Category: Daily Report

Some sad news to report: Ted Nichols-Payne, engineer of Rangers’ radio broadcasts for most of the past three decades, died prior to Sunday’s game at the age of 56. Those who knew him well have offered their condolences and tributes.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, Albuquerque (COL) 10
Round Rock: 6 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 8 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 45-39, 4 GB

SP Cole Winn: 1.2 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 8 R, 4 BB, 2 SO, 60 P / 31 S, 5.93 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 5.79 ERA
RP Josh Sborz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0.49 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.05 ERA
SS Ryan Dorow: 3-4, .228/.319/.332

A low point for Cole Winn. Conditions were dire (106 and dead still down in the bowl), and the defense and arguably the scorekeeper didn’t offer enough support, but ultimately the pitches weren’t made.

Winn struck out his first batter on a 3-2 change but walked the next three. A lined single plated two, but Winn avoided further damage with a fly out and called strike three on another full-count change.

In the 2nd, SS Ryan Dorow slipped fielding a deep grounder and threw slightly late to first (fairly ruled a hit in my opinion). Then a bloop single and a double steal. Then, 3B Ezequiel Duran charged but couldn’t handle a hopper (which I so strongly assumed was an error I didn’t notice the hit ruling until today). At this point, Winn had thrown 43 pitches, 21 for strikes, to record three outs. Winn immediately reversed course with two outs on two pitches, but a five-pitch walk, grounded single after five fouls, and a no-doubt homer concluded his outing well before sunset.

As to how to fix this… I’m just a guy with a media pass and a keyboard.

Winn’s walk rate through his last 12 starts is an alarming 17%, but he still isn’t being hit that hard: .251 with a .391 slugging percentage. His opposing OPS+ is just 95.

The quintet of Daniel Robert, Nick Snyder, Josh Sborz, Jonathan Hernandez, and AJ Alexy combined for six scoreless innings with five runners and nine strikeouts. The slowest fastball from these five: 94.8 MPH.

Sam Huff was listed in yesterday’s lineup but replaced by Jack Kruger at game-time.

AA: Frisco 0, at San Antonio (SDG) 10
Frisco: 3 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 7-5, 3 GB, 43-38 overall

SP Jack Leiter: 1.1 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 7 R, 2 BB, 2 SO, 53 P / 30 S, 6.30 ERA
RP Triston Polley: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0.93 ERA

I had enough advance notice of Jack Leiter’s return to watch in person, but my Sunday was busy, and the heat had half-melted my brain, so I took the shorter trip Round Rock instead. I haven’t reviewed any of his outing on MiLB.tv. For now, I assume the box score accurately describes the situation.

Leiter was 15 days between appearances. He’d ordinarily be on course to pitch at home against Midland this coming weekend, but he’s on the roster for the Futures Game to be played this Saturday.

High-A: Hickory 4, at Bowling Green (TAM) 11
Hickory: 6 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 6-9, 5 GB, 44-37 overall

SP Mason Englert: 2.2 IP, 3 H (2 HR), 4 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 62 P / 40 S, 4.70 ERA
CF Evan Carter: 2-3, BB, .262/.364/.433
1B Cristian Inoa: 1-4, HR (5), BB, .285/.348/.430

Hickory no-hit Bowling Green on Saturday but lost the other five games by a combined score of 31-10. Homers have become an issue for Mason Englert. He’s surrendered at least one in his last six starts and nine total, part of his opponents’ lofty .591 slugging percentage. Englert does throw a higher percentage of strikes than the average pitcher. This isn’t uncommon at the lower levels: plenty of strikes and strikeouts, few walks, but ample and heavy contact.

Low-A: Down East 2, at Fayetteville (HOU) 0
Down East: 5 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 8-6, 4.5 GB, 41-39 overall

SP Winston Santos: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 84 P / 51 S, 3.78 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0.00 ERA

The Woodies haven’t allowed five or more runs in consecutive games since May 31-June 1. They’ve allowed 3.3 per game in that span, dealt five shutouts, and are 19-14.

A 1st-inning single and 6th-inning sac fly by Alejandro Osuna scored the runs. CF Marcus Smith (0-2, BB) stole his 33rd base.

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

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Catcher and part-time third baseman Brett Nicholas represented Round Rock in the PCL All-Star Game. Cole Ragans fanned nine in six innings at Spokane.

A ten-inning no-hitter for Hickory.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 10, Albuquerque (COL) 9 (10)
Round Rock: 14 hits, 9 walks, 13 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 6 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 45-38, 3.5 GB

SP Cole Ragans: 4.2 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 94 P / 54 S, 4.26 ERA
RP Chase Lee: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 19.80 ERA
RP Ryder Ryan: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 3.18 ERA
RF Bubba Thompson: 1-3, 2B, 3 BB, .300/.350/.462
CF Ezequiel Duran: 2-5, BB, .234/.288/.426
LF Nick Solak: 4-6, .275/.362/.443
1B Elier Hernandez: 4-5, 2 SB (9), .300/.370/.557
PH Josh Sale: 1-1, HR (7), .282/.390/.565

Round Rock won after trailing 7-0 at the stretch. The Express used three singles and three walks to score five in the 7th. A two-out, two-run single off Jesus Tinoco in the 9th seemingly put the game out of reach, but two-run homers from Andy Ibanez and Josh Sale (pinch-hitting with two out) forced extras. Ryder Ryan stranded Albuquerque’s gift-runner in the 10th. ABQ intentionally walked Bubba Thompson to open the bottom half, presumably to create a force and eliminate a likely runner-advancing bunt. Ezequiel Duran punched a low pitch to short left to load the bases, and Nick Solak hammered an 0-2 pitch to the fence (nominally a single).

