Category: Daily Report

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, Reno (ARI) 2
Round Rock: 12 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 22-18, 3.5 GB

SP Adrian Sampson: 6 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 87 P / 54 S, 4.01 ERA
CF Derek Hill: 2-4, HR (7), HBP, .342/.394/.667
C Andrew Knapp: 4-5, 2B, HR (5), .375/.465/.587
1B Blaine Crim: 2-4, HR (6), .246/.360/.435

Lefty Antoine Kelly entered the 9th inning, threw six pitches far below his usual velocity, motioned for the trainer, and walked to the dugout. Ordinarily a steady 96 MPH and up to 99 with the fastball, Kelly descended from 94 to 89 across his five heaters. He wasn’t doing any of the between-pitch “arm waggle” I’ve seen from others in this situation but tapped his forearm with his glove when trainer Will Whitehead reached the mound. Kelly’s entry in the 9th was planned in advance, but he had to wait through a 26-minute bottom half of the 8th. Until Jack Leiter and Owen White were optioned back to Round Rock, Kelly was briefly the only healthy 40-man pitcher in the minors. Given his mostly strong outings and the circumstances at the parent club, an MLB debut seemed forthcoming. Now, we have to hope for favorable news.

I’d neglected to mention that on Tuesday Sam Huff was pulled in the middle of a plate appearance after seemingly his knee swinging the bat. He was catching  that night, so he had a hundred or so more crouches had he stayed in. He didn’t play last night but remains on the active roster.

As for the rest of the game, with two on, two out, and a 2-2 score in the 8th, Reno brought in Christian Montes De Oca to douse the field in gasoline. First, he hit Derek Hill in the helmet (he stayed in after a scary plummet to the ground). Next, Dustin Harris had the game’s biggest impact with his one hit, lacing a two-out, bases-loaded triple down the first-base line. After a hard Andrew Knapp single, Blaine Crim followed with his longest homer of the year at 444 feet, a rocket that caromed high off the light standard set beyond the left-center berm. Finally, Sandro Fabian barely missed a homer when his 100 MPH, 50-degree-angled moonshot was caught on the track. No Round Rock game in the statcast era has a homer hit at more than 48 degrees.

Previously, righty Daniel Robert summarized his career in the span of a few minutes. Brought in to face slugger Kyle Garlick with two out and a runner at second in the 7th, Robert fanned Garlick to maintain a 2-1 lead. He retired the first two batters of the 8th, but then a single-walk-single sequence plated the tying run. Robert’s sweeper is an MLB-worthy weapon, while the fastball varies between a strong supporting role or just being along for the ride.

In other news, Texas re-signed Chasen Shreve, a reliever who’d taken his leave a couple of weeks ago. Last Friday, during an extreme out-of-pocket period for me, Johnny Cueto made his first appearance, allowing a solo homer and striking out four in Arizona.

AA: wet

Two today.

Hi-A: Hickory 1, Greensboro (PIT) 2
Hickory: 6 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 12-22, 6.5 GB

SP Ryan Lobus: 4.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 7 SO, 75 P / 44 S, 3.86 ERA
RP Luis Ramirez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 7.85 ERA
C Konnor Piotto: 2-3, BB, .246/.347/.393

Since a nine-run outburst in early May, Hickory has scored 18 runs in ten games. Hickory has reached double digits in hits only three times in 34 games. Ryan Lobus handled his first high-A appearance capably, and Yohanse Morel (1.1 IP), Luis Ramirez (2.0) and Skylar Hales (1.0) kept providing opportunities for a comeback.

Lo-A: Down East 7, Carolina (MIL) 4
Down East: 7 hits, 6 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 16-17, 6.5 GB

SP David Davallilo: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 34 P / 23 S, 1.85 ERA
RP Luke Savage: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.50 ERA
SS Echedry Vargas: 3-4, 2B, HR (2), BB, .242/.290/.403
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-4, BB, .219/.346/.482

Among the 100 more active pitchers in the league, Davallilo is near the 75th percentile in fewest walks and the same in fewest strikeouts. (Paul Bonzagni is similar.) He faned more than usual yesterday with no loss of efficiency.

Watching Echedry Vargas in Surprise, I was baffled at how he could have struck out in 25% of his appearances in rookie ball. He was a contact machine in March. I’m happy to report his K rate at Down East is only 12%. That hasn’t translated to much positive production, but yesterday he boosted his numbers considerably with a monster day.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Garabito
AA: Garcia / B. Anderson
Hi-A: Bratt / TBD
Lo-A: TBD x 2

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Demacus Evans struck out rehabbing Trea Turner a day after Jake Latz did so twice.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 1, Reno (ARI) 4
Round Rock: 9 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 21-18, 4.5 GB

SP Kyle Barraclough: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 86 P / 50 S, 4.32 ERA
LF Dustin Harris: 1-3, BB, HBP, SB (12), .265/.348/.394
DH Andrew Knapp: 2-2, 3 BB, .354/.452/.535
RF Sandro Fabian: 2-4, 2 2B, .326/.367/.488

No dessert for the Express hitters, who couldn’t finish their plates: 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position, 12 stranded. Round Rock is hitting .275/.357/.440 with the bases empty and .242/.330/.395 with runners in scoring position. A little annoying but not indicative of anything other than the high variance of baseball results. Last year’s squad with several of the same players was better with runners in scoring position than without.

