Category: Daily Report

PLAYOFF PREVIEW: HIGH-A SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE SEMIFINALS


Hub City Spartanburgers (65-66) vs. Tampa Bay-affiliated Bowling Green Hot Rods (69-61)

Season Run Differential: Hub City -1, Bowling Green +63
Last 20 Games: Hub City 10-10, Bowling Green 11-9
Season Series: Bowling Green 6-5

How They Got Here
Bowling Green solely owned the first-half lead for the last 3.5 weeks but never by more than two games, holding off Hub City and a Greenville squad that faltered late.

With 13 games to play in the second half, Hub City, Bowling Green and Greenville were tied at 27-26. The Spartanburgers led by two games entering the final series but lost four of six while Bowling Green won five to capture the second-half title. Hub City still advanced because of the second-best second-half record (34-32). Greenville (66-66) would have advanced instead of Hub City under the old playoff rules that used the second-best full-season record. 

History
2025 is Hub City’s inaugural season. Texas’s high-A squad was eliminated in the opening rounds of 2023 and 2019 following league championships by Down East (2017) and 2016 (High Desert). 

Bowling Green’s history is formidable, including three Sally titles in the four seasons since realignment. Prior to 2020, the Hot Rods were a perennially strong low-A entry. 

Top 30 Active Prospects Per MLB.com
Hub City:
#8 RHP Caden Scarborough
#11 C Malcolm Moore
#16 OF Dylan Dreiling
#23 RHP Kolton Curtis
#29 OF Maxton Martin

Bowling Green:
#6 OF Aidan Smith
#10 RHP Trevor Harrison
#11 RHP Santiago Suarez
#12 RHP Jose Urbina
#13 RHP Gary Gill Hill
#27 C Nathan Flewelling
#28 MIF Emilien Pitre
#29 MIF Adrian Santana

Offense / Possible Position Players
C Malcolm Moore / Ben Hartl
1B Arturo Disla / Rafe Perich
2B John Taylor / Casey Cook
3B Gleider Figuereo / Rafe Perich
SS Luke Hanson / John Taylor
LF Casey Cook / Yeison Morrobel
CF Dylan Dreiling
RF Maxton Martin / Antonis Macias

Sorry, but this is a bland offense. The Burgers scored 6% fewer runs than the league average with a 95 OPS+ and didn’t do anything well except avoid strikeouts. 3B Gleider Figuereo (.201/.287/.353) led the club with 18 homers but hit only three in 36 games after the All-Star break. Malcolm Moore (.198/.293/.271) sneaked in a nice week in August but otherwise struggled after returning from a broken finger. Rafe Perich (.202/.322/.274) didn’t hit much after being promoted, and Yeison Morrobel (.170/.248/.278) declined in a repeat at this level.  

The good news is that both 2025 2nd-rounder Dylan Dreiling (.226/.319/.381) and 3rd-rounder Casey Cook (.205/.302/.294) were better down the stretch. Dreiling had the team’s most homers (four) after the break and pushed his season OPS+ to 113. Newcomer Maxton Martin (.258/.347/.445 including Hickory) hit well after his promotion from Hickory. Ben Hartl (.245/.389/.305 including Hickory) is the #2 catcher but also the best on-base threat thanks to 33 walks and 32 (!) HBP in 337 trips to the plate, mostly in low-A. 1B/COF Quincy Scott (.231/.328/.321) was activated from a lengthy IL stint today; he’s yet another slightly-below-average hitter but an improvement on Morrobel and can swipe a base.

Paxton Kling played only 11 games with the Burgers, but his injury last week brought wholesale changes to the defensive alignment. Casey Cook spent his entire season at second or short until last Friday, when he made the first of three straight starts in left (his most common position at UNC in his draft year). John Taylor started the final three games at second, which he’d manned before but never that frequently. Dylan Dreilng shifted back to center, which he’d typically occupied before Kling’s arrival. 

Hub City will bat Macias, Dreiling, Moore, Hartl (DH), Martin, Cook, Figuereo, Taylor and Hanson. I’m happy to say that for fun, I played manager this morning and made my own lineup, and it was nearly identical with the primary exception of moving Moore to the bottom. 

Bowling Green outscored the league average by 9%. Other than leading the league in walks, the offense isn’t especially dynamic, but they do everything pretty well and it adds up. 40-steal batters are CF Aidan Smith (.237/.331/.388, 14 HR), SS Adrian Santana (.263/.324/.326) and OF Mac Horvath (.233/.333/.395, 16 HR). 2B Emilien Pitre (.268/.356/.393, 9 HR, 14 SB) is good all-around. 

Pitching / Possible Rotation (* equals guess based on past use)
Hub City:
SP1: Dylan MacLean (3.34 ERA, .200/.243/.366 oppo, 6% BB+HBP, 23% SO)
SP2: Caden Scarborough (0.00 ERA, .133/.204/.133 oppo, 8% BB+HBP, 39% SO)
SP3: Dalton Pence (1.55 ERA, .192/.259/.234 oppo, 9% BB+HBP and 28% SO)

MacLean isn’t the big name but is a capable starter, one of the only pitchers on the staff with good control. Aidan Curry, ordinarily the starter for Hub City’s second game of the week, is being skipped to push up Scarborough and Pence, who will still be pitching on normal rest because of a day off Wednesday. Scarborough has been indomitable, and Pence has adapted well to a starting role. Curry has been better since returning from an Arizona reboot, but Hub City has its three best starters lined up. Hopefully, they can be pushed a little harder than usual under the circumstances, because…

Hub City’s relief corps is worryingly thin. Gone are Erik Loomis, Wilian Bormie, Joey Danielson and Josh Mollerus. To a man, the relievers have distressing control, in aggregate a BB+HBP rate of over 20%. Victor Simeon got most of the save chances down the stretch but walked or hit 49 and unleashed 11 wild pitches in 44.2 IP. Simeon does miss bats, though (32% rate), and relying on him and the other high-K guys (Jesus Gamez, Case Matter, Adrian Rodriguez) might be a path forward. 

Bowling Green:
SP1*: Trevor Harrison (3.33 ERA, .258/.362/.360 oppo, 15% BB+HBP, 24% SO)
SP2*: Marcus Johnson (4.50 ERA, .292/.314/.484 oppo, 3% BB+HBP, 24% SO)
SP3*: Garrett Gainey (3.29 ERA, .213/.265/.339 oppo, 7% BB+HBP, 23% SO)

Bowling Green’s run prevention was above average, but opponents batted .237 and slugged .374, both among the worst figures in the league. The Hot Rods were shockingly homer-prone, easily worst in the league, and they weren’t strong in strikeouts. They’re superior at avoiding walks, one of the best teams I’ve encountered. This does leave an opening for Hub City’s hitters, who as a group don’t have good power but don’t strike out much. A line of attack could be putting a bunch of balls in play, potentially stringing together some hits and maybe launching a few.

