Category: Daily Report

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 11, at Salt Lake (LAA) 9
Round Rock: 12 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 11 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 33-26, 9 GB

SP Cole Winn: 3.1 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 3 R, 5 BB, 3 SO, 79 P / 45 S, 8.49 ERA
RP Edwar Colina: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
C Sam Huff: 2-4, 2B, BB, .277/.362/.471
DH Blaine Crim: 2-5, HR (5), .275/.378/.461
3B Davis Wendzel: 1-4, HR (12), BB, .271/.392/.554

Only one of Cole Winn’s five walks scored, a merciful outcome in Salt Lake.

Round Rock scored seven on four hits in the 5th plus two walks and SLC errors at first, short, third, and left.

OF Rafael Ortega received his release. The veteran didn’t hit especially well in Round Rock (.226/.333/.381) but is a decent extra outfielder. I’d mentioned him as having a chance of a call-up, but he probably needed two of four possible events: an injury to Garcia, release of Jankowski, and subpar performances from Taveras or Duran. With none of that forthcoming, he’ll seek a chance elsewhere.

AA: Frisco 9, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 0
Frisco: 9 hits, 8 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 24-28, 4 GB

SP Owen White: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 84 P / 51 S, 3.54 ERA
RP Nick Starr: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.74 ERA
RP Eudrys Manon: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 4.50 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, BB, SB (23), .297/.367/.417
DH Thomas Saggese: 2-4, HR (5), BB, .284/.341/.431
LF Dustin Harris: 2-5, 2B, SB (23), .246/.385/.406

A stellar outing from Owen White. Promising as he’s been, White had recorded only three scoreless outings of 5+ innings in his pro career and none as long as last night. That’s at least partly due to his injury history; last night was the 23-year-old White’s 41st pro appearance. (Cole Winn has 11 such starts, for example.) White missed a season-high 14 bats.

Hi-A: Hickory 0, at Rome (ATL) 3
Hickory: 0 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 19-30, 8 GB

SP Josh Stephan: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 5 SO, 68 P / 45 S, 1.94 ERA
RP Seth Clark: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1.74 ERA

Rome’s Daniel Martinez and Luis Vargas nearly evenly split duties in a no-hitter against Hickory. The Crawdads put the ball in play. Vargas struck out none in 4.1 innings and hit two batters who were later erased on double plays. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.

Josh Stephan pitched well again.

Lo-A: Down East 7, at Delmarva (BAL) 9
Down East: 7 hits, 7 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 29-20, tied for first

SP Aidan Curry: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 54 P / 30 S, 2.85 ERA
DH Tommy Specht: 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, .393/.514/.500
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-2, HR (5), 2 BB, SB (3), .233/.333/.370
SS Cam Cauley: 2-4, .260/.317/.420

Thoughtful of Gleider Figuereo to reached safely four times after I said he was a better hitter than his stats suggested. Aidan Curry suffered his worst start of the season.

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

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Kate Morrison subbed for me for the next few days. She wrote at length about Jairo Beras, as was required of every baseball writer in the mid-to-late 2010s. 

Five Years Ago The Day Before Yesterday
Texas signed GM Jon Daniels to a multi-year extension. (I should have mentioned that yesterday, but when I prepped these segments in advance of my trip, I didn’t account for no games on Monday and got out of sync.)

I’m out of pocket much of the week, so reports will be brief. The rookies in Surprise and the Texas’s two Dominican Summer League entries commenced play Monday. I provide a summary of the complex league every week and check in with the DSL intermittently. I’ll get to a proper rookie preview when time permits. As has been expected from nearly the get-go, top January 2023 signing SS Sebastian Walcott is starting his career in the DSL.

And deGrom. Obviously this is terrible news, and there’s no sugar-coating it. The idea that whatever his injury he’d be here for the stretch run still holds, but that stretch run is now in 2024. The silver lining is the Rangers are 34-20 with a +133 run differential when deGrom doesn’t pitch. Okay, believing the Rangers are really a .630 team absent deGrom requires more drinks than I’m willing to consume even on vacation. But are they still good? Yes. The rotation wasn’t deGrom plus four fifth starters.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Salt Lake (LAA) 6
Round Rock: 8 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 32-26, 9 GB

SP James Marvel: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 69 P / 38 S, 7.88 ERA
RP Triston Polley: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.08 ERA
RP Joe Barlow: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.45 ERA
C Sam Huff: 1-3, 2 BB, .270/.347/.466
1B Blaine Crim: 2-2, 2B, 2 BB, .263/.365/.433
SS Davis Wendzel: 2-4, .266/.389/.544

I haven’t done more than perfunctory research, but Davis Wendzel is certainly hitting the ball with more consistent authority than any time in AAA. His recent success isn’t merely a function of playing in Salt Lake now and Albuquerque a few weeks ago.

Blaine Crim’s streak of games with two triples ended at one.

