Author: scottrlucas

Hub City catcher Malcolm Moore hit a homer and double Wednesday night to improve to .231/.324/.400. “Comfortably above average in a pitcher-friendly environment” I thought, but when I did the calculations, I was surprised to find an OPS+ of only 98. If league production were the same as 2025, his OPS+ would be 118.

I’d previously written about how many more runs were being scored in low-A, but the differences in other leagues had eluded my notice. So last night I gathered data in the minors through April for 2025 and 2026. At the three lowest levels, scoring has increased dramatically, primarily because of an explosion homers. And base-stealing in AA has skyrocketed:



My immediate thought was that AA and A levels were using the MLB ball instead of the gentler minor-league ball, but that wasn’t part of the 2026 rule changes to my knowledge. Could the 2026 version of the ball be more lively, though? Possibly. 

Here’s how some 2026 rates compare to the average of the past ten Aprils:



Rates of runs, stolen base attempts, walks plus hit batters and four true outcomes (HR, BB, HBP, SO) are all the highest of the past ten seasons, possibly the highest ever in some cases. The rate of homers is the third highest (behind 2021 and 2022), and the strikeout rate is the second highest (behind 2021). 

Incidentally, I’d previously written about how control in the minors was generally worsening while the rate of walks and hit batters in MLB had barely budged. In 2026, MLB is budging:



Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, Oklahoma City (LAD) 3
Round Rock: 4 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Record: 13-17, 4 GB

SP Austin Gomber: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 SO, 94 P / 64 S, 8.87 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (2), .302/.405/.453

Austin Gomber had his best night by far. In nearly every previous outing, the question wasn’t whether he might provide help to the Rangers if needed but instead whether he could even give the Express five not-terrible innings. Last night’s performance would have handled MLB hitters pretty well, I think. He missed 16 bats, nine more than his previous best, featuring a sublimely commanded changeup that consistently teased the arm-side and lower borders of the zone. Texas can shift Jacob Latz if needed, and Cal Quantrill is already in Arlington, but I’m always thinking about depth in the minors, and Gomber made a case for inclusion last night. 

Indeed, he outpitched the well-regarded prospect Jackson Ferris, who I saw for the first time and must have caught on an off night. The lefty emphasized a slider even to righties, and his sinker and change tended to lean glove-side as well, so a bunch of his pitches were landing in the same area. His curve was just another look, not a useful pitch in and of itself. His basic control wasn’t sharp, either. I’m providing a general impression because Statcast unfortunately did a dreadful job of categorizing his pitches. 


AA: Frisco 6, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 7
Frisco: 6 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 13-11, 4 GB

SP Winston Santos: 4 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 4 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 58 P / 44 S, 10.80 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1.35 ERA
LF Dylan Dreiling: 2-4, .306/.392/.419

Will Bush homered off Ryan Lobus with one out in the 9th to end it. Winston Santos allowed all the runs in the 1st. His control was terrific, but 11 balls in play resulted in seven hits including three for extra bases. 


Hi-A: Hub City 6, at Greenville (BOS) 2
Hub City: 5 hits, 10 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 10-13, 4.5 GB

SP Enrique Segura: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 70 P / 37 S, 5.54 ERA
SS Rafe Perich: 2-5, HR (1), .236/.300/.382
SS Luke Hanson: 1-4, HR (2), .182/.270/.333

Paxton Kling drew three walks and stole his eighth base, and 1B Arturo Disla reached on two hits and a plunking. 

2024 7th-rounder Rafe Perich was a highlight of my 2025 trip to Surprise*, but so far his career hasn’t proceeded as I’d hoped. Not to say I was thinking “Major Leaguer” last March, but at least “he’ll reach AA, and then we’ll see what we have.” AA is still on the table, of course, but he hasn’t hit well at the A levels and is currently part of a semi-regular rotation, sitting at least twice a week and playing more often at first than third. He’s hitting for more power in 2026, but his walks and strikeouts are both trending the wrong direction. 

* I wasn’t alone in this assessment. Brendan Gawlowski, then a Pittsburgh scout and now a writer for FanGraphs, saw the same games and had this to say in his 2026 writeup: “After seeing Perich go nuts on the backfields one day, he’s always been ‘Rake’ in my internal monologues. He’s a switch-hitter with a viable blend of power and contact from both sides. It hasn’t materialized into production yet, but there are ingredients to stay with.”


Lo-A: Hickory 6, at Fredericksburg (WAS) 7 (10)
Hickory: 9 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 5 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 15-9, 1 G up

SP Kamdyn Perry: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 41 P / 28 S, 2.89 ERA
RP Louis Marinaro: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 6.30 ERA
CF Hector Osorio: 1-3, HR (4), 2 BB, SB (6), .253/.400/.494
SS Yolfran Castillo: 1-3, 2B, BB, HBP, SB (7), .289/.396/.433
1B Esteban Mejia: 2-5, HR (2), .279/.404/.419

Four straight one-run losses, the last three by walk-off. Hickory led 6-0 at the halfway point, but Wily Nivar endured his worst outing (1.1 IP, 6 runners, 4 runs). After three shockingly walk-free outings to open the season, his familiar control issues have returned lately. Louis Marinaro fanned four in two innings and allowed only one hit, but that hit brought home the gift-runner in the 10th. 