Cole Ragans cruised through four innings but hit a wall in the 5th. The Isotopes offered eight right-handed batters, so the lefty had been relying heavily and effectively on his changeup. After consecutive swinging strikes on changes to Jonathan Morales, Ragans hung a change that Morales singled, after which DJ Peterson homered. Ragans then missed on seven of eight changes and walked two of the next three batters. He expended 32 pitches to record two outs, enough to end his night. Ragans grabbed a large handful of called strikes with his curve and essentially ignored his cutter/slider.

Chase Lee was much more effective the second time I saw him in person. Albuquerque hitters weren’t nearly as comfortable in the box as those from Las Vegas. I still worry about how most of his pitches cross the plate at the same height.

Ezequiel Duran was effective if largely untested in center. On a routine catch to his left, Duran had his body properly aligned for a throw to third, preventing the runner on second from getting frisky.

AA: Frisco 6, at San Antonio (SDG) 0
Frisco: 11 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 7-4, 2 GB, 43-37 overall

SP Tim Brennan: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 80 P / 50 S, 3.09 ERA
RP Seth Nordlin: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.12 ERA
DH Dustin Harris: 2-5, HR (14), .263/.352/.474
1B Blaine Crim: 1-2, 3 BB, .269/.342/.458
C David Garcia: 3-3, HR (5), BB, .248/.289/.430

It’s a good day for the system when a two-hit shutout is arguably the least interesting game. Tim Brennan limited the Missions to two walks through five. Consecutive singles to start the 6th ended his night, but Seth Nordlin, Tyler Thomas, and Nick Starr were perfect except for a Nordlin HBP.

Dustin Harris hit his organization-leading 14th homer in the 1st.

High-A: Hickory 4, at Bowling Green (TAM) 0 (10)
Hickory: 6 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 0 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 6-8, 4 GB, 44-36 overall

SP Larson Kindreich: 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 SO, 84 P / 51 S, 0.60 ERA
RP Leury Tejada: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.21 ERA
RP Michael Brewer: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 6.14 ERA
RP Theo McDowell: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-5, .304/.394/.482

Four Crawdads combined on the first no-hitter for the Texas system since 2014*. In his third high-A start, Larson Kindreich retired the first 14 Hot Rods before a Johan Lopez walk.

Righty Leury Tejeda replaced Kindreich in the 7th. Opponents were hitting .313/.364/.588 against him in high-A, and eight of his nine outings had resulted in hits and runs, but Tejada retired his side with relative ease. Then followed Michael Brewer, very successful at Down East but, like Tejada, extremely hittable so far at Hickory. Brewer induced a one-pitch groundout by ex-Ranger Heriberto Hernandez and fanned the next two. Theo McDowell, yet another reliever promoted from Down East this season, entered the 9th and retired his side in order.

Unfortunately, Hickory didn’t have a no-hitter yet. The Crawdads offense managed only two hits and three other runners through the first nine. Hickory finally broke through in the 10th when Cristian Inoa doubled home gift-runner Trevor Hauver, and singles by Angel Aponte, catcher Randy Florentino, and Luisangel Acuna followed.

With the pressure of a scoreless game alleviated, McDowell retired the first two batters (one a running catch on the track by CF Evan Carter), walked the next, and got Hernandez to ground out to short.

This was Kindreich’s fourth lengthy scoreless outing in 12 starts.

* I think. My record search consisted primarily of searching for “no-hitter” in my old reports (and being mortified at how badly I’ve overused the verb “carried” when describing no-hitters lost late, as in “Derek Holland carried a no-hitter into the 6th”). Derek Thompson and three teammates combined on an 11-inning no-hitter for Spokane in 2014. Strangely, I found nine no-hitters during 2008-2014 but none since.

Low-A: Down East 13, at Fayetteville (HOU) 1
Down East: 14 hits, 12 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Record: 7-6, 4.5 GB, 40-39 overall

SP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO, 73 P / 52 S, 1.84 ERA
RP Josh Stephan: 4 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 1 R, 0 BB, 6 SO, 3.75 ERA
C Ian Moller: 1-4, 2 BB, .141/.308/.228
LF Daniel Mateo: 4-6, 3 HR (9), .280/.331/.427
RF Alejandro Osuna: 2-3, 3 BB, 2 SB (29), .312/.407/.462
SS Cam Cauley: 1-6, HR (1), .183/.293/.242
DH Xavier Valentin: 3-6, HR (1), .184/.268/.245

An offense not known for its power cranked five homers against a staff not known for giving them up. OF Daniel Mateo went deep three times. Still on the lanky side, if not outright skinny, the 21-year-old Mateo had all of three homers in 92 pro games entering the season. Cam Cauley hit the first homer of his pro career, and Valentin his first since last August.

