AAA: Round Rock 5, Oklahoma City (LAD) 6 (10)
Round Rock: 13 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 27-28, 5 GB, 64-65 overall
SP Peter Solomon: 5 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 85 P / 53 S, 6.68 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.10 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 3.04 ERA
1B Blaine Crim: 2-4, BB, .279/.374/.464
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 2-3, .251/.322/.326
LF Trevor Hauver: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, .218/.329/.360
The Rangers recalled IF Jonathan Ornelas and RHP Owen White from Round Rock to cover the extra September roster spots. Yesterday, Texas added righty Chase Anderson to the 40 and active roster, recalled Justin Foscue, and optioned Dane Dunning.
White has improved in some respects since switching to relief at the end of July. His strikeout rate has increased from 18% as a starter to 25% in relief with attendant gains in his swinging strike rates (from 11% to 14% on all pitches, and 23% to 29% on swings) His walk/HBP rate has maintained at 12% despite a decline in first-pitch strikes. With the exception of his slider, his pitches have gained between 0.6 and 1.5 MPH. His slider’s miss rate has improved even without added velo. In relief, he’s emphasized his cutter more at the expense of the four-seamer. Contact is a mixed bag. He’s allowed fewer hits but but more power, including three homers in 13.2 innings. His hard-hit rate and exit velos are up slightly. The baserunners have come in clumps, and he’s allowed seven runs (4.61 ERA).
I’m not seeing this as a promotion for some who’s improved to the level of MLB. He’s pitched better, yes, but hasn’t especially stood out from the competition. Perhaps he returns to AAA quickly. But for however long he hangs around, I think it’s to see what, if anything, he has to offer at present, and whether what he shows portends future success.
AA: Frisco 5, @ NW Arkansas (KAN) 7
Frisco: 10 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 8 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 31-25, 3 GB, 75-50 overall
SP Andy Rodriguez: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 2 SO, 51 P / 26 S, 2.90 ERA
RF Josh Hatcher: 5-5, 2 2B, 2 SB (21), .301/.351/.441
C Cooper Johnson: 1-3, HR (12), 2 BB, .235/.350/.475
Batting average leaders in full-season, min. 200 PA:
.301, Josh Hatcher (AA)
.294, Andrew Knapp (AAA, released)
.288, Justin Foscue (AAA)
.287, Alejandro Osuna (hi-A, AA)
.279, Blaine Crim (AAA)
Hi-A: Hickory 10, @ Asheville (HOU) 4
Hickory: 11 hits, 10 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 5 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 31-28, 8.5 GB, 59-66 overall, eliminated
SP DJ McCarty: 4.1 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 3 HBP, 8 SO, 89 P / 60 S, 4.47 ERA
RP Florencio Serrano: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2.70 ERA
CF Dylan Dreiling: 1-4, 2 BB, .190/.354/.238
SS Sebastian Walcott: 3-6, 3 2B, .260/.346/.437
DH Malcolm Moore: 1-4, HR (3), 2 BB, .162/.269/.324
RF Yeison Morrobel: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, SB (7), .212/.292/.316
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-4, BB, .222/.275/.392
Combined doubles and triples:
36, Sebastian Walcott (hi-A)
33, Cody Freeman (AA)
32, Sandro Fabian (AAA)
27, Blaine Crim (AAA)
27, Alejandro Osuna (hi-A, AA)
Lo-A: Down East 2, @ Myrtle Beach (CHC) 3 (7)
Down East: 4 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 7 walks, 5 strikeouts
SP Kolton Curtis: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 0 SO, 31 P / 15 S, 2.85 ERA
RP Adonis Villavicencio: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 5.49 ERA
Lo-A: Down East 1, Myrtle Beach (CHC) 2 (7)
Down East: 5 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 27-29, 6.5 GB, 62-59 overall, elimination number 1
SP Aneudis Mejia: 4 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 61 P / 32 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Anthony Susac: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Joey Danielson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
1B Beycker Barroso: 2-2, BB, SB (6), .230/.340/.385
20-year-old Aneudis Mejia made his full-season debut. Signed in 2022, he’s walked 34 and struck out 42 in 29 innings across two seasons at the complex. 2024 draftees Anthony Susac and Joey Danielson had strong showings. Offense was lacking.
Today’s Starters
AAA: deGrom
AA: Drake
Hi-A: Davalillo
Lo-A: TBA
Five Years Ago Yesterday
“Texas added 1B Ronald Guzman and RHP Ian Gibaut from Nashville. OF Nomar Mazara and RHP Adrian Sampson are off the 10-day IL. RHP Edinson Volquez and LHP Jeffrey Springs have been activated from the 60-day IL. To make room for those last two, Texas designated RHP Pedro Payano and LHP Locke St. John for assignment. Healthy 40-man members still in the minors: Pitchers Kyle Bird, Wei-Chieh Huang, CD Pelham, and Phillips Valdez, and OF Zack Granite. Yohander Mendez is on the 60-day IL but has been pitching in real games for over a month. Joe Palumbo is dealing with his blister.”