Drew Dowd (2.60 ERA, .196/.268/.286, 9% BB+HBP, 32% SO) was the save leader down the stretch and hasn’t allowed a run in 20 innings. Noah Beal and Seth Chavez were the busiest relievers; neither was especially effective. As a group, the BG pen has less upside but more stability. This afternoon, Bowling Green received relievers Jonathan Russell and Jadon Berkovich both of whom pitched well for low-A Charleston. 

Defense
Hub City’s defense isn’t a weakness, but Bowling Green is better in several respects such as converting double play opportunities, limiting the running game and avoiding errors.

Advantages
Hitting – Bowling Green
Pitching – Hub City (rotation), Bowling Green (bullpen)
Defense – Bowling Green

Park Factor
Both parks are dead average. 

Outlook
If I had to put $100 on the series, first I’d question my life choices, and then I’d pick Bowling Green. They’re better on paper. That said, this series is roughly the equivalent of the Royals facing the Mets. Hub City emerging victorious isn’t a stretch. 

Most Recent Texas-Affiliated Championship Teams
AAA: 1996 Oklahoma City 89ers
AA: 2022 Frisco RoughRiders
Hi-A: 2017 Down East Wood Ducks (co-champion)
Lo-A: 2015 Hickory Crawdads
Short-A: 2008 Spokane Indians (RIP)
Rookie: 2019 Rangers
DSL: 2014 Rangers

Elsewhere
Tampa Bay claimed RHP Caleb Boushley. Trey Supak (AAA) and Josh Trentadue (AA) are starting tonight. Hickory’s season is over. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 1, Sacramento (SFO) 0
Round Rock: 11 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts
Record: 21-18, 6 GB, 55-59 overall

SP Ben Anderson: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 67 P / 41 S, 3.97 ERA
RP Jacob Latz: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2.08 ERA
RP Jose Ruiz: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.60 ERA
RP Craig Kimbrel: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.26 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 3-3, BB, .338/.385/.548
LF Alejandro Osuna: 1-3, BB, .295/.475/.432

Craig Kimbrel had a little more pep in his throws last night, averaging 93.5 on the fastball instead of the usual 92.5. I’d bet that even among serious baseball fans, few know he’s pitching for Texas’s AAA squad. I suppose that slightly increases the chance of another team wanting to take a chance on him and/or the likelihood of him trying to extend his career into 2026. 

This week is a reunion of sorts, with former Rangers Sam Huff and Osleivis Basabe in town for Sacramento.Huff lasted two months on the Giants’ roster as an ill-used #2 catcher (53 PA in 58 team games) before being outrighted, which was much more of an opportunity he’d have received in Texas. Basebe was outrighted as well after being traded from Tampa Bay in February. 

The Nationals designated 1B Nathaniel Lowe for assignment. His power remains, but after four seasons as an OBP source with Texas that percentage plummeted to .293 in Washington.


AA: Frisco 6, Midland (ATH) 4
Frisco: 12 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 8 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 18-23, 8 GB, 56-53 overall

SP Leandro Lopez: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 35 P / 18 S, 2.35 ERA
RP Larson Kindreich: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 3.18 ERA
SS Sebastian Walcott: 1-4, BB, .238/.336/.377
LF Keith Jones II: 1-3, HR (2), BB, .191/.269/.319
C Julian Brock: 3-4, 2B

Neither I nor faithful readers need a reminder of Leandro Lopez’s eccentricity, but he provided one anyway. He walked the first two batters and was eventually pulled seven pitches into his seventh batter with a 2-2 count. 

If you’re wondering whether Sebastian Walcott is injured because his name hasn’t appeared lately, no, he’s just been quiet. Walcott ended a 22-game streak without an extra-base hit a month, but now he’s in another of 13, during which he’s hitting .140/.260/.140. Following a two-homer game on May 30, he’s slugging .301 with eight extra-base hits in 53 games. 


Hi-A: wet

Two today.


Lo-A: Hickory 2, at Charleston (TAM) 3
Hickory: 9 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 26-18, 5 GB, 59-50 overall

SP Jesus Lafalaise: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 3 SO, 73 P / 40 S, 2.79 ERA
RP Brock Porter: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 3.43 ERA
RF Paxton Kling: 3-4
C Josh Springer: 2-3, 2B, .188/.263/.250

Paxton Kling delivered again, lining twice and beating out a grounder for singles. Josh Springer doesn’t have much of a line yet in six games but has only fanned once after doing so just nine times in 133 trips to the plate at the complex (.284/.364/.388).

Today’s Starters
AAA: Supak
AA: Davalillo
Hi-A: Curry / TBD
Lo-A: Scarborough

Rangers Minor League History, 2007-2024
The 2021 Frisco RoughRiders had the second-best pitching staff during 2007-2024 of any Texas team and was 28th-best of 794 teams in Texas-affiliated leagues in that span.

Runs allowed: 4.3 per game, 14% better than park-adjusted league average
ERA-: 86
FIP-: 91
Opposing OPS+: 88

What you saw in Frisco after a year lost to covid:
— The best minor league season from Cole Winn (78 innings, 38 hits, 2.31 ERA)
— AJ Alexy’s professional peak (50 innings, 30 hits, 1.61 ERA)
— 14 wonderful starts from Yerry Rodriguez (59 innings, 38 hits, 2.63 ERA)
— 13 strong starts from Hans Crouse (51 IP, 27 hits, 3.35 ERA), until he was traded
— Four walks and 41 strikeouts in 34.2 innings from Cody Bradford (3.89 ERA)
— Dominant relief from Nick Snyder (16 IP, 25 SO, 1.65 ERA), Daniel Robert (17 IP, 31 SO, 2.08 ERA), Cole Uvila (31 IP, 42 SO, 2.90 ERA), Scott Engler (19 IP, 32 SO, 3.20 ERA) and Joe Gatto (18 IP, 25 SO, 0.98 ERA)
— A stretch of eight appearances with 9.2 nearly perfect innings from Chase Lee (1 hit, 1 walk, 16 strikeouts)
— A 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings from catcher Jordan Procyshen

Despite a modestly hitter-friendly park, Frisco led the “Double-A Central”* in runs allowed, walks (barely) and hits (by a mile). 15 pitchers would eventually reach the Majors. 