AA: Frisco 6, at Corpus Christi (HOU) 2
Frisco: 6 hits, 8 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 4 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 23-28, 4 GB

SP Jack Leiter: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 7 SO, 82 P / 51 S, 3.88 ERA
RP Michael Brewer: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.63 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.89 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-2, 2B, 3 BB, .259/.423/.333
LF Dustin Harris: 1-3, 2B, BB, HBP, SB (22), .242/.385/.401

Jack Leiter was Jekyll and Hyde: a strikeout of the side in order in the 1st, three walks to the first four batters in the second. Even if he’d no-hit the Hooks for seven innings, I’d caution against the idea of him as a rotation replacement in Arlington. Leiter has taken a big step forward and hopefully put the worst of his issues behind him, but that doesn’t make him MLB-ready.

Hi-A: Hickory 5, at Rome (ATL) 1
Hickory: 11 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 19-29, 8 GB

SP Dane Acker: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 49 P / 37 S, 2.00 ERA
RP Emiliano Teodo: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 3.12 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 1-3, 2B, HBP, .266/.400/.385
1B Abi Ortiz: 2-4, HR (5), .333/.395/.833
2B Frainyer Chavez: 3-4, 2B, .300/.429/.320

Dane Acker enjoyed his best outing of 2023, as did Emiliano Teodo despite the walks. A win under those conditions is assured.

Lo-A: Down East 3, at Delmarva (BAL) 2 (10)
Down East: 7 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 29-19, 0.5 GB

SP Jose Corniell: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 77 P / 53 S, 2.89 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Alberto Mota: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 7.94 ERA
RP Jacob Maton: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.50 ERA
CF Yeison Morrobel: 3-5, 2B, .274/.384/.315
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-4, .222/.317/.340
LF Yosy Galan: 1-3, BB, SB (5), .229/.323/.429

Yeison Morrobel’s third hit of the night plated the go-ahead run in the 10th.

Jacob Maton struck out the side in the 10th after a single put the game-tying gift-runner on third.

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

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas released Tim Lincecum. Low-A Hickory had three All-Stars: RHP Tyler Phillips, C Yohel Pozo and C Sam Huff.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 20, Sugar Land (HOU) 9
Round Rock: 18 hits, 9 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 32-25, 9 GB

SP Robert Dugger: 4 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 2 SO, 81 P / 51 S, 5.22 ERA
RP Fernery Ozuna: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 5.96 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.35 ERA
LF Bubba Thompson: 1-4, 2 BB
3B Justin Foscue: 1-2, HR (8), 2 BB, HBP, .286/.417/.516
C Sam Huff: 2-5, 2B, BB, .270/.347/.466
1B Blaine Crim: 4-5, 2B, 2 3B, .263/.365/.433
SS Davis Wendzel: 4-5, HR (11), BB, .266/.389/.544

What on earth? A day after scoring 16 including an 11-run 1st, Round Rock pinned another double-digit inning on the Space Cowboys (a 10-run 5th) en route to 20.

Round Rock’s official recap answered my immediate question: 36 runs across two games are only the second most in franchise history, one behind a two-game set at Las Vegas in 2019. Given the park factors, the two nights at homer are more impressive.

Davis Wendzel has 22 homers in 91 AAA games since returning from the last of several injuries in August 2022.

One nice result of the larger rosters created in 2021 is that position players on the mound are once again a novelty. Late in the previous decade, they’d become irritatingly frequent, with hitters sometimes taking the mound late in close games because the organization had used everyone intended for that game and didn’t want to throw the upcoming schedule out of whack. Training ground though it is, minor league ball is supposed to be a competitive sport. Now, even in a blowout, there’s usually another reliever or two who could use some work. All 413 pitches thrown by Sugar Land the past two night came from folks who throw for a living.

AA: Frisco 8, San Antonio (SDG) 7
Frisco: 9 hits, 8 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Record: 22-28, 4.5 GB

SP Ryan Garcia: 3 IP, 8 H (1 HR), 6 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 65 P / 45 S, 7.79 ERA
RP John Matthews: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 7.54 ERA
RP Eudrys Manon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 5.00 ERA
RP Antoine Kelly: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.70 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-5, SB (21), .295/.366/.415
DH Aaron Zavala: 2-3, 2 BB, .250/.394/.308
3B Chris Seise: 2-4, 2B, .203/.287/.305
C Liam Hicks: 1-3, 2B, BB, .244/.404/.444

Another comeback win, this time in the 4th from 6-2 down. Frisco’s bullpen has not been an organizational strength this season, but on Sunday five relievers held the Missions to three hits and an unearned run across six innings. Kyle Funkhouser threw 14 pitches Saturday and 15 last night, giving the impression that he’s fully rehabbed.

