Category: Daily Report

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 3, Oklahoma City (LAD) 5
Round Rock: 5 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 71-58, 2 GB

SP Cole Winn: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 86 P / 55 S, 6.24 ERA
RP Kyle Cody: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 1.69 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 5.25 ERA
DH Josh Sale: 1-3, HR (10), .239/.354/.448

Relatively speaking, Cole Winn had a decent day. The overall strike rate was a robust 64%, suggesting good control marred by occasional lapses rather than a constant struggle for location. He didn’t issue a walk after the 3rd and issued five swinging strikes with the changeup. With three or four starts remaining (assuming he’s not shut down), Winn has a chance to repeat 2019 by concluding an ugly season on an upswing.

AA: Frisco 11, at Amarillo (ARI) 8
Frisco: 10 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 32-24, 2 G up, 68-57 overall

SP Antoine Kelly: 1 IP, 1 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 46 P / 22 S, 7.53 ERA
RP Justin Slaten: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 7.36 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.76 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-2, 2 BB, HBP, .389/.522/.653
DH Justin Foscue: 2-4, 2B, BB, .288/.369/.489
1B Blaine Crim: 1-4, HR (22), BB, .291/.359/.492
LF Kellen Strahm: 1-3, 2 BB, .281/.392/.404

Entering yesterday’s 2nd inning, Antoine Kelly had walked or hit 20% of opposing hitters as a Ranger. He raised that rate to 26.5% with four walks and an HBP to begin (and, for him, conclude) that inning. Kelley has a bizarre .192/.400/.277 line in Frisco. Texas has reduced his pitch count by about one-third since the trade from Milwaukee.

Fortunately, Frisco’s offense was again up to the task, scoring seven in the 7th to erase a six-run deficit, then three more in the 8th. Blaine Crim homered six times in the series.

High-A: Hickory 2, at Aberdeen (BAL) 4
Hickory: 4 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts

Record: 27-33, eliminated, 65-61 overall
SP Dane Acker: 3.2 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 67 P / 40 S, 10.45 ERA
2B Thomas Saggese: 2-3, 2B, BB, HBP, .309/.358/.485

Evan Carter (0-3) and Thomas Saggese were activated on Sunday, for which the reward was being hit by a pitch. OF Alejandro Osuna was IL’ed, so he could return no sooner than the season finale. He batted .302/.378/.427 with nine homers and 34 steals in 97 games between Down East and Hickory.

Hickory was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.

Low-A: Down East 3, Fayetteville (HOU) 1
Down East: 3 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 31-29, eliminated, 64-62 overall

SP Aidan Curry: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 6 SO, 76 P / 38 S, 0.00 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.40 ERA
1B Abi Ortiz: 1-1, 2B, 2 BB, .228/.315/.388

Aidan’s Curry’s full-season debut was effective if not uniformly attractive. Curry struck out six of 15 batters but also walked five and reached three-ball counts to three others. Listed at 6’6″ and 195 pounds, the 20-year-old signed as a free agent in 2020 out of the Bronx’s Fordham Preparatory School.

Down East was eliminated from the division race despite the win.

Today’s Starters
AAA: off
AA: off
Hi-A: off
Lo-A: off

Five Years Ago Yesterday
The regular season ended. All four full-season teams finished under .500 and with their worst records in at least eight years, often longer, and the overall record of 252-305 was the worst since 2006. The news wasn’t all bad. Despite a 62-77 overall record, high-A Down East stole the second-half division title with a 10-3 win over Buies Creek, making up a 7.5-game deficit in 15 days. As the second half transpired, prospect progression and additions had transformed the Wood Ducks into an adequate offensive club with outstanding pitching, especially in relief.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, Oklahoma City (LAD) 7 (11)
Round Rock: 9 hits, 12 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 3 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 71-57, 1 GB

SP Kolby Allard: 6 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 2 R, 0 BB, 9 SO, 96 P / 62 S, 4.81 ERA
CF Josh Smith: 1-4, 2 BB, .291/.399/.474
C Sam Huff: 3-6, HR (21), .260/.336/.533
SS Davis Wendzel: 1-4, 2 BB, .212/.295/.400

The Express are their closest to first in nearly three months and can grab a tie for the division lead with a win today. Round Rock scored three in the 9th to extend the contest, then plated two off ex-Ranger Keone Kela in the 10th. OKC was generous in the 11th, bumbling a Matt Whatley bunt and then arguably misplaying what was ruled (fairly, in my opinion) a single by Sam Huff that plated the gift runner and pushed Whatley to third. Whatley then scored on a Davis Wendzel grounder.

Update: Just as I was to hit “send,” the Rangers announced they’d designated Keuchel for assignment and recalled John King. I’d named King and Nick Solak as Texas’s possible call-ups on last week’s podcast, so I win the prize. (The prize is nothing.)

Josh Jung was 1-6 with four strikeouts and has nine Ks in his last 13 trips to the plate.

AA: Frisco 8, at Amarillo (ARI) 7
Frisco: 9 hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 31-24, 2 G up, 67-57 overall

SP Avery Weems: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 68 P / 41 S, 5.22 ERA
RP Nick Starr: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1.95 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-3, 2 BB, .386/.506/.657
1B Blaine Crim: 2-5, HR (21), .291/.358/.487
CF Kellen Strahm: 2-4, BB, .280/.389/.404

Frisco scored five in the 8th on two singles and some chaotic pitching and fielding by the hosts. Crim is batting .542 with two doubles and five homers in the series against Arizona’s AA affiliate. If he homers again today, Texas might be able to trade him for Jordan Lawlar or Corbin Carroll. The Rangers can generously offer both names and let the Diamondbacks choose.