AA: Frisco 6, @ Amarillo (ARI) 7
Frisco: 10 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 21-12, 0.5 GB

SP Josh Stephan: 6 IP, 7 H (3 HR), 5 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 72 P / 48 S, 5.51 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 2-4, 2 2B, BB, SB (4), .282/.336/.464
SS Keyber Rodriguez: 3-5, HR (2), .212/.250/.424

If you’re going to pitch for the Rangers, you’ll have to pitch at and probably endure some ugly lines at places like Albuquerque, Reno, El Paso, and Las Vegas. The AA prep for the high-octance PCL is Amarillo, a concept fully absorbed by Josh Stephan when the last of three homers flew over the fence. Now that Cody Freeman appears to be done with catching, and exclusively a third baseman so far, he really needs to hit. So far, he’s hitting for better average and power than any year previous. Freeman has been in the system for a long while now but at 23 is still fairly young for AA.

Hi-A: Hickory 2, Greensboro (PIT) 4
Hickory: 6 hits, 4 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 6 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 12-21, 6.5 GB

SP DJ McCarty: 4 IP, 4 H (2 HR), 3 R, 4 BB, 7 SO, 77 P / 49 S, 4.15 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.45 ERA
DH Sebastian Walcott: 1-3, BB, .181/.295/.286

Hickory loaded the bases in the 9th with their best hitter up in the form of Alejandro Osuna, but he flied out. Only Walcott and Cam Cauley (1-4, BB) reached safely twice. Opponents are hitting .117/.221/.233 against Jackson Kelley, who doesn’t throw hard (upper 80s or so) but does throw weird.

Lo-A: wet

Two Thursday.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Sampson
AA: Garcia
Hi-A: TBA
Lo-A: TBA

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Cole Ragans suffered another elbow injury 14 months after the first and would undergo surgery again.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 3, Las Vegas (OAK) 6
Round Rock: 8 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 21-17, 3.5 GB

SP Peter Solomon: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 82 P / 52 S, 3.00 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 7.50 ERA
1B Blaine Crim: 1-2, 2 BB, .240/.357/.411

Peter Solomon is the sixth pitcher to appear for the Express and the fourth to start who wasn’t in the organization on Opening Day (45 days ago) . The 27-year-old had been with indy High Point. Originally drafted in 2017’s fourth round out of Notre Dame by the Astros, Solomon reached the Majors briefly with them and Arizona but had serious strike-throwing issues.

Best as I can tell, the number of pitchers named to the Opening Day roster who have been on the squad without injury or call-up all season is two: Adrian Sampson and Jesus Tinoco. Five others have spent some time with the Rangers (Anderson, Leiter, Pruitt, White, Winn), six have been or are injured (Brennan, Church, Greene, Kelly, Robert, Taylor), and two have been released (Duffy, Shreve). A decent rule of thumb is that whatever personnel chaos is occurring on the Major league roster is visited doubly upon AAA.

Despite the turnover, the Express have allowed 12% fewer runs per game than the park-adjusted league average by my count. Indeed, Round Rock is 13-5 after an 8-12 start. Strong defense has aided that cause. (Worst by a mile is Albuquerque, 8.9 runs per game allowed, 36% more than average.)

AA: wet

Makeup TBD.

Hi-A: Hickory 3, @ Greenville (BOS) 4
Hickory: 8 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 12-20, 5.5 GB

SP Aidan Curry: 5 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 84 P / 48 S, 9.00 ERA
RP Skylar Hales: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.17 ERA
C Ian Moller: 2-2, 2 BB, SB (4), .182/.308/.227

In seven previous high-A starts (dating back to last year), Aidan Curry had allowed fewer runs than innings pitched only once, and even that was a close call. Yesterday, he produced the kind of outing that seemed routine in low-A. Curry is still missing bats aplenty (30% K rate) and not walking too many (12% BB/HBP), but when hitters put it in play, they’re slugging .854. Hopefully Sunday is something to build on.

Hickory’s offense has a 71 OPS+ and has scored 33% fewer runs than the park-adjusted league average, easily the lowest marks in the league and among the lowest in the entire minors.