Hi-A: Hickory 3, at Greenville (BOS) 9
Hickory: 6 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 18-29, 9 GB

SP Mitch Bratt: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 38 P / 20 S, 3.57 ERA
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 2-4, HR (3), .268/.331/.380
CF Daniel Mateo: 2-4, .265/.286/.404

Mitch Bratt walked two for only the second time this season. Daniel Mateo can run and catch and has some decent pop for a young CF, but he’s drawn six walks (and no HBPs) all season.

Lo-A: Down East 3, Columbia (KAN) 4
Down East: 12 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 28-19, 0.5 GB

SP Dylan McCarty: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 63 P / 36 S, 1.19 ERA
RP Wyatt Sparks: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1.93 ERA
RF Tommy Specht: 2-3, 2 BB, .450/.560/.550
3B Gleider Figuereo: 3-4, HR (4), .214/.313/.336

Gleider Figuereo is a better hitter than his line. Tommy Specht probably isn’t that good, no offense to him and his family.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
The entire system was off.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 16, Sugar Land (HOU) 4
Round Rock: 13 hits, 9 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 31-25, 9 GB

SP Cody Bradford: 6 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 4 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 90 P / 64 S, 1.58 ERA
RP Marc Church: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.75 ERA
RP Lucas Jacobsen1: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.98 ERA
RP Edwin Colina: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 3-5, 2B, SB (3), .244/.361/.337
1B Justin Foscue: 1-3, 2 BB, SB (7), .284/.409/.500
CF Elier Hernandez: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, .313/.397/.511
RF Sandro Fabian: 2-5, HR (5), .276/.333/.476
3B Davis Wendzel: 1-2, HR (10), 3 BB, .250/.376/.518

Round Rock scored 11, batted 15, and saw 62 pitches in the 1st.

Edwar Colina has been a Ranger since October 2021, when Texas claimed him off waivers from Minnesota and later ran him successfully through waivers. Yesterday was his first appearance for the organization and first anywhere since 2020, which itself was limited to his brief MLB debut outing. He’d had elbow trouble (but not the TJ kind, apparently) when claimed, and since then… well, I don’t even know. Every few months I checked to see if he was still under contract. Colina raced through the 9th on nine pitches, dealing a 93-94 fastball and 82-84 slider.

Texas released OF Josh Sale. Out of professional ball entirely for six years following multiple suspensions for violating league drug policies, Sale was able to get his life back in order and join the Atlantic League’s Gastonia squad in 2021 followed by the Rangers last year. He batted .229/.342/.414 with 11 homers in 73 games between Frisco and Round Rock in 2022, became a free agent, and rejoined Texas a few months later. He again moved between AA and AAA but played more sparingly.

AA: Frisco 4, San Antonio (SDG) 6
Frisco: 7 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 9 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 21-28, 5.5 GB

SP TK Roby: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 29 P / 20 S, 5.05 ERA
RP Theo McDowell: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 3.00 ERA
RP Justin Slaten: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.93 ERA
C Scott Kapers: 2-4, 2 2B, .284/.337/.534

TK Roby retired none of four batters in the 2nd, and after a conference with trainer Yuichi Takizawa and pitching coach Jon Goebel, he left the game.

Offseason signings Kyle Funkhouser and Danny Duffy made belated 2023 debuts. Funkhouser allowed a hit in a scoreless 4th, while a wilder Duffy walked three of five batters.  Duffy hasn’t pitched in the Majors in nearly two years because of shoulder troubles and made a handful of minor league appearances last year. Funkhouser was completely off the grid in 2022, also for a bad shoulder.

2019 third-rounder Justin Slaten is back from a five-week absence.

Hi-A: Hickory 11, at Greenville (BOS) 5
Hickory: 12 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 18-28, 9 GB

SP Winston Santos: 4 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 74 P / 43 S, 5.36 ERA
RP Robbie Ahlstrom: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 6.63 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 3-5, 3B, .274/.412/.393
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 1-4, HR (2), BB, .261/.327/.355
DH Tucker Mitchell: 2-2, 2B, 2 BB, .391/.545/.522
1B Abi Ortiz: 2-3, HR (4), 2 BB, .357/.429/.893

Winston Santos was one of the talks of Surprise, but his intro to high-A has been muted so far. Newcomers Tucker Mitchell and Abi Ortiz have easily justified their promotions so far.

Lo-A: Down East 10, Columbia (KAN) 9 (10)
Down East: 9 hits, 2 walks, 19 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 28-18, 0.5 GB

SP Leandro Lopez: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 64 P / 37 S, 4.62 ERA
RP Luis Ramirez: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 4 SO, 3.91 ERA
RF Tommy Specht: 2-5, .412/.500/.529
2B Danyer Cueva: 2-5, HR (2), .241/.280/.355
1B Griffin Cheney: 1-4, HR (1)

Columbia scored twice off Luis Ramirez in the 10th on an HBP, wild pitch, walk, and balk. In the bottom half, hits by Danyer Cueva, Yosy Galan and Cam Cauley plated three. Given the unusual timing of his arrival, I thought Tommy Specht might just be getting in a few extra at-bats before the complex league starts, but if so, he’s making a case for staying.