Mitch Bratt dealt his third straight scoreless outing, though which he’s walked three and fanned 20 in 15 innings. Rained-out Friday starter Josh Stephan handled the rest.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Winn
AA: TBD (rotation has been in flux, could be anyone, could be someone)
Hi-A: TBD (Englert)
Lo-A: TBD (Santos)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Jeffrey Springs whiffed six and allowed a run in seven innings for high-A Down East. I suggested Springs would lead the organization in strikeouts since Connor Sadzeck had switched to relief, and he would, with 146, although Kyle Cody presented a challenge with his 136.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 7, Albuquerque (COL) 3
Round Rock: 14 hits, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 44-38, 4.5 GB

SP Taylor Hearn: 5 IP, 1 H (1 HR), 1 R, 2 BB, 9 SO, 76 P / 48 S, 4.50 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 4.38 ERA
C Sam Huff: 3-4, 2 HR, (13), .270/.355/.607
DH Josh Sale: 2-4, .274/.384/.524
LF Nick Solak: 2-4, 2 2B, .256/.349/.432

Sam Huff knocked a majestic homer to dead center and rope to right. Best HR/PA rates in system (min. 5 HR):
Huff: 13 HR, 1 per 10.6 PA
Trey Hair: 13 HR, 1 per 15.8 PA
Scott Kapers: 7 HR, 1 per 16.0 PA
JoJo Blackmon: 5 HR, 1 per 17.0 PA
Josh Sale: 6 HR, 1 per 17.2 PA

AA: Frisco 10, at San Antonio (SDG) 7 (12)
Frisco: 15 hits, 11 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 12 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts
Record: 6-4, 2 GB, 42-37 overall

SP Zak Kent: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 39 P / 24 S, 5.77 ERA
RF Kellen Strahm: 1-5, 2 BB, SB (1), .267/.397/.361
1B Blaine Crim: 3-4, 2B, 2 BB, .268/.334/.457
DH JP Martinez: 2-4, 2 BB, .291/.412/.485
CF Josh Stowers: 4-6, 2B, SB (16), .235/.346/.352

Blaine Crim’s power has largely dissipated over the last six weeks, but he is reaching base more frequently lately.

Zak Kent seems to have resolved his early problems with walks and few swinging strikes, although he’s been still been hit hard in some of his recent starts. Last night, his second following a brief IL stint, was among his better ones.

High-A: Hickory 0, at Bowling Green (TAM) 7
Hickory: 4 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 5-8, 4 GB, 43-36 overall

SP Nick Krauth: 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 2 SO, 59 P / 36 S, 5.69 ERA
RP Spencer Mraz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 SO, 4.32 ERA
DH Aaron Zavala: 1-2, 2 BB, .273/.429/.422

Hickory’s offense misread the calendar and took an early All-Star break during the Bowling Green series.

Aaron Zavala had his 17th multi-walk game. He’s batting .302/.450/.523 over the last month.

Low-A: Down East 4, at Fayetteville (HOU) 7 (completion of Thursday)
Down East: 6 hits, 6 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 6-6, 4.5 GB, 39-39 overall

SP Ryan Garcia: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 39 P / 21 S, 1.76 ERA
RP Josh Gessner: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 2.30 ERA
RP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.09 ERA
LF Daniel Mateo: 2-4, 2B, HBP, 3 SB (28), .271/.323/.383
2B Cam Cauley: 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, SB (20), .184/.299/.219

With two on and two out in the 7th, the floodgates opened in the form of a walk and four hits (including a bases-loaded triple), washing away Juan Mejia and Down East’s 4-1 lead.

Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa’s 38% strikeout rate ranks sixth in the league among those with at least 20 innings. The leader is Atlanta’s Royber Salinas, who fanned a ridiculous 52 of 93 batters (55%) before moving up to high-A. The leader in strikeouts per nine innings is Milwaukee’s Jakob Brutoski at 19.3, but his walk/HBP is so extreme (34%!) that he’s only eighth in SO percentage. He’s a good example of why I prefer percentage over SO/9.

The regularly scheduled contest was rained out and will be played in August.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Ragans
AA: Brennan
Hi-A: TBD (Kindreich)
Lo-A: TBD (Bratt)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
“C.D. Pelham since the end of May: 16.2 IP, 6 BB, 19 SO, 1.62 ERA, .143/.246/.286 opposing line. The wild version of Pelham is ‘intriguing.’  The controlled version is a prospect.”

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 2, Albuquerque (COL) 5
Round Rock: 7 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 3 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 43-38, 5.5 GB

SP Kohei Arihara: 4 IP, 7 H (2 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 5 SO, 75 P / 50 S, 5.67 ERA
RP Hever Bueno: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 6.50 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.48 ERA
RF Steele Walker: 1-4, HR (5), .264/.354/.424
3B Andy Ibanez: 4-4, 2 2B, .250/.329/.397

According to Statcast, 30% of Hever Bueno’s pitches were changeups (season rate: 4%), all three strikeouts came on changes, and no fastball exceeded 93 MPH (season average: 95.3). Okay?

AA: Frisco 1, at San Antonio (SDG) 2
Frisco: 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 5-4, 2 GB, 41-37 overall

SP Owen White: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 SO, 84 P / 55 S, 1.62 ERA
LF Dustin Harris: 2-4, 2B, 3B, .262/.353/.469

Owen White was ultimately effective despite some early troubles. San Antonio put two aboard with none out in the 1st and 2nd, and two more with one out in the 3rd, but managed to bring only one home. White retired his last 11 in order, five on strikeouts.