The team was only 64-55 because of a flat offense (98 OPS+ but last in OBP, 7% fewer runs than average). Alas, the pitching responsible for a positive record couldn’t quite get the Riders into the playoffs. Frisco could have advanced with a victory in the finale at Amarillo, and the offense was up to task, rallying from a four-run deficit to take a 10-7 lead in he 9th. Chase Lee had already retired four batters but stayed in, and as he exceeded his career-high in pitches, Amarillo’s Ryder Jones sent the game to extras with a three-run homer. Frisco scored one in the 10th, after which Daniel Robert came on despite having thrown 21 pitches the days before. (Frisco was pretty much out of viable options and had been leaning on him and Lee heavily down the stretch.) Robert threw six pitches, resulting in a double, hit-by-pitch, groundout and season-ending three-run homer. Gut: wrenched. 

* Remember when MLB usurped control of minor league operations but didn’t have the naming rights, so they had to use placeholder names? Those were good times.**

** No, they weren’t. 

Rankings
MLB.com’s updated top-thirty list places Hub City catcher Malcolm Moore at #11, noting he was “getting too passive at times and having trouble turning on pitches.” I haven’t witnessed enough at-bats to judge the “turning” part, but I did mention a while back that he had more opposite-field balls in play than pulled, which wasn’t what I expected even from an “all fields” hitter. Baseball America re-rated him 13th. These rankings are harsher than my “slightly down” assessment from last month, in which I was giving him the benefit of the doubt because of an injury that sidelined him for a long while. 

Both MLB and Baseball America ranked Texas 26th in organizational talent. I don’t follow other system in nearly the depth to judge. Instead, I tend to view the system by comparison to past years, and in that respect, I can’t offer much disagreement. Systems have cycles, and we’re in a down period. Some of that is graduations, but not having Alejandro Rosario, Winston Santos, and (for most of the season) Emiliano Teodo is a blow, as are the first full seasons from top 2024 picks Moore and Dylan Dreiling. 

Deadline trades weakened the system as well. Ignoring for the moment the players acquired, I do think the answer to “should Texas have traded” is a strong yes. The team is built to win now and should be supported accordingly. Yes, it’s more fun to see Texas’s prospects grow up and graduate as Rangers, but to be perfectly blunt, back-of-the-rotation candidates are born to be traded. The success rate for these types isn’t good; better to capitalize on their value as prospects if the parent club has a chance at a playoff run. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 1, Sacramento (SFO) 3
Round Rock: 4 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 20-18, 6 GB, 54-59 overall

SP Michael Plassmeyer: 5.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 3 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 8 SO, 85 P / 58 S, 4.77 ERA
RP Gavin Collyer: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
1B Cody Freeman: 2-4, .332/.379/.544
RF Abi Ortiz: 1-3, BB, .429/.571/1.000

Since returning to Round Rock, Cody Freeman has played once at first (yesterday), twice at second, thrice in left, and nine times at third. He’s played occasionally at short but mostly in May and not once since the beginning of July. 

AA: Frisco 7, Midland (ATH) 4
Frisco: 9 hits, 13 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 17-23, 8 GB, 55-53 overall

SP Josh Trentadue: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 63 P / 34 S, 6.10 ERA
RP Emiliano Teodo: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 18.00 ERA
RP Geraldo Carillo: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.25 ERA
C Ian Moller: 2-3, 2 BB, .232/.321/.333

In his third AA appearance, Josh Trentadue allowed his fewest runs but had to deal with a bunch of traffic, leaving the bases loaded in the 2nd and needing reliever Ryan Lobus to grab the last out with the bases juiced against in the 3rd. In his first appearance in over two months, Emiliano Teodo allowed four of seven batters to reach and missed on nearly half his pitches. Frisco did win, though, thanks to a bounty of hits from some of the returning free agents I mentioned recently (Keyber Rodriguez, jax Biggers, Frainyer Chavez). 

Hi-A: Hub City 0, at Brooklyn (NYM) 3
Hub City: 4 hits, 3 walks, 15 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
Record: 22-21, 1.5 GB, 53-55 overall

SP Dylan MacLean: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 59 P / 40 S, 3.43 ERA
RP Jesus Gamez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1.59 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 3-4, 2 2B, .212/.293/.379

My rankings piece above was originally here because 1) this game was a dud, and 2) Malcolm Moore plays for Hub City. I decided it was worth moving to the top, but as for this game, I don’t have anything to add to the basic stats. 

Lo-A: Hickory 6, at Charleston (TAM) 0
Hickory: 11 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 26-17, 5 GB, 59-49 overall

SP Enrique Segura: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 65 P / 47 S, 3.91 ERA
RP Frank Martinez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.00 ERA
RP Grant Cherry: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.00 ERA
RP William Privette: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 4.78 ERA
LF Maxton Martin: 2-4, 2B, BB, .265/.348/.454
DH Braylin Morel: 2-4, HR (2), .216/.259/.392
RF Paxton Kling: 2-4, 2B
1B Pablo Guerrero: 3-4, 2B, .207/.300/.315

In his pro debut, 7th-rounder Paxton Kling lined a single and double with a simple, compact swing absent any leg kick. Braylin Morel powered a fly over the fence in left-center despite s slight lunge in his swing. 

When Enrique Segura’s BB+HBP rate is less than one per nine batters, his ERA is 2.10. When it’s over, 5.81. I know “walks bad” isn’t terribly insightful, but batters at this level aren’t having much success when they have to swing (.202 bat, .271 slug), so his success really does hinge on control. 

23-year-old Frank Martinez improved on a one-frame, two-run low-A debut last week. At the complex, he had a 4.35 and 34 strikeouts in 31 innings, prone to extra-base hits (one per trip through the order) but only doubles and triples. He signed in 2023.

Today’s Starters
AAA: B. Anderson
AA: Lopez
Hi-A: Curry
Lo-A: Lafalaise

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 7, at Albuquerque (COL) 3
Round Rock: 10 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 20-17, 6 GB, 54-58 overall

SP Cory Abbott: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 82 P / 53 S, 7.49 ERA
RP Caleb Boushley: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1.27 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 3-5, 2 2B, HR (18), .331/.377/.545
1B Justin Foscue: 3-4, 2B, HR (12), BB, .261/.355/.463

Round Rock took six of seven at Albuquerque by an aggregate score of 60-35. The ‘Topes are a little unlucky to be 46-67, but they’re always bad, so whatever. Barring a turnaround, Albuquerque is headed for a tenth-straight losing season as a Colorado affiliate and seventh straight at least 14 games under .500. That takes commitment. 

