Minor league baseball is a nearly year-round affair, but we’ve reached what I consider the end of the season. Thanks to all of you for subscribing and following, and thanks to for the donations (here’s the link if you still wish to participate).
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 4, @ Tacoma (SEA) 6
Round Rock: 7 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
First-Half Record: 37-37, 5th place, 11.5 G ahead
Second-Half Record: 34-40, 8th place, 10 GB
Overall Record: 71-77
Offense: 5.1 R/G, 8% below average, .260/.348/.410, 96 OPS+
Pitching: 5.4 R/G, 3% above average, .257/.347/.424 oppo line, 99 OPS+
SP Adrian Sampson: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 83 P / 52 S, 5.64 ERA
RP Ben Anderson: 1.2 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.40 ERA
RP Marc Church: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.22 ERA
CF Kellen Strahm: 1-3, BB, SB (14), .265/.380/.368
DH Sam Huff: 1-4, 2B, .246/.310/.416
1B Ben Hartl: 1-4, 2B
The lineup included three players not with the squad a few days ago and three more who joined earlier this month.
Adrian Sampson ranked third in the league and first in the organization with 137.1 innings.
Frisco stalwart Ben Anderson didn’t get to pitch in the AA playoff series but was rewarded with a Triple A appearance. Anderson’s second pitch was taken out by Jason Vosler for his 31st homer, after which Anderson retired five of six.
I’ve no idea what 14th-rounder Ben Hartl will accomplish in the long run, but he’ll always have his .333/.474/.452 professional debut that included an honest double in AA off someone (Rob Kaminsky) who’s pitched in the Majors.
Former draft picks LHP Grant Wolfram, C Matt Whatley, and infielders Frainyer Chavez and Jax Biggers can become free agents this fall. Whatley became a free agent last year but signed on again. Biggers posted a career-best .390 OBP and missed his previous slugging high of .383 by one point. All ought to be able to continue their careers in affiliated ball, some possibly with the Rangers.
Starts at SS by year for Biggers:
2018: 34
2019: 10
2021: 3
2022: 3
2023: 5
2024: 41
Texas’s domestic minor league system finished with a winning record for fifth consecutive season (318-288, .535).