Tue. 4/9 - New Six-Game Series Begin

[Jim Goulart]

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

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

[Jim Goulart]

The Youngest Players in Each League In 2024

[Joseph Zarr]

16 hours ago, Mass Haas said:

The Youngest Players in Each League In 2024

Carolina having the top 3 youngest players and 4 of the top 10 of the Carolina League is certainly something.

[Joseph Zarr]

So far we will be seeing RHP Patricio Aquino for Wisco, RHP TJ Shook for Biloxi, and RHP Janson Junk for Nashville (he'll be looking to rebound from a sub-par debut after his return from illness). As of this am, we are still TBD for Carolina's opener vs Down East.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

40 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

So far we will be seeing RHP Patricio Aquino for Wisco, RHP TJ Shook for Biloxi, and RHP Janson Junk for Nashville (he'll be looking to rebound from a sub-par debut after his return from illness). As of this am, we are still TBD for Carolina's opener vs Down East.

Please keep in mind the weather down here is very iffy as there stadium cam has the tarp on):

[Ro Mueller]

Wisconsin plays at the South Bend Cubs this week, sending 20-year old RHP Patricio Aquino (2.75 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 in 88.1 Low-A IP last year) out tonight for his first-ever High-A start. 3B Mike Boeve has 5 hits over his last 2 games. 

[wiguy94]

18 year old Manuel Rodriguez is starting for Carolina tonight. Really curious to see what he looks like as his numbers in both the DSL and ACL have been pretty pedestrian the last 2 season.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Tonight's Starting Lineup from Zebulon!

Can't wait for Mudcats baseball with PxP from Colin Casey!

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

18 year old Manuel Rodriguez is starting for Carolina tonight. Really curious to see what he looks like as his numbers in both the DSL and ACL have been pretty pedestrian the last 2 season.

Same!

[Ro Mueller]

25-year old RHP TJ Shook (4.62 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 9.9 K/9 in 97.1 AA IP in 2023) makes his 2024 debut for AA Biloxi at the Mississippi Braves. 1B Ernesto Martinez leads the team with 3 hits and 3 RBIs. 

[Ro Mueller]

The AAA Sounds are also on the road this week, taking on the Memphis Redbirds. RHP Janson Junk looks for a bounceback start (5 ER in 3.2 IP last week). Cleanup hitter LF Brewer Hicklen is off to a flying start to the season: .357 AVG / .457 OBP / .607 SLG in 35 PAs. 

[Joseph Zarr]

First look at RHP Manuel Rodriguez. One thought early: he is hanging sliders. Two blasts deep off the Right CF wall resulted in a triple and a double. Also: Yophery Rodriguez is learning how to play those long balls. He over ran the first blast (a hanger slider mistake - Garcia asked for outside corner it went dead center cut) by a good 15 feet and it resulted in the three bags. These XBH's all came after a fast two outs for Rodriguez. It all came to the meat of the order. Will be quite interesting to see what happens should he make it a 2nd and 3rd time through the order.

[Joseph Zarr]

Down East RF'er Marcus Smith just made a heck of a play on a hard hit Baez lead-off ground ball down the right field line. He scooped it in deep foul territory and fired an absolute dart to the second base mitt tagging Baez in a bang-bang effort. Just an incredible throw. Mudcats trail 2-0 here in the bottom of the first.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

It's a pretty night for baseball here in Zebulon!

[Joseph Zarr]

A very nice recovery 1-2-3 2nd inning for Rodriguez. He got hit deep to the CF wall where Rodriguez ran it down but also got a weak pop to LF and a K. Settle in, young man. Keep it going.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nick Stanley's faith in his lefty bats versus a lefty starter is certainly not paying dividends early. Lotta strikes swinging and looking. First time through the order and the lefty dominant bats are overmatched.

[Joseph Zarr]

Rodriguez has been fine - 3 K - BUT he is just hanging and errantly locating way too many off-speed pitches. Just dead center hangers. And, to a pitch, each one has been smashed deep. he just gave up a long ball over the LF wall on another dead center hanging breaking ball. Mudcats trail 3-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just hung a dead center cut fastball on an 0-2 count and nearly paid for it as it went deep to the RF wall but about a foot foul. He is not locating consistently. He has stuff that plays but he is consistently not locating and suffering for it.

[Joseph Zarr]

My guy Nicasia breaks the six consecutive Mudcats mowed down (4 K) by hitting a hard grounder up the middle. A man on base! Woot woot! All for naught as Briceno tops a groundball directly to the charging SS who completes the DP. The Wood Ducks starter has so far faced the minimum as we head to the 4th and the Muddies trailing 3-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

All I am seeing across the system so far is hitting into DP's! LOL. O'Rae leads off in South Bend with a single to CF. Lara hits smack dab into a DP even with O'Rae running for 2B. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Aquino starts 2024 off with his off-speed tools looking filthy. Lotta vertical and horizontal movement. He just picked up a K followed by a high pop up off the mound on two dirty looking off-speed offerings. 0-0 on to the 2nd in South Bend.

[Joseph Zarr]

INF Luke Adams' first High-A hit was about a 20 mph topped dribbler up the 3B line. Fielded by the catcher...but Adams outran the coverage. It will go down a single regardless! Mark it down!

[Joseph Zarr]

Matt Wood's turn: hits into a DP. Just after a SS error avoided Barrios' DP ball. LOL. Adams moves to 3rd base. Two down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, Biloxi and Mississippi are in a weather delay already. Boooo!

[Joseph Zarr]

Aquino's slider looks absolutely fantastic to start this season. Just so much life to that pitch. Consider me very impressed through two innings.