Texas signed 33-year-old catcher Omar Narvaez, who’d recently played for the White Sox (mostly minors) and Astros (minors only). Earlier, Texas had signed catcher Elih Marrero, who played two games from the Express before heading to Frisco. Narvaez in particular is depth for the Rangers. Prior to their arrival, injury options were Cooper Johnson and Cody Freeman (after fishing his mask and glove out of the shed where they’ve sat the last two years). 

After a nice week in New Mexico, Justin Foscue’s slash since being optioned is similar to his overall line. Absent injuries, I can’t imagine him returning, even if Texas plunges completely out of contention. In such a case, I’d guess Jake Burger and Joc Pederson would continue to play regularly with the idea of getting straightened out heading into 2026 (or, more pessimistically, playing their way out of Texas’s 2026 plans). Foscue has another option year in 2026, but the idea of him spending anther season in Round Rock seems unlikely at this point. 

AA: Frisco 2, at Arkansas (SEA) 0
Frisco: 5 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 16-23, 8 GB, 54-53 overall

SP Jose Gonzalez: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 71 P / 48 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Larson Kindreich: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.35 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 3.15 ERA
RP Bryan Magdaleno: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.33 ERA

24-year-old righty Jose Gonzalez excelled in his AA debut, not a K-heavy as some outings but untroubled by Arkansas’ efforts. The system has harder throwers but he’ll miss with anything (low-90s fastball, slider, cutter, split).

Texas released Frisco OF Josh Hatcher. A redshirt senior sign in 2022’s 10th round from Kennsaw State, Hatcher was an old 23 by the time he grabbed a wood bat as a pro. He graduated to AA Frisco the next June stayed there for all but two games of the next two-plus years. Last year was a peak: .294/.346/.440 with 12 homers and 23 steals in 109 games. He had some pop and speed but struck out five times per walk, and that ratio increased in 2025 as his production suffered badly following a hot opening week. 

Hi-A: Hub City 1, at Jersey Shore (PHI) 9
Hub City: 5 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 22-20, 1 GB, 53-54 overall

SP Kolton Curtis: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 2 SO, 74 P / 39 S, 5.81 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-1, 2 BB, .205/.288/.369

Something to ponder in your free time: Who are Frisco’s position players next year? Yesterday’s lineup contained four players (Keyber Rodriguez, Frainyer Chavez, Jax Biggers, Luis Mieses) who’d previously reached minor league free agency and re-signed, and another (Marcus Smith) who can walk in a few months. Not to say one or more can’t be re-signed again, but obviously the preference is for younger guys if they’re available. At the same time, Hub City is loaded with slightly-below-average lines. Some Spartanburgers could be promoted, but nobody is forcing the issue. I was thinking about that as I prepared the Frisco-heavy “worst teams” entries a couple of weeks ago. When the farm was at a lull in the previous cycle, Frisco, and in particular Frisco’s offense, suffered the most. 

Lo-A: Hickory 0, Columbia (KAN) 1
Hickory: 2 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 25-17, 5 GB, 58-49 overall

SP Ismael Agreda: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO, 75 P / 52 S, 2.60 ERA
RP Brock Porter: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.57 ERA

Ismael Agreda had a career outing, allowing a solitary baserunner while matching a previous best of eight strikeouts along with highs in whiffs (18) and innings. Per Mark Parker, Agreda was a steady 97+ and touched 100 a couple of times. I don’t know about the triple digits, but the sitting velocity isn’t anything new. Newer are improved secondaries including a worthy slider, plus occasional hints that he can harness his control. Now 21, Agreda didn’t reach full-season ball until this his fifth pro season.

Rangers Minor League History, 2007-2024
The fourth-best pitching staff during 2007-2024 was the 2011 high-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. 

Runs/game: 3.9 (6% better than park-adjusted league average)
ERA-: 89
FIP-: 86
Opposing OPS+: 84

The opposing OPS+ and FIP- (fielding-independent pitching) rank first in the system during this span. The Pelicans also led the lead (easily) with 8.5 strikeouts per game (average was 7.2) and homers, and they trailed the walk leader by only a handful. Oddly, the team’s actual run production was merely good. Best as I can tell, reasons include so-so defense (particularly bland at turning double plays) and having to throw 28 innings more than any other team (due to a great road record and perhaps relatively fewer seven-inning doubleheaders). 

Some rotation ERAs (league average was 3.73):
Joe Wieland, 2.10
Robbie Erlin, 2.14
Robbie Ross, 2.26
Chad Bell, 2.98
Justin Grimm, 3.39

Barret Loux, Miguel de los Santos and Kennil Gomez sat right around the league average. Myrtle Beach also had some formidable relief from Johan Yan (1.52 ERA, 10 saves), Joe Ortiz (2.15 ERA, 5 saves) and Trevor Hurley (2.70 ERA, 4 saves). 

The Pelicans also had the last 44 professional innings from Kasey Kiker, who spent the season there after two years in Frisco. He walked 52 in 44.2 innings and posted a 7.05 ERA. The team ERA absent him drops from 3.32 to 3.18. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, at Albuquerque (COL) 9 (11)
Round Rock: 11 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 8 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 18-17, 6 GB, 52-58 overall

SP Trey Supak: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 67 P / 43 S, 4.15 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 2-6, 2B, .326/.374/.448
C Cooper Johnson: 2-3, 2B, HR (5), BB, .217/.327/.356

Albuquerque led 3-2 through the 8th, after which both teams scored six runs. Abi Ortiz did not play, presumably because the heat he exuded was melting equipment and injuring his teammates. 

AA: Frisco 5, at Arkansas (SEA) 4
Frisco: 9 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 15-22, 8 GB, 53-52 overall

SP Josh Stephan: 4.1 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 1 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 82 P / 52 S, 4.95 ERA
RP Eric Loomis: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 5 SO, 5.40 ERA
CF Cam Cauley: 1-4, 3B, BB, .249/.319/.405
LF Aaron Zavala: 1-3, HR (10), .238/.366/.391

Eric Loomis struck out Devin Fitz-Gerald’s older brother Hunter to end the game with the winning run at second base. After a couple of blowouts, Josh Stephan has settled into a six-outing productive stretch, albeit without many strikeouts. I’m still not counting on him being a 40 add despite the departures of Drake and Bratt. 