Lo-A: Down East 6, Lynchburg (CLE) 5 (10)
Down East: 12 hits, 1 walk, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 15-17, 7.5 GB

SP Josh Trentadue: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 71 P / 47 S, 5.24 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-5, HR (8), .209/.336/.482
C Jesus Lopez: 2-5, .322/.386/.433
DH Julian Brock: 2-5, 3B, .218/.267/.264
1B Arturo Disla: 1-5, HR (1), .245/.366/.351
CF Marcos Torres: 2-4, 2B, .172/.263/.264

Lynchburg hit a two-out homer off Kolton Curtis in the 9th to tie the game, and Down East couldn’t convert a no-out bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom half. Down a run in the 10th, Julian Brock singled in Jesus Lopez and reached third on a throwing error by catcher Robert Lopez. He then scored the winning on a missed catch by Lopez.

Down East isn’t in Hickory’s shape offensively but is about 8% below the league-average scoring rate, mostly because of few walks. Gleider Figuereo has a dazzling 21 free passes in 137 trips to the plate. Tommy Specht, Chandler Pollard, Erick Alvarez, Echedry Vargas, Danyer Cueva, and Jojo Blackmon have a combined 20 in 414 appearances. Figuereo and catcher Jesus Lopez have been the most encouraging performers followed by Arturo Disla, who isn’t showing the power I’ve hoped but is reaching base at a terrific rate.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Down East swept a doubleheader at Winston-Salem to improve to 27-10. John King and Demarcus Evans had strong outings, and CF Leody Taveras and SS Anderson Tejeda were both 3-7 with a homer.

Finally home. I spent Friday night in Santa Fe visiting an old friend and most of Saturday in transport, so I didn’t have time for a report until last night. Friday’s games are here: a fairly light day, headlined by some info on Antoine Kelly.

Texas’s new A-level affiliate in Spartanburg, SC, will be known as the Hub City Spartanburgers.

The name isn’t new; a summer collegiate team known simply as the Spartanburgers played there in 2021, and the new team bought the trademark. You can guess the primary mascot, who lacks a name at present. There’s also a spatula (Flip) and pickle (Chip). Hub City is an old nickname derived from the many railroads leading into the city. Primary colors are navy and bright green plus some orange, red, yellow, and brown. That’s a mishmash, but hey, burgers have many colors. There are seven different logos because of course there are, but the uniform tops are simple and sharp, in my opinion.

Hub City will replace Down East in 2025. As it stands, the affiliation is low-A, but I suppose they could swap with high-A Hickory, as Spartanburg is a more heavily populated metropolitan area, and a switch would only minimally affect travel in their respective leagues.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 4, Las Vegas (OAK) 3
Round Rock: 6 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Record: 21-16, 3.5 GB

SP Shaun Anderson: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 71 P / 44 S, 2.53 ERA
RP Aidan Anderson: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0.77 ERA
1B Blaine Crim: 2-3, BB, SB (1), .236/.342/.409

Two the the four Andersons in the organization combined for seven strong innings. As I’ve mentioned, Blaine Crim is hitting better than his slash stats suggest. He actually has the best hard-hit rate on the team, but he seems to be having terrible luck on avoiding enemy gloves.

AA: Frisco 12, San Antonio (SDP) 2
Frisco: 13 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 21-11, tied for first

SP Emiliano Teodo: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 SO, 82 P / 54 S, 2.60 ERA
CF Kellen Strahm: 3-4, 3B, BB, SB (6), .287/.378/.374
C Liam Hicks: 3-5, .227/.331/.291

Emiliano Teodo fanned a season-high nine. He missed 15 bats: 10 sliders, 3 changes, 2 fastballs. I’ve been deeply skeptical of his potential as a starter because of his control, command, and lack of a useful third pitch, but he’s made some serious progress in 2024. While his walk rate is still elevated at 14%, he’s spotting his pitches better, and the change, although still fairly infrequent, has become a genuine bat-misser. He’s yet to allow a homer, and the opposing slash is a meager .188/.297/.208.

Hi-A: Hickory 3, @ Greenville (BOS) 2
Hickory: 4 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 12-19, 4.5 GB

SP Winston Santos: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 88 P / 61 S, 1.41 ERA
RP Yohanse Morel: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 9.37 ERA
RP Larson Kindreich: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 1.54 ERA

Hickory’s oft-dormant offense had been no-hit through five by Juan Daniel Encarnacion but recorded all four hits and three runs in the 6th against Adam Smith. So much for the invisible hand.

Winston Santos had a nice night bookended by some hiccups: back-to-back triples in the 1st (aided somewhat by Greenville’s Fenway-aping dimensions) and consecutive two-out walks in the 5th before a final strikeout. Yohanse Morel and Larson Kindreich aren’t particularly walk-averse but were on point Saturday with a one-run lead.

Sebastian Walcott walked twice. He still isn’t hitting that much but has improved his walk rate to 14% and isn’t striking out as often.

