Category: Daily Report

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.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 18, at Albuquerque (COL) 6
Round Rock: 20 hits, 10 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 16 hits, 6 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 25-22, 9.5 GB

SP James Marvel: 4 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 82 P / 53 S, 4.91 ERA
RP Marc Church: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Lucas Jacobsen: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3.78 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 2-5, BB, HBP, .274/.390/.463
1B Blaine Crim: 2-5, BB, .264/.368/.429
SS Davis Wendzel: 2-4, 2 HR (7), 2 BB, .243/.361/.471
C Matt Whatley: 3-6, 2 2B, .237/.308/.305

Davis Wendzel homered twice, the latter a grand slam that landed in Las Cruces. Actually 448 feet from the plate, off the bat at 102 MPH and 30 degrees. None of 23 balls in MLB at that velo/angle this season has traveled more than 417. Credit the City of Albuquerque, perhaps Wendzel connecting on the absolutely perfect spot on the bat, and maybe some residual Baylor Bear spirit. Wendzel is slugging 1.500 this week and has raised his overall percentage from .375 to .471 in three days. Make an offer, Colorado.

Travis Jankowski was 3-4 with a double and walk as DH. Mitch Garver did not play.

In his AAA debut, Marc Church escaped two mostly self-created bases-loaded situations in the 7th and 8th. He touched 98 once but sat 95-96 with an upper 80’s slider. The ‘Topes had a righty-only lineup, and Church worked vertically and mostly near the outside border. He has MLB-quality stuff but has endured his share of rough outings in the upper levels, and the control that was plus in the lower levels has been so-so lately.

AA: Frisco 2, at Arkansas (SEA) 8
Frisco: 7 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 18-23, 4.5 GB

SP Owen White: 4 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 4 R, 5 BB, 5 SO, 92 P / 54 S, 4.24 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 HBP, 2 SO, 1.17 ERA
DH Dustin Harris: 2-3, 2B, BB, SB (17), .226/.367/.411
1B Trevor Hauver: 3-4, .250/.368/.348

Owen White entered the 5th with 73 pitches and left with 19 more and none retired. On came Alex Speas, he of the 100 MPH fastball, 90 MPH slider, and often little sense of where they’re headed. On just 12 pitches, Speas induced a sac fly and struck out two to avoid a blowup. Speas has a 16% BB/HBP rate, poor on its own but quite a bit better than his history. He’s having an impressive season, especially for coming out of retirement.

Hi-A: Hickory 9, Asheville (HOU) 12 (10)
Hickory: 15 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 23 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 15-25, 9 GB

SP Yohanse Morel: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 41 P / 23 S, 2.35 ERA
RP Florencio Serrano: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2.79 ERA
LF Geisel Cepeda: 2-5, 2B, .272/.370/.320
2B Max Acosta: 3-4, BB, SB (11), .311/.368/.455
DH Abi Ortiz: 2-5, 2 HR (3)
CF Daniel Mateo: 3-5, 2B, .262/.277/.426

Abi Ortiz homered twice and has an organization-leading ten for the season, just as we all expected. Honestly, Ortiz has some genuine power and ranked second in homers for Down East last year with 11, but I wasn’t expecting this. Down a run in the 9th, Max Acosta reached on an error and scored on Daniel Mateo’s two-out double.

Listed starter Josh Stephan did not appear.

Lo-A: Down East 0, at Carolina (MIL) 5
Down East: 2 hits, 2 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 23-18, 0.5 G up

SP Luis Ramirez: 4 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 57 P / 35 S, 3.44 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA

Down East entered the 9th without a hit, mostly because of Milwaukee’s 2022 2nd-rounder Jacob Misiorowski, who has fanned 41 in 22.2 innings. After a Yeison Morrobel walk, Danyer Cueva’s hard chopper scampered into right field for an honest single. Ian Moller then singled, and suddenly the Wood Ducks had the tying run on deck. Unfortunately, that would conclude the offense for the evening.

Nick Lockhart was Texas’s 8th-round pick in 2019 and received a high-than-average bonus of $400,000. Lockhart also pitched in Down East in 2022 and had a 4.78 ERA but a better opposing line of .214/.289/.376 plus a 30% K rate.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Dye
AA: Vanasco
Hi-A: Kindreich
Lo-A: TBD (maybe Porter)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
A Maddux from Ariel Jurado, who shut out AA Arkansas on just 86 pitches. He struck out one and generated two swinging strikes. The first five innings required just 36 pitches.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 6, at Albuquerque (COL) 10
Round Rock: 11 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 24-22, 9.5 GB

SP Robert Dugger: 5.1 IP, 7 H (2 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 94 P / 59 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Grant Anderson: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.19 ERA
SS Davis Wendzel: 3-5, 2 2B, .235/.350/.426

Following Grant Wolfram, yesterday was Taylor Hearn’s turn on Albuquerque’s Mound of Doom (0.2 IP, 7 runners, 6 runs). Even so, opponents aren’t hitting him too badly (.232/.361/.275), but that .361 OBP stands out. Hearn has walked or hit 14 batters in 18.1 innings.