Kamdyn Perry hasn’t walked or hit a batter in 9.1 innings. The 2023 17th-round high-school pick had a .592 ERA in 51 low-A innings last year, but the peripherals were a little better. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Supak
AA: Lopez
Hi-A: Easley
Lo-A: Siary

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 3, Oklahoma City (LAD) 7
Round Rock: 6 hits, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 12-16, 4 GB

SP Ben Anderson: 3 IP, 8 H (2 HR), 6 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 74 P / 46 S, 11.81 ERA
RP Carter Baumler: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 3.00 ERA
RP Ryan Brasier: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.35 ERA
RP Michel Otañez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 4.50 ERA
DH Cameron Cauley: 2-4, .239/.370/.364

Carter Baumler is supposed to throw back-to-back games before returning to Arlington, per local reports. The results of yesterday’s putative Round One were iffy. Seven of 17 pitches caught the zone, not a terribly low proportion, but all the misses were by a large enough margin that opponents didn’t swing at a single one.


AA: Frisco 10, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 8 (10)
Frisco: 12 hits, 6 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 12-10, 5 GB

SP Josh Trentadue: 4 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 5 R, 3 BB, 1 SO, 76 P / 47 S, 9.39 ERA
RP Eric Loomis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
DH Orlando Martinez: 4-6, 3 2B, .321/.404/.500
2B Keyber Rodriguez: 2-5, HR (3), .318/.333/.557
RF Marcus Lee Sang: 2-4, 2B, HR (4), BB, .329/.405/.557

Marcus Lee Sang homered in the 10th with assistance from LF Tyler Whitaker, who’d entered in the top of the 9th as a defensive replacement. Whitaker successfully tracked Lee Sang’s sharp fly to the wall, but it bounced out of his glove and over the short wall. 

In the bottom of the 10th, Eric Loomis walked the bases loaded before getting a strikeout and game-ending double play. Loomis started the season with four straight walk-free outings but has seven (plus a hit batter) in his last six. Control has been an intermittent but sometimes serious issue throughout his college and pro careers. 


Hi-A: Hub City 6, at Greenville (BOS) 12
Hub City: 8 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 15 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 9-12, 5.5 GB

SP Aidan Curry: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 4 SO, 82 P / 46 S, 3.06 ERA
1B Arturo Disla: 3-3, HR (5), 2 BB, SB (1), .394/.483/.704
C Malcolm Moore: 1-4, 2B, BB, .213/.304/.328

Curry’s walks in individual starts have increased from zero to one to three to five. 

Arturo Disla knocked his fifth homer and stole his first base. He has 12 steals against four caught in his pro career. While pretty large and pretty slow, he actually has some baserunning skills and will certainly tiptoe to second against a heedless enemy. Last night, he was part of a second-and-home double-steal attempt with fellow speedster Malcolm Moore. Disla on first took off, but Greenville’s catcher faked a throw to force Moore to dive back to third. 


Lo-A: Hickory 12, at Fredericksburg (WAS) 13
Hickory: 13 hits, 7 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 15-7, 2 G up

SP Frank Martinez: 2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 54 P / 30 S, 9.95 ERA
RP Aneudis Mejia: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 8.78 ERA
1B Deward Tovar: 2-6, HR (7), .279/.361/.616
SS Yolfran Castillo: 1-2, 2B, 3 BB, .289/.392/.434
CF Marcos Torres: 2-5, 2 HR (5), .266/.379/.595
2B Daniel Flames: 2-4, BB, .276/.354/.310

On Sunday, the Crawdads led 8-2 and then allowed seven runs despite not surrendering another hit. Yesterday, Hickory trailed 11-0 after the 3rd yet managed to bring five batters to the plate as the tying or winning run before finally succumbing. League-wide run scoring is loopy. Hickory’s seemingly ordinary 4.7 per game allowed actually leads the league, while the offense’s seemingly outstanding six runs per game ranks fourth of 12. 

The opponent is Washington’s low-A club, which contains Gavin Fien and Yeremi Cabrera from the MacKenzie Gore trade. Last year’s top pick Fien is IL’ed with wrist inflammation, which might explain the 2-for-17 start with nine strikeouts. Notably, he was listed as “infielder/outfielder” and had only played RF so far. The 20-year-old Cabrera is hitting a stout .297/.447/.608 repeating the level. He doubled and walked twice last night. 

Elsewhere
Minnesota designated RHP Zak Kent for assignment. He made a couple of appearances for the Twins early in April. 

2019 2nd-round righty Ryan Garcia found a home in Campeche of the Mexican League. One teammate: 39-year-old lefty Zach Phillips, drafted by the Rangers in 2005 and beginning his tenth season south of the border. 

I found a few ex-Rangers in the indy Atlantic League:
LHP AJ Alexy (Yu Darvish trade) — Lancaster
RHP Noah Bremer (2017 / Rnd. 6)– Lancaster
RHP Nic Laio (2018 / 20)– Lexington 
RHP Josh Mollerus (Yerry Rodriguez post-DFA trade) — York
LHP Justin Sanchez (2022 / 18) — Southern Maryland

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 3, at Sugar Land (HOU) 4
Round Rock: 10 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 9 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 12-15, 3 GB

SP Kyle Funkhouser: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 3 SO, 68 P / 37 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Emiliano Teodo: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 3.38 ERA
RP Carter Baumler: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.86 ERA
RP Alexis Diaz: 1 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1.80 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-2, 2B, BB, .269/.367/.388

Kyle Funkhouser’s second appearance for the Express might be on hold. His first ended in the midst of the 4th when he made the dreaded “arm waggle” motion after a pitch and pointed to his shoulder or upper arm with his glove. 