Nick Starr tossed a 1-2-3 9th punctuated by Kellen Strahm’s lunging catch to prevent a double.

High-A: Hickory 4, at Aberdeen (BAL) 1
Hickory: 6 hits, 5 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 1 walk, 14 strikeouts
Record: 27-32, 8 GB, 65-60 overall

SP Ryan Garcia: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 SO, 76 P / 49 S, 0.00 ERA
RP John Matthews: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 4.42 ERA
RP Michael Brewer: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 4.24 ERA
CF Daniel Mateo: 2-5, 3B, .348/.423/.565
LF Josh Hatcher: 1-2, 2 BB, 2 SB (2), .241/.333/.310

In his high-A debut, Ryan Garcia struck out a career-best nine and declined to permit a run for the second straight start. I vaguely recall Garcia touching 94 at some point, but from what I’ve seen, his fastball has generally been in the low-90s range of his college years. Nevertheless, his first venture into full-season ball has been encouraging: 68 strikeouts and 18 walks in 51.2 innings, and a 2.13 ERA.

Low-A: Down East 0, Fayetteville (HOU) 7
Down East: 5 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 30-29, 7.5 GB, 63-62 overall

SP Josh Gessner: 4 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 4 R, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 4 SO, 78 P / 49 S, 5.49 ERA
RP Adrian Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 2.70 ERA
LF Yeison Morrobel: 2-3, .353/.450/.412

A quiet affair. Down East couldn’t muster an extra-base hit and batted only three times with a runner in scoring position. DH Ian Moller and CF Marcus Smith walked twice. They and Trevor Hauver have more walks than hits in 2022.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Winn
AA: Kelly
Hi-A: TBD (Acker)
Lo-A: TBD

Five Years Ago Yesterday
The rookies won their one-game quarterfinal 4-3 over the Mariners, aided by Seth Nordlin’s four scoreless and six strikeouts. Short-season Spokane claimed the second-half division title with an extra-inning win over the M’s. Joe Barlow threw three scoreless innings and fanned five. High-A Down East set up a final-day showdown for the division by defeating Buies Creek 7-3. Starter Kyle Cody allowed a run in six innings. Low-A Hickory was eliminated with a 3-1 loss.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 3, Oklahoma City (LAD) 2
Round Rock: 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 70-57, 2 GB

SP Zak Kent: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 68 P / 38 S, 1.59 ERA
RP James Jones: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 7.00 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 5.91 ERA
SS Davis Wendzel: 1-4, HR (13), .212/.290/.402

Zak Kent pitched well in his AAA debut. Jacob Amaya’s triple in the 5th busted the no-hitter, and Amaya scored on a comebacker through Kent’s legs and off second base (the bag, not the player). Kent registered only four swinging strikes, and his strike rate was only 56%, but he walked only one and seemed in control until late when the three-ball counts increased.

Kent threw both a two-seamer and four-seamer in the 91-95 range. The four-seamer has little run and actually cuts some of the time. He doesn’t lose any velocity with the “sinker,” which barely drops more than the ordinary fastball but acquires much more run. Augmenting those are an 82-85 slider, upper-70s curve and mid-80s change. The slider is often an out pitch, but last night’s version was relatively tepid. What worked better was the change, despite a a lower strike rate with it. It often has screwball-like run, and he would throw it inside to lefties and have it run back over the plate for a call or miss. Kent wasn’t overpowering, but he has several pitches with impressive movement, and he was able to harness that movement to obtain a bunch of low and/or weakly hit contact.

Nick Snyder pitched on just one day of rest for the first time since a mid-June game at Tacoma that required a month off. His velocity was fine but he allowed a game-tying homer. Davis Wendzel promptly untied it and walked off victorious by leading off the 9th with his own homer.

Josh Jung was 0-4 with two strikeouts.

AA: Frisco 21, at Amarillo (ARI) 2
Frisco: 23 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 0 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 30-24, 1 G up, 66-57 overall

SP Mason Englert: 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 SO, 79 P / 56 S, 1.80 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 2-6, HR (14), .294/.351/.426
DH Aaron Zavala: 3-4, 2 2B, HR (4), 2 BB, .388/.500/.672
3B Justin Foscue: 3-6, 2 HR (14), .289/.369/.492
1B Blaine Crim: 5-6, 2 2B, HR (20), .290/.358/.481
RF Kellen Strahm: 4-6, 2B, .277/.387/.403
LF Trevor Hauver: 1-3, HR (3), 2 BB, .200/.370/.514
CF Josh Stowers: 3-6, HR (8), .222/.331/.365
C Scott Kapers: 2-5, 2B, HR (1), .200/.304/.325

In the first five innings , Jonathan Ornelas, Aaron Zavala, and Justin Foscue came to the plate five times. Frisco sent 41 up men in that span, concluding with an 11-run 5th to take a 19-1 lead. Hauver’s homer, which gave Frisco eight on the night, came off ex-Rangers IF Ti’Quan Forbes.

Meanwhile, making his AA debut in that hitter-friendly environment, Mason Englert calmly quieted the Poodles for five innings.

High-A: Hickory 9, at Aberdeen (BAL) 2
Hickory: 8 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 2 walks, 16 strikeouts
Record: 26-32, 9 GB, 64-60 overall

SP Ricky Vanasco: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 9 SO, 85 P / 54 S, 4.48 ERA
RP Theo McDowell: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 2.79 ERA
2B Griffin Cheney: 1-2, 2 BB, .063/.286/.063

An oddly muted statistical record for a nine-run night. Liam Hicks, Chris Seise, Cody Freeman, Keyber Rodriguez, and Yenci Pena all reached twice by some combination of singles and walks. LF Josh Hatcher (1-5) had the only extra-base hit. Ricky Vanasco reached nine (or more) strikeouts for the third time this year.

