Texas’s MiLB OPS+ leaders entering last night’s action (min. 2 PA per team game):
153 — Osuna, A (Lo-A): .316/.403/.458
139 — Acuna, L (Hi-A): .310/.407/.489
137 — Duran, E (AA/AAA): .310/.354/.579
129 — Zavala, A (Hi-A): .272/.423/.430
125 — Galan, Y (Lo-A): .233/.325/.442
123 — Hernandez, E (AAA): .295/.364/.546
123 — Carter, E (Hi-A): .267/.366/.474
121 — Mateo, D (Lo-A): .282/.330/.424
119 — Saggese, T (Hi-A): .302/.353/.473
117 — Martinez, J (AA): .268/.382/.449
116 — Ornelas, J (AA): .323/.370/.459
115 — Strahm, K (AA): .286/.411/.406
115 — Hair, T (AA): .245/.306/.529
112 — Harris, D (AA): .261/.349/.468
111 — Acosta, M (Lo-A): .264/.352/.362
110 — Hauver, T (Hi-A): .220/.379/.404
108 — Crim, B (AA): .274/.340/.462
106 — Foscue, J (AA): .273/.360/.427
102 — Inoa, C (Hi-A): .281/.343/.416
OPS+ is adjusted for league and park. For example, Down East plays in a much milder offensive climate than Hickory, which is why Alejandro Osuna has a higher OPS+ than Luisangel Acuna despite a 31-point deficiency in slugging.
Draft
I haven’t seen an official announcement on picks, but per Jim Callis of MLB.com, 11th-round lefty Kohl Drake of Walters State is signing with Texas for $175,000, $50,000 of which will count toward the cap. Brett Martin and Chad Bell also attended Walters. Some of Texas’s late picks, particularly 19th-round righty Grayson Saunier, a Mississippi commit, appear to be fallbacks in case Texas doesn’t land Brock Porter.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 8, Las Vegas (OAK) 5
Round Rock: 13 hits, 7 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 48-43, tied for first
SP Kohei Arihara: 4 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 3 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 75 P / 45 S, 5.40 ERA
CF Bubba Thompson: 1-3, HR (12), 2 BB, SB (44), .300/.351/.469
LF Steele Walker: 3-5, HR (7), SB (5), .270/.354/.447
2B Dio Arias: 2-4, 2B, BB, .311/.381/.462
Bubba Thompson and Steele Walker homered in the 1st. Thompson set a personal high in steals some time ago. Four homers would match last year’s 16.
The only promotion in the system over the break was OF JP Martinez’s ascent to AAA from Frisco. He was not in last night’s lineup.
AA: Frisco 3, at Arkansas (SEA) 1
Frisco: 9 hits, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 10-9, 4 GB, 46-42 overall
SP Zak Kent: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 71 P / 46 S, 5.20 ERA
RP Tyler Thomas: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 5.79 ERA
RP Fernery Ozuna: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2.87 ERA
LF Dustin Harris: 1-3, 2B, 3 BB, .261/.355/.470
3B Jax Biggers: 3-5, .301/.363/.378
Dustin Harris walked and scored the tying run in the 8th and doubled in an insurance run in the 11th.
Zak Kent appears to be slowly rebuilding his pitch count after late-June IL stint. Frisco has 33 starts of five or more innings, fewest among Texas’s four full-season squads.
High-A: Hickory 10, at Greensboro (PIT) 12
Hickory: 15 hits, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 9-13, 7 GB, 47-41 overall
SP TK Roby: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 36 P / 23 S, 5.27 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 3-6, HR (10), .277/.424/.442
CF Evan Carter: 3-5, 2B, BB, .273/.372/.480
3B Thomas Saggese: 4-4, 2B, HR (10), BB, SB (8), .313/.365/.496
TK Roby appears to be a man of habit, as the extra days off resulted in his shortest professional outing. Unfortunately, the bullpen’s recent habit of being run-prone has persisted. Leury Tejada, Spencer Mraz, Kelvin Gonzalez and Destin Dotson were all scored upon.
The listed hitters were the top three in the order. Zavala and Saggese joined Trevor Hauver and Cody Freeman with double-digit homers.
Low-A: Down East 12, at Carolina (MIL) 10
Down East: 12 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 15 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 13-8, 2.5 GB, 46-41 overall
SP Gavin Collyer: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 73 P / 48 S, 3.95 ERA
SS Maximo Acosta: 2-5, HR (3), .266/.353/.375
RF Marcus Smith: 2-3, 2B, BB, HBP, 2 SB (36), .161/.336/.254
LF Alejandro Osuna: 1-5, HR (8), SB (31), .314/.400/.465
C Ian Moller: 2-3, 2 BB, SB (11), .162/.333/.238
Down East has 209 stolen bases and is on pace to set the modern (1990-present) low-A record, currently owned by the 1991 Beloit Brewers with 313. Last year, the Woodies set a record for most steals per game (2.41) and were third all-time (290) despite playing only 120 games instead of the traditional 140. The low-A circuits are limited to 132 games now.
According to my stats, the Woodies have a 97 OPS+ and are 5% below average in run scoring. Yesterday, they were unstoppable in the first seven innings, putting 21 runners aboard.
Emiliano Teodo pitched a scoreless inning. He’s typically the series’ Day 2 starter.
Gavin Collyer gave up five doubles including three to CF Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee’s top prospect and one of baseball’s best.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Ragans
AA: Brennen
Hi-A: Vanasco
Lo-A: TBD
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Sam Huff hit his sixth homer for the rookies.