AAA: off
A weird schedule this week. All but Hickory had Tuesday off and their six-game set shifted forward to accommodate a game on Monday the 3rd, when more people will attend than on a bog-average Tuesday.
Reliever Alex Speas has been promoted to Round Rock, as I’ve been hoping for a little while. His first destination: Las Vegas, one of professional ball’s toughest pitching environments. Speas held AA opponents to a .133/.252/.184 line with a 14% BB/HBP rate and 42% SO rate. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 15 innings and 11 appearances. Six of those 11 lasted longer than one inning.
IF Justin Foscue is off the IL.
Brad Miller’s rehab assignment was transferred to Round Rock. Day 16, I believe.
AA: off
Hi-A: Hickory 7, Greensboro (PIT) 2
Hickory: 7 hits, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 4-0, 1.5 G up, 31-34 overall
SP Dane Acker: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 3 SO, 69 P / 39 S, 2.11 ERA
RP Jose Corniell: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 2.25 ERA
1B Abi Ortiz: 2-2, HR (9), 2 BB, .356/.419/.722
RF Yosy Galan: 2-4, 2 SB (3)
2B Jayce Easley: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (13), .206/.351/.250
Dane Acker was fine until the 4th when he walked four of six batters. Courtesy of an itinerant college career, covid, and injuries, Acker has a spotty statistical record that makes assessment of his in-game control difficult. Jose Corniell’s line was nearly identical to his high-A debut, which is to say terrific.
Abi Ortiz led Down East with seven homers when promoted and already leads Hickory now. (He in fact leads all of high-A during his five weeks at the level.) Maybe send him to Frisco to see if he can surpass Thomas Saggese’s team-best ten dingers in a month’s time, and then, on to Round Rock.
Lo-A: off
Rookie: 2-4 record since I last checked in, 6-11 overall
(counting stats are for the week, ERA/rate stats are for the season)
LHP Thomas Ireland: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), BB, 7 SO, 0.00 ERA
LHP Kohl Drake: 3 IP, 2 H, BB, HBP, 5 SO, 2.35 ERA
RHP Wilian Bormie: 3.2 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 2 BB, 5 SO, 3.00 ERA
LHP Chris Widger: 2.2 IP, 1 H, BB, HBP, 5 SO, 1.17 ERA
RHP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Sebastian Walcott: 5-13, 2 triples, HR (1), .385/.385/.923
C Jesus Lopez: 6-16, double, 2 HR (2), 4 BB, .200/.300/.350
IF Echedry Vargas: 5-20, double, 2 HR (3), 3 BB, 2 SB, .246/.319/.446
OF Wady Mendez: 6-16, 2 doubles, BB, SB (1), .239/.352/.304
SS/2B Chandler Pollard: 4-17, 2 triples, 2 BB, 2 SB (4), .222/.364/.352
Sebastian Walcott’s first week in the US went to plan. The 17-year-old Walcott is nine months younger than anyone else on the roster, and he’s slugging .923. Yes, it’s just a 13 plate appearances in rookie league, but we’re allowed to enjoy it.
We have an Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa sighting. “Bubba” was held back during the spring and then longer into the season than I’d expected. Last year, he struck out 67 in 43.2 innings for Down East, and hopefully he’ll return there before long.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Dugger
AA: TBD
Hi-A: Stephan
Lo-A: TBD
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Spokane’s Hans Crouse shut out Everett for five innings, and Curtis Terry clubbed his league-leading sixth homer.