San Antonio walked off victorious on a bases-loaded hit batter by Triston Polley. Polley has walked or hit 13 of 36 batters since promotion to AA. His control during a longer Hickory stint was above average.

High-A: Hickory 3, at Bowling Green (TAM) 4
Hickory: 8 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Record: 5-7, 3 GB, 43-35 overall

SP Robby Ahlstrom: 6 IP, 6 H (2 HR), 4 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 85 P / 54 S, 6.05 ERA
SS Luisangel Acuna: 2-4, 2B, .302/.397/.491
LF Miguel Aparicio: 1-4, HR (1)

Miguel Aparicio homered in his first plate appearance back from rehab. 2022 is his walk year, I believe, unless the Rangers place him on the 40 (highly doubtful) or otherwise entice him into staying if mutually desired. Aparicio has enjoyed sporadic attention as a prospect, but for the most part his performance hasn’t measured up. Last year, I was out of the Aparicio business, to be frank, only to see him display unprecedented power and better patience in high-A (.274/.366/.567, 12 homers in 48 games). His subsequent time in AA went poorly: .179/.195/.256 in 15 games, then injured the final month. As happens with international prospects who show enough promise to hang around, he’s been in the system seemingly forever but is still just 23.

Low-A: suspended

Scoreless in the 3rd.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Hearn
AA: Kent
Hi-A: TBA (Krauth)
Lo-A: TBA (Stephan)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Ricky Vanasco made his pro debut in Arizona, fanning the side around a hit and walk.

To quote myself: “Unless I missed an announcement, the Rangers didn’t sign any other draft picks before yesterday’s deadline.  The top unsigned pick is 21st-round 1B/OF Daniel Robert of Auburn.  Robert is a senior, so he’s not going back to school (not as a ballplayer, at least).  Other unsigned picks, all considered tough signs, were draft-eligible Arkansas sophomore RHP Blaine Knight, high school pitcher Griff McGarry and high school catcher Spencer Smith.”

Robert would sign later. Knight was drafted by Baltimore in the 3rd round the next year, and he’s in AAA now, albeit without much success. Philly picked McGarry in last year’s 5th round. Smith went the juco route and then played for UNC Greensboro as a catcher. He was never redrafted and doesn’t appear to have signed a pro contract anywhere.

MLB.com’s updated top-100 prospect list includes six Rangers:
17. Jack Leiter (17 preseason)
31. Josh Jung (29)
57. Ezequiel Duran (83)
62. Justin Foscue (89)
81. Cole Winn (48)
97. Owen White (unranked)

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 13, Albuquerque (COL) 3
Round Rock: 15 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 8 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 43-37, 4.5 GB

SP Tyson Miller: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SO, 47 P / 30 S, 4.24 ERA
RP AJ Alexy: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 6.52 ERA
RP Nick Snyder: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 5.74 ERA
RP Jonathan Hernandez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4.76 ERA
SS Ezequiel Duran: 2-5, 2 2B, .235/.289/.500
DH Steele Walker: 2-4, BB, SB (3), .264/.357/.405
RF Josh Sale: 1-3, BB, HBP, .273/.385/.545
2B Dio Arias: 3-4, HR (3), .349/.409/.542

Ezequiel Duran still leads the minors in doubles (27) despite his three-week MLB incursion. Duran’s 30 doubles including MLB might be the second-most in pro ball behind Matt Olson’s 32; I don’t have a combined database of MLB and minor leagues and don’t want to go to the effort right now. Let’s just say he’s second.

Josh Sale has the best ratio of homers to fly balls (35%) in the organization outside of Sam Huff.

The Isotopes swung at ten secondaries from Jonathan Hernandez and missed on six. Three others were fouled, and one went for a single.

AJ Alexy last two outings have come in relief, and he’s yet to issue a walk in five innings covering 20 batters. Last night, he essentially ditched the change, dealing only one (in play, for an out) in 39 pitches. He registered two swinging strikes on both the curve and slider, plus one with a fastball. I’d have to dig deeper to know, but my gut feel isn’t that any particular pitch is letting him down. It’s more an overall control/command situation. That said, some pitchers fare better with a reduced repertoire, even if what they gave up was a functional pitch. 

I can’t remember the particulars, but in a two-week span, the Express infield lost Matt Carpenter, Sherten Apostel, Josh Smith, Davis Wendzel, maybe Ryan Dorow for a little while. Up came Diosbel Arias, batting .180/.293/.320 in Frisco in 2022 and .264/.335/.364 in 251 full-season games, for what I thought would be a temporary stay. Instead, Arias has not only hung around but is having the best stretch of his professional life, even playing more second base than usual versus first or third. There’s some luck in his current line, but even if I remove his “extra” hits on grounders and soft contact, he’s still batting near .300.

AA: off

High-A: Hickory 0, at Bowling Green (TAM) 5
Hickory: 5 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 7 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts
Record: 5-6, 2 GB, 43-34 overall

SP Ricky Vanasco: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 83 P / 58 S, 5.16 ERA
RP Theo McDowell: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0.00 ERA

After two 1st-inning singles, Ricky Vanasco retired 13 straight, five via strikeout. In the 6th, Vanasco surrendered four singles after an opening walk. Nothing scorched, but they all count the same.  

