Follow the Prospects: Matt Cronin, LHP

[Slateman]

https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1686812080010051587?s=46&t=_Z-p2f0bZKf6ZfuOisokbg

Back surgery

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/08/nationals-prospect-matt-cronin-back-surgery.html

TalkNats pulled Cronin making the announcement himself on his Instagram feed.

“For those that don’t know, I had been dealing with pain in my left shoulder/arm for the last 2 years but could never seem to find anything wrong with them. That was up until about a month ago when we decided to have my spine checked out and found a large herniated disc at my C5-C6 level.”

of course, the Nats have not said anything yet, which I now believe is their policy on minor league injuries, at least until surgery. While Cronin will not pitch again this year, MLBTR suggest the Nats could free up a 40 man roster slot this season by calling him up, starting his service time, and putting him on the 60 day IL. The article notes that, despite his pain last year, he had a heck of a season at AA and AAA in 2022.

[imref]

DFA'd to clear a 40-man slot. I assume he accepts a minor league assignment. Only threw 14.1 innings last year (at AAA) posting a 5.04 ERA / 1.88 WHIP. He's 26.

[imref]

Guess who's back from the dead?

Via Nationals Player Development:

Matt Cronin struck out four batters for a five-out save last night. Cronin has tossed 13.1 straight scoreless innings and has 16 K/1 BB in 15.1 relief innings this year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Guess who's back from the dead?

Via Nationals Player Development:

if there's hope for him, ma7ybe there's hope for Henry. Or Denaburg

[Slateman]

if there's hope for him, ma7ybe there's hope for Henry. Or Denaburg

Henry is back too

[imref]

if there's hope for him, ma7ybe there's hope for Henry. Or Denaburg

Denaburg has been quietly putting together a solid season as a reliever in Fredricksburg. Not spectacular, but at this point he just needs to show that he has something and can stay healthy.

Cronin is at A+, they need to move him up and see if he can get back to where he was

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 26
Team rank: Unranked
Current level: A+

June recap

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

0-0

|

7.1

|

7

|

3

|

0.00

|

1.10

|

11

|

1

|

45.8%

|

4.2%

|

0.27

Year-to-date

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

0-0

|

17.0

|

14

|

3

|

0.53

|

1.92

|

18

|

2

|

30.0%

|

3.3%

|

0.53

[JCA-CrystalCity]

don't sleep on this guy. had 5 more good outings between 7/1 and 7/13, still at A+. Has not pitched since then, so hopefully it's not more injury issues. I am waiting for him to get back to an age-appropriate roster like AAA to see if he's back.

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 26
Team rank: Unranked
Current level: A+

July recap

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

2-0

|

8.2

|

9

|

5

|

1.04

|

0.62

|

13

|

0

|

43.3%

|

0.0%

|

0.35

Year-to-date

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

2-0

|

25.2

|

23

|

8

|

0.70

|

1.43

|

31

|

2

|

34.4%

|

2.2%

|

0.47

[Section214]

2 earned runs on the season, why is he still in Wilmington?

[Smithian]

Is Matt Cronin ...... still a prospect?

[Smithian]

2 earned runs on the season, why is he still in Wilmington?

Agreed. Challenge him in Rochester. And if he is pitching well, get him up to the majors this year. See what you have.

[imref]

Back on the road again to Harrisburg.

[Slateman]

2 innings, 3 Ks, 1 hit at Harrisburg

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 26
Team rank: Unranked
Current level: AA

August recap (2 levels)

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

0-0

|

13.2

|

12

|

1

|

2.63

|

1.95

|

19

|

6

|

31.7%

|

10.0%

|

1.46

Year-to-date (2 levels)

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

2-0

|

39.1

|

35

|

9

|

1.37

|

1.57

|

50

|

8

|

33.3%

|

5.3%

|

0.81

[nobleisthyname]

Age: 27
Team rank: Unranked
Current level: AA

September recap

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

0-0

|

5.0

|

5

|

1

|

1.80

|

3.58

|

4

|

3

|

19.0%

|

14.3%

|

1.40

Season recap (2 levels)

W-L

|

IP

|

G

|

SV

|

ERA

|

FIP

|

SO

|

BB

|

K%

|

BB%

|

WHIP

2-0

|

44.1

|

40

|

10

|

1.42

|

1.80

|

54

|

11

|

31.6%

|

6.4%

|

0.88

[zimm_da_kid]

Gotta think he gets added to the 40 man and gets a shot in spring training

[JCA-CrystalCity]

AFL will be important for him. I think he might be grabbed in Rule 5 if he's not protected. A lefty reliever can be useful for a year and spotted in. But if Brzykcy was protected last year, it seems the team may err on the side of protecting bullpen arms. I think the holes in the bullpen also work in his favor, but he's going to be something like the 4 lefty reliever on the pecking order.

[nobleisthyname]

he's going to be something like the 4 lefty reliever on the pecking order.

Between the rotation and the bullpen the Nats are pretty loaded with lefty arms.

[imref]

Final AFL stats: 8IP, 7.88 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 4Ks, 6BBs

[imref]

Taken by Seattle in the 5th round of the Rule 5 minor league draft. Will lock and reopen if he's returned at some point.