Down East is scoring at a decent rate but is next-to-worst in both walks (10%) and strikeouts (30%). This isn’t a surprise. Down East’s break-camp roster looked fun but green and probably erratic.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Dugger
AA: Garcia
Hi-A: Bratt
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Players linked to Texas by the national experts in the upcoming 2018 Draft:
OF Connor Scott (Age 18)
RHP Carter Stewart (18)
LHP Ryan Weathers (18)
OF Jordyn Adams (18)
RHP Cole Winn (18)
OF Jarred Kelenic (18)
RHP Grayson Rodriguez (18)

Sense a theme? Every prognosticator had Winn off the board by the time Texas picked at #15. Actually selected by clubs before the Rangers were Scott (13, Marlins), Stewart (8, Braves), Weathers (7, Padres), Kelenic (6, Mets), and Rodriguez (11, O’s).

Kelenic, Weathers and Rodriguez are the only of the seven to reach MLB so far. Stewart didn’t accept Atlanta’s below-slot offer and eventually spurned the US for Japan.  

Active: Ezequiel Duran
IL: Brad Miller (oblique)Today, for the first time in 2023, we have the ideal lineup: Semien, Seager, Lowe, Garcia, Jung, Heim, Garver, Duran, Taveras.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 6, Sugar Land (HOU) 5
Round Rock: 11 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 30-25, 10 GB

SP Kyle Cody: 4 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 4 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 59 P / 41 S, 7.49 ERA
RP Spencer Howard: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Yerry Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.86 ERA
RF Elier Hernandez: 3-4, 3B, HR (6), .307/.387/.503
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, 2 2B, .283/.404/.503
3B Davis Wendzel: 2-4, 2 2B, .246/.365/.500
LF Sandro Fabian: 2-4, HR (4), .271/.331/.457

An announced and seemingly genuine crowd of 12,000 (Nolan Ryan bobblehead, fireworks, no more school) saw Round Rock regain the lead for good in the 6th on back-to-back solo shots from Sandro Fabian and Elier Hernandez. Justin Foscue hit three balls in excess of 100 MPH, two of which resulted in doubles, and Davis Wendzel also doubled twice with authority.

Spencer Howard pitched well again, particularly causing damage with his cutter in his second inning. 52% of opposition swings are coming up empty in AAA, and his fastball has averaged 95.7 and topped at 97.6 . I have video. It’s early, but Howard is certainly acting like he wants to join the fun in Arlington. Texas has time to decide, as Howard has injury rehab time plus another option if needed.

AA: Frisco 8, San Antonio (SDG) 7 (10)
Frisco: 10 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 8 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 21-27, 4.5 GB

SP Nick Krauth: 3.2 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 58 P / 35 S, 4.62 ERA
RP Aidan Anderson: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Eudrys Manon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 5.63 ERA
RP Nick Starr: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.20 ERA
3B Thomas Saggese: 1-5, HR (4), .296/.352/.439
LF Dustin Harris: 2-5, .237/.373/.399
CF JP Martinez: 1-4, 2B, 2 BB

Facing a fourth straight low-scoring loss, Frisco pinned a “5” on the board in the 9th to force extras. A Jax Biggers double and two walks chased Michel Baez, and replacement Kevin Kopps hit Aaron Zavala with the bases loaded. Thomas Saggese then tied the game with one swing.

OF Evan Carter was placed on the development list, a fairly recent creation that is essentially an inactive list for non-injured players. A late-April HBP that cost him a few games didn’t initially affect his results at the plate, but May as a whole was an exercise in frustration. He’s going to rest and regroup.

JP Martinez, recovering from a groin injury, is in Frisco for the time being.

Hi-A: Hickory 6, at Greenville (BOS) 13
Hickory: 11 hits, 0 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 18 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 17-28, 9 G up

SP Larson Kindreich: 0.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 0 SO, 34 P / 15 S, 6.67 ERA
RP Spencer Mraz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 3.93 ERA
RF Alejandro Osuna: 2-5, 2B, .262/.406/.369
2B Max Acosta: 2-5, .303/.351/.426
DH Abi Ortiz: 2-4, 2B, .320/.367/.800

Larson Kindreich couldn’t finish the 1st, and Brandon Webb and Gavin Collyer combined for 14 hits and eight runs in four innings. Stretching back to last year, Kindreich’s time in Hickory has been chaotic, with strong outings (like last week’s five scoreless) followed by nights like Friday. Notwithstanding yesterday, his control has been better overall in 2023.

