Rangers Farm Report: Games of Tuesday 12 July

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Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 4, at El Paso (SDG) 9
Round Rock: 12 hits, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 45-40, 4.5 GB

SP Tyson Miller: 1 IP, 2 H (2 HR), 5 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 35 P / 21 S, 5.10 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 16.50 ERA
LF Bubba Thompson: 2-4, HBP,.298/.350/.456
CF Ezequiel Duran: 2-5, 2B, HR (3), .246/.290/.474
3B Andy Ibanez: 5-5, .280/.344/.439

In case the Rangers want to make a move, here’s the 40-man options with days of rest in parentheses:

Jonathan Hernandez (2) — at the end of his extended rehab (barring another extension), seems the likely choice but would require a 40 move.

Nick Snyder (2) — has been fine in three outings since that scary game in Tacoma a month ago.

Taylor Hearn (4) — threw 76 pitches last Friday.

Yerry Rodriguez (3) — much better in the past month-plus, but most recent outing was ugly.

AJ Alexy (2) — has looked better in a relief role but hard to envision right now.

Josh Sborz (2) — rested but optioned just eight days ago, minimum for recall is 15.

John King (0) — pitched last night, also optioned seven days ago.

Tyson Miller and manager Matt Hagen were tossed in the 2nd for arguing a home run call. Miller had already given up a grand slam in the 1st.

Texas promoted catcher Matt Whatley to Round Rock. Whatley didn’t hit much at Frisco but is highly regarded for his rapport with pitchers. Usually, Texas’s minor league teams have “too many” catchers, but that wasn’t the case after last weekend. Both Sam Huff and Meibrys Viloria are in Arlington, and Yohel Pozo is on the inactive list, leaving Jack Kruger (experienced, capable) and Konnor Piotto (57 pro plate appearances) as the only backstops.

AA: Frisco 3, Midland (OAK) 8
Frisco: 8 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 7-6, 4 GB, 43-39 overall

SP Cody Bradford: 3.2 IP, 7 H (2 HR), 6 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 78 P / 50 S, 6.19 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 2-4, 2B, HR (8), .323/.367/.452
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, .281/.370/.447
C David Garcia: 2-4, 2B, .256/.295/.440

Cody Bradford’s strikeout rate is 22%. That’s not bad, roughly average for a Texas League starter, but well below last year’s 28% in AA and 33% in high-A. Those extra balls in play plus a few more walks are causing problems; his opposing OBP is 50 points higher than 2021. The heat might be as well. Scoring in the league is up a half-run over last year.

Jonathan Ornelas has tied last year’s eight homers in 21 fewer games. His isolated power isn’t any better because of fewer doubles and triples, but he’s hitting enough singles to raise his average 60 points.

High-A: Hickory 0, Wilmington (WAS) 6
Hickory: 2 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 6-10, 6 GB, 44-38 overall

SP TK Roby: 7 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 87 P / 55 S, 4.79 ERA
RP Destin Dotson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.08 ERA
2B Luisangel Acuna: 1-3, BB, SB (23), .305/.398/.477

Wilmington took advantage of John Matthews late (1 IP, 5 R, worst outing of the year by far). Seven innings is a career-high for TK Roby. Luisangel Acuna has no homers and four doubles in the last month, but he’s hitting .311 with a .392 OBP.

Low-A: Down East 6, Columbia (KAN) 4
Down East: 10 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 9-6, 3.5 GB, 42-39 overall

SP Gavin Collyer: 6 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 3 R, 0 BB, 7 SO, 90 P / 66 S, 3.42 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 4.76 ERA
2B Maximo Acosta: 2-4, HR (2), SB (25), .260/.348/.361
SS Cam Cauley: 2-3, BB, .195/.306/.252
C Efrenyer Narvaez: 2-3, HBP, .219/.275/.315

Down East scored the go-ahead and insurance runs in the 8th on a passed ball, fielder’s choice with no out recorded, and a bases-loaded walk.

Texas promoted OF Zion Bannister and IF Miguel Villarroel to Down East. Exclusively a left fielder so far in 2022, Bannister had batted .281/.465/.375 in ten games for the rookies. Villaroel, primarily a 1B with one or two games at the other infield spots, hit .351/.433/.509 in 15 games. Both turn 21 later this year. Four Wood Duck hitters are younger: Acosta, Cauley (youngest), Abi Ortiz, and Alejandro Osuna.

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD
AA: White
Hi-A: Vanasco
Lo-A: Teodo

Five Years Ago Yesterday
The system was off.