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Part of Grady Fuson’s job is to challenge players and keep their development at the highest level.
So to answer the question that’s on the minds of all fans, yes, the TinCaps’ roster will change. Fort Wayne starts the second half of the season today against South Bend at Parkview Field.
“The players in a way tell us when they are ready (for a promotion),” said Fuson, San Diego Padres vice president of scouting and player development, during a phone interview Tuesday. “Are there going to be some changes? Yes, there is. But that’s part of the development line. Hopefully the next group that comes through, they will pick up the slack and continue their development.”
The TinCaps captured the first-half Midwest League Eastern Division title with a franchise-best 45 wins for a half. Fuson was particularly impressed with the team’s strong finish. Fort Wayne won 13 of its final 16 games to finish two games ahead of West Michigan and earn a postseason berth.
“We are proud of what we have done,” Fuson said. “We put a good club in there, not only for Fort Wayne, but where we believed our players need to be. They’ve had a great first half, dominated and won the division.”
Anthony Bass, Nick Schmidt and Simon Castro have been at the top of a starting rotation Fuson said has gotten better as the year has progressed. Bass leads the Midwest League with a 2.14 ERA. Schmidt, a first-rounder in 2007 who missed all last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, has allowed one earned run in his last 31 innings. Mat Latos had a similar stretch (one run in 25 innings) before advancing to Double A.
“(Schmidt) probably could have been at a different level, but we wanted to make sure he got through all of his little arm things as he went through it. There are always some hiccups that come with Tommy John (surgery),” Fuson said.
“They feel good for a while and then all of a sudden it gets a little tight and then some hesitance in there and they are afraid to let it go. We had some down time where we sat him out, but ever since he’s come back, he’s been nails. The curveball has been great. Basically, right on par for where he needs to be.”
Fuson listed relievers Brad Brach and Zach Herr, both All-Stars, as surprises. Brach is tied for the league lead with 17 saves.
“We weren’t sure exactly what we had (in Herr). When you look at his first five or six outings in Fort Wayne, they were stupid good,” Fuson said.
Certainly, I was surprised with the consistency of Brad Brach. Out of necessity last year in Peoria we threw him in the closer role and he did a pretty good job of it. He’s taken off.”
Offensively, Fuson praised the “patience and discipline” shown at the plate by third baseman James Darnell (team-leading .329 average, 57 walks) and first baseman Matt Clark (team-highs 11 homers, 55 RBI). He said Sawyer Carroll (.316 average), the All-Star game’s MVP, has become more effective at using the whole field. Fuson expects to get more production out of first baseman Allan Dykstra, a first-rounder, and catcher Adam Zornes (.175 average).
“Dykstra really controls the strike zone; when he does swing the bat, I know he’s swinging at good pitches,” Fuson said. “There’s some mechanical things we’ve been working on very hard to clear up his bat path. Hitting .210 was not our expectation, but I’m hoping in the second half he puts it all together.”