Hi-A: Hub City 1, at Jersey Shore (PHI) 4
Hub City: 7 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 21-19, tied for first, 52-53 overall

SP DJ McCarty: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 SO, 80 P / 53 S, 5.17 ERA
DH Anthony Gutierrez: 2-4, BB, .252/.323/.314

Would-be CF Anthony Gutierrez has played only DH and first since missing a week and a half in mid-May. He’s hitting .243/.314/.322 with 30 steals in that span, so obviously his legs aren’t the issue. 

Lo-A: Hickory 8, Columbia (KAN) 2
Hickory: 12 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 23-16, 6 GB, 56-48 overall

SP Jesus Lafalaise: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 60 P / 33 S, 0.00 ERA
CF Yeremi Cabrera: 3-4, 2B, HR (8), BB, SB (37), .248/.362/.356
LF Maxton Martin: 2-5, HR (12), .265/.343/.456
SS Yolfran Castillo: 2-3, BB, SB (2)
1B Pablo Guerrero: 2-3, HR (6), .199/.294/.304

Unlike Wily Villar, Jesus Lafalaise is not a 26-year-old with no pro experience. He’s 20 and signed in January 2024. Comparatively dull, but he’s in full-season ball after just 55 pro innings. Per observer Mark Parker (and a little bit of me watching video), he offered a 93-95 fastball, slurvy slider and change. 

Yolfran Castillo bounced a single up the middle (and was tagged trying for second) and grounded past the second baseman. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: Edwards
AA: Corniell
Hi-A: Fowler
Lo-A: Perry / TBD

Rangers Minor League History, 2007-2024
The tenth-best rotation performance by a Texas pitcher during 2007-2024 was by Neftali Feliz in 2008. 

I think you know his background, and I’m not going to get into that fateful showdown, but in Game 7 of the 2011 World Series, the Rangers had a starting pitcher, starting shortstop and closer from the same trade. Amazing. 

The first time I saw Feliz in action was a rare televised short-season Spokane game, wherein his fastball left me in awe and his scattershot breaker left me wondering what the Rangers really had. Even though I saw him again in person in October (the picture below), for a while I overbought that one visual and thought less of him than most observers. Lesson learned. 

Feliz headed to low-A Clinton to begin 2008, and in his second start he walked five and fanned none in 0.2 innings. Maybe I was right! But after two more starts with mixed results, he clicked into place. Over the next seven outings, he allowed a total of three runs, walked nine, and struck out 40. Earlier, I mentioned some pitchers skipping Texas’s dismal high-A affiliate in Bakersfield. Feliz was among them, joining the Riders for an early July debut. I saw him and Derek Holland (in his AA debut) on consecutive days in mid-August. Those were the days. 

164 pitchers started at least 26 full-season minor league games in 2008. Only Feliz had a 30% strikeout rate, 3% above the next-highest competitor. (Derek Holland was fifth. We’ll get to him later.) Feliz also had the second-lowest opposing average (.201) and slugging percentage of this group (.283). He even had the 18th-lowest OBP (.293) despite an inflated walk rate. Over the years, I’ve covered numerous relievers with poor walk rates but still-incredibleresults because they were unhittable. Feliz accomplished this feat in a starting role. (Except for a very select few, the walks do matter eventually, yes.) 

Feliz converted to relief in late June 2009. In mid-August he made back-to-back appearances for AAA Oklahoma at Round Rock. I was there, of course. In one game, I remember the crowd falling quiet and literally oohing and aahing as his speeds appeared on the video board. 100 MPH isn’t exactly common now, but back then it was truly a special event, and the audience (who were there to support the other team) was enchanted.

Feliz last pitched in a real game in the US in 2021. After several years in Mexico, he signed a minor deal with the Mariners last winter but was released in mid-March. He rejoined Durango but was released after one appearance. Now 37, he might be at the end. 

Feliz at the complex, October 2007:

The graphic accompanying Feliz’s release from Durango in May 2025:

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 13, at Albuquerque (COL) 6
Round Rock: 21 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 18-16, 5 GB, 52-57 overall

SP Kumar Rocker: 5.2 IP, 9 H (2 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 87 P / 58 S, 3.95 ERA
CF Dustin Harris: 4-5, 2B, .268/.358/.404
1B Jake Burger: 4-6, 2B, HR (3)
LF Cody Freeman: 3-5, HR (17), BB, .326/.375/.533
RF Abimelec Ortiz: 1-3, HR (4), 2 BB

Top exit velocities by Express hitters in 2025:
114.2, Jake Burger (out)
112.7, Abi Ortiz (home run)
112.7, Rowdy Tellez (single)
111.8, Blaine Crim (double)
111.4, Blaine Crim (single)
111.0, Marcus Smith (double)
110.6, Blaine Crim (single)
110.5, Jake Burger (out)
110.4, Blaine Crim (out)
100.3, Blaine Crim (single)
110.1, Jonathan Ornelas (out)

Of all of Round Rock’s 110+ MPH exits, only Ortiz’s had a homer angle. His shot traveled 433 feet. In Albuquerque, yes, but that’s a big-boy swing. I do need him to cool off a little because my story template isn’t designed to accommodate four-digit slugging percentages. He’s hitting .538/.600/1.462 in four games. 

Cody Freeman made his third start in left, and if you’re wondering whether he has any natural aptitude for the position, let him show you.

Kumar Rocker actually was very good at avoiding hard hits (only five of 22 in play, 23%), but one left the park and three shot through the infield for hits. A slightly slower hit also escaped the premises. He missed five bats on eight swings against his slider. 

Burger is back with the Rangers, and Alejandro Osuna was optioned. 

AA: Frisco 2, at Arkansas (SEA) 1
Frisco: 6 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 14-22, 8 GB, 52-52 overall

SP David Davalillo: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 72 P / 46 S, 1.99 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.22 ERA
RP Larson Kindreich: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.53 ERA

David Davalillo no-hit the Travs for four innings, but the story is the bottom of the 3rd. A walk and error put runners in scoring position with none out. Davalillo responded with three straight strikeouts (slider, slider, change) to strand both. He’s at an even 100 strikeouts (with just 23 walks) in 82.2 innings and has a chance to overtake the departed Mitch Bratt’s org-leading 106 in his next start. 

Hi-A: Hub City 1, at Jersey Shore (PHI) 2
Hub City: 4 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 21-18, tied for first, 52-52 overall

SP Dalton Pence: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 75 P / 51 S, 0.99 ERA
DH Rafe Perich: 1-3, BB, .182/.333/.258
LF Yeison Morrobel: 2-4, .188/.258/.314

Dalton Pence is stretched out to actual starting duty, setting career highs in innings and pitches in consecutive starts. In 12 previous starts, he’d last no longer than three innings. 