Alexis Diaz allowed runs for the first time in ten outings. On the whole, he’s been great when batters swing, generating a huge miss rate plus  limited top-end exit velocity on balls in play. His fastball velocity is slightly higher than during 2024-2025 as well. Batters aren’t swinging often, though (38% compared to league-wide 45%) and he’s walked or hit 23% of opponents. The homer was by ex-Ranger Kellen Strahm.

Both hits off Carter Baumler were medium-hard grounders. 

The Express hit into six double plays. 


AA: Frisco 8, Tulsa (LAD) 0
Frisco: 10 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 2 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 11-10, 5 GB

SP David Davalillo: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 SO, 86 P / 54 S, 2.79 ERA
RP Bryan Magdaleno: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.90 ERA
RP Eric Loomis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 1.59 ERA
DH Dylan Dreiling: 2-5, .320/.407/.460
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 3-4, 2B, 3B, .313/.330/.530

David Davalillo recorded the first double-digit strikeout game for a Texas minor league starer this season and matched a career best. Nine were swinging, mostly on benders; watch ’em all! Of 62 Texas League pitchers with at least 200 pitches thrown, his 26% SO-BB rate is fifth best. 


Hi-A: Hub City 0, Winston-Salem (CHW) 6 (7)
Hub City: 4 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts

SP Ismael Agreda: 5 IP, 3 H (2 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 9 SO, 85 P / 49 S, 6.19 ERA
C Malcolm Moore: 1-3, BB, .211/.297/.316

Hi-A: Hub City 1, Winston-Salem (CHW) 13 (7)
Hub City: 1 hit, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 9-11, 4.5 GB

SP D.J. McCarty: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 32 P / 16 S, 11.74 ERA

I think these speak for themselves. They’re going to have to. 


Lo-A: Hickory 8, at Hill City (CLE) 9 (11)
Hickory: 10 hits, 8 walks, 3 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 13 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 15-6, 3 G up

SP Jesus Lafalaise: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 83 P / 44 S, 1.00 ERA
CF Paulino Santana: 2-5, BB, .289/.455/.408
3B Yolfran Castillo: 1-5, 3B, BB, SB (6), .284/.370/.420
LF Deward Tovar: 2-4, 3B, BB, .275/.363/.600
1B Marcos Torres: 1-3, 3B, 2 BB, 2 SB (10), .257/.378/.527
DH Luis Marquez: 2-5, HR (1), SB (1), .276/.313/.379

Hickory led 8-1 at stretch. After Hill City’s double-walk-single sequence to plate one, Hickory would hold the Howlers hitless the rest of the day but allow seven runs. A bases-loaded wild pitch scored two in the 7th. Four walks, a hit batter, another walk and a run-scoring double-play grounder plated four in the 9th. A balk and sac fly scored the winner in the 11th. 

Elsewhere
Catcher Sam Huff briefly returned to the Majors with Baltimore, collecting a single and double in three games. He was designated for assignment and became a free agent but quickly re-signed on a minor deal. 

The Athletics designated IF Andy Ibanez for assignment during the Texas series. He hadn’t played since the 18th and wasn’t hitting lefties (2-fr-16, no XBH or walks). The A’s had claimed him off waivers from the Dodgers in February. 

The Angels’ attempt to build a bullpen from scratch like Texas isn’t going well. They designated former Rangers Jordan Romano and Shaun Anderson yesterday. 

IF Brandon Phillips retired. He’s 44 and hadn’t played in an MLB-associated league in eight years, but he showed up on the transaction list on April 25th. He’d signed a one-day deal to go out as a Red. He was never a Ranger; it just caught my eye. 

Ordinarily, I’d have some news on ex-Rangers signing with the indy Atlantic League, but their transaction page hasn’t updated in months, and right now, the league doesn’t show standings or basic stats despite games starting last week. 

Greetings. Back from the 2026 Western National Archery Tournament in SLC.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Sugar Land (HOU) 3 (7)
Round Rock: 9 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts

SP Trey Supak: 6 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 3 R, 4 BB, 4 SO, 88 P / 52 S, 5.33 ERA
RP Ryan Brasier: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 5.00 ERA
SS Cameron Cauley: 3-4, 2B, .235/.376/.370

Catcher Jose Herrera, Texas’s #3 catcher since the departure of Wilie MacIver, gave me a little scare when I saw he’d been replaced by Cooper Johnson without batting. Fortunately, he’d “only” been ejected in the bottom of the 1st for what appeared to be an old-fashioned pre-ABS argument about the strike zone. Herrera unsuccessfully framed a low 1-2 pitch from Trey Supak and never made any indication of a challenge but soon was sparring (gently) with plate ump Travis Brewer. Intervention from manager Kyle Moore seemed to calm the air, but Herrera continued the argument and was tossed as Moore was heading back to the dugout. Johnson would end up catching 99% of Game 1, and Herrera would return for Game 2.