Lo-A: Down East 6, Columbia (KAN) 3
Down East: 7 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 14 strikeouts
Record: 27-19, 0.5 GB

SP Brock Porter: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 57 P / 38 S, 0.89 ERA
RP Damian Mendoza: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.60 ERA
RP Jackson Leath: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.38 ERA
CF Yeison Morrobel: 3-4, 2 SB (12), .264/.382/.300
DH Tommy Specht: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (1)
SS Cam Cauley: 2-4, HR (4), .261/.318/.413

What if Brock Porter had pretty good control? Porter has walked or hit one of every eight batters in his last five outings; not great, but about half as often as his first four starts. Irrespective of control, he’s been nearly unhittable.

Saggese and Frisco stole their comeback plan from Down East. Down a run in the 6th, Danyer Cueva, Ian Moller and Gleider Figuereo walked, and Cam Cauley homered them in.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Bradford
AA: Roby
Hi-A: Santos
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Yovani Gallardo threw seven innings for the Express. “The last time Yovani Gallardo threw seven innings in a minor league game, Elvis Andrus was a Brave, Mitch Moreland was playing in Mississippi State’s regional opener (1-4, homer), and Leody Taveras was a nine-year-old.”

The Rangers traded DFAed RHP Ricky Vanasco to the Dodgers for LHP Luis Valdez.

On yesterday’s podcast, we discussed the tougher 40 decisions engendered by having a good team. (Also critical but not discussed is the need for so many MLB-ready pitchers, crowding out the space for pure prospects. Texas has 21 pitchers on the 40-man roster excluding those on the 60-day IL, and 18 have already pitched in MLB this season.) As I mentioned previously, the timing of Vanasco’s DFA surprised me but not the act itself. Much as Vanasco’s stock has fallen, he still has impressive potential, and a claim or trade seemed likely. Unexpectedly, Vanasco ended up not with a rebuilding club but the Dodgers, currently tied for the NL’s best record despite a disappointing offseason.

The Dodgers and Rangers have developed a fruitful relationship in the past three years: two player purchases, two trades, a waiver claim, a Rule 5 pick. And now this transaction. The 19-year-old Valdez was on LA’s low-A squad. FanGraphs has the most favorable and thorough review, naming him LA’s #29 prospect and describing him as a potential back-end starter lacking fastball velo at present but possessing a nice change plus a curve. Valdez has a 3.16 ERA in 17.1 innings and a .219/.386/.297 opposing line. He’s fanned 29% of his adversaries and is suffering control problems for the first time, walking one in six batters. In 49 previous innings, he’d walked only four. He’s headed to Down East. Also, Mitch Garver is active, and OF Bubba Thompson was optioned to Round Rock.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, Sugar Land (HOU) 4
Round Rock: 7 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 8 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 29-24, 99 G up

SP Cole Winn: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 2 SO, 67 P / 34 S, 8.53 ERA
3B Justin Foscue: 2-3, 3B, BB, .272/.396/.478
C Sam Huff: 1-4, HR (8), .274/.353/.459
1B Yoshi Tsutsugo: 1-3, HR (3), BB, .227/.373/.353

Justin Foscue’s triple resulted mostly from a carom off a diving outfielder’s glove, but he did hit it hard.

After a lightning-quick 1st, Cole Winn would walk five of 15 batters and miss on more than half his pitches. Winn was back after a short IL stint.

AA: Frisco 0, San Antonio (SDG) 2
Frisco: 5 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Record: 20-27, 5.5 GB

SP Owen White: 6 IP, 5 H (2 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 85 P / 60 S, 4.08 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.04 ERA
RP Antoine Kelly: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.84 ERA

San Antonio homered twice in a span of four pitches. Owen White hadn’t allowed two in one game in just over a year, and never for Frisco. Otherwise, he was sharp.

Alex Speas’s last 14 batters (not in order): single, out in play, walk, 11 strikeouts. Speas had a four-game, 22-batter walk-free stretch back in 2018 before he shredded his elbow.

Frisco was shut out for a second straight game and has averaged a modest 4.0 runs per game during the last month. League average is 5.5.

Hi-A: Hickory 0, at Greenville (BOS) 4
Hickory: 3 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 17-27, 8 GB

SP Josh Stephan: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 45 P / 32 S, 2.18 ERA
RP Luis Tejeda: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 4.67 ERA

Josh Stephan’s IL visit turned out to be short, and he once again pitched well in an abbreviated outing.

Grant Anderson’s brother Aidan was promoted to Frisco. Intersquad reliever movement has been hectic in 2023, so i couldn’t tell you if he’s there for the rest of the season or a couple of days. Likewise, Triston Polley was bumped to Round Rock; that one definitely feels temporary.