Lo-A: Hickory 5, Columbia (KAN) 1 (7)
Hickory: 5 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

SP Caden Scarborough: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 64 P / 49 S, 3.09 ERA
RP Brock Porter: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.63 ERA
LF Maxton Martin: 3-3, 2 HR (11), .263/.342/.449
SS Yolfran Castillo: 1-2, HBP, SB (1)

Caden Scarborough was efficient enough to reach a career-high six innings on only his seventh-higher pitch total.  

Maxton Martin homered twice, the first an opposite-field shot made more impressive by what appeared to be contact well toward the end of the bat. Martin is the 11th Ranger and sixth outside of AAA to reach double digits. He also leads the organization with 24 doubles. 

Yolfran Castillo grounded a 1-2 breaker through the hole for his first full-season hit. 

Lo-A: Hickory 0, Columbia (KAN) 9 (7)
Hickory: 2 hits, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 22-16, 6 GB, 55-48 overall

SP Enrique Segura: 3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 56 P / 40 S, 4.31 ERA
RP Wily Villar: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA

An otherwise forgettable nightcap brought the full-season debut of Wily Villar. Villar spent most of the season in the Dominican Republic and reached the complex near the end of that season, allowing ten runners and five runs in four innings. Okay. So what? First, Villar offered a 98 MPH fastball and low-80s curve. Second, Villar didn’t sign until May of this year, had no previous professional experience, and is going to turn 27 in a few days. That’s quite the background. 

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD
AA: Stephan
Hi-A: McCarty
Lo-A: Mejia

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 11, at Albuquerque (COL) 5
Round Rock: 10 hits, 7 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 19-17, 6 GB, 53-58 overall

SP Carl Edwards Jr.: 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 57 P / 37 S, 5.52 ERA
RP Peyton Gray: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2.06 ERA
RP Jacob Latz: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2.45 ERA
1B Abi Ortiz: 1-3, BB, 2 HBP, .500/.600/.999
LF Trevor Hauver: 2-3, HR (9), 2 BB, .274/.384/.440
RF Kellen Strahm: 2-4, HR (8), BB, .254/.354/.364

Abimelec Ortiz’s single was a lob to center. An earlier fly needed slightly more pop or a slightly lower angle to clear. 

AA: Frisco 5, at Arkansas (SEA) 6
Frisco: 10 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 15-23, 9 GB, 53-53 overall

SP Jose Corniell: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 47 P / 34 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Geraldo Carillo: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.41 ERA
DH Aaron Zavala: 2-5, 2B, .242/.365/.404

Jose Corniell struck out four with a slider and three fastballs in a 96-97 range. in 11.2 IP in AA, he’s walked one and struck out 12 with a 0.00 ERA.

Hi-A: Hub City 8, at Jersey Shore (PHI) 5 (10)
Hub City: 7 hits, 10 walks, 16 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 22-19, tied for 1st, 53-53 overall

SP Brooks Fowler: 5 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 79 P / 50 S, 3.60 ERA
2B Casey Cook: 2-3, 2B, BB, 2 HBP, .202/.292/.276
DH Anthony Gutierrez: 3-4, 2B, 2 BB, SB (44), .259/.331/.323

Hub City scored three in the 10th aided by a very generous host. Possibly no one in the system could use a good August more than 2024 3rd-rounder Casey Cook, for whom I can’t even cherry-pick some type of positive stat. If anything, he’s a reminder that for most college players, even those from top conferences, high-A is a step up from the NCAA. 

Lo-A: Hickory 6, Columbia (KAN) 1
Hickory: 7 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

SP Kamdyn Perry: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 61 P / 37 S, 5.71 ERA
RP Michael Trausch: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.06 ERA
CF Yeremi Cabrera: 3-4, 2B, .257/.367/.368
DH Hector Osorio: 1-2, BB, .254/.392/.360

Lo-A: Hickory 4, Columbia (KAN) 1
Hickory: 8 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 25-16, 4.5 GB, 58-48 overall

SP Aidan Deakins: 4 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 56 P / 35 S, 7.20 ERA
RP Aneudis Mejia: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 6.62 ERA
CF Yeremi Cabrera: 2-4, 2B, .257/.367/.368
DH Maxton Martin: 1-2, BB, .264/.344/.453

After a quiet July, Columbia’s arrival has rejuvenated Max Martin, who’s 6-for-13 with three homers in the series. 

Yeremi Cabrera had a bland April followed by four hitless games in early May. Since then: .290/.384/.433 with eight homers and 28 steals. I expect he’ll join Hub City next April at the tender age of 20. 

21-year-old Aidan Deakins made his first full-season start. Drafted out of Wabash Valley College last year’s 13th round, he fanned 47 in 38 innings with a 4.03 ERA at the complex. 

Hickory is still in line to be an update on the ’81 Reds, holding the best record in the division but outside the playoffs under the split-season format. Myrtle Beach, the first-half basement-dweller at 25-39, is 29-11 in the second half and it’s not luck (run differential of +2.5 per game). 

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD
AA: TBD
Hi-A: Curtis
Lo-A: Agreda

Rangers Minor League History, 2007-2024
Yesterday, I covered Neftai Feliz’s 2008. Today, a very brief teammate of his, Max Ramirez, who produced the tenth-best position player season during 2007-2024.

Ramirez was the return for OF Kenny Lofton from Cleveland in 2007. I remember a conversation with someone in the organization in Arizona during instructs. I asked whether Ramirez would be able to stock behind the plate and received an equivocal and not terribly optimistic “…mayyybe.” I then asked if the bat would play elsewhere if he didn’t catch. Same response. As it transpired, the man knew his stuff. 

In 2008, the hitting part seemed assured. Ramirez had a terrific eye and could power the ball to all fields. On June 20, he walked thrice and homered to improve to .363/.457/.662 with 17 homers in 66 games. Texas called him up straight from Frisco to replace an injured Gerald Laird, bypassing the older and AAA-stationed Taylor Teagarden. His first tilt at MLB pitching didn’t match his excellence in Frisco, nor did a handful of later games in AAA, but he still finished the season on the upswing. At the time, Ramirez was still firmly focused on catcher, so he didn’t moonlight at first or DH frequently. First was also problematic because of his listed height (5’11”) and his actual height (not 5’11”).  

By the time Feliz reached AA, Ramirez had already made his MLB debut, but when Ramirez was optioned in late July, he rejoined Frisco for two games and caught a Feliz start before heading to AAA Oklahoma City. 

