Movin’ On Up:
RHP Winston Santos, from Hickory to Frisco
RHP Skylar Hales, same
RHP Alejandro Rosario, from Down East to Hickory
LHP Kohl Drake, same
3B Gleider Figuereo, same
RHP Izack Tiger, from the rookie league (on rehab, more or less) to Down East
No surprises. I knew I was seeing Rosario’s last low-A start last week. I don’t want to make him out for more than he is, but even in one of his lesser outings, he showed he was ready for stronger competition. Drake is 24, older that you might have thought, as he finished his college career at juco Walters State at the age of 22. Figuereo is having exactly the type of season hoped for after last year’s modest full-season debut. His 12 homers are second in the Carolina League. Sebastian Walcott is playing third at Hickory about once per week, but Figuereo’s arrival shouldn’t affect that.
Santos imitated Figuereo, needing to repeat last year’s level but quickly confirming a full season at the same location wouldn’t be necessary. I vaguely recall writing in March something to the effect of Hales being as likely a quick mover as anyone. A few hiccups have resulted in an unsightly 4.39 ERA, but on the whole he’s pitched to expectations.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 9, El Paso (SDP) 15
Round Rock: 11 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 15 hits, 9 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 0-1, 37-38 overall
SP Johnny Cueto: 4.2 IP, 9 H (2 HR), 7 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 94 P / 59 S, 6.19 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.98 ERA
DH Sam Huff: 1-3, 2B, BB, HBP, .250/.336/.432
RF Sandro Fabian: 2-3, 2 BB, .295/.356/.480
The teams weren’t in El Paso but played like they were. 24 runs, 26 hits. Only Daniel Robert avoided trouble among six Express pitchers. Josh Sborz allowed a run in one inning. Antoine Kelly needed 32 pitches to walk three and fan two; all would score against Grant Anderson.
Johnny Cueto could probably pitch for nearly any AAA team, because inning-eaters have value, but whatever small chance he had of returning to the Majors seems gone.
Texas released pitcher Nabil Crismatt, who I thought would be a decent depth signing but was definitely not.
AA: Frisco 3, Corpus Christi (HOU) 2
Frisco: 6 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 1-0, 45-25 overall
SP Josh Stephan: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 5 SO, 77 P / 51 S, 4.81 ERA
RP Steven Jennings: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2.08 ERA
RP Tyler Owens: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.66 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 1-4, HR (8), .269/.325/.441
2B Keyber Rodriguez: 3-3, 2 2B, .258/.307/.398
Stephan matched his season high in innings on just 77 pitches. He avoided the homers that have troubled him; he’d allowed eight in the previous nine starts, contributing to an opposing slugging percentage of .450.
Hi-A: Hickory 2, @ Greenville (BOS) 8
Hickory: 7 hits, 2 walks, 16 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 1-3, 29-41 overall
SP DJ McCarty: 5 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 5 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 79 P / 52 S, 4.60 ERA
SS Sebastian Walcott: 2-4, 3B, HR (6), .237/.337/.406
Sebastian Walcott knocked his sixth homer between and beyond the faux-Monster and faux-triangle at Boston-affiliated Greenville’s facsimile of Fenway Park. He also smacked a pitch off the tall wall and slid into third a good two seconds before the ball trickled in. Walcott hasn’t walked much this month, but that’s a nitpick in the face of a .321/.377/.554 line that includes 11 extra-base hits. If you’re a daydreamer, dream of a Jung/Semien/Seager/Walcott infield. Someday, not September. Even daydreams need a hint of realism.
Lo-A: Down East 2, @ Delmarva (BAL) 0
Down East: 6 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 2-2, 37-32 overall
SP David Davallilo: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO, 80 P / 54 S, 1.49 ERA
RP Luke Savage: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.07 ERA
SS Echedry Vargas: 2-3, HR (), BB, .269/.330/.429
RF Marcos Torres: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (9), .185/.288/.303
Even with only half a year of full-season ball to his credit, you can make a case for promoting David Davalillo, but as I mentioned a while back, every promotion requires a spot on the new team and replacement on the old one, and the Woodies just lost two starters.
His official transaction record is confusing, showing he signed with the Mets in early 2021 but also signing with the Rangers in June of the next year. I think the Mets’ contract was never consummated but would have to check. It’s the difference between being Rule 5-eligible this winter or next. There’s no danger of him being lost in the 2024 draft if eligible, but it’s just something I think about.
Today’s Starters
AAA: White
AA: Garcia
Hi-A: TBA
Lo-A: TBA
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Cole Winn, Ronny Henriquez, and Lucas Jacobsen combined on a four-hit shutout for low-A Hickory. Sherten Apostel hit his 11th homer.