Lo-A: Down East 3, Columbia (KAN) 1
Down East: 4 hits, 6 walks, 15 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 26-19, 0.5 GB

SP Joseph Montalvo: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 SO, 75 P / 53 S, 2.02 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Jacob Maton: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 5.06 ERA
RP Adrian Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2.16 ERA
SS Cam Cauley: 1-3, BB, 2 SB (14), .254/.313/.388
LF Yosy Galan: 1-3, HR (7), BB, .242/.336/.460
DH Jesus Moreno: 1-3, HR (1), BB

Joseph Montalvo held his own against KC’s Frank Mozzicato (5 IP, 2 R, 10 SO), drafted seventh overall in 2021. Mozzicato slightly improved on an already ridiculous 39% K rate against the Wood Ducks, but Jesus Moreno’s first full-season homer, a walk, and a couple of Firefly errors would place Down East ahead for good in the 5th.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Cody
AA: Krauth
Hi-A: Kindreich
Lo-A: TBA (Porter, probably)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Nothing happened. Instead, how about a non-comprehensive list of ex-Rangers farmhands who are playing in indy ball now:Atlantic League:
P Derek Holland
P Neil Ramirez
P Jerad Eickhoff
P Jake Lemoine
P Brady Feigl
P Brett de Geus
P Tai Tiedemann
P Joe Kuzia
IF Curtis Terry
IF Cristian Inoa
IF Andretty Cordero
IF Jake Hoover
OF Pedro Gonzalez

American Association:
P Akeem Bostick
P Nick Green
P Joe Corbett
P Nic Laio
IF Josh Altmann
OF Delino DeShields Jr
Frontier League:
IF Ti’Quan Forbes
IF Juremi Profar
IF Tyler Depreta-Johnson
IF Kenen Irizarry
OF Eric Jenkins

Grant Anderson’s seven strikeouts in his MLB debut were his most since his final game as a McNeese State Cowboy in May 2018. He’d fanned six twice as a professional, most recently last year in AA.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 4, Sugar Land (HOU) 5
Round Rock: 4 hits, 10 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 27-24, 10.5 GB

SP Robert Dugger: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 85 P / 54 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Spencer Howard: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0.00 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 0-1, 3 BB, SB (6), .275/.394/.483
3B Davis Wendzel: 1-3, HR (9), BB, .253/.378/.513

In Round Rock on rehab, Spencer Howard provided evidence of a healed lat. Two strong innings included a fastball that topped at 96.6 MPH, only 0.3 slower than his speediest AAA pitch last year. I understand that some of you might have forgotten the name and resent the reminder, but this isn’t 2022. No rotation spot awaits. No discussion of recapturing the potential he showed in 2020 is forthcoming. He’s just whoever he is now, and other than the advantage of a 40 spot, he’s just one of several fighting for a bullpen role. Last night was a nice first step toward setting himself apart.

Davis Wendzel’s hard-hit rate (95+ MPH) was 29% in 2022. Entering the Albuquerque series, it was 34%. Now, 41%. He leads the team with 13% of balls in play that have a decent shot at leaving the yard.

Grant Wolfram and Chase Lee combined to walk or hit five consecutive batters in the 9th, reversing a one-run lead.

AA: Frisco 2, San Antonio (SDG) 9
Frisco: 4 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 10 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 20-25, 3.5 GB

SP Ryan Garcia: 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 80 P / 51 S, 6.82 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 1-3, 2B, BB, .284/.416/.400
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-1, BB, HBP, .265/.409/.353
LF Dustin Harris: 1-3, BB, .228/.367/.401

Nobody will celebrate the end of May more than Evan Carter, who’s hitting .235/.337/.282 this month.

Hi-A: Hickory 5, at Greenville (BOS) 1
Hickory: 8 hits, 9 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Record: 17-25, 8 GB

SP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 76 P / 49 S, 2.97 ERA
RP Robbie Ahlstrom: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 7.88 ERA
RP Winston Santos: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.20 ERA
RF JP Martinez: 0-1, 2 BB
C Tucker Mitchell: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB
2B Keyber Rodriguez: 2-4, 2B, SB (11), .278/.338/.357

Mitch Bratt continues to pitch well and display terrific control. Winston Santos unexpectedly appeared in relief last night.

JP Martinez is on rehab for a groin pull.

Lo-A: Down East 3, Columbia (KAN) 0
Down East: 9 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Record: 24-19, 0.5 GB

SP Jose Corniell: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO, 70 P / 47 S, 2.78 ERA
RP Dylan MacLean: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2.93 ERA
LF Yosy Galan: 2-4, .237/.331/.441
SS Cam Cauley: 2-4, 2B, SB (11), .250/.307/.391
DH Tommy Specht: 3-4

I saw Jose Corniell in Kinston last May. At the time, he offered a 90-94 MPH fastball with good run, an upper-70s curves, and a slider and change used less frequently. Still in low-A, Corniell has greatly improved his control, dropping his walk/HBP rate nearly in half.

18-year-old Tommy Specht hit three singles in his full-season debut. He’s last year’s sixth-rounder.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Marvel / TBD
AA: Leiter
Hi-A: Acker
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Barely over two months since wowing onlookers with his stuff if not his command in Surprise, Mike Matuella was pulled from the high-A rotation with a 9.17 ERA and peripherals to match. He would never start again. Matuella’s control was passable, but what he threw in the zone tended to be hit very hard.

