumblings during the Bedard talks, and Triunfel was one of the players in the failed Felix Hernandez-Adrian Gonzalez-Clay Buchholz Bonanza that was reported last year. Obviously those rumors are still simply rumors, but those are the only times that he’s ever come up on MLBTR.

And one of the reasons that I love looking at MLBTR’s archives? Stuff like this, a report passed along by MLBTR referencing Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider:

He says the O’s want Bailey, Votto, Cueto, and Edwin Encarnacion [in exchange for Orioles lefty Erik Bedard].

Heh.

I like baseball.
I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Sep 14, 2025 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Saw Chisenahll play and reminded me a bit of Mike Lowell

by Bravesin07 on Sep 15, 2025 5:56 AM EDT reply actions

Triunfel has no place in the Mariners organization with Jack Z at the helm

Zdurenciek (whatever) loves guys with great batting eyes. Smoak and Ackley are exhibits A and B of how much this administration loves that talent. Triunfel is the complete opposite. He’s a remnant of the Bavasi regime. The best thing for him would be a good start to 2011 so he has enough value for the Mariners to ship him to a system that likes that type of player.

by saltydog75 on Sep 15, 2025 10:44 AM EDT reply actions

There are many ways to be a productive major league ballplayer and Jack Z looks for talent, not a specific talent.

He probably hasn’t traded Triunfel yet because he still sees talent in him. Aside Morrow, I don’t think Jack has really traded superior talent for inferior talent.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Sep 15, 2025 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Morrow for League...?

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by alskor on Sep 15, 2025 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn't he mention Morrow?

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I write for Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times Fantasy

by Satchel Price on Sep 15, 2025 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Whoops.

Don’t know how I missed that. Need to tune up the old reading skills.

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twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Sep 15, 2025 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

"no place in the organization?"

There are a lot of “places” in the organization. Between the major league club, 7 stateside affiliates and both DSL and VSL teams, that’s about 340 “places” in the organization.

Triunfel doesn’t have any “place” in the future plans of any organization right now, because he doesn’t really possess any major league skills. His swing is nice and quick, but that’s pretty much it. He has failed to improve for three consecutive years, and he’s starting to run out of time to do so.

by slamcactus on Sep 16, 2025 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions