AAA: Round Rock 7, at Sacramento (SFO) 3
Round Rock: 10 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 11-5, 0.5 GB
SP Chase Lee: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 38 P / 25 S, 1.86 ERA
RP Zack Littell: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA
CF Jonathan Ornelas: 1-4, BB, .185/.371/.222
2B Justin Foscue: 2-5, 2B, .255/.387/.451
3B Blaine Crim: 2-4, BB, .262/.354/.357
Blaine Crim has started five games at third. That represents half of his ten non-DH starts in 2023 and half of his career ten starts at that position. Not what I expected.
Jonathan Ornelas made his first outfield start of the season. He played CF four times in 2022 and 27 the year before. A Josh Smith-esque super-utlility role is likely what he’s working toward.
Chase Lee isn’t being converted to starting. Or at least, I think not. Round Rock has a five-plus-bullpen rotation.
AA: Frisco 9, Arkansas (SEA) 5
Frisco: 12 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 6-5, tied for first
SP Owen White: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 77 P / 50 S, 2.13 ERA
RP Marc Church: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1.93 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 2-5, .381/.519/.619
2B Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, 2 2B, BB, SB (3), .306/.352/.408
1B Dio Arias: 2-4, 2 HR (2)
SS Chris Seise: 1-4, HR (1)
It’s early, but one thing to eye is Owen White’s strikeouts. His rate of 15.7% ranks 59th of 72 Texas League pitchers with at least six innings, and his swinging strike rate of 8.9% is 56th. Last year’s rates in AA were 27% strikeouts and 16% swinging strikes. White was slowed by a minor injury in Spring Training.
I mentioned yesterday that Carter had seen to most pitches in AA. Now in second: Dustin Harris.
Hi-A: Hickory 8, Bowling Green (TAM) 7
Hickory: 11 hits, 8 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 7 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 5-4, 2 GB
SP Winston Santos: 3.2 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 7 R, 2 BB, 3 HBP, 3 SO, 82 P / 52 S, 5.79 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 6.75 ERA
RP Andy Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 3.38 ERA
RP Michael Brewer: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2.25 HBP, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
2B Jayce Easley: 2-4, 2B, BB
RF Alejandro Osuna: 2-4, 2B, BB
1B Josh Hatcher: 3-4, BB
Hickory chipped away at a five-run deficit in the final four innings. In the 9th, walks by Josh Hatcher and Daniel Mateo preceded a game-ending single from Cody Freeman. The Crawdad bullpen kept the Hot Rods off the board despite nine runners.
The early monster at the plate is Hatcher: .424/.472/.606 in eight games. He’s in his first full pro season but is already 24, having signed at a steep discount as a 10th-round college senior. That is to say, posting gaudy numbers is conducive to his employment.
Lo-A: Down East 2, Carolina (MIL) 5
Down East: 8 hits, 1 walk, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 5-5, 0.5 GB
SP Leandro Lopez: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 68 P / 40 S, 2.84 ERA
RP Josh Gessner: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 0.00 ERA
CF Jojo Blackmon: 1-3, HR (1), BB
C Tucker Mitchell: 3-3, 2B, SB (1)
LF Yosy Galan: 2-4
Leandro Lopez started much of 2022 in the Dominican Republic but rarely worked through two orders of batters. Jojo Backmon is famed for speed but has more pop than you might think. He clubbed nine homers in 54 rookie-level games last year.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Bradford
AA: Krauth
Hi-A: Stephan
Lo-A: TBD (maybe Corneill)
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Jonathan Hernandez allowed two solo homers but nothing else in a 6-5 victory for high-A Down East. Sam Huff hit three doubles for low-A Hickory.