Rangers Farm Report: Games of Tuesday 30 August

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Promotions (all up one spot):
RHP Zak Kent to AAA
RHP Mason Englert to AA
RHP Ryan Garcia to high-A
RHP Aidan Curry to low-AIF Gleider Figureo to low-AAnd returning to levels where they’ve played previously are catcher Efrenyer Narvaez to low-A and RHP Seth Nordlin to AAA.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, Oklahoma City (LAD) 17
Round Rock: 11 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 17 hits, 7 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 67-57, 5 GB

SP Cole Winn: 0.2 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 6 R, 3 BB, 1 SO, 37 P / 16 S, 6.20 ERA
RP James Jones: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 8.22 ERA
CF Josh Smith: 2-3, HR (6), 2 BB, .291/.393/.483
3B Josh Jung: 2-5, 2B, .304/.360/.652
SS Davis Wendzel: 2-4, HR (12), .213/.293/.396

I feel terrible for Winn. All I can say at this point is he’s been here before and worked his way out. Statistically, his first 14 starts of 2019 and most recent 19 of 2022 are remarkably similar.

In a call-back to his Texas Tech days, Josh Jung hit everything to the opposite field. Jung also took a called strike three in the 1st that I’m 90% sure the robo-ump would have registered as a ball, but the computers have been temporarily ignored in favor of a challenge system (which I think is dumb and convoluted, but whatever). The Express declined to challenge, probably because they were down 6-0 with two outs and none on. A reversed call would have kept Jung at the plate with a 3-2 count.

Smith has continued his torrid hitting outside of Albuquerque. The homer was propelled buy his third-highest exit velocity in AAA, 104.7 MPH.

AA: Frisco 4, at Amarillo (ARI) 5
Frisco: 8 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 28-23, tied for first, 64-56 overall

SP Jack Leiter: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 91 P / 54 S, 5.25 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 1-4, HR (11), .281/.361/.465
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, 2B, .241/.313/.414

I didn’t see any of Leiter’s performance since I was occupied with a the run-fest in Round Rock, but my understanding he pitched to recent form: well for the most part with some late trouble. He left a duck-filled pond for Josh Smith with none out in the 6th. Smith escaped with just a sac fly.

Justin Foscue homered for the first time in 15 games.

High-A: wet

Two today.

Low-A: Down East 10, Fayetteville (HOU) 4
Down East: 11 hits, 10 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 29-26, 5.5 GB, 62-59 overall

SP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 81 P / 55 S, 2.24 ERA
RP Adrian Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 3.38 ERA
SS Maximo Acosta: 2-4, BB, SB (40), .267/.347/.369
1B Liam Hicks: 2-3, 2B, BB, .267/.422/.407
LF Yosy Galan: 2-4, HR (18), BB, SB (16), .213/.303/.436
3B Miguel Villarroel: 1-3, 2 BB, SB (4), .330/.411/.394
DH Yeison Morrobel: 1-3, 2 BB, SB (1)

Fayetteville’s in town, meaning plenty of free and stolen bases. The Woodpeckers are worst in the league at preventing both. Yosy Galan has a chance at a 20/20 season. Mitch Bratt’s season-long opposition line is .205/.279/.290. In eight of 18 starts, he hasn’t allowed an extra-base hit.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Y. Rodriguez
AA: Brennan
Hi-A: Stephan / TBD (Ahlstrom)
Lo-A: TBD (Santos)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
“Unfortunately, Texas can’t go into the offseason assuming  [Yohander] Mendez (or Ariel Jurado, who has one more start) will be part of the MLB rotation next April. The Rangers have some holes to fill.” Indeed. Texas would sign or trade for Mike Minor, Bartolo Colon, Yovanni Gallardo, Matt Moore, and Doug Fister during the offseason and early into 2018.