Lo-A: Down East 4, Lynchburg (CLE) 3
Down East: 5 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 14-17, 7.5 GB

SP Alejandro Rosario: 5 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 1 BB, 7 SO, 71 P / 42 S, 2.20 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 2.08 ERA
DH Jesus Lopez: 1-2, 2B, 2 BB, .318/.385/.435

With two out in the 8th, Erick Alvarez doubled in Gleider Figuereo to tie the game at three, and Jesus Lopez would later scamper home to take the lead on a wild pitch.

Down East is by far the best pitching staff in the league for stinginess with runners in scoring position (.179/.296/.245). That’s not a realistic line going forward, but for now, it’s keeping them in games.

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBA
AA: Stephan
Hi-A: Curry
Lo-A: TBA

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Hickory infielder Tyler Depreta-Johnson threw two innings, allowing a gift-runner to score in the 12th but shutting down Charleston in the 13th. He then dropped a squeeze bunt to bring home the winning run. Not only had he never pitched professionally, he didn’t pitch in college, and I couldn’t even find an occasion in high school. He would make four more mound appearance in 2019, at least getting by in all but one. He was released in the Great Purge of 2020 (when teams released many players in light of impending contraction and the unlikelihood of a minor league season) but is still active, currently playing for indy Schaumburg.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, Las Vegas (OAK) 2
Round Rock: 11 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 7 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 20-16

SP Gerson Garabito: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO, 87 P / 51 S, 2.21 ERA
RP Jesus Tinoco: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 3.93 ERA
1B Blaine Crim: 3-5, 2B, .236/.342/.409

With the MLB bullpen being what it is lately, eyes turn wishfully to Antoine Kelly. Unfortunately, he suffered his first rough outing of the season, walking and surrendering two runs in 1.1 innings. Still, opponents are hitting only .182/.333/.182 for the season with a 37% K rate. Kelly leans hard on a fastball that averages 96 and has reached 99.3. So far, no batters have hit a slider into play; they’re 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on appearances that conclude with that pitch. Because of an injury, he’s only thrown six innings.

After two years away from affiliated ball, 28-year-old Gerson Garabito is having the best success of his career. His previous tilt at AAA hitters in 2021 was walk and homer-prone.

AA: Frisco 4, San Antonio (SDP) 1
Frisco: 8 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 20-11

SP Dane Acker: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 4 SO, 84 P / 49 S, 3.38 ERA
RP Steven Jennings: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 2.76 ERA
RP Damian Mendoza: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4.15 ERA
1B Josh Hatcher: 3-4, 2B, .352/.396/.523

Dane Acker’s decent walk rate took a beating, but Steven Jennings managed to strand three runners after Acker’s 32-pitch, three-walk 3rd.

Hi-A: Hickory 0, @ Greenville (BOS) 1
Hickory: 5 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 11-19

SP Joseph Montalvo: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO, 73 P / 49 S, 3.60 ERA

Joseph Montalvo’s best performance of the season went for naught, as Hickory couldn’t plate any of 13 baserunners. Cam Cauley and Yosy Galan fanned with the bases loaded in the 9th.

Lo-A: Down East 0, Lynchburg (CLE) 2
Down East: 4 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 13-17

SP Kyle Larsen: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 47 P / 31 S, 6.43 ERA
RP Jose Gonzalez: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1.42 ERA
C Jesus Lopez: 2-4, .318/.385/.435

Down East likewise couldn’t take advantage of some fine pitching. 22-year-old Jose Gonzalez has 26 strikeouts in 19 innings.

Note: Travel might push reports on Friday’s games to Sunday.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 12, Las Vegas (OAK) 7
Round Rock: 15 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts
Record: 19-16, 3.5 GB

SP Adrian Sampson: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 63 P / 38 S, 4.42 ERA
CF Derek Hill: 3-5, 2B, 3B, .342/.393/.667
LF Dustin Harris: 2-5, 2 2B, .271/.343/.415
DH Sam Huff: 2-5, HR (7), .271/.352/.564
2B Alex De Goti: 2-4, HR (1), .200/.263/.286

Welcome to AAA, Brady Blasso. The Oakland farmhand was tagged for nine runs in 2.1 innings in his Las Vegas debut.

Round Rock’s Reid Birlingmair didn’t fare well in his AAA debut either, allowing three runs and five runners in 1.2 innings, but he’s a creditable addition to the squad. He relied heavily on a cutter than ranged from 87 to 94, followed by a 94-96 fastball and a handful of traditional breakers. Unexceptional as a starter in Oakland’s system after being picked in 2018’s 28th round, Birlingmair was injured most of 2022 and released in August while still on the IL. Only two days later, he was pitching for indy Fargo-Moorhead. He continued there in 2023 until signing with Texas in June.

Elier Hernandez is reportedly signing with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants. As I’d mentioned when he was released at the end of April, a move overseas was the likely reason. If I can brag a little, I’ll refer to last July, when I said he and his agent should learn Japanese. Hernandez just seemed the type. He’s a mature, solid hitter who nevertheless was going to have a hard time sticking on a 40-man roster long enough to establish an up-and-down role. I was always happy to see him in the Round Rock lineup and wish him the best.