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Sugar Land (HOU) 3 (9)
Round Rock: 9 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 6 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 12-14, 3 GB

SP Mason Thompson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 30 P / 10 S, 2.70 ERA
RP Thomas Ireland: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1.69 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 1-4, 2B, BB, .298/.385/.457
CF Gilberto Celestino: 2-3, BB

A bullpen game. Including the second of his consecutive outings on April 15, Josh Sborz has allowed runs in four straight and suddenly owns an 8.03 ERA and .565 opposing slugging percentage. Michael Otanez barely survived the 8th (an extra inning), walking the bases full and allowing a game-tying sac fly before retiring the final two batters. In the 9th, he again filled the bases, this time with two out, and was replaced by none other than Nick Pratto, making his third pro mound appearance. His missed on a couple of 79 MPH heaters before Jack Winkler decided to swing on one in the zone for the final out. Otanez has walked 11 in nine innings. 

Texas has signed righty Kyle Funkhouser, who threw 85 decent if walk-heavy innings for the Tigers in 2020-2021 and was a minor league Ranger in 2023 but mostly on the IL. He’s pitched in Oaxaca lately.


AA: Frisco 6, Tulsa (LAD) 5 (5)
Frisco: 3 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 10-10, 5 GB

SP Dylan MacLean: 4.2 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 84 P / 53 S, 5.89 ERA

Frisco scored six in the 1st on only two singles plus a week’s worth of generosity on the part of Tulsa’s pitching and defense. Dylan MacLean surrendered four in the 1st on two walks and two hits (including a homer) but was fine thereafter. Mother Nature decided she’d seen enough a few minutes before 9pm. 


Hi-A: wet

Two today.


Lo-A: Hickory 4, at Hill City (CLE) 2
Hickory: 4 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 15-5, 3.5 G up

SP AJ Russell: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 44 P / 26 S, 5.15 ERA
RP Moises Morales: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 4.91 ERA

Russell has run hot and cold in April, but he did work up to a season-high 44 pitches. 22-year-old Moises Morales completed five scoreless with heavy doses of bendy and wiggly stuff: straightforward sliders, some that leaned into curve territory, changes, cutters, maybe some sinkers, no ordinary four-seamers that I could see (though I didn’t watch every pitch). Like Frisco, Hickory scored several runs despite little impact with the bat. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, at Sugar Land (HOU) 5
Round Rock: 4 hits, 4 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 11-14, 4 GB

SP Austin Gomber: 5 IP, 4 H (2 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 90 P / 56 S, 11.57 ERA
1B Justin Foscue: 1-3, 2B, BB, .300/.385/.456

Texas had designated catcher Willie MacIver for assignment concurrent with the promotion of reliever Peyton Gray, and the Rangers then sold him to Toronto for cash. Jose Herrera is the replacement catcher if needed. Herrera has 187 MLB games to his credit but a line of .200/.280/.259. 

Former Twin, Cub, Buc and Met Gilberto Celestino is active in Round Rock. The 27-year-old OF was signed during Spring Training and has officially been on the complex roster until now. 


AA: Frisco 9, Tulsa (LAD) 7
Frisco: 11 hits, 7 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 9-10, 4 GB

SP Leandro Lopez: 2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 66 P / 38 S, 3.44 ERA
RP Eric Loomis: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Ryan Lobus: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 5.56 ERA
CF Dylan Dreiling: 1-3, BB, .310/.412/.476
1B John Taylor: 2-4, BB, .298/.414/.509
C Julian Brock: 2-4, BB, .244/.340/.422
2B Corey Joyce: 2-3, 2B, HR (3), BB, .500/.556/1.000

With single-inning pitch limits in the low-to-mid 30s (understandably), an inning can run awry quickly. A five-pitch single and nine-pitch walk to start the game will have you (the knowledgeable fan) thinking “this starter won’t last the inning.” Lopez did, barely, but innings of 31 and 35 pitches were enough to finish his evening quickly. He’s walked or hit 13 of 76 batters (17%), up in “struggling reliever” territory and substantially above last year’s breakout season.

Fortunately, Frisco pinned two fours on the board during Lopez’s struggles.

C/1B Tucker Mitchell was placed on the full-season injured list.


Hi-A: Hub City 10, Winston-Salem (CHW) 7
Hub City: 11 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 9-9, 3 GB

SP Joey Danielson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 18 P / 10 S, 0.00 ERA
LF Maxton Martin: 3-4, 2B, HR (2), BB, .262/.328/.508
1B Arturo Disla: 2-4, 2B, HBP, .391/.467/.688
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-3, BB, SB (2), .220/.313/.373
CF Quincy Scott: 1-3, HR (2), BB, .190/.320/.476

Dalton Pence had started the previous Fridays and was listed last night but watched from the dugout in favor of Joey Danielson, who hadn’t started since high school. Danielson touched 98 on his first strikeout and is up to 7.2 hitless innings with one unearned run. 


