Big pitching news down on the farm and at the big league level (well, also involving the minor leagues), so I’m gonna drop them quick-hitter on you (because, full disclosure, I’m mid-errands for the family).
Marcus Stroman and Drew Smyly are both set to begin rehab assignments imminently:
Smyly figures to need multiple minor league starts, though Stroman says he’s hoping he’ll need only one.
Meanwhile, two of the most successful minor league pitchers in the farm system in June just got bumped up a level:
Neither Javier Assad nor Luis Devers seemed to have much left to do at his current level, so these promotions sound great to me. Assad, in particular, has put himself on the big league radar for 2023.
Now the question: with Assad vacating a spot in the Smokies rotation, and with Devers getting the bump up to High-A South Bend, does one of the members of their rotation get the commensurate bump up to Double-A Tennessee? D.J. Herz? Jordan Wicks?