Minor League Baseball: Picking a Double-A Team of the Year so Far

With a little less than two weeks left in the Southern League regular season, the Jackson Generals—the Seattle Mariners’ Double-A affiliate—have already clinched a playoff berth after a strong first half of the season. The team ran away with the North division title thanks to a 42-28 record, finishing seven games ahead of Huntsville Stars.

Overall, the Generals are 74-56 and six games ahead of Chattanooga Lookouts with 10 regular season contents remaining. And given the talent on their current roster, as well as the countless prospects already promoted to a higher minor-league level, it’s no surprise that they are the top Double-A team this season.

Their offense is loaded with power and leads the league with a .263 batting average, .740 OPS, 105 HR and 1745 total bases. Furthermore, right when one of their prospects received a promotion to either Triple-A or the major leagues, there has been a younger player ready to fill in and contribute immediately.

Currently, the Generals lineup is comprised of 3B Stefen Romero (.997 OPS, 40 RBI), 3B Nate Tenbrink (.969 OPS), 1B Rich Poythress (.866 OPS, 43 RBI), 3B/SS Brad Miller (.838 OPS), C Mike Zunino (1.140 OPS), OF Joseph Dunigan (.825 OPS, 24 HR, 68 RBI), OF Denny Almonte (.743 OPS, 49 RBI, 21 SB) and OF Chih-Hsien Chiang (.670 OPS).

Additionally, the team’s top position prospect, SS/2B Nick Franklin, posted an .896 OPS in 57 games at Jackson before a midseason promotion to Triple-A Tacoma.

On the mound, the Generals are equally as dominant thanks to a loaded starting rotation and hard-throwing, strikeout-oriented bullpen. Their 3.30 team ERA ranks as the best in the Southern League, while their 1.32 WHIP has them in a three-way tie along with Mississippi and Jacksonville.

RHP Brandon Maurer (9-1, 3.20 ERA), RHP Taijuan Walker (7-8, 4.22 ERA) and LHP James Paxton (8-4, 3.08 ERA) have anchored the rotation all season, and LHP Anthony Fernandez (4-2, 2.91 ERA) has served as a solid midseason addition. Acquired in the Brandon League deal at the trade deadline, RHP Logan Bawcom (3 SV, 10.13 K/9) has assumed a late-inning role in the bullpen.

The Generals have also reaped the rewards of housing so many elite prospects, the majority of whom have already been promoted to either Triple-A or the big leagues. 

LHP Danny Hultzen (8-3, 1.19 ERA), RHP Carter Capps (19 SV, 12.96 K/9), RHP Andrew Carraway (4-0, 2.61 ERA), RHP Stephen Pryor (7 SV, 13.50 K/9) and LHP Bobby LaFromboise (2 SV, 10.80 K/9) all made a significant impact at Double-A, respectively, and should be key players for the Mariners in 2013.

Over the course of the 2012 season, the Generals’ assemblage of prospects has made them one of the more exciting teams in the minor leagues. And even if they are swept in the first round of the upcoming Southern League playoffs, the team will still be regarded as the most impressive Double-A affiliate this year.