Low-A: Down East 2, at Fayetteville (HOU) 3
Down East: 5 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 4 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 6-5, 3 GB, 39-38 overall

SP Emiliano Teodo: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 74 P / 46 S, 3.42 ERA
RP Jose Corniell: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 6 SO, 5.70 ERA
DH Alejandro Osuna: 1-5, HR (7), .310/.402/.465
RF Marcus Smith: 2-4, SB (33), .163/.325/.258
2B Cam Cauley: 1-3, BB, 3 SB (19), .180/.287/.207

Down East is middle-of-the-pack in average (.231) and OBP (.345) with runners in scoring position, but what’s been missing are the opportunities: 162 fewer than the average team, 2.1 per game. Last night, they created 11 RISP chances but converted only one.

Marcus Smith continues to be one of baseball’s strangest hitters. Smith has six four-strikeout games, enough to open a sombrero store. He’s reached 31 times on hits and 47 on combined BB/HBP. An unbelievable 66% of his plate appearances haven’t required a fielder (BB. HBP, SO, HR).

Today’s Starters
AAA: Arihara
AA: White
Hi-A: TBD (Robby Ahlstrom’s turn)
Lo-A: TBD (Ryan Garcia’s turn)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Baseball America’s updated top-100 prospect list contained one Ranger, OF Leody Taveras.

Box Scores

AA: Frisco 10, at San Antonio (SDG) 1
Frisco: 15 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Record: 5-3, 0.5 GB, 41-36 overall

SP Cody Bradford: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 69 P / 52 S, 5.85 ERA
RF Kellen Strahm: 2-4, BB, .273/.399/.372
2B Justin Foscue: 3-5, .283/.374/.455
SS Jax Biggers: 4-5, 2B, .330/.393/.425

Frisco’s 30-inning scoreless streak ended in the 8th. Frisco has thrown three shutouts in five games and allowed four runs in the other two.

Elsewhere
The other teams were off.

The powers that be named the first eight players to this summer’s Futures Game. RHP Jack Leiter is among them.

OF Miguel Aparicio was assigned to high-A Hickory. He’d been injured and rehabbing in Arizona. I have no idea who holds the record for most games played for the Crawdads. Pedro Gonzalez played in 301. Aparicio’s next will be his 267th. (Gonzalez, incidentally, joined indy Quebec over the winter but was released three days ago.)

He’s not listed on the transaction wire, but 2016 2nd-round righty Alex Speas is the new head coach of Combine Academy. Speas hadn’t pitched in 2022 and was on the restricted list. He apparently concludes his pro career with a 5.07 ERA, 81 walks and 137 strikeouts in 87 innings. Speas drew the most attention during a year when he didn’t take the field, as reports of triple-digit velocity and semblance of control in side sessions raised the possibility of an MLB debut in 2020 while the minors were shut down. That didn’t come to pass, and in 2021 staggeringly poor control even by his standards (one of every three batters walked or hit) dimmed his star. Speas would have become a free agent after this season.

Righty James Jones threw a rehab inning in Arizona. The 33-year-old joined the Rangers along with 3B Bill McNulty in 1972 for lefty Paul Lindblad. Okay, not really, but he’s been around a while.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Tyson Miller
AA: off
Hi-A: TBD (Ricky Vanaco’s turn)
Lo-A: TBD (Emiliano Teodo’s turn)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Texas promoted SS Yeyson Yrizarri and 3B Ti’Qiuan Forbes to high-A. Neither had been especially productive but were near or at 200 games in low-A. Forbes is hitting .238/.295/.337 for AA Amarillo (ARI), while Yrizarri’s pro career concluded in 2019.

Still no word on who makes room for Spencer Howard as of 5:05pm CDT.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, Albuquerque (COL) 3
Round Rock: 9 hits, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 6 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 42-37, 5 GB

SP Cole Winn: 5 IP, 6 H (1 HR), 3 R, 3 BB, 6 SO, 91 P / 52 S, 5.04 ERA
RP Yerry Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 4.18 ERA
CF Bubba Thompson: 2-4, BB, SB (38), .305/.350/.470
LF Steele Walker: 3-4, .256/.348/.402
C Sam Huff: 1-4, HR (11), .255/.344/.573
3B Dio Arias: 2-3, HR (2), BB, .329/.386/.494

One game is indeed not a trend. Cole Winn couldn’t build on last week’s improvement, walking three and unleashing two wild pitches. Fastball control has eluded Winn at times, but last night he missed 60% of his combined curves and sliders. Albuquerque attempted three steals on Winn’s watch, two of which were unsuccessful.

Here’s my video of last week’s superior performance.

Sam Huff has four homers in ten games since being optioned. Ezequiel Duran was 0-5 with four strikeouts.

Spencer Howard will start at Baltimore tonight.

AA: Frisco 11, at San Antonio (SDG) 0
Frisco: 13 hits, 7 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts
Record: 4-3, tied for first, 40-36 overall

SP Avery Weems: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 73 P / 53 S, 5.80 ERA
RP Grant Wolfram: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO, 4.99 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 2-5, 2 2B, .333/.376/.458
LF Dustin Harris: 3-5, BB, SB (17), .259/.353/.457
2B Justin Foscue: 2-6, 2B, .274/.369/.452

Avery Weems has been homer-prone this season but not lately. Though he’s walked seven in his last 12 innings, an absence of extra-base hits has helped to limit cumulative damage to one run.

