RHP Brock Porter has been transferred to the complex league. Porter has a sub-50% strike rate in all three starts and has walked or hit 17 batters. Recall that Jack Leiter received the same treatment last summer, and while he didn’t return to AA a transformed man, he was certainly better and on the right track. The rookies start their season this Saturday, about six weeks earlier than usual, so we might see some action from Porter in Arizona before he heads back east.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 5, Salt Lake (LAA) 6
Round Rock: 7 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 5 walks, 16 strikeouts
Record: 12-14, 5 GB
SP Collin Wiles: 3.1 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 3 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 57 P / 30 S, 8.10 ERA
RP Danny Duffy: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 3.60 ERA
RP Chasen Shreve: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2.61 ERA
RP Grant Anderson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1.59 ERA
CF Derek Hill: 3-6, 2B, HR (3), SB (5), .343/.395/.557
With the exception of 30 games in Toledo in 2022, Derek Hill has always hit very well in AAA, and the offseason pickup has continued to produce in Round Rock. Danny Duffy had one of his better outings. As it stands, I doubt he’d be an option for Arlington. Despite the 3.60 ERA, he’s walked 13 in 15 innings, and the fastball has averaged 90.3 MPH, about 3 MPH below his typical level in MLB.
AA: Frisco 4, Amarillo (ARI) 3
Frisco: 6 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 12-8, 2 GB
SP Emiliano Teodo: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 SO, 77 P / 52 S, 3.78 ERA
RP Andy Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4.09 ERA
LF Aaron Zavala: 2-4, 2B, .263/.434/.368
1B Josh Hatcher: 2-4, HR (3), .362/.400/.553
Bottom of the 9th, two out, two strikes, two-on, two-run deficit. Josh Hatcher drilled an opposite-field fly off the home run terrace roof. I’d guess an unobstructed distance around 390 feet, quite impressive for an oppo shot. Aaron Zavala and Liam Hicks had singled in front of him.
Emiliano Teodo fanned a season-high eight. He’s allowed only two extra-base hits this season, both doubles, none since his first start three weeks ago.
Hi-A: Hickory 3, Ashville (HOU) 2
Hickory: 3 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 9 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 8-11, 3.5 GB
SP Winston Santos: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 86 P / 58 S, 0.44 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 2.45 ERA
RP Jacob Maton: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.00 ERA
C Tucker Mitchell: 2-4, 2B, .164/.258/.291
In his first four outings, Winston Santos has averaged an additional four strikeouts per start versus his 2023 output. He’s second in the system with 31 strikeouts, trailing only Jack Leiter’s 33. Another welcomed trend is the absence of hit batters. He plunked 16 last year, most in the organization and South Atlantic League.
Hickory scored everything on a 3rd-inning double by Tucker Mitchell following walks from Quincy Scott, Ben Blackwell, and Yeison Morrobel.
Lo-A: Down East 1, @ Fayetteville (HOU) 3
Down East: 3 hits, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 9-10, 4.5 GB
SP Alejandro Rosario: 3.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 57 P / 37 S, 1.17 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1.98 ERA
DH Wady Mendez: 2-4, HR (1), SB (4), .167/.310/.208
CF Marcos Torres: 1-3, BB, .091/.200/.114
The second pitch of the game was caught by a fan in the first row of the right field seats, courtesy of Wady Mendez, but that would be all for the Woodies. Down East is hitting .197/.295/.289, not quite as bad as it appears because of league and park effects, but it ain’t great.
Wilian Bormie is off to a nice start, fanning a third of his opponents and holding them to a line of .163/.260/.233.
Today’s Starters
AAA: S. Anderson
AA: Stephan
Hi-A: Curry
Lo-A: TBA
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Joe Barlow struck out the side in the 9th to set up Ryan Dorow’s walk-off homer for Down East.