Rangers Farm Report: Games of Sunday 18 September

Welcome to an evening edition of the Farm Report. Today was long. I’ll have a preview of Frisco’s series against San Antonio tomorrow. I hope.

As you’ve probably seen, Texas placed a successful waiver claim on RHP Drew Strotman, whose name anagrams to Tend Worst Arm, but don’t hold it against him. Drafted in 2017’s 4th round out of St. Mary’s, Strotman was added to Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster after 2020 but traded the next July with RHP Joe Ryan for Nelson Cruz. He’s on his second option. Strotman offers a mid-90s fastball, cutter, slider, and change, although since he’s moved to relief this season I’m not sure if all of those secondaries remain in play. He fans batters at an acceptable rate but his control is poor. The 26-year-old strikes me as the kind of guy the Rangers will try to run through waivers themselves at the opportune moment and hope that he didn’t get re-claimed.

Texas placed Brad Miller on the 60-day IL to make room. Miller’s season is over, and perhaps his time in Texas even though he’s owed $4 million next year. Miller was a potentially clever partial solution to Texas’s problems in third or left, but his power and walks dwindled as a Ranger.

The Giants designated OF Willie Calhoun for assignment after claiming another ex-Ranger, RHP Jharel Cotton. Calhoun had a single and walk in nine trips to the plate. A claim on him by the Rangers would be, shall we say, unlikely.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, at El Paso (SDG) 6 (10)
Round Rock: 8 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts
Record: 75-66, 5 GB, elimination number 5

SP Tyson Miller: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 70 P / 49 S, 4.52 ERA
RF Josh Sale: 2-3, HR (11), BB, .237/.353/.443
LF Elier Hernandez: 3-5, 3B, HR (12), .288/.347/.510

The Express lost five of six to division-leading El Paso, placing them five back with nine to play. Elier Hernandez missed the cycle by a double.

AA: Frisco 10, at NW Arkansas (KAN) 9 (10)
Frisco: 12 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 7 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 38-30, tied for first, 74-63 overall, division champion, regular season over

SP Tai Tiedemann: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 27 P / 19 S, 6.20 ERA
RP Avery Weems: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 5.14 ERA
RP John Matthews: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.40 ERA
RF Evan Carter: 2-5, 2B, HR (1), BB, .429/.536/.714
LF Kellen Strahm: 2-4, BB, .277/.392/.407
3B Thomas Saggese: 2-4, 2B, HR (1), BB, .381/.409/.857

Saggese’s homer was a grand slam. For that and other heroics, he was named Texas League Player of the Week. Not bad for someone who made his AA debut five days ago. Fellow newcomer Evan Carter, who batted .429/.536/.714, gets a pat on the back.