Low-A: Down East 5, Fayetteville (HOU) 1
Down East: 7 hits, 6 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Record: 30-28, 6.5 GB, 63-61 overall

SP Gavin Collyer: 6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 79 P / 48 S, 4.63 ERA
RP Florencio Serrano: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SO, 2.53 ERA
CF Marcus Smith: 2-3, 3 SB (45), .180/.331/.264
SS Cam Cauley: 1-3, BB, SB (37), .213/.314/.292
RF Yeison Morrobel: 2-3, 2B, BB

With six steals last night, Down East reached 295, surpassing last year’s 290. Up next: the all-time modern low-A record of 299 set by the 1991 Beloit Brewers.

Down East lacks a no-hitter like Hickory but has six games with just one or two allowed, plus 12 shutouts and 14 one-run games.

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

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Down East split the make-up doubleheader with Buies Creek, requiring the Woodies to win both of the last two games to win the division. Hickory also split a twin bill and needed to win both remaining games and have West Virginia lose one. Spokane’s 3-2 win over Everett meant a win or Vancouver loss on the season’s final day would be enough to advance to the postseason. And the baby Rangers clinched the second-half division title earlier in the day when the Padres lost.

Free Baseball
Last night’s Hickory-Aberdeen tilt was the MiLB.tv “free game of the day.” I don’t think I knew such a thing existed, or I would have mentioned it as a way for non-subscribers to take an occasional peek at Texas’s farm system. You didn’t miss much, as Aberdeen’s setup consists of three static, press-level cameras. Luckily, tonight’s free game is Frisco at Amarillo, which produces a top-notch feed. If interested, here’s the link to today’s games including Frisco. MiLB.com might make you create an account.

Grinders
You probably know of Mike Capps, the voice of the Express in all their incarnations over the past 23 years. Capps and co-author Chuck Hartenstein have transformed their decades inside the game into Grinders: Baseball’s Intrepid Infantry. If you’re a serious fan of the game, you already know what a Grinder is, so no need to explain that. Capps and Hartenstein profiled over three dozen players and others who’ve made their lives in baseball, including several associated with the Rangers like Tom House, Darren Oliver, Chris Gimenez, Jeff Frye, Jim Adducci, Spencer Patton, and Jared Hoying. The link will give you a chance to see the intro and opening chapter.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, Oklahoma City (LAD) 0 (6)
Round Rock: 2 hits, 1 walk, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 69-57, 3 GB

SP Tyson Miller: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 100 P / 69 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.48 ERA
LF Sandro Fabian: 1-2, HR (4), .220/.278/.500

Josh Jung was hitless with three strikeouts. 2020 29th-overall pick Bobby Miller went the abbreviated distance and fanned 14 for the Dodgers. He’s MLB.com’s #27 prospect. 97-99 FB, upper-80s SL and CH, 79-83 CB.

AA: Frisco 4, at Amarillo (ARI) 7
Frisco: 8 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Record: 29-24, 1 G up, 65-57 overall

SP Cody Bradford: 5.2 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 5 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 86 P / 60 S, 5.30 ERA
1B Blaine Crim: 2-3, HR (19), BB, .282/.352/.464

Cody Bradford walked just one and allowed a not-unreasonable six hits, but four were for extra bases. LF Trevor Hauver (1-3, BB) contributed Frisco’s only XBH aside from the Crim homer.

High-A: Hickory 3, at Aberdeen (BAL) 4
Hickory: 3 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 25-32, 10 GB, 63-60 overall

SP TK Roby: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 76 P / 49 S, 4.88 ERA
CF Daniel Mateo: 1-3, BB, SB (1)

I should mention it’s Penultimate Week for the A-level teams. The season ends on the 11th, so every starter  is making his next-to-last start. Roby’s was okay. He avoided homers, which are statistically his biggest problem in 2022 (roughly one per five innings). He’s struck out 114 against just 34 walks in 99.2 innings.

Low-A: Down East 4, Fayetteville (HOU) 7
Down East: 10 hits, 2 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 9 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 29-28, 7.5 GB, 62-61 overall

SP Emiliano Teodo: 3.2 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 2 R, 4 BB, 5 SO, 76 P / 42 S, 3.05 ERA
3B Miguel Villarroel: 2-4, 2 2B, .336/.414/.416

Emiliano Teodo threw more strikes but was nevertheless more walk-prone than last week’s four-inning, 11-K night.

I mentioned yesterday that 1B/C Liam Hicks had been slumming in rookie ball and had amassed 26 walks versus just 11 strikeouts in low-A. Later that day, word came he’d been promoted to Hickory.

Today’s Starters
AAA: TBD (maybe Kent)
AA: Englert
Hi-A: TBD (maybe Vanasco)
Lo-A: TBD (Collyer)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Spokane held a one-game led with two to play after losing in extras despite eight innings of two-run ball from Demarcus Evans. Rain postponded the opener of Down East’s deciding four-game series with Buies Creek. The Woodies needed to win three of four to nab the division title.