Lo-A: Hickory 4, at Hill City (CLE) 6
Hickory: 11 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 14-5, 3 G up

SP Evan Siary: 5 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 63 P / 44 S, 4.24 ERA
RP Michael Trausch: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 0.00 ERA
LF Paulino Santana: 2-5, HR (2), .284/.461/.418
CF Hector Osorio: 1-3, 2 BB, .269/.419/.507
SS Yolfran Castillo: 2-4, BB, .292/.378/.431
1B Marcos Torres: 2-4, HR (3), .254/.365/.507

Previously untouchable late-inning reliever JD McReynolds has been touchable lately, giving up his first run of the season on Tuesday and a walk-off three run homer last night following an opening walk and an error by 2B Daniel Flames on an annoying little dribbler past the mound. Evan Siary did have a solid if strikeout-light night, and the guys who’ve been hitting well lately continued to do so. 

The eye-catching slash lines listed above do need to be viewed with a little caution, though, as league-wide scoring is up nearly a full run per game versus last year. Sometimes, that’s just a short-term quirk, but sometimes minor leagues with 10-12 teams can have pronounced swings in pitching or hitting quality from year to year. I usually wait until about a month into the season to run the numbers to provide better context.   

I’m on a tricky schedule (in Salt Lake City for my daughter’s national archery tournament), so I didn’t have an opportunity to provide a summary for RHP Peyton Gray prior to his MLB debut. I’ve been covering him, though, so hopefully you had an idea. Here’s a quick table I produced for social media yesterday:



The change is the money pitch, as you know, and he’ll deal it to righties and into the zone. His called-strike rate on changes in AAA is 23% compared to the league’s 8%. I don’t know if he should be throwing that many strikes with it, but the point is it’s serving a much larger role than just getting chases against lefties. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Sugar Land (HOU) 3 (7)
Round Rock: 9 hits, 10 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts

SP Josh Stephan: 4 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 74 P / 48 S, 5.95 ERA
RP Carter Baumler: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 9.00 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.00 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, BB, .299/.380/.448
LF Trevor Hauver: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, .296/.425/.408
SS Cameron Cauley: 2-4, BB

Sugar Land has a positive record despite their hitters’ league-worst strikeout rate and (by far) the worst swing-and-miss rate. Josh Stephan took advantage with 14 misses, easily the most of his young season. 

Carter Baumler made his first rehab appearance; his fastball velocity was normal. Sometimes, clubs haven’t been too eager to rush Rule 5 picks back to the Majors from their rehab assignments, treating them as sort of a miniature option period. We’ll see in this case. Cal Quantrill is on the active roster and might be a casualty. Gavin Collyer has avoided hits, but he’s also walked or hit five of 15 batters and has a 53% walk rate, both of which will will cause problems quickly if not improved. 

Sugar Land’s first two pitchers were Nate Pearson and Sam Carlson, both linked to the Rangers in 2017 draft and picked 28th and 55th overall, respectively. Texas chose OF Bubba Thompson 26th and IF Chris Seise 29th.   

Others from the draft chosen prior to Carlson:
LHP MacKenzie Gore (3)
CIF Jake Burger (11)
1B Nick Pratto (14)
RHP Spencer Howard (45, now in Japan)

AAA: Round Rock 12, at Sugar Land (HOU) 5 (7)
Round Rock: 8 hits, 11 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 10-13, 3.5 GB

SP Ryan Brasier: 1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 24 P / 17 S, 5.63 ERA
RP Emiliano Teodo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 3.86 ERA
RP Josh Sborz: 1 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 7.15 ERA
CF Cameron Cauley: 1-2, HR (3), 3 BB, SB (7), .232/.393/.377
DH Nick Pratto: 1-3, 2B, BB
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-2, HR (1), 2 BB, SB (1), .254/.348/.356

Cam Cauley had a day. He owns a decent if unspectacular walk rate over his career, yet he’s reached via walk in over 20% of his plate appearances so far in AAA. Round Rock hitters drew 21 walks in 14 innings. 

Emiliano Teodo has a loopy opposing line of .129/.372/.161.


AA: Frisco 1, Tulsa (LAD) 6
Frisco: 1 hit, 7 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 9 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 8-10, 6 GB

SP Winston Santos: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 31 P / 17 S, 13.50 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1.74 ERA

Santos was pulled in the 1st for an excessive pitch count. OF Dylan Dreiling (0-3) was activated off the IL.


Hi-A: Hub City 16, Winston-Salem (CHW) 2
Hub City: 16 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 8-9, 3.5 GB

SP J’Briell Easley: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 46 P / 32 S, 3.52 ERA
RP Joe Adametz: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 5.27 ERA
DH Gleider Figuereo: 2-3, 2B, BB, .214/.302/.375
RF Paxton Kling: 3-6, 2 2B, .288/.400/.407
LF Yeison Morrobel: 3-6, 2 2B, .246/.306/.474
C Ben Hartl: 2-3, HR (1), BB, .250/.345/.375
SS Luke Hanson: 2-3, 2 BB, SB (5), .125/.236/.146

Hub City has improved its OBP from a minors-worst .293 to .312 in a matter of days. Rafe Perich and Quincy Scott added a couple of hits apiece, and Arturo Disla reached on a single, walk and HBP. 


Lo-A: Hickory 6, at Hill City (CLE) 4
Hickory: 8 hits, 9 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Record: 14-4, 4 G up

SP Kamdyn Perry: 3 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 3 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 32 P / 23 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Jormy Nivar: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.69 ERA
LF Deward Tovar: 2-3, HR (6), BB, .294/.377/.647
C Josh Springer: 2-4, 2B, .326/.408/.349
RF Hector Osorio: 2-5, 2B, .266/.407/.516

Deward Tovar’s six homers are third-most in low-A and tied for ninth among hitters below AAA. The 20-year-old has been a high-power, high-walk, high-strikeout type in his young career.

