Wed. 8/20 - Upper Levels Home, Lower Away

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday. 

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[Joseph Zarr]

Thinking back to last summer around this time we were waist deep in the RHP Mitch White renaissance and the sudden and miraculous re-arrival of shutdown LHP Aaron Ashby.

RHP John Holobetz has reached Double-A for the Red Sox. He has two Starts under his belt for the Portland Sea Dogs.. Looks like he's had a solid season overall. Really rooting for him!

[biedergb]

OK @Joseph Zarr - you got me waxing nostalgic here. I won't go way back, but in 2022 it was the post Hader trade and the Ruiz/Gasser watch, as well as the '22 draftees (Miz and EBJ), plus stateside debuts of Areinamo and the beginning of Jackson Chourio. Just a few that come to thte top of my head.

Then in 2023 it was the Chourio/Miz rise, and that '23 ACL squad (the last squad that played post draft) which was an offensive juggernaut with Baez, O'Rae, along with the '23 draftees Pratt, Boeve, Wilken mashing. And some IFA pitching got on the map with Manuel Rodriguez, Galindez etc in the ACL and Aquino/Herrera/Rivero/Yerlin in low A. Plus Shane Smith. Having looked up those rosters and stats from those two clubs to refresh my memory.

Last year this time we were watching Miz transform from an erratic starter to a lights out 1-2 inning reliever and the questions of Miz/Ashby and Yoho on the playoff roster as key bullpen pieces. And getting ready to see some exciting EV data on the previously noted "slap hitter with speed" Braylon Payne. And the fact that the organization seemed to legitimately be one that developed pitching.

August has been an exciting time in prospect watching - with the DSL winding down, and the influx of draft picks, plus seeing the prospects who stocks rise (and sometimes fall) after the long summer.

We still have a couple of weeks, left but I can't wait until opening day again next year 🙃

[Joseph Zarr]

I will say, it's one game. Yes, it's one game. SS Brady Ebel absolutely looks the part of a professional baseball player. Just so clearly embodied. Comfortable in that body. Knows how to move. Knows how to swing that bat, my goodness - such a beautiful swing. It obviously means very little at this juncture. BUT, it was an impressive flare oppo single liner debut if there is such a thing 😅. 

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Enderson Mercado pitched 5 1/3 IP of 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 2 ER work his last time out @ Fayetteville. He'll be tasked with another road match-up in Salem tonight as he looks to get the Mudcats out to a 2-0 series lead while keeping their 1.0 G lead over Fredericksburg for the division crown. SS Brady Ebel is batting third while 1B Eric Bitonti is in clean-up. After some truly plus defense at 3B last night, Gery Holguin is back at the hot corner. Always good to see DH Braylon Payne healthy and in the line up stacking AB's. CF Josiah Ragsdale moves from LF over to CF to cover for Payne. LF Handelfry Encarnacion is back on the outfield grass after knocking in 2 RBI last night in a DH role. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

We last saw Tyler Rodriguez on Friday 8/20. I hope he's just taking his turn in the rotation. He's been a sneaky plus contributor for quite a bit now. With the arrival of Ragsdale he may have fallen down the pecking order and may be swimming for PT scraps for the time being. 

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[Ro Mueller]

19 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

We last saw Tyler Rodriguez on Friday 8/20. I hope he's just taking his turn in the rotation. He's been a sneaky plus contributor for quite a bit now. With the arrival of Ragsdale he may have fallen down the pecking order and may be swimming for PT scraps for the time being. 

He and Kevin Garcia seem to be MIA. Hope they’re healthy.

[Jim Goulart]

RHP Manuel Rodriguez has struggled his last 2 starts (9.2 IP, 12 R, 10 Ks) and seeks a return to earlier form to lead High-A Wisconsin back to a 1-1 series tie at Beloit.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

This Salem announcer repeatedly calling off-speed pitches fastballs is truly comical. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Muddies had Payne on 3B and one down. THey now have Bitonti at 2B and Ebel at 3B. Payne was caught in a force out pickle. 

AND, in Beloit, Fischer was also caught in a pickle after another weakly hit grounder left him stranded on contact. 

Possible early runs collectively chased down in run downs is something.

[Joseph Zarr]

Encarnacion swinging K on a pretty desperate swing on a heater up and away outside the zone. Sigh. 

BUT, Adamczewski's first High-A poke is an RBI ground ball single into right CF scoring Peña. 1-0 T-Rats. 

[Joseph Zarr]

CASTILLO!!! THAT'S A 2-1 PULL SHOT 104 MPH OFF THE LUMBER. 3-0 Rattlers. Atta way, Luis!Let's do this thing. 

Mercado gives up a lead-off smacked double high off the LF wall. That ball was smoked. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Very impressive efficient escape work from Mercado there. Ground out to SS. Runner held. Shallow flare fly out to right CF. Runner holds. Swinging K. 0-0 we head to the 2nd. 

Manuel opens his work with an 8 pitch swinging K. His stuff appears to be moving tonight. Let's hope this holds!

[Joseph Zarr]

K looking for Rodriguez out numero dos. Beautiful heavy breaking breaker. Absolutely had him frozen. The stuff is indeed moving early!

[Joseph Zarr]

Nava absolutely freight trains into a concrete wall trying to catch the 0-1 foul into the stands. Yowza. Merely a flesh wound! Let's see if Manuel can strike out the side. He is called for a pitch clock vioaltion. No matter. Whewwwww. He gets the K on a gorgeous slider. Wow. THAT was an inning! Glorious.

[Joseph Zarr]

A 1-2-3 T-Rats 2nd. Diaz K's after ahead 3-0. Guilarte flies out to deep RF. And Nicasia first pitch pops out to shallow CF. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Folks, that's four consecutive K's for RHP Manuel Rodriguez. Man, the ball is hopping and moving. THIS is the Rodriguez I envision in my dreams. My goodness.

[Joseph Zarr]

Kuehner opesn his evening with an 0-1 oppo taco just over the deep RF corner wall. Boooo. Sounds trail 1-0. That's 6-up. 6-down for Rodriguez. 4 K. Two weak infield pop outs to 3B. He is absolutely dialed in. 

[Joseph Zarr]

And we've completely lost the feed in Nashville. Nice. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Another K for Fischer. That's 4 K through 6 AB early in this road series. 

[Ro Mueller]

LHP Tate Kuehner is poised for his 2nd career AAA start (5.1 IP, 1 R, 4 Ks last week) as AAA Nashville aims for a 2-0 home series lead over Louisville. What does 3B Ray Delgado have ready as an encore after his cycle yesterday? 

[Matt]

LOL shouts on the Wisconsin broadcast. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, Payne goes down looking at two consecutive curve balls. Ragsdale with a well hit single to RF. 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP KC Hunt (4.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 in 92 IP) gets a start on 4 days’ rest for AA Biloxi, as they need a win to even their home series against Chattanooga. 1B Blake Burke has 9-game hitting streak; C Matt Wood 6 games.