Box Scores
AAA: Round Rock 23, at El Paso (SDP) 7
Round Rock: 14 hits, 13 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 17-30, 11 GB
SP Jose Corniell: 1.2 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 56 P / 38 S, 8.10 ERA
RP Marc Church: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 7.59 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.16 ERA
RP Michel Otañez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 7.27 ERA
SS Cameron Cauley: 4-5, 3B, HR (5), BB, HBP, SB (14), .255/.376/.391
CF Gilberto Celestino: 2-5, 2B, 2 BB, .235/.329/.279
DH Diego Castillo: 3-4, 2B, 3 BB, .274/.392/.355
Round Rock had scored a total of 20 runs in the recently concluded six-game series against Sacramento, 20 against Durham preceding that, and 21 against OKC before that. El Paso conceded in the 9th by letting infielder Clay Dungan pitch down 15-7 with the bases loaded. His 75 FB / 63 knuckle-curve combo proved ineffective.
Jose Corniell honestly wasn’t hit terribly hard, but a decent share of worthy hits plus bad luck spelled a short day. Five relievers provided exceptional service in the difficult conditions. 
AA: Frisco 5, San Antonio (SDP) 1
Frisco: 11 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
Record: 21-19, 0.5 GB
SP Blake Townsend: 6 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 81 P / 55 S, 4.32 ERA
RP Josh Sborz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1.80 ERA
2B Frainyer Chavez: 3-4, 2B, HR (7), SB (7), .253/.359/.416
LF Keith Jones II: 1-4, HR (6), .266/.371/.486
Bormie touched 101, but three of his four swinging strikes (including the K) came on silly swings against his slider. His fanned exactly one of every three batters and walked or hit only 11.5%, below the league average. Bormie didn’t appear on a stat sheet until 2022 but actually signed after the 2019 season and was already 18, so he’s an unexpectedly “old” 25 now. Assuming no health issues or severe lapses in control, he’s a lock to be protected on the 40, and there’s a non-zero chance he makes his MLB debut this season. 
Hi-A: Hub City 5, Rome (ATL) 13
Hub City: 9 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 8 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 22-18, 6 GB
SP Enrique Segura: 4 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 5 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 72 P / 42 S, 6.66 ERA
CF Paxton Kling: 1-3, BB, .252/.390/.417
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-4, HR (6), BB, .212/.310/.416
SS Luke Hanson: 3-4, 2B, HR (7), .236/.296/.472
Nothing against him, but I would at best have expected seven homers to be Luke Hanson’s total for the entire season, not after just 35 games. I welcome the new Luke Hanson. Gleider Figuereo has raised his slugging percentage 63 points versus last year at the same level, but the entire league is up 73 points, so (lacking Statcast data) it’s hard to say whether he’s truly improved or is a boat in a rising tide. He’s reduced his strikeouts and is popping up less, but that hasn’t resulted in much improvement in his hit rate. 
Lo-A: Hickory 4, Charleston (TAM) 5
Hickory: 11 hits, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 21-18, 1 GB
SP Jesus Lafalaise: 5 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 73 P / 50 S, 6.00 ERA
RP Owen Proksch: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA
CF Hector Osorio: 2-5, 2 2B, .305/.424/.582
SS Yolfran Castillo: 2-4, SB (16), .318/.401/.457
Hector Osorio doubled twice but couldn’t bring home Cal Stark from 3rd with two out in the 9th. O Pro has three straight perfect two-inning outings and a 42% strikeout rate for the season. He’s not Wilian Bormie Part Two, but he’s got a tricky sweeper and pours in more strikes than I think hitters would expect from his roundhouse delivery.
Today’s Starters
AAA: Davalillo
AA: Pence
Hi-A: Easley
Lo-A: Deakins
Five Years Ago Yesterday
My opening paragraph after seeing Cole Winn pitch in San Antonio: “I think the best way to describe Cole Winn is ‘starting pitcher.’ I know, not exactly insightful, but hear me out. The Rangers have had so many talented pitchers who ended up in relief. Watching them, the thoughts are always ‘he’ll start if he can figure out a change,’ ‘if his slider improves,’ ‘if his control improves,’ ‘if his stamina improves,’ etc. I’m not saying Winn has no need for improvement, but when I’m watching him, I don’t have any ‘ifs’ in my head. I’ve seen better individual pitches in San Antonio from guys like Jonathan Hernandez, Connor Sadzeck, Yohander Mendez, Jake Thompson. But I never saw them as well-rounded, as free of ‘ifs’ as Winn.”
Well that didn’t work out, but I stand by it. Winn still employs a starter’s full repertoire, and if not for a 2022 comebacker off his ankle that didn’t cost him any time but did derail his mechanics, maybe his career plays out differently. Winn didn’t switch from starting or starter-esque long relief to his present-day usage until 2024.
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