Box Scores

AAA: wet again 

Doubleheaders are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday. 

Reliever Marc Church survived waivers and was outrighted to Round Rock. Good news for Texas because Church does have a chance at returning to prior form. It does, however, speak to his current situation that someone who had (and may have again) late-inning stuff and an option couldn’t draw interest. 


AA: Frisco 0, Tulsa (LAD) 5 (7)
Frisco: 2 hits, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts

SP Josh Trentadue: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 80 P / 47 S, 8.74 ERA

Hmm. Trentadue’s first start was solid but the most recent two have been hit-filled. At least in the short run, the sharp difference between his high-A success and AA struggles last year has persisted into 2026. 

AA: Frisco 6, Tulsa (LAD) 12 (8)
Frisco: 9 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 15 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 8-9, 5 GB

SP Blake Townsend: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 73 P / 49 S, 7.50 ERA

Homers from Frainyer Chavez (5), Marcus Lee Sang (3) and John Taylor (3) helped the Riders to an early 6-1 lead, but Tulsa would tied the game in the 6th and bring a half dozen home in the extra frame. Chavez had 23 professional homers in 650 games entering the season. 


Hi-A: Hub City 8, Winston-Salem (CHW) 4
Hub City: 13 hits, 8 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 8-8, 4.5 GB

SP Enrique Segura: 3.1 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 3 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 64 P / 40 S, 6.00 ERA
RF Maxton Martin: 1-5, HR (1), .228/.290/.421
DH Arturo Disla: 1-3, HR (4), BB, .393/.453/.714
C Malcolm Moore: 2-4, 2B, .200/.286/.320

Arturo Disla began Wednesday with a homer and walk following yesterday’s 5-for-5 including two homers. Reaching five times in the past two games has pushed Malcolm Moore’s slash line slightly beyond last year’s.


Lo-A: Hickory 8, at Hill City (CLE) 5
Hickory: 10 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 13-4, 3 G up

SP Aidan Deakins: 5 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 2 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 61 P / 41 S, 0.69 ERA
RP Geury Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 0.96 ERA
LF Paulino Santana: 1-3, 2 BB, SB (8), .283/.456/.383
SS Yolfran Castillo: 3-5, 2 2B, .286/.375/.444
RF Deward Tovar: 1-5, HR (5), .277/.356/.600

While nobody was expecting him to hit the cover off the ball last year at such a young age, Yolfran Castillo’s 22 extra-base hits (including a lone homer) were slightly disappointing. He’s collecting them twice as fast in 2026, already reaching eight doubles and a triple in just 16 games. 

Box Scores

AAA: wet

They’ll make it up, but not today. 

Round Rock activated 1B Nick Pratto. He’d been on the development list all season. The Rangers released utility man Tyler Wade, who briefly was a possibility for the Opening Day Roster when he started Spring Training hot and Ezequiel Duran didn’t. In Round Rock, the 31-year-old was controlling the plate well but producing little with swings (.226/.315/.242).


AA: wet

Two today. 


Hi-A: Hub City 3, Winston-Salem (CHW) 4
Hub City: 10 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 9 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 7-8, 3.5 GB

SP Aidan Curry: 4.1 IP, 3 H (2 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 86 P / 48 S, 2.70 ERA
RP Mailon Felix: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Gleider Figuereo: 1-4, BB, SB (1), .204/.278/.367
1B Arturo Disla: 5-5, 2 HR (3), .396/.450/.679
C Malcolm Moore: 2-4, BB, .174/.269/.283

Arturo Disla had a career day, collecting two homers and five total hits for the first time. Disla was born in the DR but signed (undrafted) out of Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. His 2025 in Hub City was a letdown (.223/.292/.352) after a solid showing in 2024, and he’s as bat-first as anyone in pro ball, so it’s nice to see a successful start to 2026. 

Hub City trailed 4-0 and the halfway point but made a game of it and arguably should have won. Down 4-2 in the 8th after Disla’s leadoff homer, the Burgers loaded the bases with none out but couldn’t score. With one out in the 9th, Gleider Figuereo drew an eight-pitch walk after swinging through the first two pitches, Disla singled, and Malcolm Moore lined off the tip of shortstop Kyle Lodise’s glove into center to bring home Figuereo. Alas, Yeison Morrobel grounded into a double play.

Aidan Curry was mortal for the first time.


Lo-A: Hickory 6, at Hill City (CLE) 7
Hickory: 9 hits, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Record: 12-4, 2 G up

SP Aneudis Mejia: 4 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 67 P / 42 S, 13.00 ERA
DH Deward Tovar: 2-3, 2 BB, .283/.368/.583
C Josh Springer: 2-5, .308/.400/.308

Like Hub City, the Crawdads trailed by several runs early and nearly came back but were left to rue unfulfilled opportunities like loaded bases in the 6th and 7th. Yolfran Castillo tripled off the wall and CF Junieiker Caceras’s head. Hill City has a player named Yeiferth Castillo. He and Yolfran were born in Barquismeto, Venezuela… three months apart. Three? I have found no connecting biographical information. Cousins? 

