Fri. 5/26 - Kicking Off the Long Weekend

[Jim Goulart]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Friday, lineup updates, etc.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

[TURBO]

FYI:  It should be 5/26

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin seeks a 4th consecutive win in Cedar Rapids. Struggling RHP Cameron Wagoner (9.53 ERA in 28.1 IP) gets tonight’s start. SS Eric Brown Jr. has 9 hits and 6 RBIs over his last 3 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

Talented 21-year old RHP Logan Henderson makes his 3rd start (just 4.1 IP thus far in 2023) for Low-A Carolina tonight at home against Down East, as the clubs battle for first place in the division. 20-year old C Blayberg Diaz has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi trails their home series 2-1 against Montgomery and sends RHP Christian Mejias (5.88 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 11.2 K/9 in 33.2 IP) out for his 7th start (9th appearance). 3B Tyler Black has a 21-game on-base streak. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Loading MILB.TV on three screens as I type. Ready to rock the casbah. Let's grab 4 young T-Rats!

[wiguy94]

Excited to watch Logan Henderson today. He was brilliant in his last start and I hope he's finally put the injuries behind him.

[Joseph Zarr]

OH man, in Zebulon there is a group of elementary school kiddos blaring the national anthem. It is awesome. We got kiddos cracking the high end through those speakers. Gotta love Minor League baseball!

[Joseph Zarr]

As Greg Young mentioned in last night's broadcast: these Wood Ducks are a nemesis of sorts for our Mudcats. Last season, before the first half ended, the Mudcats had a final series versus Down East. They needed one victory in the series to end the playoff drought. Lo and behold, the Mudcats were swept. They missed the post-season yet again. With these teams now neck-and-neck, this is as important an early season game as there is. This is a big series for the Catfish Boys.

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville is also down 2-1 in their home series against Iowa, but has effective LHP Thomas Pannone (2.66 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7.6 K/9 in 23.2 IP) on the hill tonight. CF Blake Perkins has reached safely in 16 of 17 games since his MLB stint. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Henderson has what we would call: ham hocks. He has some quads baby. That lower half is rock solid. And we have a four pitch first AB K. Lovely stuff.

[Joseph Zarr]

Good grief the ump absolutely blew a strike him out throw him out. He was out by a good 2 feet. Sheeesh. 2nd K. But they leave the runner at 2B.

[Joseph Zarr]

The heater is dialed tonight. Lotta rise off that hand. Hasn't found the change-up or the curve quite yet but he is getting there. Ends the inning with his 3rd K. Glorious.

[wiguy94]

Logan Henderson definitely is an aesthetically pleasing pitcher to watch. I feel like he could fly through the system if the injuries are behind him. He has the stuff and command that can dominate the lower levels.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Logan Henderson definitely is an aesthetically pleasing pitcher to watch. I feel like he could fly through the system if the injuries are behind him. He has the stuff and command that can dominate the lower levels.

Absolutely. It's really all about those off-speed deliveries. He has one of the better fastballs in the system. It doesn't have that high 90's velo but it has such good spin and rise off that hand. The change and curve have the potential to be really good but they're works in progress. So much to like. I've been saying it since I first watched him last year (and you allude to it): he's just a competitive, fiery, and fun pitcher to watch on the mound. I'm really glad the Crew has him.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Rangers' 4th Rd pick just last season RHP Brock Porter struck out two in the first. He looked really sharp. Was getting quite a few lunging swings.

[Joseph Zarr]

Henderson just left a hanger and it was crushed 105 mph over the LF wall. 1-0 Wood Ducks. All about those off-speed deliveries as I was saying. And, he ends the inning with his 4th K on a ripping dart at the knees off the outside corner. That heater is a really fantastic pitch.

[Joseph Zarr]

That's now 5 K from Henderson through 2 1/3 IP. That was his first K off his dangerous change-up. 

[Joseph Zarr]

He gets his 6th K through 2 2/3 IP on another change-up. The man just competes. Whew baby.

[Joseph Zarr]

I'll go back to RHP Brock Porter is really sharp. He has a really nice mix of pitches. The Mudcats can't find any comfort in the batters box. 9 up. 9 down. 4 K. Mudcats still trail 1-0 and we're already into the 4th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

We have a lead-off double that somehow weasled its way off the very cap of the bat and scuffed down the 3B line into the bullpen. That ball was an absolute warmburner. Nothing you can do about that. Henderson continues to work. Given he's on a pitch count coming off injury it will be interesting to see how far they allow him to go. He's currently at 48 pitches here in the 4th. Nobody out. 

[wiguy94]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

We have a lead-off double that somehow weasled its way off the very cap of the bat and scuffed down the 3B line into the bullpen. That ball was an absolute warmburner. Nothing you can do about that. Henderson continues to work. Given he's on a pitch count coming off injury it will be interesting to see how far they allow him to go. He's currently at 48 pitches here in the 4th. Nobody out. 

Henderson with some of that Robert Gasser batted ball luck from last night there. 

[Joseph Zarr]

2-0 Wood Ducks on a sac fly after a failed pick-off at 2B ran into shallow CF - they had the out. But, the throw appeared low and slightly off and Vargas was incapable of corralling it (bad camera angle). Henderson has 2 down off the fly out but is now trailing 2-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

Henderson with some of that Robert Gasser batted ball luck from last night there. 

Yeah, that was one of those "Are you kidding me?" knocks. Probably travled 35 mph off the lumber. Yeeesh. He had him on the pick-off too. Just a bang bang bad luck toss and miss. He exits at 55 pitches total. Really solid stuff though. We'll take this outing with a smile.

[Joseph Zarr]

Figueroa comes aboard. First pitch pitch clock violation. Then throws the ball to the wall down the 1B line on a failed pick off. The runner advances to 3B. Let's hope he can get this out. Woof.