Blaine Crim, Kellen Strahm, Davis Garcia, Trey Hair, and Josh Stowers all reached twice by various combinations of singles and walks.

High-A: Hickory 3, at Bowling Green (TAM) 4
Hickory: 7 hits, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts
Record: 5-5, 2 GB, 43-33 overall

SP TK Roby: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 9 SO, 75 P / 57 S, 5.18 ERA
RP Michael Brewer: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 7.11 ERA
DH Aaron Zavala: 2-4, 2 HR (8), .271/.426/.425
CF Evan Carter: 2-4, 2B, 3B, .269/.368/.450

Hickory led 3-0 in the 8th but couldn’t close the door. Chris Seise had a day at short, committing errors in the 8th and 9th that led to the second and fourth of Bowling Green’s runs.

Aaron Zavala had his second two-homer game. Evan Carter’s eight triples are third-most in pro baseball.

Low-A: Down East 9, at Fayetteville (HOU) 3
Down East: 12 hits, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 3 walks, 14 strikeouts
Record: 6-4, 3 GB, 39-37 overall

SP Gavin Collyer: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 7 SO, 92 P / 56 S, 3.32 ERA
RP Kai Wynyard: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO, 8.80 ERA
LF Alejandro Osuna: 2-4, HBP, SB (27), .312/.405/.457
RF Marcus Smith: 1-3, BB, SB (31), .156/.322/.253
SS Maximo Acosta: 3-4, 2B, BB, SB (23), .265/.355/.350
DH Jose Rodriguez: 3-4, 2B, HR (3), BB, SB (4), .215/.296/.307

20-year-old Kai Wynyard had a successful full-season debut. Wynyard had a 5.93 ERA in rookie ball, but opponents batted only .216/.286/.333 with three walks and 21 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

Six more steals boosted Down East’s total to 175, best at any level of play. (The Rangers lead the Majors with a modest 66.) Alejandro Osuna and Maximo Acosta rank in the top ten in low-A for steals. They’ve also been nabbed 14 times, tied for the most in baseball.

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

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Cole Ragans walked four and fanned eight in four innings for Spokane. I’m filling the retrospectives with Ragans in 2022, because he’s going to disappear for a lonnnnng time.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 7, at Las Vegas (OAK) 12
Round Rock: 14 hits, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Opponent: 15 hits, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts
Record: 41-37, 6 GB

SP Cole Ragans: 3.2 IP, 10 H (1 HR), 7 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SO, 73 P / 49 S, 4.35 ERA
RP Ryder Ryan: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 3.27 ERA
RP Daniel Robert: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.89 ERA
LF Bubba Thompson: 2-3, HR (10), 2 BB, .302/.345/.469

Many minor league stadia set aside a wall for plaques of players who later reached the Majors. Summerlin should have one for successful visiting pitchers. It wouldn’t occupy much room. Round Rock’s starters allowed 22 runs in 23.2 innings across six games. Cole Ragans was unlucky at first, allowing three flared or blooped singles followed by a hard grounder to left to plate two. Then, the hits became firmer, with seven of eight balls in play exceeding 96 MPH.

Bubba Thompson is a walk machine. He also should surpass last year’s personal-best 16 homers later this season. Admittedly, being in the PCL helps, but Thompson does have legitimate power.

AA: Frisco 12, Corpus Christi (HOU) 0
Frisco: 15 hits, 7 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 4 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 3-3, 1 GB, 39-36 overall

SP Zak Kent: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 0 SO, 20 P / 13 S, 6.15 ERA
RP Joe Corbett: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 SO, 3.86 ERA
RP Triston Polley: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0.00 ERA
RP Tyler Thomas: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3.52 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 2-4, BB, HBP, .332/.374/.452
LF JP Martinez: 2-5, 2B, BB, .289/.411/.491
2B Justin Foscue: 3-5, BB, .272/.370/.450
DH Kellen Strahm: 2-4, BB, .273/.394/.375

9,326 watched the Riders break open a close game with 11 runs in Innings 6-8. Everybody but Blaine Crim (1-6) reached at least twice. Jonathan Ornelas already has 31 multi-hit games. Last year: 26.

On another bullpen day, Corpus didn’t collect a hit until the 6th, and six Riders (the four listed, Grant Anderson, and Fernery Ozuna) combined for a four-hit shutout.

High-A: Hickory 10, Greensboro (PIT) 7
Hickory: 11 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 13 hits, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts
Record: 5-4, 1 GB, 43-32 overall

SP Mason Englert: 4.1 IP, 9 H (2 HR), 6 R, 1 BB, 5 SO, 93 P / 63 S, 4.34 ERA
RP John Matthews: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 2.95 ERA
RF Aaron Zavala: 1-4, HR (6), HBP, .267/.425/.398
C Cody Freeman: 2-5, 2B, .253/.339/.415
LF Trevor Hauver: 1-3, 3B, BB, HBP, .232/.394/.412
3B Thomas Saggese: 3-4, HR (7), BB, .299/.352/.460
DH Chris Seise: 2-4, BB, .264/.323/.408

In front of a season-high 4.176 fans, Hickory scored nine in Innings 6-8 to recover from a 6-1 deficit.

