Baseball America Prospect Report — October 4, 2021

There’s always a tinge of sadness that comes with the end of every MiLB season. It will be six months before there once again is the promise of games to enjoy each and every night.

But as I get older, the other aspect I always can’t help but think about are the players who played their final games this week (and a couple of weeks ago in the case of all but Triple-A).

For a few players, the decision is theirs. Some players will decide that this is the year the dream dies (or in a few cases, that their careers are over after at some point they reached the majors). They’ll decide it’s time to get on with their life’s work, whatever that will be, and they will go out on their own terms.

But for the vast majority of players who just had their final inning or their final at-bat, it will be a much harsher divorce. Some will get called this winter and told they are being released. Others will be minor league free agents who begin the offseason hopeful only to find that no team calls. And others will head to spring training only to be released before the 2022 season begins.

But whether these players' final games come on their own terms or by surprise, they are among the very few baseball players to reach the minors. It’s remarkable that reaching Double-A or Triple-A can be seen as failing to achieve a childhood dream when reaching that level puts a player among the top 2,500 baseball players in the world.

So while you get ready for the MLB playoffs, also give a thought for the minor league players whose dreams may have just ended.

Sunday’s Stars

Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Tigers: Torkelson hit his 11th Triple-A home run and his 30th of the season overall between three levels. Torkelson’s first pro season ended with him hitting .267/.383/.552.

Jarren Duran, CF, Red Sox: Duran struggled mightily in his MLB debut, but his Triple-A season was better, both before his promotion and after his demotion. Duran went 3-for-5 on the final day of the season, raising his Triple-A line to .258/357/.516.

Jose Marmolejos, 1B, Mariners: The final stretch gave Marmelejos a chance to finish a season to remember. Demoted back from Seattle, Marmelejos got just enough plate appearances to qualify league leaders. He won the Triple-A West sabermetric Triple Crown. He led the league in batting average (.338), on-base percentage (.439) and slugging percentage (.672). He also hit his 26th home run of the season on Sunday, finishing fifth in the league in home runs.

HITTERS

Prospect Report: Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene Hit Their Stride For Tigers

Torkelson and Greene tallied multi-hit games, Hunter Brown pitched three scoreless innings and more.

PITCHERS