Injuries to both wrists made for a disappointing 2009, and he didn’t join the Rangers at all. He did play in Arlington some in 2010 but dcouldn’t establish a role, and when the Rangers signed reliever Arhur Rhodes in the offseaason, Ramirez was waived and lost to the Cubs. He would continue in affiliated ball for four more years and Mexico for another four, but his MLB career was over.

Max in 2007:

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Albuquerque (COL) 3 (7)
Round Rock: 7 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
Opponent: 8 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

SP Michael Plassmeyer: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 88 P / 59 S, 4.77 ERA
DH Jake Burger: 1-4, 2B
1B Abimelec Ortiz: 1-3, HR (3)

Only one of Abi Ortiz’s 16 homers in Frisco was truly opposite field. (A couple of others were left of dead-center but east of the alley.) In three games at Albuquerque, he’s added two more. Yesterday’s was a laser (103 MPH, 21 degrees) pointed just inside the foul line. I forgot to mention yesterday that Ortiz drove in eight runs in his two-homer AAA debut. 

Michael Plassmeyer was a pitch from a shortened complete game but removed after a nine-pitch walk. Joe Barlow allowed a homer, single and double to put the tying run on second before recording the final out. 

AAA: Round Rock 5, Albuquerque (COL) 4 (7)
Round Rock: 6 hits, 5 walks, 2 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Record: 17-16, 5 GB, 51-57 overall

SP Ben Anderson: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 66 P / 41 S, 7.11 ERA
RP Jacob Latz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 2.79 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.16 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 1-1, BB, .322/.370/.523

Round Rock played as the home team in a makeup of a July rainout.

AA: Frisco 2, at Arkansas (SEA) 0
Frisco: 4 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts
Record: 13-22, 8 GB, 51-52 overall

SP Leandro Lopez: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 69 P / 46 S, 0.60 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Geraldo Carillo: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.62 ERA
RP Erik Loomis: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 9.00 ERA

We have a situation here. In three AA starts, Leandro Lopez has struck out 23 of 50 batters (46%) and walked four. The strikeouts came on four fastballs, a slider and change. Initially famed for a curve and bad-or-worse control, Lopez has increasingly relied on a slider and change to baffle hitters. Lopez had been pitching well in Hub City, but before the trade deadline, I’d have considered him an unlikely 40-man addition. He was too erratic, probably even so as a potential reliever, and if another team wanted to spend a Rule 5 pick on a pitcher with a 55% strike rate, best of luck. Now, with his early results in Frisco and the departures of Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt? Hmm.  

Hi-A: Hub City 3, at Jersey Shore (PHI) 7
Hub City: 6 hits, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 21-17, tied for first, 52-51 overall

SP Aidan Curry: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 68 P / 43 S, 4.04 ERA
SS John Taylor: 2-3, BB, .294/.374/.392
C Ben Hartl: 1-2, 2 BB

The walks reared their ugly little heads in Aidan Curry’s second outing back fro the complex, but he didn’t suffer from them. Malcolm Moore isn’t on the IL but hasn’t played since exiting early on Sunday. OF Dylan Dreiling’s last multi-hit game was July 18, and he’s .158/.262/.228 with a 35% K rate since. Texas promoted IF Antonis Macias to high-A. 

Lo-A: wet 

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD
AA: Davalillo
Hi-A: Pence
Lo-A: TBD x 2

Rangers Minor League History, 2007-2024
The fifth-best relief season during 2007-2024 was by Phil Klein in 2014.

Phil Klein! Maybe you weren’t expecting him. Klein was drafted in 2011’s 30th round out of Youngstown State. A starter in college, Klein immediately switched to relief, striking out 28% of his opponents (very impressive at the time) at the A levels. Jumping to AA early in 2013, he improved his K rate to 30% but at the cost of a 19% BB rate (dreadful at any time). He returned to Frisco to begin 2014. 

Klein sat 91-92 and mixed in a bullet slider. Sounds plain, even for 2014. But Klein was 6’7″ with an overhead delivery, so both pitches appeared to arrive from out of the sky and were impossible to tell apart out of his hand. Check that table above again. Klein pitched 52 innings and didn’t allow a single extra-base hit. After giving up a run on May 8, he decided he was done with those as well. Over a span of 35 innings, opponents batted .098/.179/.098, reached safely 22 times and struck out 44. 

In late July, I was speculating about his 40-man prospects. 2014 was the year Everything Broke, so the Rangers one-upped my thinking by calling him up. Klein allowed extra-base hits and runs in each of his first two MLB appearances but settled into a respectable debut (2.84 ERA, .164/.291/.388, 23 K in 19 IP). 

Klein’s control was a problem, though. In the minors in 2014, his total hits (22) were exceeded by his combined walks and hit batters (23). He also walked or hit 12 of 79 MLB batters (15%), and in the long run, neither he nor the Rangers could count on deceiving big-time batters into an artificially low BABIP. Klein broke Spring Training with the Rangers in 2015 and pitched decently but was sent to Round Rock mid-April and began starting for the first time since college. He would make a couple of starts for Texas in May, one solid, one not, before bouncing between teams and roles the rest of the season. In June 2016, he would be lost on waivers to Philadelphia, where he displayed the best control of his career in AAA but not for the Phils. After a season in Japan, his pro career would be over. 

Klein was never ranked in Texas’s top 30 by major publications as best as I can tell. Jamey Newberg placed him in the upper twenties for a couple of years, which is telling. He was in a group of players who (for the most part, understandably) received little attention from folks who watched 30 systems for a living, but if you focused on the Rangers, you’d know he had a shot. 

Transactions
The Rangers made a million moves yesterday:

Up to Round Rock:
RHP Gavin Collyer
1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz

Ortiz had a terrific July (seven homers, .682 slug). Given his production before then (.218/.331/.374), I can’t really say he reached AAA on the merits, but he’s spent a year and four months in Frisco, Blaine Crim is gone, and, well, why not. Plus, I’m never against having someone else to watch in Round Rock. While my reaction to the news was admittedly mixed, Ortiz himself reacted by selecting beast mode for his AAA debut (see below.) 

Collyer can rival recently optioned Kumar Rocker for top fastball velocity on the Express. In his AAA debut he averaged 97 and peaked at 98.3. He can become a free agent at season’s end unless he’s protected on the 40, not an event I’m expecting, but now’s his chance. He’ll certainly be pitching somewhere in 2026. 