AA: Frisco 9, San Antonio (SDP) 5
Frisco: 11 hits, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 19-11, 1 GB

SP Nick Krauth: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 4 SO, 96 P / 65 S, 6.15 ERA
RP Seth Clark: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.45 ERA
SS Max Acosta: 2-3, 2B, HBP, .245/.324/.315
1B Abimelec Ortiz: 2-4, .222/.288/.374
2B Frainyer Chavez: 3-4, 2B, .207/.337/.287
CF Daniel Mateo: 2-3, BB, SB (3), .111/.271/.111

The Riders batted 12 and scored seven in the 5th, aided by three Mission errors.

CF Daniel Mateo was hitless in his first four AA games but no longer. Mateo batted .258/.285/.398 in 133 high-A games spread across three seasons. He’s still just 22, and this is a stout assignment. One immediate improvement is eight walks, already only one shy of last year’s total in 110 games.

Hi-A: Hickory 4, @ Greenville (BOS) 2 (resumed from Wednesday)
Hickory: 9 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 11-17, tied for first

SP Mitch Bratt: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 0 SO, 24 P / 15 S, 6.16 ERA
RP Jackson Kelley: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2.76 ERA
RP Leandro Lopez: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 4.33 ERA
RP Skylar Hales: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.75 ERA
DH Yeison Morrobel: 3-4, 2B
C Ian Moller: 2-4, 2B, .161/.257/.210
3B Ben Blackwell: 1-3, 3B, .169/.289/.229

Just before rain halted affairs Wednesday, Mitch Bratt had walked two straight and reached 24 pitches. I didn’t see any of the game, but I imagine conditions were poor. Jackson Kelley did him a solid by entering the resumed contest and stranding three runners. 

Hi-A: Hickory 2, @ Greenville (BOS) 5 (7)
Hickory: 7 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 11-18, 5.5 GB

SP Luis Ramirez: 1.2 IP, 4 H (2 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 60 P / 36 S, 8.82 ERA
RP Ivan Oviedo: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Adrian Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2.38 ERA
SS Cam Cauley: 1-3, HR (1), BB, .241/.267/.379
RF Yeison Morrobel: 2-3, BB, .224/.315/.316

Cam Cauley homered in his first plate appearance off the IL. Yeison Morrobel was 5-7 across the quasi-doubleheader.

Lo-A: Down East 2, Lynchburg (CLE) 1
Down East: 6 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 1 walk, 14 strikeouts
Record: 13-16, 7.5 GB

SP Paul Bonzagni: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 57 P / 44 S, 1.93 ERA
RP Kohl Drake: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 SO, 4.20 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-3, BB, .218/.347/.485
RF Marcos Torres: 1-3, HR (1), .143/.239/.234

Since workloads are spread among so many players, seeing only two pitchers combine for nine innings almost feels a complete game. Drake’s ERA doesn’t wow, but he’s walked three and fanned 24 in 15 low-A innings. He also had one “we need a guy” outing in Frisco that was ugly, but that’s not his fault. I currently see around five active pitchers at levels where they don’t really belong, but the combination of injuries and (I’m guessing) the 165-man limit have forced some unusual assignments, and those guys need to be evaluated with grace.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Garabito
AA: Acker
Hi-A: Montalvo
Lo-A: TBA

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Cole Winn was promoted to Hickory, then a low-A squad. He’d earned rave reviews in extended spring training.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, Las Vegas (OAK) 4
Round Rock: 9 hits, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 13 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 18-16, 4.5 GB

SP Kyle Barraclough: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 3 SO, 73 P / 37 S, 4.91 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 SO, 9.00 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.26 ERA

Texas signed 33-year-old righty Kyle Barraclough to more-or-less replace Danny Duffy, who was given his release. Barraclough has pitched in the Majors in every year since 2015 save 2020, but not much since 2019. In the last three years, he’s wandered a path between the Majors, AAA, and indy ball, and he’d been pitching for the Atlantic League’s High Point. I suppose a strong showing (and more injuries at the parent club) could get him a look in Texas, but I’d guess he’s mostly to shore up Round Rock.

As for Duffy, I loved the signing back in 2023 and was glad he returned, but unfortunately he’s just been unable to recover the form preceding his shoulder troubles. Duffy had walked 17 in 18 AAA innings.

After yesterday’s comment about Dustin Harris not fulfilling Texas’s need for a righty bat, an intrepid reader asked if I’d seen his splits. I’d seen the page containing them, but I must have misread it, because it didn’t catch my eye. I blame the headache. The left-swinging Harris is hitting .333/.379/.500 against lefties and .247/.330/.371 against righties. That giant reverse split isn’t a six-week fluke; the previous two years are similar. So, what gives?