A reader asked yesterday morning about Englert; my thumbnail reply was “better control than most, a little homer-prone.” That fairly describes yesterday, but Englert also allowed the most hits and runs of the season.

Aaron Zavala exited after being hit by a pitch. Not because of injury, but because he’d been ejected. The plate umpire originally ruled simply a ball, and Zavala argued and was tossed. After a conference, the umps declared Zavala had in fact been hit, prompting another argument resulting in the ejection of opposing manager Callix Crabbe. (Hickory manager Carlos Cardoza had been ejected the previous inning.)

Low-A: Down East 1, Kannapolis (CHW) 4
Down East: 5 hits, 5 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 5-4, 3 GB, 38-37 overall

SP Winston Santos: 2 IP, 3 H (1 HR), 2 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 34 P / 24 S, 4.15 ERA
RP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 3.27 ERA
RP Juan Mejia: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 SO, 9.95 ERA
SS Maximo Acosta: 2-3, BB, .257/.346/.338

Down East scored 15 runs in the six-game series, losing four. The Woodies are last in the 12-team league in walks and doubles, and 11th in hits and OBP. The park plays a role, but not that big a role. Rain ended the contest in the top of the 9th with the bases loaded and one out. To be clear, Kannapolis had the bases loaded, not Down East.


Rookie Recap: Games of 27 June – 2 July
Scores: 5-8 (Snakes), 5-6 (Angels), 9-1 (Snakes), 5-3 (Rox), 8-5 (Royals)
Record: 13-7, 1.5 G up

RHP D.J. McCarty (19): 4.0 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 SO, 4.96 ERA
RHP Kai Wynyard (20): 3.0 IP, 1 H, BB, 3 SO, 4.86 ERA
RHP Adrian Rodriguez (21): 3.2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, BB, 5 SO, 6.43 ERA
RHP Kelvin Gonzalez: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 5 SO, 4.91 ERA
IF Miguel Villarroel (20): 8-20, 2 2B, HBP, SB (1), .368/.432/.447
OF Yeison Morrobel (18): 6-17, BB, SB (4), .274/.361/.306
IF Danyer Cueva (18): 7-18, 2B, .389/.459/.537
OF JoJo Blackmon (19): 3-10, 2B, 4 BB, 2 SB (6), .294/.438/.529

Danyer Cueva and IF Andres Mesa (.299/.356/.478) will vie for the team’s hit lead now that Liam Hicks is at Down East. Mesa has a team-best seven doubles in 15 games.

JoJo Blackmon is hitting well, drawing plenty of walks, and leading the team with six steals, but he unfortunately also has a 36% strikeout rate.

A handful of games have Statcast data. Miguel Villaroel had exit velocities of 107 and 102 MPH last Thursday. Adrian Rodriguez’s fastball topped at 97.8 and ranged 94-97.

Rehabbing Kelvin Gonzalez posted two scoreless appearances.

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

For the only time this season, we have games on Monday to take advantage of the 4th. All will take tomorrow off except Frisco, which rests Wednesday.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Uh oh. I jumped a day ahead yesterday. On 2 July 2017, Jose Trevino went 3-4 with his fourth homer.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 8, at Las Vegas (OAK) 6
Round Rock: 11 hits, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts
Opponent: 9 hits, 5 walks, 15 strikeouts
Record: 41-36, 6.5 GB

SP Taylor Hearn: 5 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 4 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 79 P / 53 S, 7.20 ERA
RP Yerry Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4.31 ERA
RF Bubba Thompson: 3-4, HR (9), BB, .297/.337/.456
LF Josh Sale: 1-4, HR (6), BB, .282/.378/.577

Ezequiel Duran, center fielder extraordinaire (video). I’m sure someone like Leody Taveras would have taken a cleaner route, but Duran made a tough play requiring a snap decision and physical commitment. Otherwise, I’ve only watched snippets of the last two games and don’t have a read on Duran’s outfield prowess. (He was an infielder during the Ragans and Winn starts I saw in person.) Plus, judging outfielders on tv is pretty much impossible because the reads and initial steps are almost never visible.

Yerry Rodriguez threw a pitch 100.1 MPH, the first triple-digit toss by an Express pitcher this season. It was fouled off preceding Duran’s grab. Rodriguez broke his own team record of 99.8.

The Rangers did not option reliever Jonathan Hernandez but were able to extend his rehab assignment for ten days, which required league and Players Association approval. Relievers Demarcus Evans and Spencer Patton both cleared waivers and were outrighted to AAA. Spencer Howard is on Texas’s taxi squad.

AA: Frisco 2, Corpus Christi (HOU) 3
Frisco: 4 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
Opponent: 10 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Record: 2-3, 2 GB, 38-36 overall

SP Tim Brennan: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 4 SO, 68 P / 48 S, 3.67 ERA
RP Kevin Gowdy: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 9.00 ERA
RP Josh Smith: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2.57 ERA

Down 3-1, Frisco started the 8th with a single and double and in the 9th had runners at the corners with one out. Out of those situations, one run scored. Corpus Christi CF Justin Dirden caught a Dustin Harris fly at the deepest spot in the park to end the 8th. In the 9th, a failed double steal erased the lead runner, after which David Garcia struck out.