The Rangers have recalled IF/OF Nick Solak and purchased the contract of RHP Jesus Tinoco from Round Rock. My half-apologetic roster expansion predictions during yesterday’s podcast were Solak and John King. Can’t believe The Ticket hasn’t offered me a drive-time slot with these hot takes.
Reliever Josh Sborz (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Tinoco.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 7, Oklahoma City (LAD) 6
Round Rock: 9 hits, 7 walks, 14 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 6 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 68-57, 4 GB

SP Yerry Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO, 40 P / 25 S, 4.76 ERA
RP Kyle Cody: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 2.08 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 5.73 ERA
RP Nick Snyder: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.35 ERA
CF Josh Smith: 1-3, 2 BB, .291/.398/.481
3B Josh Jung: 2-5, .311/.363/.635
LF Nick Solak: 2-4, 2 2B, BB, .278/.371/.489

Down a run in the 8th, pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo doubled home Sandro Fabian and chugged to third when ex-Ranger LF Jason Martin played footsie with the ball. Josh Smith singled to right to bring Pozo in. Nick Snyder fanned the side in order in the 9th.

The Express have used 13 pitchers the last two nights; none has thrown more than Grant Anderson’s 46 pitches on Tuesday.

Josh Jung continues to hit. In Round Rock, for the time being.

The Angels designated OF Steven Duggar for assignment. Duggar had been claimed by Los Angeles from the Rangers in early August, leaving Texas no return from the Willie Calhoun trade. (To be honest, I thought Calhoun might be traded for a marginal prospect or simply released, so getting someone who’d had some success in MLB exceeded my expectations.) Calhoun is hitting well for AAA Sacramento (.290/.388/.456) but hasn’t received a shot with the parent Giants even as their fortunes have dwindled.

AA: Frisco 16, at Amarillo (ARI) 10
Frisco: 17 hits, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 29-23, 1 G up, 65-56 overall

SP Tim Brennan: 5 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 2 SO, 71 P / 47 S, 2.94 ERA
RP Triston Polley: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 3.16 ERA
3B Jonathan Ornelas: 3-5, BB, 2 SB (12), .295/.353/.423
RF Aaron Zavala: 2-5, HR (3), BB, SB (3), .397/.507/.638
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, HR (12), 2 BB, .283/.365/.474
1B Blaine Crim: 3-6, 2 HR (18), .279/.349/.456
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, HR (3), .247/.314/.441
DH Trevor Hauver: 1-3, HR (2), 2 BB, .172/.333/.414

In the 4th, Frisco hit four homers in a span of five batters. The intervening nonconformist was Justin Foscue, who had the gall to draw a four-pitch walk. Foscue would redeem himself for that misdeed with his own homer in the 9th. Even with that 4th-inning outburst, the Riders found themselves down 8-7 in the 7th, but they then pinned three threes to the board. Amarillo is no less crazypants for offense that the mountain-area Pacific Coast League cities.

Trevor Hauver is off to a Hickory-like start in AA: five hits, seven walks. Luisangel Acuna’s batting average has dropped 70 points compared to his time in Hickory, but he’s hitting for more power.

Frisco leads the division outright for the first time during the second half.

High-A: Hickory 1, at Aberdeen (BAL) 0 (7)
Hickory: 3 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 1 hit, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts

SP Josh Stephan: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 86 P / 55 S, 1.54 ERA
RP John Matthews: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.48 ERA
RF Angel Aponte: 1-2, HR (6), BB, .256/.343/.392
SS Chris Seise: 1-2, BB, SB (12), .259/.329/.408No no-hit drama, as Josh Stephan surrendered a single in the 4th, but drama nonetheless as the Crawdads maintained a one-run lead for six innings.

High-A: Hickory 5, at Aberdeen (BAL) 8 (7)
Hickory: 5 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 25-31, 10 GB, 63-59 overall

SP Robby Ahlstrom: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 30 P / 20 S, 5.74 ERA
RP Larson Kindreich: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 4.68 ERA
RP Spencer Mraz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 5.43 ERA
CF Daniel Mateo: 2-3, HR (1), BB
LF Josh Hatcher: 2-3, 2B, .227/.292/.273

Stephan’s six earlier innings came in extra-handy when Robby Ahlstrom couldn’t escape the 1st.

Low-A: Down East 0, Fayetteville (HOU) 6
Down East: 6 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 29-27, 6.5 GB, 62-60 overall

SP Winston Santos: 5 IP, 4 H (1 HR), 4 R, 2 BB, 8 SO, 84 P / 57 S, 3.66 ERA
RP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.12 ERA
1B Liam Hicks: 1-2, 2 BB, .273/.433/.409
DH Gleider Figuereo: 2-4

Liam Hicks has 26 walks and 11 strikeouts. Take that, Aaron Zavala. I don’t know much about Hicks aside from having expressed the opinion that he needed a low-A roster spot as soon as one became available, because he seemed far too advanced for the rookie league. Hicks, 23, was Texas’s ninth-round pick last year.

18 as of June, IF Gleider Figuereo singled twice in his low-A debut.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Miller
AA: Bradford
Hi-A: TBD (Englert’s turn but he’s gone)
Lo-A: TBD (Teodo)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Steven Bruce and Scott Williams combined for 12 scoreless innings in Down East’s 1-0 defeat of Wilmington to pull to 1.5 games behind Buies Creek.

New podcast! Links in signature.

Promotions (all up one spot):
RHP Zak Kent to AAA
RHP Mason Englert to AA
RHP Ryan Garcia to high-A
RHP Aidan Curry to low-AIF Gleider Figureo to low-AAnd returning to levels where they’ve played previously are catcher Efrenyer Narvaez to low-A and RHP Seth Nordlin to AAA.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, Oklahoma City (LAD) 17
Round Rock: 11 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 17 hits, 7 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 67-57, 5 GB

SP Cole Winn: 0.2 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 6 R, 3 BB, 1 SO, 37 P / 16 S, 6.20 ERA
RP James Jones: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 8.22 ERA
CF Josh Smith: 2-3, HR (6), 2 BB, .291/.393/.483
3B Josh Jung: 2-5, 2B, .304/.360/.652
SS Davis Wendzel: 2-4, HR (12), .213/.293/.396

I feel terrible for Winn. All I can say at this point is he’s been here before and worked his way out. Statistically, his first 14 starts of 2019 and most recent 19 of 2022 are remarkably similar.