Aneudis Mejia allowed more runs than innings pitched yet brought his ERA down, if you’d like to know how his year is going. 

The former Lynchburg Hillcats are now the Hill City Howlers. Same city and stadium, just a rebrand. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, El Paso (SDP) 5
Round Rock: 6 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts

SP Austin Gomber: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 38 P / 22 S, 14.29 ERA
RP Josh Sborz: 2 IP, 3 H (2 HR), 4 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 6.97 ERA
RP Alexis Diaz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Emiliano Teodo: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, HBP, 2 SO, 3.52 ERA

Austin Gomber’s fastball was dipping into the mid-80s, but he was having his most effective start until rain stopped him at two innings. Effectively Starter Two, Josh Sborz pitched two full innings for the first time but gave up a couple of homers. 

Emiliano Teodo hit yet another batter with a sinker but located the other four for quality strikes including two swinging strikes. Despite his troubles, his swinging-strike rate is above the league average. 

AAA: Round Rock 4, El Paso (SDP) 1 (7)
Round Rock: 8 hits, 7 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts
Record: 8-13, 5 GB

SP Trey Supak: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 73 P / 54 S, 5.59 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.27 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 1-3, BB, SB (4), .262/.355/.354
SS Cam Cauley: 1-2, HR (2), BB, .206/.354/.317

Cam Cauley lined sharply to left for his second homer to break a late 1-1 tie. 


AA: Frisco 7, at Amarillo (ARI) 9
Frisco: 9 hits, 8 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 8-7, 4 GB

SP David Davalillo: 3 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 4 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 74 P / 46 S, 4.05 ERA
C Julian Brock: 3-5, 2B, HR (2), .257/.341/.486

I harp on Amarillo’s hitter-friendly status, but goodness. Frisco averaged nine runs and over 17 baserunners per night but left the panhandle with a series split. 

The last time David Davaliilo placed four runners on base by a combination of walks and hit batters was September 2024. 


Hi-A: Hub City 10, at Wilmington (WAS) 9 (12)
Hub City: 13 hits, 7 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 6 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 7-7, 2.5 GB

SP D.J. McCarty: 3.2 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 71 P / 41 S, 7.71 ERA
RP Anthony Susac: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 2.35 ERA
RP Joey Danielson: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
CF Chandler Pollard: 3-7, 2B, SB (4), .324/.378/.500
RF Yeison Morrobel: 2-7, HR (3), .233/.298/.488
1B Arturo Disla: 4-5, 2 2B, BB, .333/.400/.521
SS Rafe Perich: 2-4, 3B, 2 BB, .156/.229/.281
C Ben Hartl: 2-4, BB, HBP, SB (1), .190/.292/.190

The quiet Hub City offense recovered from a 5-2 7th-inning deficit and scored in every extra inning. Joey Danielson was imperfect for the first time, walking three of seven batters. In the bottom of the 10th, Jesus Gamez had two outs and a 2-2 count but issued two more balls to bring home the tying run. The batter: Devin Fitz-Gerald, now hitting .333/.463/.519.


Lo-A: Hickory 2, Salem (BOS) 4
Hickory: 6 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 0 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 12-3, 3 G up

SP Jesus Lafalaise: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 76 P / 47 S, 0.73 ERA
RP Michael Trausch: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RF Hector Osorio: 3-4, 2B, .269/.424/.558
LF Paulino Santana: 0-1, 3 BB, SB (7), .302/.464/.415

The win streak ends at nine.

Baseball America said the following about Paulino Santana in ranking him Texas’s #22 prospect: “His speed, defense and arm all settled in around average or slightly better, giving him a fair chance to stick in center field. Doing so would be a boon for his future, since his offense is unlikely to profile in a corner.” 

Santana hasn’t played a minute in center this season, so let’s check out that offense. The primary criticisms were poor swing decisions and over-aggressiveness versus non-fastballs. I lack the data and observations to comment specifically about the latter, but the former appears to have improved substantially. Last year in 67 plate appearances at the level, Santana drew four walks and struck out 27 times. In a nearly equal number of 2026 appearances, those figures are 12 and 17, respectively. That K rate is still elevated but vastly improved. He’s swinging much less often and making much better contact when he does swing. 

Elsewhere
Dustin Harris is an Astro following a waiver claim. He’d batted .250/.438/.333 in six games for the White Sox after being called up to replace the injured Austin Hays, but Chicago had been grooming infield prospect Sam Antonacci for grass duty all season in AAA and decided he was ready, at Harris’s expense.

Apologies for no report yesterday. I was traveling and found I couldn’t sync my address list between my laptop and desktop. I’ve covered the last two days below. 

Box Scores

Saturday AAA: suspended

Round Rock and El Paso are tied in the top of the 3rd. Beginning at noon, they’ll complete that plus a seven-inning tilt today.
RHP Josh Sborz will stay a Ranger, as apparently no club offered him an active spot. That aligns with my observations. I sure I could find a logical place for him on a needy team, but in general, he looks more like an up-and-down type right now, and the lack of options prevents that usage. 

OF Mark Canha received his release. He lives in Arizona and had permission to work out at the complex rather than join the Express. 