High-A: Hickory 8, Greensboro (PIT) 0 (7)
Hickory: 8 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Record: 4-4, 1.5 GB, 42-32 overall

SP Larson Kindreich: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO, 80 P / 46 S, 1.00 ERA
CF Jayce Easley: 2-4, .245/.368/.382
C Randy Florentino: 2-3, HR (1), .286/.378/.351

Mother Nature called this one early. Larson Kindreich pitched to form. The median Kindreich appearance in 2022: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 SO. He’s allowed 29 hits and 29 combined walks and hit batters.

Hickory hadn’t hit well with runners in scoring position lately but collected three such hits while batting around in the 5th.

Low-A: Down East 4, Kannapolis (CHW) 1
Down East: 4 hits, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts
Opponent: 3 hits, 2 walks, 13 strikeouts
Record: 5-3, 2 GB, 38-36 overall

SP Mitch Bratt: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 SO, 77 P / 50 S, 2.08 ERA
RP Nick Lockhart: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO, 5.26 ERA
CF Yosy Galan: 1-2, HR (10), BB, .232/.320/.441

The Woodies have scored a modest 3.6 runs per game during the last month but are 15-10 thanks to the pitching (and defense). Down East has allowed an average of 3.4 runs and 6.0 hits per game in that span.

Mitch Bratt has started five of those games, permitting three runs in 24 innings while striking out 30 and walking only four. Last year’s 5th-rounder turned 19 this morning.

Yosy Galan is Down East’s first to ten homers, good enough for a fifth-place tie in the relatively pitcher friendly Carolina League. Ten homers would place him 12th (Sally), 21st (Texas), or 23rd (PCL) in Texas’s other full-season minor leagues.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Ragans
AA: TBD (Brennan’s listed but nope)
Hi-A: Englert
Lo-A: TBD (Winston Santos’s turn)

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Down East’s Kyle Cody fanned ten in six scoreless innings.

Box Scores

AAA: Round Rock 5, at Las Vegas (OAK) 3
Round Rock: 10 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts
Record: 40-36, 7 GB

SP Kolby Allard: 5 IP, 5 H (1 HR), 2 R, 2 BB, 8 SO, 78 P / 52 S, 4.21 ERA
RP AJ Alexy: 2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 6.82 ERA
CF Ezequiel Duran: 3-3, HR (2), HBP

Ezequiel Duran’s second homer in as many days wasn’t an affront to physics like his 87 MPH shot from Thursday. Between Texas and Round Rock, Duran was hitless in 21 at-bats before Thursday’s homer; he’s 4-5 with two homers since.

Instead of his usual start, AJ Alexy tossed two innings on four days rest. Alexy was hittable but threw plenty of strikes.

AA: Frisco 5, Corpus Christi (HOU) 0
Frisco: 12 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts
Opponent: 2 hits, 3 walks, 11 strikeouts
Record: 2-2, 1 GB, 38-35 overall

SP Owen White: 5.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 SO, 68 P / 46 S, 1.69 ERA
RP Seth Nordlin: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 3.33 ERA
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 3-5, .335/.373/.458
1B Blaine Crim: 2-3, BB, .269/.336/.475

Owen White no-hit Corpus Christi for 5.1 innings in his second AA start. Unfortunately, he appeared to catch his plant foot and then land awkwardly on his next step, prompting an immediate visit from the trainer and his departure. He walked off without assistance. Local media describe the injury as a sprained ankle, but not serious.

Quiet in July, Blaine Crim reached safely three times for the first time in nearly a month.

High-A: Hickory 1, Greensboro (PIT) 2
Hickory: 6 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Opponent: 5 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
Record: 3-4, 2 GB, 41-32 overall

SP Nick Krauth: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SO, 78 P / 53 S, 5.15 ERA
RP Yohanse Morel: 2 IP, 3 SO, 7.45 ERA
3B Cody Freeman: 1-4, HR (9), .250/.337/.410

The league’s best offense has been subdued lately, if not silent. Hickory placed only three runners in scoring position after Cody Freeman’s 2nd-inning homer.

Low-A: Down East 3, Kannapolis (CHW) 9
Down East: 5 hits, 5 walks, 10 strikeouts
Opponent: 11 hits, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
Record: 4-3, 2 GB, 37-36 overall

SP Josh Stephan: 5 IP, 7 H (2 HR), 6 R, 2 BB, 4 SO, 72 P / 52 S, 3.84 ERA
C Ian Moller: 1-3, 2 BB, .154/.306/.256
RF Jose Rodriguez: 2-4, 2B, .207/.285/.283

Josh Stephan suffered his worst outing in two months. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa and Dylan MacLean threw scoreless innings. AHT maintains the highest swinging strike rate in the system (20.2%) aside from Marc Church (22.3%).

Texas promoted C/1B Liam Hicks to Down East. The 23-year-old 2021 9th-rounder had overwhelmed rookie-league pitchers (.478/.561/.652). Hicks drew a walk as the DH.

Today’s Starters
AAA: Hearn
AA: Brennan
Hi-A: Kindreich
Lo-A: TBD (Mitch Bratt’s turn)