Today’s news: Jacob deGrom was scratched from his start with a stiff neck. Jacob Latz will start.
Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 7, at Sugar Land (HOU) 4
Round Rock: 10 hits, 7 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 8 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 1-0, tied for first
SP Trey Supak: 2.1 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 4 BB, 3 SO, 71 P / 38 S
RP Peyton Gray: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
RP Emiliano Teodo: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 1 SO
RP Gavin Collyer: 1.1 IP, 2 H (HR), 1 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
RP Josh Sborz: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO
RP Luis Curvelo: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO
RF Alejandro Osuna: 1-3, 2B, 2 BB
1B Jonah Bride: 2-4, HR (1), BB
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4
SS Cam Cauley: 2-3, HBP
LF Aaron Zavala: 1-4, 2B
In his AAA debut, Cam Cauley lined the first two pitches he saw for singles. After a strikeout, Cauley was hit by a pitch on or near the elbow, which was protected but nevertheless required a visit from the trainer. He stayed in but was replaced two innings later.
Alejandro Osuna’s lined double at 109.1 MPH off the bat was the game’s hardest hit. His other two balls in play were in the 97-99 range, and he walked twice.
Peyton Gray replaced an atypically walk-happy Trey Supak with one out and runners at the corners in the 3rd. He struck out Cavan Biggio swinging on a changeup and induced an inning-ending fly. Gray then fanned the side around a single by ex-Ranger Jax Biggers. He missed six bats on 13 swings divided equally between the fastball and change.
Emiliano Teodo made an Opening Night appearance after no official Spring outings while recovering from lingering back issues. His fastball velocity averaged 98.3, a touch better than last year’s 97.5. As for placement, oh dear…
Teodo plunked his first two opponents and walked the fifth after a strikeout and pop. He had a 32% strike rate and 20% zone rate. It’s a long season.
Gavin Collyer replaced Teodo with three on and two out in the 6th. After a soft infield single to plate a run, Collyer whiffed Taylor Trammell on the eighth pitch with a 98 fastball. His 7th began with a solo homer and walk, but he recovered to strike out his final two batters.
Josh Sborz had a scoreless inning. The fastball averaged 92.7, halfway between his Spring (93.6) and last summer’s AAA rehab (91.7), still well below his former MLB levels. I fixate on his velocity more than perhaps I should, as what matters most are the ends, not the means, but then again, Sborz isn’t Cody Bradford. Much of Sborz’s previous success was predicated on running a 95-97 fastball by hitters, and he’s not that pitcher now. In terms of control, the primary issue last night was a curve tailing too far glove-side; opponents stared at all seven out of the zone.
1B Nick Pratto was transferred to the development list. Pitchers Dane Acker, Aidan Anderson and Jose Corniell were also inactive. 
Off until Thursday
Elsewhere
Ex-Ranger Kohl Drake drew the Opening Day start for AAA Reno. In four innings, he surrendered three runs on a couple of homers and struck out six against no walks. The present 6.75 ERA isn’t a bother per se — you try pitching in Reno — but I did notice a drop in velocity. Drake averaged 92.9 with his four-seamer in AAA last year. The Spring Training average was 91.5, and last night fell to 90.7. He missed six bats with it, eight overall, but still, it’s worth following. Drake missed the end of last season due to a shoulder strain.
No sign yet of Mitch Bratt, traded with Drake and David Hagaman for Merrill Kelly last summer, but former Ranger Dane Dunning will start against Reno as a Tacoma Ranier on Sunday.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Stephan
Five Years Ago Yesterday
Last year, I halted this feature because the 2020 minor league season was cancelled. Instead, I ran daily history lessons covering the 2007-2024 period. I’ll resume the Five Years Ago feature in 2026 but not on a daily basis until May because there were no games. From my report on March 24, 2021:The Triple A season has been postponed for a month. The original schedule called for Round Rock to begin at the typical time of early April, while the lower levels would have to wait until May. A bunch of people, me included, wondered whether that was possible. In the short run, MLB’s bubble rules and need for continued alternative training sites conflict badly with the economic and practical realities of travel in AAA. While the postponement was virtually expected and probably the wise move, it’s still a disappointment for AAA teams finally given leave to promote themselves after a year at the mercy of the pandemic and MLB’s takeover.
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