Again DHing, rehabbing Mitch Garver homered, singled, and walked. LF Travis Jankowski was 0-3 with a walk. Incidentally, Brad Miller hasn’t started a game since May 9.

AA: Frisco 2, at Arkansas (SEA) 6
Frisco: 5 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 18-22, 3.5 GB

SP Ryan Garcia: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 SO, 90 P / 52 S, 6.91 ERA
1B Dustin Harris: 0-2, SB (16), .217/.358/.399

Eight strikeouts aren’t quite a career-high for Ryan Garcia, but his 90 pitches and 16 swinging strikes are.

Dustin Harris is nine shy of 2021’s 25 steals. He’s only been caught once. Luisangel Acuna is 18-for-18.

Hi-A: Hickory 4, Asheville (HOU) 2
Hickory: 8 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 15-24, 8 GB

SP Dane Acker: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 48 P / 29 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Emiliano Teodo: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Max Acosta: 3-4, .297/.353/.445
3B Keyber Rodriguez: 2-4, HR (1), .276/.325/.353

Part of the Elvis Andrus trade, Acker returned from Tommy John surgery late last year but was delayed again this season.

Also back is Emiliano Teodo, whose forearm tightness fortunately turned out to be just that. Teodo was on the Opening Day roster but IL’ed soon after.

Lo-A: Down East 5, at Carolina (MIL) 4
Down East: 11 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 23-17, 1.5 G up

SP Joseph Montalvo: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 80 P / 52 S, 2.08 ERA
C Ian Moller: 2-4, 2B, .217/.342/.337
DH Yosy Galan: 1-3, 2B, BB, .234/.336/.430
LF Jojo Blackmon: 2-4, 2B, .170/.284/.330

Josh Norris of Baseball America has some video of Joseph Montalvo, who in his last two starts has avoided the walks that plagued his early outings. Down East has allowed the league’s fewest runs.

Yeison Morrobel and Danyer Cueva singled twice.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Marvel
AA: White
Hi-A: Stephan
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Sam Huff was 2-5 with a homer for Down East.

Down East Sold, Moving
A month ago, the Rangers announced the impending sale of the Hickory Crawdads to Diamond Baseball Holdings. Yesterday, the parties consummated the sales of the the ‘Dads and Down East Wood Ducks. Soon after, a rumored relocation of the Woodies to Spartanburg, South Carolina (which I’d mentioned last week) became an actual plan. The intention is to commence play in 2025 in a stadium to be constructed on a vacant site downtown. It will, of course, be part of a multifaceted entertainment/commercial/housing complex. The ballpark would hold 3,500. Apparently, MLB has already approved the process. Unlike so many moves of yore (“South Atlantic” teams in New Jersey, western Kentucky, northern Ohio), relocation to Spartanburg doesn’t create a scheduling headache. Spartanburg could conceivably rejoin high-A, creating a rival just down the road in Greenville, and Hickory would fit comfortably in the low-A Carolina League if desired. Internally, the move benefits the Rangers as the drive between affiliations drops from four hours to 90 minutes.

The timing of the announcement surprised me but not the message itself. Nothing at all against the good folks in Kinston, but the marriage between the city and Rangers always struck me as asymmetric. Kinston was in love again after losing its team in 2011; the Rangers wanted a green card that would allow them to stay in the Carolinas. In 2015-2016, the Rangers desperately wanted out of Adelanto. Kinston had a stadium that could be brought to standards in short order. Also, Texas’s ownership of the team precluded the possibility of losing the affiliation in two years.

Both sides were happy, but unfortunately, minor league baseball in Kinston as an investment made less sense (although, admittedly, I’m not privy to the books). The city has about 20,000 residents, the county around 50,000, so the market is roughly equivalent in size to Corsicana, Texas. It isn’t near another metropolis and has steadily lost population. An effort at regional branding (“Down East”) didn’t change the number of people within driving range of the stadium and irked some locals. With a population of 38,500, Spartanburg proper isn’t what you’d call large (smaller than Hickory, in fact!), but it has recently reversed decades of decline, and the county has grown steadily to nearly 350,000. Once MLB asserted its dominance over the minor league system, the incentive for club ownership diminished, but the capital and managerial requirements intensified, thus the gobbling up of so many teams by DBH. (Incidentally, had Down East not been club-owned in 2020, I’d have placed its likelihood of contraction as virtually certain. And DBH’s broad investment and stature probably insulates it from further contraction.)

