Sean Bass of KTCK and I talked the current state of the Rangers and farm this morning on Diamond Pod.
Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs.com delivered his review of the Texas farm system. It’s a longer read than most publications and well worth your time. Longenhagen always has a few rankings highly dissimilar from his peers that you might find interesting (or confounding). Like Baseball America, he’s ramped up Alejandro Rosario to the #4 spot.
Brock Porter’s third rookie-league appearance went poorly: three walks, a hit batter, and one strikeout. The season ends in 13 days, so barring a rapid recovery that allows a return to full-season ball, he’ll be pitching in side sessions and/or simulated and unofficial games in Arizona.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 4, @ Reno (ARI) 9
Round Rock: 9 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 7-8, , 44-45 overall
SP Adrian Sampson: 4.1 IP, 7 H (2 HR), 6 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 80 P / 51 S, 5.72 ERA
DH Justin Foscue: 1-3, 2 BB, .288/.466/.485
3B Davis Wendzel: 2-4, SB (2), .282/.388/.494
In three games at Reno, Round Rock starters have allowed 20 runs in seven innings. That’s a hefty sum even allowing for the location. Against Adrian Sampson, Andres Chaparro hit a ball 492 feet, and Pavin Smith later launched one 470. I’ve only updated my database through last Sunday, but unless someone hit ball farther this week, Chaparrro’s homer is the longest in the Pacific Coast League this season.
AA: Frisco 2, NW Arkansas (KAN) 3
Frisco: 8 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 9-6, , 53-31 overall
SP Ben Anderson: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 89 P / 58 S, 4.35 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1.83 ERA
RP Tyler Owens: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.73 ERA
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 1-5, HR (4), .259/.299/.402
3B Cody Freeman: 2-4, BB, .281/.332/.466
Cody Freeman has hits in 17 of his last 18 games and is hitting .329/.360/.586 in that span. When the catching experiment ended, I was honestly skeptical in my assessment, but he’s responded with his best offensive season to date as a 23-year-old in AA. Freeman already has a career high in doubles (20) and will likely exceed his previous high of 13 homers (currently ten). Not playing short hampers his outlook, but he’s at least continuing to appear on the radar.
Hi-A: Hickory 3, @ Bowling Green (TAM) 2
Hickory: 8 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 1 walk, 16 strikeouts
Record: 9-9, , 37-47 overall
SP Mitch Bratt: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 SO, 82 P / 61 S, 3.36 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-4, HR (4), .180/.226/.440
Anthony Gutierrez (1-4) executed a straight steal of home to score the go-ahead run in the 9th. Like Jax Biggers at Round Rock earlier this month, Gutierrez got such a huge start that the opposing pitcher didn’t even bother to throw home.
Mitch Bratt tied a career-best nine strikeouts. He’s been as good as ever lately: 29.2 IP, 18 H, 3 R, 5 BB, and 33 SO in his last five starts. He’s pitched 31 games at Hickory across the past two seasons. I don’t expect that total to reach much higher.
Lo-A: rain
Two today.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Leiter
AA: Krauth
Hi-A: Lobus
Lo-A: TBA x 2
Five Years Ago Yesterday
The draft signing deadline passed with Texas 7th-round pitcher Brandon Sproat the highest unsigned choice. The Rangers couldn’t pry him from a Florida commitment, and Sproat would even stay a Gator for a fourth season after the Mets picked him in 2022’s third round. The persistent Mets redrafted him in last year’s second round. He’s pitching well for AA Binghamton.