Friday AAA: Round Rock 9, El Paso (SDP) 7
Round Rock: 11 hits, 8 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 7-12, 4.5 GB

SP Patrick Murphy: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 61 P / 32 S, 3.18 ERA
RP Peyton Gray: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
1B Jonah Bride: 4-5, 2 2B, HR (3), .288/.397/.492
SS Cameron Cauley: 1-2, 3 BB, SB (6), .207/.356/.276
C Willie MacIver: 3-4, .205/.385/.308

Another off-kilter affair. 139 pitches out of the strike zone, 14 walks, two hit batters, four unsuccessful challenges in the first four innings. Peyton Gray was the antidote, needing just 37 pitches to complete three innings. He wasn’t quite as whiff-happy as usual but no less effective. Jonah Bride had a night reminiscent of his surprising 2024 with Miami, when he batted .276/.357/.461 with 11 homers in 73 games as a 27-year-old. 

AA: Frisco 5, at Amarillo (ARI) 4
Frisco: 8 hits, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 8-6, 3 GB

SP Dylan MacLean: 5 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 71 P / 52 S, 4.61 ERA
2B Corey Joyce: 3-4, HR (2), .471/.500/.882

Congrats to Dylan MacLean for becoming the first Rider to leave an an Amarillo start with a lower ERA. The solution, at least for him, was 14 swinging strikes, one shy of his personal best. Recently signed Corey Joyce has June 23rd circled on his calendar; that’s when the Riders return to Amarillo.

Friday AA: Frisco 5, at Amarillo (ARI) 6 (10)
Frisco: 10 hits, 4 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts

SP Leandro Lopez: 6 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 4 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 89 P / 56 S, 2.20 ERA
RP Eric Loomis: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 3-5, HR (2), .375/.386/.625
DH Keith Jones II: 2-3, HR (2), BB, .333/.467/.708

Frisco lost a second straight on an infield grounder to first in the 10th, this one just evading a drawn-in Frainyer Chavez with a runner at third. Absent for three days, OF Dylan Dreiling was placed on the IL before last night’s game. 

Saturday Hi-A: Hub City 2, at Wilmington (WAS) 10
Hub City: 8 hits, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 6-7, 2.5 GB

SP Ismael Agreda: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 71 P / 43 S, 7.36 ERA
LF Yeison Morrobel: 1-4, HR (2), .222/.300/.444

Ismael Agreda has allowed only one extra-base hit in three starts, but opponents are singling and walking with abandon. 

The Spartanburgers’ .283 OBP is the lowest in minor league ball, although they’ve slugged enough to avoid ranking last in runs in their league. 

Friday Hi-A: Hub City 4, at Wilmington (WAS) 7
Hub City: 7 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts

SP Dalton Pence: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 77 P / 52 S, 2.35 ERA
CF Paxton Kling: 1-3, BB, HBP, .275/.420/.375
C Malcolm Moore: 1-3, BB, .158/.256/.289
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-3, 2B, BB, .195/.267/.390
LF Yeison Morrobel: 2-3, HR (1), BB, .219/.306/.375

Dalton Pence traded some strikeouts for pops, which are no less effective and give the infield something to do. Even with slightly fewer misses, he’s struck out 19 versus just two walks in 15.1 innings. 

Saturday Lo-A: Hickory 13, Salem (BOS) 7
Hickory: 12 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 12-2, 4 G up

SP AJ Russell: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 28 P / 19 S, 3.60 ERA
RP Frank Martinez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
DH Marcos Torres: 2-4, BB, .288/.403/.558
SS Yolfran Castillo: 2-4, 2B, BB, .280/.379/.400
CF Hector Osorio: 1-5, HR (3), .229/.403/.521
RF Deward Tovar: 3-5, 3B, 2 HR (4), .245/.322/.585
C Josh Springer: 2-4, BB, .313/.421/.313

Hickory has won nine in a row. A throttled AJ Russell has been sharp in two of three outings. The offense started the season as slowly as Hub City, with no homers and a sub-.300 OBP through six games, but they’ve knocked ten out of the park in the last eight days, and several players have slash lines that wouldn’t look out of place in the PCL. 

Yolfran Castillo has matched last year’s six low-A extra-base hits in half the number of plate appearances. He’s also striking out more, but I don’t know that it’s a concern right now. His rate isn’t excessive, and most of last year’s extra contact didn’t accomplish anything. 

Friday Lo-A: Hickory 7, Salem (BOS) 5
Hickory: 6 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts

SP Evan Siary: 4 IP, 4 H (2 HR), 5 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 70 P / 38 S, 5.25 ERA
RP Wily Villar: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Kamdyn Perry: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
LF Paulino Santana: 1-3, 2 BB, .313/.450/.438
1B Marcos Torres: 1-4, HR (2), BB, .271/.386/.563
SS Yolfran Castillo: 2-5, 2B, SB (4), .261/.358/.370
DH Hector Osorio: 1-3, HR (2), BB, .233/.421/.488

Evan Siary ran into serious trouble for the first time in three starts. Hard-throwing septuagenarian (okay, he’s 27) Wily Villar threw another two walk-free innings, raising his total to 6.1. He walked 19 in 26 innings last year. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Supak
AA: Davalillo
Hi-A: McCarty
Lo-A: Lafalaise