In a call-back to his Texas Tech days, Josh Jung hit everything to the opposite field. Jung also took a called strike three in the 1st that I’m 90% sure the robo-ump would have registered as a ball, but the computers have been temporarily ignored in favor of a challenge system (which I think is dumb and convoluted, but whatever). The Express declined to challenge, probably because they were down 6-0 with two outs and none on. A reversed call would have kept Jung at the plate with a 3-2 count.

Smith has continued his torrid hitting outside of Albuquerque. The homer was propelled buy his third-highest exit velocity in AAA, 104.7 MPH.

AA: Frisco 4, at Amarillo (ARI) 5
Frisco: 8 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 28-23, tied for first, 64-56 overall

SP Jack Leiter: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 91 P / 54 S, 5.25 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 1-4, HR (11), .281/.361/.465
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, 2B, .241/.313/.414

I didn’t see any of Leiter’s performance since I was occupied with a the run-fest in Round Rock, but my understanding he pitched to recent form: well for the most part with some late trouble. He left a duck-filled pond for Josh Smith with none out in the 6th. Smith escaped with just a sac fly.

Justin Foscue homered for the first time in 15 games.

High-A: wet

Two today.

Low-A: Down East 10, Fayetteville (HOU) 4
Down East: 11 hits, 10 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 29-26, 5.5 GB, 62-59 overall

SP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 81 P / 55 S, 2.24 ERA
RP Adrian Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 3.38 ERA
SS Maximo Acosta: 2-4, BB, SB (40), .267/.347/.369
1B Liam Hicks: 2-3, 2B, BB, .267/.422/.407
LF Yosy Galan: 2-4, HR (18), BB, SB (16), .213/.303/.436
3B Miguel Villarroel: 1-3, 2 BB, SB (4), .330/.411/.394
DH Yeison Morrobel: 1-3, 2 BB, SB (1)

Fayetteville’s in town, meaning plenty of free and stolen bases. The Woodpeckers are worst in the league at preventing both. Yosy Galan has a chance at a 20/20 season. Mitch Bratt’s season-long opposition line is .205/.279/.290. In eight of 18 starts, he hasn’t allowed an extra-base hit.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Y. Rodriguez
AA: Brennan
Hi-A: Stephan / TBD (Ahlstrom)
Lo-A: TBD (Santos)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
“Unfortunately, Texas can’t go into the offseason assuming  [Yohander] Mendez (or Ariel Jurado, who has one more start) will be part of the MLB rotation next April. The Rangers have some holes to fill.” Indeed. Texas would sign or trade for Mike Minor, Bartolo Colon, Yovanni Gallardo, Matt Moore, and Doug Fister during the offseason and early into 2018.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 12, at Albuquerque (COL) 3
Round Rock: 13 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 67-56, 4 GB

SP Kolby Allard: 6 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 2 BB, 7 SO, 79 P / 52 S, 4.99 ERA
CF Josh Smith: 1-3, BB, HBP, .285/.385/.465
LF Nick Solak: 2-5, 2B, HR (9), .276/.369/.472
1B Dio Arias: 3-4, HR (5), BB, .299/.378/.448

The Express outscored the ‘Topes 58-24 while taking the last five games of the series. Kolby Allard drew the very short straw of having to start two games in the thin air, but he made the best of his second showing.

Josh Jung was 1-4 and a decidedly muted presence in the series: 3-23 with a homer, a walk, and four strikeouts. Good as he’s been overall, his stats reveal some flaws. Since walking twice in his opening AAA game, he’s drawn only two over the next 60 plate appearances. His swinging strike rate against fastballs is 20%, double the team average. Small samples, of course, but worth keeping an eye on, whether in AAA or MLB.

Reliever Tyler Duffey (ex-Twins) quickly opted out of his contract with the Rangers and became a free agent. Texas promoted reliever Grant Anderson to AAA.

AA: Frisco 4, Wichita (MIN) 3
Frisco: 12 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 28-22, tied for first, 64-55 overall

SP Antoine Kelly: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 70 P / 37 S, 4.06 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 1-3, 2 BB, .294/.352/.425
RF Aaron Zavala: 3-5, .408/.525/.633
3B Frainyer Chavez: 3-4

Frisco won four one-run games in the series, three on walk-offs, two of those by Aaron Zavala, who singled in the winner. With second base occupied and first open with one out, Wichita walked Jonathan Ornelas to face Zavala. That sounds ridiculous at first glance (no offense to Ornelas), but Wichita had a lefty on the mound, and Ornelas has been destroying them (.385/.464/.573) as Zavala has relatively struggled (.200/.319/.313). Intentional walks are rare in AA. Mostly, pitchers are going after whoever’s at the plate without much concern for matchups.

Three weeks remain. Midland has the advantage of playing two of those weeks at home versus just one for the Riders, but the schedule might still favor Frisco, which concludes the season by traveling to the worst team in the league (NW Arkansas) while Midland hosts the best (Wichita). The tiebreaker is head-to-head but doesn’t specify whether that applies to the half-season or whole. I assume the half, which would favor Midland by virtue of winning four of six at Frisco in mid-July.

A sprained wrist has ended Dustin Harris’s season. Harris batted .257/.346/.471 with 17 homers and 19 steals in 85 games. Harris hasn’t played since August 6.

IF Frainyer Chavez moved up from Hickory.