The Rangers do have a lease with Kinston through 2031. Can they break it? With the caveat that I am not a lawyer, the terms seem generous in that regard. I don’t see anything granting Kinston the power to compel the Rangers to provide a team. In case of default, Kinston can avail itself to the laws of North Carolina (not enumerated in the document) and/or terminate the lease, the latter of which simply accelerates the modest annual rental payments owed. Furthermore, invoking a low-attendance clause or provision of a replacement team could reduce default payments to zero. The apparent ease with which the Rangers can depart helps to explain why they signed such a long lease in the first place.

Kinston might be better off in the long run. In light of MLB’s new facility requirements, the City of Asheville and Buncombe County have agreed to pony up at least $30 million on renovations to historic McCormick Field. Some of that money is beyond just baseball, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Kinston’s 74-year-old Grainger Stadium is in need of renovations well beyond what the city has already undertaken. Can Kinston’s taxpayers make that kind of commitment, and even if so, should they? As for the fans who will be losing a team for the second time in 15 years, well… I don’t know. They didn’t do anything wrong and deserve better.

A Bunch Of Players, Moving
To Round Rock:
C/DH Mitch Garver and OF Travis Jankowski (rehab)
RHP Marc Church (up from Round Rock)

To Frisco:
LHP Juan Mejia (down fro Round Rock)

To Hickory:
RHP Dane Acker (off IL)
RHP Emiliano Teodo (off IL)
C Tucker Mitchell (up from Down East)
1B/OF Abimelec Ortiz (up from Down East)

To Down East:
RHP Nick Lockhart (first assignment of season)
RHP Jacob Maton (down from Hickory)
RHP Wyatt Sparks (down from Hickory)
C Konnor Piotto (down from Hickory)
IF Yenci Pena (down from Hickory)

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 4, at Albuquerque (COL) 13
Round Rock: 8 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 16 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 24-21, 9.5 GB

SP Kyle Cody: 3.1 IP, 8 H (1 HR), 6 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 54 P / 39 S, 7.84 ERA
RP Tyler Zombro: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Davis Wendzel: 2-3, HR (5), .221/.342/.405

Rehabbing Mitch Garver doubled twice in four trips to the plate as DH, and CF Travis Jankowski was 0-3.

Grant Wolfram (10 batters, 7 hits, 7 runs) joined the Express two weeks ago but discovered you haven’t really pitched in the Pacific Coast league until you’ve pitched at altitude.

Tyler Zombro made his Round Rock debut. He throws an upper-80s sinker and a slider, per Statcast.

AA: Frisco 2, at Arkansas (SEA) 1
Frisco: 4 hits, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 9 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 18-21, 3.5 GB

SP Jack Leiter: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 7 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 91 P / 44 S, 4.17 ERA
RP Nick Starr: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 6.97 ERA
RP Theo McDowell: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 3.50 ERA
RP Alex Speas: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.26 ERA
RP Antoine Kelly: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1.80 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 1-3, BB, SB (18), .309/.379/.444
2B Thomas Saggese: 1-2, 2B, BB, HBP, .299/.353/.435

Jack Leiter’s renaissance ended, if temporarily, at three games. Leiter walked the bases loaded to open the game and went 2-0 to the cleanup hitter, but the Travelers swung at the next four pitches, resulting in a sac fly and grounded double play. After a period of unsteady if acceptable control, Leiter walked three of his last five opponents before departing. This wasn’t pretty, but Leiter did at least keep the situation in hand. Hope for better next time.

Nick Starr stranded two of Leiter’s runners. He and three others combined to shut down the Travs.

Hi-A: Hickory 6, Asheville (HOU) 3
Hickory: 8 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 14-24, 9 GB

SP Winston Santos: 5.2 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 6 SO, 85 P / 49 S, 5.35 ERA
SS Max Acosta: 1-3, 2B, BB, .282/.341/.435
DH Tucker Mitchell: 1-2, 2B, BB
1B Abi Ortiz: 1-4, HR (1)

Newcomers Abimelec Ortiz and Tucker Mitchell made a splash. Winston Santos has a nice walk rate (6.6%) undermined by an otherworldly HBP rate (5.3%). He’s hit eight batters in his last six starts.

Lo-A: Down East 9, at Carolina (MIL) 5
Down East: 12 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 5 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 22-16, 0.5 G up

SP Dylan McCarty: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 77 P / 47 S, 1.54 ERA
RP Jackson Leath: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.19 ERA
CF Anthony Gutierrez: 2-5, .256/.310/.316
RF Yeison Morrobel: 2-4, BB, .250/.377/.295
2B Cam Cauley: 3-4, 2B, BB, 2 SB (10), .248/.306/.389
3B Gleider Figuereo: 3-4, HR (3), BB, .216/.331/.333

I hadn’t mentioned Anthony Gutierrez in a while. He had his first multi-hit game in almost two weeks, during which time he batted .148/.226/.185. In his second tilt at low-A pitching, Cam Cauley is walking less but hitting for better average and power.

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

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Down East’s Jonathan Hernandez struck out ten in six scoreless innings. Leody Taveras drew three walks.