First I checked the balls in play (2024 stats only).
vs.L: 26% hard-hit rate, exit velo median 84.8, 90th percentile 101.2
vs.R: 30% hard-hit rate, exit velo median 88.5, 90th percentile 99.8

He’s had better top-end performance against lefties but more consistency against righties. Probably a wash. One thing I’ll note is that while his hard-hit rate is well below average, when he does hit hard, he nearly always hits at a worthy angle, hardly ever driving the ball downward or too high.

Next, contact:
vs.L: 6% swinging strike rate (misses / all pitches), 13% whiff rate (misses / swings)
vs.R: 11% swinging strike rate, 25% whiff rate

Now we’re getting somewhere. Finally, contact against non-fastballs:
vs. L: 6% swinging strike, 12% whiff
vs.R: 18% swinging strike, 38% whiff

I think we have a winner. Harris makes very good contact overall, particularly against fastballs, but bendy stuff and changes from righties give him the most trouble.

AA: Frisco 0, San Antonio (SDP) 7
Frisco: 4 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
Record: 18-11, 1 GB

SP Ben Anderson: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 0 SO, 82 P / 50 S, 3.81 ERA
RP Ricky DeVito: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 7.00 ERA

Ben Anderson was knocked around for the first time this season, and Frisco didn’t have a hit until the 5th. Liam Hicks (0-3, BB) reached safely in his first ten games but is .125/.230/.188 since. He’s struck out only seven times in those 17 games. He had a similar stretch last June in what was still a productive season.

Hi-A: suspended

Rain in the bottom of the 1st. They’ll resume today. IF Cam Cauley is off the IL but wasn’t in the lineup. RHP Skylar Hales is also active after a short IL stint.

Lo-A: Down East 2, Lynchburg (CLE) 5
Down East: 3 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 17 hits, 1 walk, 13 strikeouts
Record: 12-16, 7.5 GB

SP Brayan Mendoza: 4 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 69 P / 47 S, 3.09 ERA
RP Ryan Lobus: 4 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 1 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1.53 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-4, HR (7), .214/.342/.490

Gleider Figuereo now leads the organization and Carolina League in homers all by himself.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Sampson
AA: Krauth
Hi-A: Ramirez
Lo-A: TBA

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Infielder Chris Seise would miss the rest of the year with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. In 2017-2019, he played 72 games.

Texas placed RHP Dane Dunning on the IL with a shoulder issue. Texas also acquired OF Robbie Grossman from the White Sox for RHP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa. Jack Leiter and Owen White are up, Jonathan Ornelas down.

I’ll confess to reacting to the Grossman news with “I’m tired and in a lousy hotel and under the weather and not seeing things correctly.” This newsletter hardly ever ventures outside of G-rated content, so I can’t speak freely about his defense. But he did, and does, hit lefties, against whom the Ranges have a line of .231/.288/.343 this season. From whom he siphons at-bats could be tricky, but we’ll see. The abject White Sox gave him 14 starts against righties. If he gets 14 plate appearances against righties as a Ranger, that will be too many. This isn’t a pretty trade, but the marginal value of each additional win for the Rangers is huge, and the marginal value of Grossman’s bat against lefties might be worth the cost. It’s certainly a fine bit of business for the Sox, turning a recently signed placeholder into a prospect.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 6, Las Vegas (OAK) 4
Round Rock: 5 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 8 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 18-15, 4.5 GB

SP Aidan Anderson: 3 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 40 P / 31 S, 1.00 ERA
RP Antoine Kelly: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1.93 ERA
LF Dustin Harris: 2-3, 2B, SB (8), .266/.344/.404

I hate missing Round Rock’s one early weekday game of the season, but I’m in New Mexico. As to not calling up Dustin Harris instead of trading a legit relief prospect, 1) Harris bats left-handed, and 2) Harris unfortunately doesn’t hit as hard as you want out of just about anyone, much less a 1/3/L. Yesterday, however, he stung the ball twice in collecting a single and double. I need to dig deeper and see if there’s any trend.

AA: Frisco 4, San Antonio (SDP) 3
Frisco: 10 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Record: 18-10, tied for first

SP Ryan Garcia: 5.1 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 9 SO, 87 P / 58 S, 5.40 ERA
RP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
CF Kellen Strahm: 4-4, HR (2), .267/.359/.347
DH Aaron Zavala: 2-3, BB, .276/.409/.414

Bubba, aka Hoop, aka AHT (that’s what I called him in my head), leaves the Riders and Rangers with a 0.00 ERA and 34% strikeout rate. Is he Emmanuel Clase? No. Peter Fairbanks? Nope. A potential Major Leaguer, and potentially a good one? Yes. Hoopii-Tuionetoa wasn’t quite at the level for 40-man placement or Rule 5 selection last offseason, but his stuff and consistency have improved in 2024. Best wishes to him.

