Down on the Farm: 4/13 Recap

The RedHawks lost again to drop to 2-5 on the season. One player that I wanted to touch base on briefly here is J.B. Shuck. You may remember Shuckers name mentioned as the final player left in the running for the 5^th outfielder job with the major league club before ultimately being reassigned to triple-A. He has really hit the ball well there with a .360 average so far this season. The problem with Shuck’s game so far has not been his bat, but rather his baserunning. As a speed guy without power Shuck cannot afford to have 0 steals in 4 attempts, and has also been picked off once. He also struggles somewhat in the outfield with getting good reads on balls hit to him. These are two areas in Shucks game that he will have to improve if he wants to have any chance at becoming an everyday player at the major league level. He probably projects more as a backup outfielder than an everyday player, even with his ability to hit for high average. Here’s the recap:

Oklahoma City RedHawks (2-5)

Batting

1.) Shuck (LF) – 0-3, BB, SO, CS, .360 avg. – Caught stealing for the fourth time this season.

2.) DeLome (CF) – 0-2, 2 BB, SO, .417 avg.

3.) Bogusevic (RF) – 1-2, 2 BB, SB, .261 avg. – Picked up his 3^rd stolen base of the season

4.) Clemens (1B) – 0-3, BB, SO, .286 avg.

5.) Corporan (C) – 1-4, .250 avg.

6.) Manzella (SS) – 0-4, SO, .240 avg.

7.) Hernandez (2B) – 0-4, RBI, .192 avg.

8.) Navarro (3B) – 1-4, 2B, SO, .389 avg.

9.) Perez (P) – 0-2, .000 avg.

10.) Dopirak (PH) – 1-1, .286 avg.

11.) Cancel (PH) – 0-1, .083 avg.

Pitching

1.) Perez (L, 0-1) – 6 IP, 5 hits, 1 earned run, walk, 7 strikeouts, 2.45 ERA – Good outing by Perez, 7 strikeouts, and 6 groundouts is a recipe for success.

2.) Wright – 0 IP, 1 hit, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 27.00 ERA – Looks like Wesley’s new arm angle isn’t working out for him thus far. If he doesn’t figure it out soon the former rule-5 pick’s time with the Astros could be limited.

3.) Wolf – 2 IP, 3 hits 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts, 9.00 ERA

Corpus Christi – Off

Lancaster JetHawks – Win 4-3 over the San Jose Giants

Lancaster played an extra inning game, finally winning in the 12^th 4-3. The pitching performed very well using just 3 pitchers to get through 12 innings. The JetHawks also got multihit performances from Jay Austin, Johnathan Villar, Ben Heath, Kody Hinze, and Austin Wates. Now to the recap:

Batting

1.) Austin (CF) – 2-6, RBI, SO, .321 avg.

2.) Villar (SS) – 2-5, BB, SO, .393 avg.

3.) Altuve (2B) – 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, SO, .440 avg.

4.) Goebbert (LF) – 1-5, BB, .190 avg.

5.) Meyer (3B) – 0-4, BB, SO, .320 avg.

6.) Heath (DH) – 2-4, 2B, .263 avg.

7.) Hogue (DH) – 0-1, .000 avg.

8.) Hinze (1B) – 2-6, RBI, SO, .154 avg.

9.) Garcia (C) – 0-4, .167 avg.

10.) Wates (RF) – 2-5, 2B, 2 SO, .214 avg.

Pitching

1.) Robinson – 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 4.09 ERA

2.) Grimmett – 4.2 IP, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 4.70 ERA

3.) Clark (W, 1-0) – 1.1 IP, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 0.00 ERA – Another good outing. I will try to have a post up about Kirk Clark at some point later this week. His story is very interesting.

Lexington Legends – Double Header

Highly touted pitching prospect Mike Foltynewicz made his second start of the season tonight with considerably better results. While Foltynewicz has not had the success that Lyles had at the lower levels, Foltynewicz still has higher upside mainly due to his higher velocity. Though Folty does not have an overly impressive strikeout rate to this point in his career, what has been impressive is his ability to get groundball outs. His groundball ratio has been outstanding so far in his career. This is important, because as he learns how to pitch and develops his offspeed pitches his strikeouts will come. If this happens and he continues getting groundballs then he could turn into a very dangerous pitcher. I was able to watch this game on MILB.TV, so I will try to get out a post on Folty on the other Legends some time tomorrow. Here’s the recap:

Game 1 – Lost 1-0 to Hagerstown

Hitting

1.) DeShields (DH) – 0-2, BB, SB, .100 avg. – The top draft pick last year is really struggling at the plate. Did pick up his 1^st stolen base of the year.

2.) Mier (SS) – 0-3, SO, .190 avg. – 2009 top draft pick is really struggling at the plate. Not a good pattern to see with top prospects.

3.) Hernandez (LF) – 1-1, 2B, 2 BB, .214 avg.

4.) Wallace (C) – 1-3, 2 SO, .353 avg.

5.) Kvasnicka (3B) – 1-3, 2 SO, .375 avg. – He has done a good job at the plate this year, and could be a candidate to move up to the next level mid-season.

6.) Adamson (CF) – 0-3, SO, .400 avg.

7.) Burnett (1B) – 1-3, 2B, .111 avg.

8.) Lane (RF) – 0-2, 2 SO, .250 avg.

9.) Bailey (PH) – 0-1, .238 avg.

10.) Orloff (2B) – 0-1, .000 avg.

11.) Medrano (PH) – 0-1, .143 avg.

Pitching

1.) Foltynewicz (L, 0-2) – 6 IP, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 4.91 ERA – Folty also induced 9 groundouts which is a good sign for last year’s first round pick. Folty has as much upside as any pitcher in the system.

2.) Martinez – 1 IP, 2 hits, 0 earned runs, 3.00 ERA

Game 2 – Win 6-4 over Hagerstown

Batting

1.) DeShields (2B) – 1-4, HR, RBI, 2 SO, .125 avg. – First homerun of the season. Also committed his 4^th error. The transition from outfield to second has not gone all that smoothly so far.

2.) Orloff (SS) – 2-4, .250 avg.

3.) Hernandez (LF) – 0-2, BB, .188 avg.

4.) Wallace (DH) – 1-3, 2 RBI, SO, .350 avg.

5.) Medrano (3B) – 0-3, SO, .118 avg.

6.) Bailey (RF) – 2-3, RBI, SO – .292 avg.

7.) Adamson (CF) – 1-3, 2B, .393 avg.

8.) Burnett (1B) – 2-2, HR, RBI, BB, .273 avg. – Also hit his first homerun of the season

9.) Pena (C) – 0-2, SO, .000 avg.

Pitching

1.) Alaniz – 3 IP, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1 homerun, 13.50 ERA – Rough start to the season for Alaniz

2.) Garcia (W, 1-0) – 3 IP, 1 hit, 0 earned runs, walk, 4 strikeouts, 1.50 ERA – Good work in relief to pick up the win

3.) De Leon (S, 1) – 1 IP, 0.00 ERA

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