High-A: Hickory 7, at Hudson Valley (NYY) 9
Hickory: 12 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 24-30, 10 GB, 62-58 overall

SP Dane Acker: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 2 SO, 60 P / 33 S, 12.15 ERA
RP Nick Krauth: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.08 ERA
CF Daniel Mateo: 3-4, BB
SS Chris Seise: 2-5, 2 2B, .257/.326/.408
LF Josh Hatcher: 2-4, BB, .176/.263/.176

Coming back from TJ surgery, Dane Acker threw strikes in his earliest rookie-league outings but has found them increasingly hard to come by lately. Not anything to worry about at this time, I would think.

OF Evan Carter was IL’ed with a knee bruise. No word that he’s out for the duration like Harris, but with only two weeks remaining, any extra cautiousness on Texas’s part could mean he’s done. Texas bumped outfielders Daniel Mateo and Zion Bannister up from Down East.

Low-A: Down East 6, at Fredericksburg (WAS) 0
Down East: 9 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 1 hit, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Record: 28-26, 5.5 GB, 61-59 overall

SP Ryan Garcia: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 72 P / 49 S, 2.31 ERA
RP Florencio Serrano: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2.95 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 4.68 ERA
LF Yosy Galan: 1-3, 2B, BB, .210/.298/.426
CF JoJo Blackmon: 2-4, HR (1), .214/.267/.464

Ryan Garcia exited without a baserunner to his record. Florencio Serrano would lose the perfect game bid immediately with a leadoff walk. In the 7th, a medium-soft grounder hopped by 2B Danyer Cueva on the outfield fringe for Fredericksburg’s only hit.

Cueva (0-4) was making his full-season debut along with OF Yeison Morrobel (1-4, two-run single).

Today’s Starters
off

Five Years Ago Yesterday
I skipped a game that deserves a mention. On August 22, 2017, I was in San Antonio on business and hung around to catch the night’s game versus Frisco. Making his AA debut: Fernando Tatis Jr. Also in the lineup: Luis Urias, Josh Naylor, Franmil Reyes, Ty France. Facing them: soft=tossing 2015 23rd-rounder Tyler Davis, who carried a 3.12 ERA into the game but had fanned only 32 in 57.2 innings. Davis threw a changeup but rarely to righties, making him virtually a two-pitch guy (88-91 FB, 80 SL) against a righty-heavy lineup.

Davis threw a complete-game shutout on 97 pitches, allowing three singles, no walks, and no runners beyond first base. The Frisco offense ran Jacob Nix out of town in the 1st, scoring all nine runs.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 18, at Albuquerque (COL) 7
Round Rock: 21 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 66-56, 4 GB

SP AJ Alexy: 3 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 40 P / 27 S, 6.16 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 6.16 ERA
LF Josh Smith: 4-6, 3 2B, 3B, .284/.380/.467
C Sam Huff: 3-6, 2 HR (20), .261/.339/.539
DH Josh Sale: 2-5, 2B, HR (9), .249/.360/.455
3B Davis Wendzel: 2-4, 2B, HR (11), BB, .212/.293/.389

The Express slugged a softball-esque .978 last night. Six singles, ten doubles, a triple, four homers. The ten doubles might be the most as a Texas affiliate, but the Express tallied 11 in 2019 during their one-year return to the Astros.

Josh Smith has five doubles, a triple, and homer in his last two nights. As I mentioned yesterday, yes, it’s Albuquerque, but he’s hitting the ball with purpose. Okay, one double was a 69 MPH flare.

One of Sam Huff’s homers might have been aided by the location. He hit a ball 90.9 off the bat at 37 degrees that squeaked just inside the right foul pole. From 2019-present in MLB, 83 batters have launched a ball at that speed/angle. Only one cleared the fence, and only four traveled farther than his 351 feet. Huff’s other blast was typical: 102 MPH, 35 degrees, 410 feet.

AJ Alexy surrendered a solo homer to 2019 1st-rounder Michael Toglia and nothing else. Toglia later homered off Fernery Ozuna and Yerry Rodriguez.

Josh Jung had the night off.

AA: Frisco 6, Wichita (MIN) 8
Frisco: 14 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 27-22, 1 GB, 63-55 overall

SP Avery Weems: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 50 P / 34 S, 5.29 ERA
2B Justin Foscue: 2-4, HBP, .281/.362/.459
1B Blaine Crim: 3-4, 2B, BB, .277/.348/.444
SS Luisangel Acuna: 3-5, .228/.307/.380
C David Garcia: 3-4, .220/.293/.345

Frisco’s share of the division lead lasted a day. After two brisk innings, Avery Weems couldn’t get anyone out, eventually allowing a season-high six runs (four earned).

I realized that I’d stopped mentioning Justin Foscue. As in 2021, his ultra-hot streak has been followed by crickets. He’s hitting .220/.286/.260 in his last 13 games, hardly ever striking out but just not causing much damage.

High-A: Hickory 1, at Hudson Valley (NYY) 15
Hickory: 2 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 24 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 24-29, 10 GB, 62-57 overall

SP Ricky Vanasco: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 90 P / 56 S, 4.65 ERA

A day after Down East’s 23-8 loss at Fredericksburg, Hickory suffered the same fate, allowing 14 runs across innings 6-8. Hopefully, this type of blowout won’t make its way up to Frisco today.