I told y’all 2018 would be a downer.

This morning, the Rangers purchased the contract of righty Grant Anderson and designated RHP Ricky Vanasco for assignment. Anderson has spent most of the season in AAA Round Rock plus a few innings in Frisco, producing a 3.54 ERA in 28 innings with a 14% BB/HBP rate and a gargantuan 41% strikeout rate. He’s not an especially hard throwing averaging 91.5 with a fastball and 83 with a slider. With Anderson’s side-armed delivery, the fastball has a ton of movement and effectively operates like another breaker. The slider draws the most praise, but he misses bats equally with both and has a team-high 18% swinging strike rate in AAA. Opponents are hitting .182/.293/.343 against him, and he escaped Albuquerque without a run against him in 3.2 innings.

In March 2019 in Surprise, I filmed Anderson before he became a Ranger, as by coincidence he’d pitched against several Texas hitting prospects. What I saw impressed the Rangers, who acquired Anderson for RHP Connor Sadzeck two weeks later. Texas didn’t protect Anderson in last winter’s Rule 5 draft, and Anderson received a glowing writeup from Baseball America with expectations that he could be taken, but he passed through. (I liked Anderson but not to that extent.)
I have video of Anderson from the previous homestand. I’d say Anderson is here to reinforce the bullpen, not save it. Vanasco was a risky if understandable addition after 2021 coming off Tommy John surgery. Had he not been added that fall, I doubt he would have been protected after 2022, which contained periods of lower velocity and middling results. Vanasco has struggled badly in two starts off the IL following knee surgery. I’m not surprised he was DFAed. I am surprised it happened this soon.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 11, at Albuquerque (COL) 8
Round Rock: 12 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 27-23, 9.5 GB

SP Jake Latz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 11 P / 7 S, 9.19 ERA
RP Kyle Cody: 4.2 IP, 5 H (2 HR), 2 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 7.32 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 3.58 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, BB, .288/.388/.486
1B Blaine Crim: 3-5, 2B, SB (1), .266/.362/.422

Davis Wendzel (1-5 with a double) was .526/.640/1.316 for the week. Albuquerque plays a prominent role in that success, of course, but Wendzel’s median exit velocity in the series was 100 MPH compared to 90.9 for all participants. He would have had a terrific week anywhere.

Number of balls hit at least 425 feet in Round Rock’s first 44 games: 7
Number of balls hit at least 425 feet in Round Rock’s 6 games at ABQ: 10

AA: Frisco 4, at Arkansas (SEA) 8
Frisco: 6 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 20-24, 3.5 GB

SP Matt Brosky: 3 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 5 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 61 P / 35 S, 15.00 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1.10 ERA
2B Thomas Saggese: 1-3, 2 BB, .306/.366/.445
1B Dustin Harris: 1-3, BB, .226/.364/.396

Jack Leiter was a late scratch. Per Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today, Leiter had foot soreness and should make next week’s start.

This time last year, Matt Brosky was four days removed from his final start at Youngstown State (a complete-game shutout), which is to say, having him pitch in AA is a big ask.

Hi-A: wet, again

To be made up in Asheville next month.

Lo-A: wet, again

Neither game of the doubleheader will be rescheduled. Both Hickory and Down East have played 41 of a scheduled 45 games.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Down East was rained out.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 14, at Albuquerque (COL) 12
Round Rock: 16 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 16 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 26-23, 9.5 GB

SP Nick Krauth: 3.2 IP, 8 H (3 HR), 6 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 49 P / 36 S, 10.80 ERA
RP Grant Anderson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 3 SO, 3.80 ERA
CF Elier Hernandez: 3-5, 2B, 3B, BB, .280/.372/.459
C Sam Huff: 3-6, 2B, HR (7), .285/.360/.488
DH Justin Foscue: 2-5, 2 HR (7), .272/.382/.486
RF Rafael Ortega: 2-5, 2 2B, 2 SB (5), .228/.318/.376
3B Davis Wendzel: 2-4, 2B, HR (8), BB, .250/.368/.500

Sam Huff hit the ball 110 MPH and cleared the deepest part of of the deepest park in the PCL by 27 feet. Justin Foscue homered twice, and half of Davis Wendzel’s eight this season have come in the last four days.

Down two in the 9th, Albuquerque loaded the bases with none out against Grant Anderson, who recovered to retire the next three in order.

Nick Krauth replaced Cody Bradford in the Round Rock rotation. Joining in relief is Aidan Anderson from Hickory. Krauth was pulled after allowing homers on consecutive one-pitch plate appearances in the 4th. Krauth typically lasts four innings, and he left with a two-run deficit, so under these trying circumstances, he met requirements.