Hi-A: Hickory 1, @ Greenville (BOS) 9
Hickory: 7 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 10-17, 4.5 GB

SP DJ McCarty: 4 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 3 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 69 P / 44 S, 4.05 ERA
CF Alejandro Osuna: 3-5, 2B, HR (1), .391/.462/.609
LF Quincy Scott: 2-3, 2 BB, .176/.253/.247

Osuna missed all of April, but because the team-wide offensive malaise in the early going, he could catch up to several Crawdads in the hit column this week at his present rate.

Lo-A: Down East 5, Lynchburg (CLE) 7
Down East: 8 hits, 0 walks, 15 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 12-15, 7.5 GB

SP David Davallilo: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 58 P / 41 S, 2.11 ERA
3B Gleider Figuereo: 1-4, HR (6), .213/.345/.468
2B Chander Pollard: 2-3, 2B, .203/.253/.232

Figuereo shares the lead in homers in the organization (with Sam Huff and Derek Hill) and Carolina League.

Elsewhere
That would be former Texas Ranger Tyler Ferguson who made his MLB debut at the age of 30 for the A’s. The Rangers drafted him in 2016’s sixth round. He would have been picked higher, but his control collapsed in his draft year at Kentucky. Though he improved somewhat professionally, he always had a stiff, uncomfortable-looking delivery that seemed oppositional to success. Cut in March 2019, he spent that year in indy ball and the next on the shelf like everyone else. He returned to affiliated ball in 2021, and in 2024 he maintained control well enough to get a look with Oakland.

Also back is Kyle Cody. He signed with the Giants and threw three scoreless against Texas’s rookie squad Monday.

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBA
AA: B. Anderson
Hi-A: Bratt
Lo-A: B. Mendoza

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Low-A Hickory was scheduled to play 40 games in 40 days leading to the All-Star break. Times have changed.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 11, @ Albuquerque (COL) 1
Round Rock: 15 hits, 8 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 0 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 17-15, 5 GB

SP Shaun Anderson: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 10 SO, 89 P / 65 S, 2.12 ERA
RP Jimmy Robbins: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 9.00 ERA
DH Derek Hill: 1-3, HR (6), 3 BB, .337/.389/.643
LF Trevor Hauver: 2-4, 2B, BB, .256/.368/.436
SS Jax Biggers: 3-5, .260/.372/.338

In a six-game series at Albuquerque, an average number of runs to score or allow is 40. Round Rock allowed only 18, and 10 of those came in a single game. After throwing five solid innings on Tuesday, Shaun Anderson added seven more, missing 20 bats. Anderson threw 60 sliders and only seven (7) fastballs.

You’ve probably heard by now that Wyatt Langford is expected to be out 3-4 weeks. None among 40-man members Dustin Harris, Sam Huff, and Jonathan Ornelas played. Ornelas was listed before the game but not on the card handed to the umpire. Whoever gets the call probably won’t see much action.

AA: Frisco 5, @ Corpus Christi (HOU) 3
Frisco: 4 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 17-10, tied for first

SP Josh Stephan: 5 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO, 68 P / 43 S, 4.35 ERA

The Frisco offense was nearly silent until the 8th, when all five runs scored with the help of some Corpus miscues. Josh Stephan produced his first scoreless, walkless start of five innings in AA, joining four at lower levels.

Hi-A: Hickory 1, @ Rome (ATL) 11
Hickory: 6 hits, 5 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 10-16, 4.5 GB

SP Aidan Curry: 3 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 4 BB, 5 SO, 78 P / 49 S, 11.12 ERA
CF Alejandro Osuna: 2-5, 2B
DH Yeison Morrobel: 1-2, HR (1), BB, HBP, .195/.300/.287

Yeison Morrobel collected his first homer 24 games into the season. I swear there’s some power in there. I’ve seen it. Even less explicable is Aidan Curry’s high-A troubles. In 19 low-A starts last year, he allowed more than three runs only once. He’s had four starts of four or more runs already in 2024.

Lo-A: Down East 6, @ Fredericksburg (WAS) 4
Down East: 13 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 12 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 12-14, 6.5 GB

SP Kolton Curtis: 4.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 1 SO, 74 P / 36 S, 1.27 ERA
SS Echedry Vargas: 2-5, SB (3), .220/.250/.366
3B Gleider Figuereo: 2-5, HR (5), .211/.349/.444
DH Arturo Disla: 3-5, .276/.402/.355
LF Tommy Specht: 2-4, .246/.333/.277

Down East threw 177 pitches, walked 12, and issued three wild pitches and a balk. Somehow, that translated into only four runs. In repeating low-A, Gleider Figuereo is hitting about the same for average but producing about twice as many walks and extra bases.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Catcher Brett Nicholas retired. Texas called him up to the Majors during his would-be walk year of 2016. He would hit .252/.300/.456 across two seasons, later traded for Emmanuel Clase. When contracts with Colorado and the White Sox didn’t work out as hoped, he called it a day.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 4, @ Albuquerque (COL) 1
Round Rock: 8 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 16-15, 5 GB

SP Gerson Garabito: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 75 P / 42 S, 2.81 ERA
1B Blaine Crim: 1-4, BB, .218/.339/.426
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 2-4, .278/.320/.400

Offseason signing Gerson Garabito earned whatever the Rangers are paying him in 2024 with six scoreless innings in Albuquerque. Garabito didn’t get many calls but compensated with 14 missed bats, eight of which were on pitches outside the zone.