Low-A: Down East 4, at Fredericksburg (WAS) 6
Down East: 4 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 27-26, 6.5 GB, 60-59 overall

SP Josh Gessner: 4 IP, 7 H (1 HR), 5 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 73 P / 40 S, 5.11 ERA
RP Damian Mendoza: 2.2 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 1 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 2.03 ERA
RP Alberto Mota: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 2.57 ERA
1B Liam Hicks: 1-3, 2B, BB, .244/.415/.385

I’d never say never, especially in light of Down East’s astonishing 2017 division title run occasionally appearing in the “five years ago” segments, but the likelihood of recovering 6.5 games in a span of 13 seems remote. Maintaining a record above .500 might be the better goal.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Allard
AA: Kelly
Hi-A: TBD (Acker)
Lo-A: TBD (Garcia)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
With a 5-0 loss at Nashville, Round Rock concluded the road schedule with a league-worst 23-45 record. The Express returned to a stadium damaged enough by Harvey to cancel that night’s contest. Visiting Colorado Springs was forced to fly to Dallas and charter a bus down I-35. Frisco was safe in Midland.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 10, at Albuquerque (COL) 5
Round Rock: 10 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 65-56, 4 GB

SP Tyson Miller: 5 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 2 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 69 P / 48 S, 4.80 ERA
CF Josh Smith: 3-4, 2 2B, HR (5), BB, SB (9), .272/.372/.435
SS Davis Wendzel: 2-4, HR (10), .207/.287/.369

No lead is safe in Albuquerque, but Davis Wendzel provided comfort if not certainty with his 8th-inning grand slam that pushed the lead to six. Josh Smith’s maximum MLB exit velocity of 104 ranks at only the 16th percentile, but last night he hit four balls in the solid 94-102 range, which is what he does when he’s on his game.

AA: Frisco 2, Wichita (MIN) 1
Frisco: 2 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 27-21, tied for first, 63-54 overall

SP Zak Kent: 7 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 93 P / 59 S, 4.58 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.75 ERA
RP Grant Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 2.80 ERA

Like Cody Bradford, Zak Kent began the year worryingly poorly but has pitched much better since June:

April-May: 15% BB rate, 18% SO
June-August: 5% BB, 29% SO

He’s yet another player I don’t think will be added to the 40, but I am at least thinking about him. Having these tough and risky upcoming decisions is good. You want a system in which your ninth or and tenth-best 40/R5 prospects are being eyed by the competition.

The “1981 was 31 years ago” thing was a joke. Or an attempt at one. Getting old is funny, ha ha.

High-A: Hickory 4, at Hudson Valley (NYY) 5
Hickory: 10 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts
Record: 24-28, 10 GB, 62-56 overall

SP TK Roby: 5 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 4 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 7 SO, 71 P / 49 S, 4.93 ERA
RP Spencer Mraz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 5.65 ERA
2B Keyber Rodriguez: 2-2, 2 BB, .251/.318/.326

Roby’s stats don’t betray any sign of exhaustion, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s feeling a touch weary at 95 innings compared to 2021’s injury-shortened 22 and 2020’s covid-shortened zero. The Rangers are continuing to let him pitch, but he’s tapered down to 70-79 pitches lately instead of the 90+ he threw in June.

Low-A: Down East 8, at Fredericksburg (WAS) 23
Down East: 13 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 20 hits, 9 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 27-25, 5.5 GB, 60-58 overall

SP Gavin Collyer: 5 IP, 9 H (2 HR), 8 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 79 P / 57 S, 4.83 ERA
SS Cam Cauley: 3-5, 2 2B, SB (34), .215/.317/.300
CF Marcus Smith: 2-4, SB (40), .178/.332/.267

Yipes. Down East trailed 7-0 after the 2nd but clawed back to 9-8 at the stretch. Then the Nats batted 18 and scored 13. C/1B Liam Hicks pitched a one-run 8th.

Organization SB leaders:
56, Bubba Thompson (includes 7 in MLB)
42, Daniel Mateo
40, Marcus Smith
39, Maximo Acosta
34, Luisangel Acuna, Cam Cauley, Alejandro Osuna, JP Martinez

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

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas designated Tanner Scheppers for assignment. I described LHP Brett Martin as a tough 40 decision after his seven-inning, two-run outing for high-A Down East. (In November, I gave him a cautious thumbs-up, and he was indeed added.) Down East still trailed by 3.5 games with eight to play. As Hurricane Harvey ravaged Texas, my “five years ago” note mentioned Round Rock hosting a series scheduled for New Orleans because of Hurricane Issac.

A new Diamond Pod is ready for your scrumptious ears. Leiter, Jung, Zavala, Teodo, Lowe, much more. Link in signature. Late news: LHP Cole Ragans was IL’ed with a calf strain. The Rangers will play short tonight, and Dallas Keuchel will start tomorrow.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 9, at Albuquerque (COL) 4
Round Rock: 13 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 5 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 64-56, 4 GB

SP Kyle Cody: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 46 P / 26 S, 2.70 ERA
RP Ryder Ryan: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 3.10 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 5.40 ERA
1B Yohel Pozo: 2-4, HR (6), .351/.388/.532
C Sam Huff: 3-5, HR (18), .254/.335/.509

Kyle Cody threw more sliders than fastballs, and all seven of his swinging strikes were on that pitch.

Josh Jung (1-5) hit a ball 102 MPH off the bat at a 32 degree angle for a distance of 424 feet. Result: single? Dead center is only 400 feet, but Jung’s blast landed in an exceptionally deep portion of the park akin to the Fenway triangle, and a hesitant Elier Hernandez was thrown out running from first to third, so Jung was credited with a single despite reaching second.

AA: Frisco 2, Wichita (MIN) 1 (10)
Frisco: 4 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 26-21, 1 GB, 62-54 overall

SP Cody Bradford: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 SO, 88 P / 60 S, 5.15 ERA
RP Tim Brennan: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 2.76 ERA
DH Aaron Zavala: 1-2, BB, 2 HBP, .385/.529/.667
CF Kellen Strahm: 2-4, .274/.391/.404

Aaron Zavala cooked up some tasty shrimp, drawing a seven-pitch bases-loaded walk-off walk in the 10th.

