Per local reports, Kumar Rocker’s next appearance will be for Round Rock (and in Round Rock, assuming a typical rest), and he’ll occupy the roster spot of Jack Leiter, who’ll return to the Majors.
Per me, I’ll be podcasting with Sean Bass of The Ticket and Michael Tepid this afternoon. Check later today at your favorite listening source.
Also, thanks so much to those who’ve donated. If you’ve mailed a check, I’ll have them deposited no later than this weekend. If you’re still interested in participating, here’s the info.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 1, @ Salt Lake (LAA) 3
Round Rock: 7 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 22-24, 5 GB, 59-61 overall
SP Adrian Sampson: 6 IP, 5 H (2 HR), 3 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 68 P / 45 S, 5.81 ERA
RP Marc Church: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.12 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, HR (7), .291/.440/.483
The Express completed eight innings with only 85 pitches. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t muster a response against demoted starter Reid Detmers (7 IP, 1 R, 9 SO) or demoted reliever Hans Crouse (1 IP, 1 SO). Crouse had been pitching well, best as I can tell, but had to make way for famous ex-Ranger Johnny Cueto, who made his 2024 MLB debut with six innings and three runs for the Angels.
AA: Frisco 5, San Antonio (SDP) 3
Frisco: 5 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 3 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 26-22, 2 GB, 70-47 overall
SP Jake deGrom: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 29 P / 21 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 4.34 ERA
2B Cody Freeman: 1-3, HR (14), BB, .264/.323/.449
3B Keyber Rodriguez: 1-3, HR (6), HBP, .243/.292/.377
C Cooper Johnson: 1-3, HR (11), BB, .240/.348/.480
Jake deGrom’s rehab start began with a double and run-scoring single, after which he retired five straight, three with strikeouts. 12 of 18 swings against deGrom came up empty, but give the Missions credit for some solid hacks. Mitch Bratt matched a season-high three walks but was stingier in the hit column over a longer period than deGrom.
Hi-A: Hickory 5, Bowling Green (TAM) 0
Hickory: 10 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 4 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 27-24, 5.5 GB, 55-62 overall
SP Alejandro Rosario: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO, 71 P / 53 S, 2.52 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 2-4, 2 SB (22), .255/.341/.422
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-3, HR (8), HBP, .205/.256/.397
RF Yeison Morrobel: 2-4, 2 2B, .201/.282/.291
Alejandro Rosario missed 16 bats, his most in high-A. He’s walked seven and struck out 54 for Hickory, and opponents are hitting .209/.254/.269 against him at that level vs. .200/.230/.272 in ten earlier low-A starts. That is to say, moving to a tougher level and a more hitter-friendly home park hasn’t affected him in the slightest. The start I saw in person at Fredericksburg — 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R — remains his worst of the year. (I was still duly impressed.)
Gleider Figuereo is the first Texas minor leaguer to reach 20 homers. Teammate Anthony Gutierrez leads the organization with 43 steals. Unfortunately, that will also be his season total, as shoulder surgery has ended his season. Gutierrez finished with a .241/.317/.315 line and one homer in 71 games. He’ll turn 20 in November, and I would expect a return to high-A (in Spartanburg) in 2024.
Hickory has won two of the first three in a must-win series against division-leading Bowling Green. Winning two of the next three would pull the deficit down to 4.5 games with 12 to play. Daunting, if not hopeless.
Lo-A: Down East 1, Delmarva (BAL) 3
Down East: 4 hits, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 8 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 22-24, 6.5 GB, 57-54 overall
SP Kyle Larsen: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 78 P / 43 S, 6.82 ERA
RP Anthony Susac: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Echedry Vargas: 2-4, HR (13), .282/.331/.477
Echedry Vargas moved into a tie for fourth in the Carolina League with his 13th homer. His 24 steals rank only 23rd. The Carolina League has 3.2 steals for every homer, a ratio far above any other league.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Garcia
AA: Krauth (no Scherzer)
Hi-A: Tiger
Lo-A: B. Mendoza
Five Years Ago Yesterday
3B Davis Wendzel made his pro debut with a walk in three plate appearances for the rookies. He’d been delayed by a sprained thumb.