Grant Anderson’s seven strikeouts in his MLB debut were his most since his final game as a McNeese State Cowboy in May 2018. He’d fanned six twice as a professional, most recently last year in AA.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 4, Sugar Land (HOU) 5
Round Rock: 4 hits, 10 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 27-24, 10.5 GB
SP Robert Dugger: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 85 P / 54 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Spencer Howard: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 0-1, 3 BB, SB (6), .275/.394/.483
3B Davis Wendzel: 1-3, HR (9), BB, .253/.378/.513
In Round Rock on rehab, Spencer Howard provided evidence of a healed lat. Two strong innings included a fastball that topped at 96.6 MPH, only 0.3 slower than his speediest AAA pitch last year. I understand that some of you might have forgotten the name and resent the reminder, but this isn’t 2022. No rotation spot awaits. No discussion of recapturing the potential he showed in 2020 is forthcoming. He’s just whoever he is now, and other than the advantage of a 40 spot, he’s just one of several fighting for a bullpen role. Last night was a nice first step toward setting himself apart.
Davis Wendzel’s hard-hit rate (95+ MPH) was 29% in 2022. Entering the Albuquerque series, it was 34%. Now, 41%. He leads the team with 13% of balls in play that have a decent shot at leaving the yard.
Grant Wolfram and Chase Lee combined to walk or hit five consecutive batters in the 9th, reversing a one-run lead.
AA: Frisco 2, San Antonio (SDG) 9
Frisco: 4 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 10 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 20-25, 3.5 GB
SP Ryan Garcia: 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 80 P / 51 S, 6.82 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 1-3, 2B, BB, .284/.416/.400
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-1, BB, HBP, .265/.409/.353
LF Dustin Harris: 1-3, BB, .228/.367/.401
Nobody will celebrate the end of May more than Evan Carter, who’s hitting .235/.337/.282 this month.
Hi-A: Hickory 5, at Greenville (BOS) 1
Hickory: 8 hits, 9 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Record: 17-25, 8 GB
SP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 76 P / 49 S, 2.97 ERA
RP Robbie Ahlstrom: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 7.88 ERA
RP Winston Santos: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.20 ERA
RF JP Martinez: 0-1, 2 BB
C Tucker Mitchell: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB
2B Keyber Rodriguez: 2-4, 2B, SB (11), .278/.338/.357
Mitch Bratt continues to pitch well and display terrific control. Winston Santos unexpectedly appeared in relief last night.
JP Martinez is on rehab for a groin pull.
Lo-A: Down East 3, Columbia (KAN) 0
Down East: 9 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Record: 24-19, 0.5 GB
SP Jose Corniell: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO, 70 P / 47 S, 2.78 ERA
RP Dylan MacLean: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2.93 ERA
LF Yosy Galan: 2-4, .237/.331/.441
SS Cam Cauley: 2-4, 2B, SB (11), .250/.307/.391
DH Tommy Specht: 3-4
I saw Jose Corniell in Kinston last May. At the time, he offered a 90-94 MPH fastball with good run, an upper-70s curves, and a slider and change used less frequently. Still in low-A, Corniell has greatly improved his control, dropping his walk/HBP rate nearly in half.
18-year-old Tommy Specht hit three singles in his full-season debut. He’s last year’s sixth-rounder.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Marvel / TBD
AA: Leiter
Hi-A: Acker
Lo-A: TBD
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Barely over two months since wowing onlookers with his stuff if not his command in Surprise, Mike Matuella was pulled from the high-A rotation with a 9.17 ERA and peripherals to match. He would never start again. Matuella’s control was passable, but what he threw in the zone tended to be hit very hard.
I told y’all 2018 would be a downer.