Since a one-inning breath-catcher at the end of May, Bradford has mostly resembled his 2021 version, posting a 3.48 ERA with 16 walks and 75 strikeouts in 67.1 innings.

Currently, Frisco is the ’81 Reds, leading the division in wins but lagging in the second-half division race after falling just shy in the first half.

1981 was 31 years ago, and I will not brook any dissent.

High-A: Hickory 3, at Hudson Valley (NYY) 6
Hickory: 8 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 24-27, 9 GB, 62-55 overall

SP Mason Englert: 4.2 IP, 5 H (2 HR), 4 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 86 P / 55 S, 3.57 ERA
RP Deston Dotson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.76 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 3-4, SB (8), .237/.324/.387

Englert’s five-start stretch of Hershiserian dominance concluded with a mild thud. With 55 pitches after four innings, at least one more seemed assured, but 31 pitches to record two outs cut his night short. For you Athletic subscribers, Jamey Newberg has featured him in a 40-man conundrum article. I’m inclined to say he won’t be added, not as a criticism of his performance but as to where he stands on the development track.

Low-A: Down East 6, at Fredericksburg (WAS) 2
Down East: 8 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 6 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 27-24, 4.5 GB, 60-57 overall

SP Emiliano Teodo: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 11 SO, 73 P / 37 S, 2.46 ERA
RP Jose Corniell: 4 IP, 2 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.13 ERA
CF Daniel Mateo: 2-4, HR (11), HBP, SB (42), .274/.318/.415
SS Cam Cauley: 2-4, 2B, 2 BB, 2 SB (33), .207/.312/.285
1B Abi Ortiz: 1-2, HR (11), BB, SB (5), .226/.309/.387

My lack of observations of Emiliano Teodo was an ongoing embarrassment, so I paid more attention last night and was rewarded handsomely.

Signed for $10,000 in January 2020, a relatively slow month for international activity, Teodo drew attention for his triple-digit fastball and high-spin curve during rookie ball in 2021. Last night, the fastball ranged from 97 to 102. Control was poor, but nobody was hitting it. Notably, that was conspicuously not his best offering. The curve ranged from 84 to 91 — really — and was an absolute hammer, and he could control it. By my count, he threw 41 curves, of which the opposition swung at 22, missed 17, and put one in play. The 87-88 range looked best to me, as the harder ones flattened into virtual sinkers. Regardless, the Nats had no chance at them. Teodo also throws an 89-92 change that is in essence a slowed version of the fastball with the same poor control, but at least it’s a start. Id’ have to re-watch to check my figures, but I counted 28 strikes out of 41 curves, meaning of his combined 32 fastballs and changes, only nine were strikes. Teodo is decidedly a work in progress but certainly one to dream on.


Rookie: Rangers 6, Giants 9
Rangers: 8 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Rangers lose league semifinal 0-1, season over

SP Ivan Oviedo: 0.1 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 6 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
RP Joseph Montalvo: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 5 SO
LF Yeison Morrobel: 1-4, BB
C Efrenyer Narvaez: 1-4, 2B, BB
CF Anthony Gutierrez: 2-4, 2B
RF Robert Gonzalez: 2-3, BB

The Rangers had the right starter on the mound for their one-game semifinal, but he suffered his worst day in the office. Ivan Oviedo retired only one of seven batters, staking the Giants to a 5-0 lead that became 6-0 by inning’s end. 2021 20th-round Joseph Montalvo held the Giants at bay as the Rangers pulled to within 6-5 in the top of the 5th. Thereafter, the Rangers would mount only one serious threat that produced a single run, while the Giants scored insurance runs.

Nevertheless, a fine year for the rookies that included a 16-game win streak, the league’s best offense, and the introduction of several players who’ll make Down East a team to watch in 2023.

In the best-of-three finals, the Giants will face the Rockies, who downed the Reds on a walk-off hit-by-pitch in 11 innings.


DSL: Rangers 3, Phillies 4
Rangers: 8 hits, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 6 walks, 14 strikeouts
Rangers trail best-of-three quarterfinal 0-1

SP Leandro Calderon: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 SO
RP German Nunez: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 5 SO
CF Jose De Jesus: 2-4
DH Erick Alvarez: 3-3, BB

The game began yesterday but was completed this morning due to rain. The Rangers scored two early runs on four walks and a sac fly. In the 9th, the Phillies scored the go-ahead run on a walk, stolen base, and error. The Rangers couldn’t muster any extra-base hits and lost three runners on the bases. Through some combination of good contact and good luck, the Phils batted .778 on balls in play against starter Leandro Calderon, who had allowed only 16 hits in 37.1 regular season innings.

DSL: Rangers 0, Phillies 3 (5)
Rangers: 3 hits, 1 walks, 2 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Rangers lose best-of-three quarterfinal 0-2

SP Jordy Arias: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, HBP, 2 SO
RP Wilker Palma: 1.1 IP, 2 SO

Postseason games in the Dominican Summer League don’t appear to hold the reverence and sanctity of the World Series. After completing yesterday’s rain-delayed affair, the skies opened again in the middle of the 5th of Game 2, and the powers that be called it a day.

2B Echedry Vargas, RF Edgar Basabe, and SS Julio Pinto singled.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Miller
AA: Weems
Hi-A: TBD (Roby)
Lo-A:  TBD (Collyer)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Frisco had an impromptu off-day to escape south Texas ahead of Hurricane Harvey.