Regarding Wyatt Langford’s hamstring injury, I’d expect his plate appearances to be apportioned to hitters already with the team. If bench reinforcement is needed, 40-man options are C Sam Huff, IF Jonathan Ornelas, and 1B/3B/LF Dustin Harris. Harris nominally fills the defensive role but hasn’t improved on last year’s low exit velocities. Ornelas hits as hard as anyone but is hindered by a very high grounder rate. He also hasn’t played outfield in 2024. Huff, you know about. On twitter yesterday, I tossed out the idea of giving him some DH at-bats. He’s 26 and on his fourth option. Non-40 OFs Derek Hill and Sandro Fabian would probably be serviceable fifth OFs.

Langford isn’t in today’s lineup as expected, but that’s the only news as of 10:30am local time.

AA: Frisco 11, @ Corpus Christi (HOU) 0
Frisco: 8 hits, 8 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 16-10, tied for first

SP Emiliano Teodo: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 75 P / 44 S, 2.91 ERA
RP Robby Ahlstrom: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 2.92 ERA
RP Steven Jennings: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.95 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 3-5, HR (2), SB (4), .272/.402/.420
3B Cody Freeman: 2-5, HR (4), SB (2), .279/.333/.465

Three weeks after plating six against Justin Verlander, the Riders put five on base and scored three against rehabbing Cristian Javier in 3.1 innings. I didn’t see any of the game and assume that Javier (like Verlander) was just getting in the work, but whatever. Getting licks in against a Major Leaguer is always a treat. Particularly for guys who end up not reaching the Majors, games like this create the lasting memories.

After five starts, Emiliano Teodo has a walk rate (11%) and strikeout rate (25%) right at the league averages. Expecting higher percentages of both was reasonable given the history, but instead Teodo has excelled by clamping down on extra-base hits, surrendering two all season, both doubles in his first appearance.

Hi-A: Hickory 1, @ Rome (ATL) 3
Hickory: 5 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 10-15, 3.5 GB

SP Winston Santos: 6.1 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 3 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 87 P / 65 S, 1.00 ERA
RP Jacob Maton: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 2.13 ERA
CF Alejandro Osuna: 2-4

Winston Santos lasted a season-high 6.1 innings on just 87 pitches, but he allowed his first homer of the season. Even with that, his opposing slugging percentage in 2024 is only .227 compared to an even .500 last year. Frisco beckons. I don’t necessarily mean next Saturday, but folks in north Texas should get ample opportunities to see him.

Lo-A: Down East 1, @ Fredericksburg (WAS) 3
Down East: 1 hit, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 11-14, 7 GB

SP Alejandro Rosario: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 6 SO, 69 P / 48 S, 2.38 ERA
RP Wilian Bormie: 4 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 4 BB, 3 SO, 2.04 ERA

Echedry Vargas’s 5th-inning double was the only hit.

Arizona Complex League
The Baby Rangers won the opener 10-8 with a six-run 9th following the Reds’ six-run 8th. RF Braylin Morel was 3-3 with a double, triple, and two walks. 1B Pablo Guererro, son of Vlad, went 3-5. 3B Esteban Mejia also had three hits including his first homer, and Yeremi Cabrera homered as well, adding a single, two walks, and two steals. DH Max Martin, last year’s 11th-round pick, singled twice, walked, and stole a base.

DJ Peters struck out four and walked none in two innings, notable because his control last year was woeful. Buddy Reed, who I mentioned had converted to the mound, tossed the last 1.1 innings, allowing a hit and three walks while striking out three. Starter Thomas Ireland, a 2021 13th-rounder who spent much of last year in Down East, surrendered a run and fanned five in three innings. 2023 15th-round lefty Michael Trausch tossed two scoreless with four strikeouts in his pro debut.

Today’s Starters
AAA: S. Anderson
AA: Stephan
Hi-A: Curry
Lo-A: TBA

Five Years Ago Yesterday
I’d mentioned Nashville’s 8-20 start, worst by a Texas AAA team in at least 15 years. The Sounds were rained out yesterday, but wins by all the others improved Frisco to 18-11, Down East to 22-8, and Hickory to 20-8. Sam Huff hit his 14th homer. I double-checked, because my initial thought was “I’ve messed up, the season is a month old at most, Huff doesn’t have 14 homers,” but yes, he did. He was batting .327/.365/.806 with six walks and 35 strikeouts in 104 trips to the plate, so he was hitting .508 and slugging 1.254 on contact. He’d move up to high-A in a few days.