AA: Frisco 7, at Arkansas (SEA) 2
Frisco: 10 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 19-24, 3.5 GB

SP TK Roby: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 SO, 86 P / 58 S, 4.96 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (), .286/.420/.401
2B Thomas Saggese: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, .306/.360/.447
RF Aaron Zavala: 2-4, BB, .267/.389/.367

TK Roby’s last three games: 16.1 innings, 7 hits, 3 walks, 19 strikeouts, 1.65 ERA, .130/.203/.222. Sure, there’s some batted-ball luck involved, but don’t fret that. He’s pitching very well lately after a few rough outings.

Texas bumped 2022 8th-round righty Matt Brosky up to Frisco, probably temporarily.

Hi-A: wet, makeup next month

Lo-A: wet, two today

OF Tommy Specht was assigned to Down East. Absent injury, a late-May first-time assignment is unusual, but perhaps the Woodies just needed reinforcement for a few days, and Specht will join the rookies when they start next week. Specht was chosen in last year’s sixth round, but his slot money didn’t end up in Brock Porter’s pocket. In fact, Specht himself received a bonus akin to a fourth rounder. Still 18, Specht was chosen out of high school in Iowa and spent some time last summer playing for a prospect league in Clinton, Texas’s former low-A affiliate.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Cody
AA: Leiter (on a shorter leash)
Hi-A: Santos
Lo-A: TBD x 2

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Down East LF Eric Jenkins made the catch of the year.

Texas’s 6.44 runs per game in 2023 are the best in any 50-game stretch in franchise history. The park-adjusted league average is about 4.8 runs by my calculation, so Texas has outscored the average by 34.2%. Next best is not what I expected: a stretch ending June 10, 1981, when the Rangers scored 5.1 per game versus a park-adjusted league average of 3.85, or 32.5% better. 

Back: OF Travis Jankowski
Hurt: IF/OF Ezequiel Duran (IL’ed, oblique)
Out: RHP Dane Dunning (paternity leave)
In: LHP Cody Bradford

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 1, at Albuquerque (COL) 4
Round Rock: 3 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 25-23, 10.5 GB

SP Josh Dye: 2.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 49 P / 25 S, 8.31 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 11.05 ERA
DH Sam Huff: 1-3, HR (6), .274/.353/.453

Rehabbing Mitch Garver caught for the first time, threw out a runner at second, and drew two walks.

30-year-old Dinelson Lamet had been atrocious in relief for the Rockies, so they sent him back to AAA to become a potential big-league starter (?), and results are pretty good so far (?!). He struck out six in 4.2 scoreless innings.

AA: Frisco 10, at Arkansas (SEA) 9
Frisco: 14 hits, 7 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 19-23, 4.5 GB

SP Ricky Vanasco: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 2 SO, 46 P / 26 S, 23.14 ERA
RP Theo McDowell: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 3.15 ERA
RP Nick Starr: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.35 ERA
2B Thomas Saggese: 3-6, 2 2B, .299/.348/.437
RF Trevor Hauver: 2-4, 3B, HR (3), BB, .259/.376/.397
C Liam Hicks: 2-4, 2B, BB, .258/.425/.516
SS Chris Seise: 2-4, 2B, BB, .210/.303/.314

Frisco scored eight to open the 2nd, only to give back seven the same inning. Ricky Vanasco worked a quick 1st but then suffered the same fate as last week, throwing a bazillion pitches (officially 34) to retire two batters.

Trevor Hauver homered and tripled in the same inning.

Hi-A: Hickory 9, Asheville (HOU) 2
Hickory: 8 hits, 11 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 16-25, 8 GB

SP Larson Kindreich: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 74 P / 45 S, 5.13 ERA
RP Brandon Webb: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 6.88 ERA
SS Max Acosta: 2-5, SB (12), .314/.369/.453
C Tucker Mitchell: 1-2, 3 BB
CF Daniel Mateo: 2-4, BB, 4 SB (15), .269/.288/.428
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 1-2, 2 BB, SB (10), .270/.333/.344

Larson Kindreich is showing his best control professionally by far, chopping his BB/HBP rate in Hickory from 24% last year to 10% so far in 2023. Balancing that are a few more hits.

Lo-A: Down East 2, at Carolina (MIL) 4
Down East: 5 hits, 2 walks, 17 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 23-19, 0.5 GB

SP Brock Porter: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 38 P / 27 S, 1.07 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1.35 ERA
LF Yosy Galan: 1-4, HR (6), .228/.326/.439

Brock Porter completed three perfect innings on just 38 pitches, but he apparently injured himself while warming for the 4th and was retrieved. Carolina’s announcer mentioned something about a leg but then said he wouldn’t want to speculate beyond that. Let’s hope it’s not serious.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Not Cody Bradford
AA: Roby
Hi-A: rained out
Lo-A: rained out

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Jeffrey Springs fanned six in three scoreless relief innings for Frisco.