Up to Frisco:
RHP Wilian Bormie
C Julian Brock

The 22-year-old Bormie struck out 34% of his opponents in Hub City. He also walked/hit 15% but was tough to hit and posted a 3.12 ERA in 52 innings. Brock (2023, 8th round) has found high-A tougher than last year’s term at low-A Down East, hitting .208/.278/.290 in 62 games. I imagine he’ll form a rotation with Ian Moller and Tucker Mitchell. 

Up to Hub City:
RHP Brooks Fowler
RHP Kai Wynyard
C Ben Hartl
IF Luis Marquez

Fowler (2023, 15th round) missed some time to injury but has pitched fairly well (3.23 ERA, good walk rate). Hartl’s story is similar to Brock; he’s batted .211 and slugged .272 in an identical 62 games. The difference is a 9% HBP rate (yes, really, 24 plunks in 264 plate appearances) plus an equal walk rate to boost his OBP to .352. 

Up to Hickory:
RHP Jesus Lafalaise
C Jack Collins
C Josh Springer
IF Yolfran Castillo
IF Luke Hanson

18-year-old Yolfran Castilo joins Hickory a little later than I’d hoped. That could be greed on my part, but after turning heads (more than just mine) in March, he grew into some game power at the complex but was otherwise underwhelming statistically (.260/.310/.366). I’m earnestly looking forward to seeing him on MiLB.tv. Hanson is Texas’s first 2025 draftee to draw a full-season assignment. He was picked in the 15th round out of Virginia. 2024 12th-rounder Josh Springer (.284/.364/.388 as 19-year-old at the complex) and undrafted Jack Collins (22 out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) are the new catchers.

Released:
C Beycker Barroso from Hickory
IF Erick Alvarez from Hickory

Trade Assignments
Four of the six prospects traded by the Rangers were placed in the same classification. Kohl Drake (AAA Reno) pitched last Saturday at Las Vegas, where he’d made his ultimate start as a Ranger 17 days ago. He allowed four runs (including two homers) in 5.2 innings while fanning five. Skylar Hales (AAA Memphis) had a very rough intro to the International League, walking two and hitting two more in a three-run 6th on Saturday. Basic control has rarely been an issue for him. Mitch Bratt (AA Amarillo) faced Midland last night, striking out eight, walking one, and surrendering two runs in 4.2 IP. Mason Molina (high-A Peoria) walked four in four innings last night but struck out five and allowed two runs. Yet to appear but bumped from Hickory to high-A are David Hagaman and Garrett Horn. 

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 11, at Albuquerque (COL) 5
Round Rock: 13 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 15-16, 6.5 GB, 49-57 overall

SP Caleb Boushley: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 61 P / 32 S, 1.47 ERA
RP Gavin Collyer: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
1B Jake Burger: 2-3, 2B, BB
RF Abimelec Ortiz: 4-5, 2 HR (2)

Abimelec Ortiz homered 417′ to right and an unspecified distance the opposite way. Amazingly, both came off lefties, who have bedeviled him two seasons running. He was hitting .163/.256/.250 with two homers in 90 plate appearances against them entering the game, and last year’s line was .178/.290/.333. Ortiz also singled twice off acclaimed (but doomed to toil in Colorado) righty Chase Dollander. 

Gavin Collyer added a cutter and sweepy slider to the fastballs mentioned above. 

Blaine Crim was 1-5 with a double as Albuquerque’s DH.

AA: Frisco 0, at Arkansas (SEA) 3
Frisco: 4 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 12-22, 9 GB, 50-52 overall

SP Josh Trentadue: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 73 P / 45 S, 7.04 ERA
RP Ryan Lobus: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 4.32 ERA
RP Bryan Magdaleno: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 6.84 ERA
SS Sebastian Walcott: 1-3, BB, .247/.345/.395

Josh Trentadue inverted his first AA outing, getting chased in the 4th after a strong start. 

Hi-A: Hub City 4, at Jersey Shore (PHI) 5
Hub City: 9 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 21-16, tied for 1st, 52-50 overall

SP Dylan MacLean: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 76 P / 54 S, 3.21 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-4, 2B, .253/.323/.317

Dylan MacLean had another nice night, but Jersey Shore chipped away at Hub City’s bullpen. 

Lo-A: wet
Two Thursday.

Today’s Starters
AAA: B. Anderson / Plassmeyer
AA: Lopez
Hi-A: Curry
Lo-A: Segura

Rangers Minor League History, 2007-2024
The absolute worst Texas-affiliated full-season team during 2007-2024 is the 2018 Frisco RoughRiders. 

Actual record: 60-80 (.429)
Run-differential record: 56-84 (.398)
Component record: 52-88 (.375)

Three teams in this era had slightly worse won-loss records, but only this edition had a sub-.400 expected record based on run differential (-148, roughly a run per game), and they were very fortunate to win 60 games based on batting components. Frisco was outhit by 27 points of batting average, 31 of OBP and 65 of slugging. Relative to park, Frisco ranked last in the league in all slash components, both offensively and in pitching/defense, with the exception of a next-to-last place in opposing OBP. 

None of Frisco’s top 12 in plate appearances reached the Majors. Preston Beck had a pretty good season at the plate (101 OPS+) but was 27. One could dream a little on outfielders Hunter Cole (153 OPS+) and Jose Cardona (102 OPS+), but this offense was vastly different from the star-filled yet underachieving 2015 version. By 2018, trades and a downturn in talent (that was already beginning to reverse) left the offense with some very marginal prospects and a heavy dose of organizational filler. 13th in PA was Jose Trevino, a well below-average hitter in the upper minors (69 OPS+ that season). The other player with at least 100 PA to reach the Majors (briefly) was IF Luis Marte, and he was among the weakest hitters ever to pass through the Texas system.

On the other side, a remarkable 15 pitchers would attain MLB status. That’s not to say all were good in 2018. Lefty Brett Martin struck out 96 in 89 innings but was obliterated on contact (.357/.397/.509, 7.28 ERA). Pedro Payano pitched for Texas briefly in 2019, but the previous year he was a low-K, high-HBP inning-eater (5.54 ERA in 118 IP). Jeffrey Springs walked seven and fanned 68 in 39 innings, but everyone who reached base scored (4.82 ERA). Similar in run prevention to Springs were Jonathan Hernandez and Taylor Hearn. 

On the bright side, the season actually wasn’t a relentless trudge to semi-infamy in the form of an email by some random blogger seven years later. After bottoming out at 21-45, the Riders were 39-35 the rest of the way. In the second half, Frisco peaked at 36-31 and could have won the division with a little help. Alas, three straight losses ended that dream. 

This team ranks 28th worst of 794 in my collection, and if I added all the various leagues that didn’t include Texas, I doubt Frisco would be in the bottom 50.