Rangers Farm Report: Games of Friday 2 June

Active: Ezequiel Duran
IL: Brad Miller (oblique)Today, for the first time in 2023, we have the ideal lineup: Semien, Seager, Lowe, Garcia, Jung, Heim, Garver, Duran, Taveras.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 6, Sugar Land (HOU) 5
Round Rock: 11 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 30-25, 10 GB

SP Kyle Cody: 4 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 4 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 59 P / 41 S, 7.49 ERA
RP Spencer Howard: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Yerry Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.86 ERA
RF Elier Hernandez: 3-4, 3B, HR (6), .307/.387/.503
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, 2 2B, .283/.404/.503
3B Davis Wendzel: 2-4, 2 2B, .246/.365/.500
LF Sandro Fabian: 2-4, HR (4), .271/.331/.457

An announced and seemingly genuine crowd of 12,000 (Nolan Ryan bobblehead, fireworks, no more school) saw Round Rock regain the lead for good in the 6th on back-to-back solo shots from Sandro Fabian and Elier Hernandez. Justin Foscue hit three balls in excess of 100 MPH, two of which resulted in doubles, and Davis Wendzel also doubled twice with authority.

Spencer Howard pitched well again, particularly causing damage with his cutter in his second inning. 52% of opposition swings are coming up empty in AAA, and his fastball has averaged 95.7 and topped at 97.6 . I have video. It’s early, but Howard is certainly acting like he wants to join the fun in Arlington. Texas has time to decide, as Howard has injury rehab time plus another option if needed.

AA: Frisco 8, San Antonio (SDG) 7 (10)
Frisco: 10 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 8 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 21-27, 4.5 GB

SP Nick Krauth: 3.2 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 58 P / 35 S, 4.62 ERA
RP Aidan Anderson: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Eudrys Manon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 5.63 ERA
RP Nick Starr: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.20 ERA
3B Thomas Saggese: 1-5, HR (4), .296/.352/.439
LF Dustin Harris: 2-5, .237/.373/.399
CF JP Martinez: 1-4, 2B, 2 BB

Facing a fourth straight low-scoring loss, Frisco pinned a “5” on the board in the 9th to force extras. A Jax Biggers double and two walks chased Michel Baez, and replacement Kevin Kopps hit Aaron Zavala with the bases loaded. Thomas Saggese then tied the game with one swing.

OF Evan Carter was placed on the development list, a fairly recent creation that is essentially an inactive list for non-injured players. A late-April HBP that cost him a few games didn’t initially affect his results at the plate, but May as a whole was an exercise in frustration. He’s going to rest and regroup.

JP Martinez, recovering from a groin injury, is in Frisco for the time being.

Hi-A: Hickory 6, at Greenville (BOS) 13
Hickory: 11 hits, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 18 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 17-28, 9 G up

SP Larson Kindreich: 0.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 0 SO, 34 P / 15 S, 6.67 ERA
RP Spencer Mraz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 3.93 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 2-5, 2B, .262/.406/.369
2B Max Acosta: 2-5, .303/.351/.426
DH Abi Ortiz: 2-4, 2B, .320/.367/.800

Larson Kindreich couldn’t finish the 1st, and Brandon Webb and Gavin Collyer combined for 14 hits and eight runs in four innings. Stretching back to last year, Kindreich’s time in Hickory has been chaotic, with strong outings (like last week’s five scoreless) followed by nights like Friday. Notwithstanding yesterday, his control has been better overall in 2023.

Lo-A: Down East 6, Columbia (KAN) 3
Down East: 7 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 14 strikeouts
Record: 27-19, 0.5 GB

SP Brock Porter: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 57 P / 38 S, 0.89 ERA
RP Damian Mendoza: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.60 ERA
RP Jackson Leath: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.38 ERA
CF Yeison Morrobel: 3-4, 2 SB (12), .264/.382/.300
DH Tommy Specht: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (1)
SS Cam Cauley: 2-4, HR (4), .261/.318/.413

What if Brock Porter had pretty good control? Porter has walked or hit one of every eight batters in his last five outings; not great, but about half as often as his first four starts. Irrespective of control, he’s been nearly unhittable.

Saggese and Frisco stole their comeback plan from Down East. Down a run in the 6th, Danyer Cueva, Ian Moller and Gleider Figuereo walked, and Cam Cauley homered them in.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Bradford
AA: Roby
Hi-A: Santos
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Yovani Gallardo threw seven innings for the Express. “The last time Yovani Gallardo threw seven innings in a minor league game, Elvis Andrus was a Brave, Mitch Moreland was playing in Mississippi State’s regional opener (1-4, homer), and Leody Taveras was a nine-year-old.”