Minor League Discussion Thread

[jta4437]

If you are the type that follows the minor league system closely, feel free to post any information here to keep those who aren't up to date...

Keeps it from getting lost in the shuffle in other threads

 

[Windingmywatch]

If you are the type that follows the minor league system closely, feel free to post any information here to keep those who aren't up to date...

Keeps it from getting lost in the shuffle in other threads

Best way to keep up to date on minor league activity is to subscribe free to the Newberg Report and get his email updates but more relevant to minor league action ... Scott Lucas daily emails. Last year from about midseason for several months Fordman and I posted the daily reports in a separate thread. Took quite a bit of time ... and getting on the email list is simple.

Here's Scott's email from yesterday ...

Rangers Farm Report: Games of Wednesday 9 April

Stars of the Day
AAA: Nick Tepesch / Bryan Petersen, Brad Snyder, Adam Rosales
Hi-A: Victor Payano, Cody Ege
Lo-A: Cole Wiper, Collin Wiles

AAA: at Round Rock 1, Col. Springs 7
Record: 4-3

Nick Tepesch (0.69 ERA) pitched well again, striking out five and walking three while holding the Sky Sox to a run on five hits in seven innings.

Neftali Feliz retired three straight on 14 pitches, fanning one. I'm afraid I have no velocity readings. Feliz reached 96 MPH last Thursday, high enough to get my report some notice in major news outlets, before falling back to 89-92 in Sunday's cold drizzle. Aaron Poreda whiffed two of three in a clean 8th.

The Express received homers from Bryan Petersen (3-4, 2B, BB), Brad Snyder (3-5) and Adam Rosales (1-3, BB).

IF Alex Buchholz and reliever Randy Henry are active. The Rangers released RHP Doug Mathis and catcher Jose Felix. Mathis was Texas's 13th rounder in 2005 and a swingman with the Rangers in 2008-2010. Texas signed Felix from Mexico's Quintana Roo back in 2007. Felix has good receiving skills but didn't develop at the plate, batting .254/.284/.301 in 91 AAA games across 2012-2014.

Juremi Profar lasted 24 hours in Round Rock. He was sent to Hickory.

AA: off

High-A: Myrtle Beach 4, at Wilmington 3
Record: 2-4

While only marginally less wild than his previous start, Victor Payano (6.00 ERA) held the Blue Rocks to an unearned run in four innings. Payano walked and struck out five and allowed a solitary hit. Cody Ege improved substantially on a rough first outing, shutting out Wilmington for three innings on a hit and strikeout.

Jason Knapp threw a scoreless 8th and touched 95 per ESPN's Keith Law. Knapp is another interesting offseason signing. Drafted in the 2nd round of 2008 (not long after Tanner Scheppers, Robbie Ross and Josh Lindblom), Knapp was a top-100 prospect entering 2010 and a critical component to Cleveland's trade for Cliff Lee the previous summer. Shoulder trouble limited him to 28 innings in 2010, and last night's outing was his first real action since September 2010.

Offense was light but sufficient. 3B Joey Gallo (.200/.292/.200) singled and walked, as did DH Odubel Herrera (.450/.542/.500) with the added benefit of two steals. RF Royce Bolinger (.333/.375/.400) singled twice.

Low-A: Hickory 0, at Kannapolis 1
Record: 4-3

Cole Wiper (5.14 ERA) struck out seven of 17 batters and allowed a solitary run in four innings on two hits and three walks. Righty Collin Wiles, who could enter the rotation at some point, followed with four scoreless frames, fanning four and permitting three hits.

I'd love to write more about the offense but need a reason. The Crawdads were limited to three hits and are .206/.267/.299 in the early going.

Texas sent 1B Ronald Guzman to Extended Spring Training for missing the team bus. I would characterize that as a strong message to him and his young teammates.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Doug Mathis, released by Texas today, allowed two runs in six innings for AAA Oklahoma City. Closer Pedro Strop blew a 9th-inning lead. Frisco's Tommy Hunter allowed five runs in 2.2 innings, while Justin Smoak singled twice in his AA debut. Wilmer Font made his full-season debut with Hickory.

Today's Starters
AAA: Scott Baker
AA: Luke Jackson
Hi-A: Cody Buckel
Lo-A: David Ledbetter
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[jta4437]

Best way to keep up to date on minor league activity is to subscribe free to the Newberg Report and get his email updates but more relevant to minor league action ... Scott Lucas daily emails. Last year from about midseason for several months Fordman and I posted the daily reports in a separate thread. Took quite a bit of time ... and getting on the email list is simple.

Here's Scott's email from yesterday ...

Rangers Farm Report: Games of Wednesday 9 April

Stars of the Day
AAA: Nick Tepesch / Bryan Petersen, Brad Snyder, Adam Rosales
Hi-A: Victor Payano, Cody Ege
Lo-A: Cole Wiper, Collin Wiles

AAA: at Round Rock 1, Col. Springs 7
Record: 4-3

Nick Tepesch (0.69 ERA) pitched well again, striking out five and walking three while holding the Sky Sox to a run on five hits in seven innings.

Neftali Feliz retired three straight on 14 pitches, fanning one. I'm afraid I have no velocity readings. Feliz reached 96 MPH last Thursday, high enough to get my report some notice in major news outlets, before falling back to 89-92 in Sunday's cold drizzle. Aaron Poreda whiffed two of three in a clean 8th.

The Express received homers from Bryan Petersen (3-4, 2B, BB), Brad Snyder (3-5) and Adam Rosales (1-3, BB).

IF Alex Buchholz and reliever Randy Henry are active. The Rangers released RHP Doug Mathis and catcher Jose Felix. Mathis was Texas's 13th rounder in 2005 and a swingman with the Rangers in 2008-2010. Texas signed Felix from Mexico's Quintana Roo back in 2007. Felix has good receiving skills but didn't develop at the plate, batting .254/.284/.301 in 91 AAA games across 2012-2014.

Juremi Profar lasted 24 hours in Round Rock. He was sent to Hickory.

AA: off

High-A: Myrtle Beach 4, at Wilmington 3
Record: 2-4

While only marginally less wild than his previous start, Victor Payano (6.00 ERA) held the Blue Rocks to an unearned run in four innings. Payano walked and struck out five and allowed a solitary hit. Cody Ege improved substantially on a rough first outing, shutting out Wilmington for three innings on a hit and strikeout.

Jason Knapp threw a scoreless 8th and touched 95 per ESPN's Keith Law. Knapp is another interesting offseason signing. Drafted in the 2nd round of 2008 (not long after Tanner Scheppers, Robbie Ross and Josh Lindblom), Knapp was a top-100 prospect entering 2010 and a critical component to Cleveland's trade for Cliff Lee the previous summer. Shoulder trouble limited him to 28 innings in 2010, and last night's outing was his first real action since September 2010.

Offense was light but sufficient. 3B Joey Gallo (.200/.292/.200) singled and walked, as did DH Odubel Herrera (.450/.542/.500) with the added benefit of two steals. RF Royce Bolinger (.333/.375/.400) singled twice.

Low-A: Hickory 0, at Kannapolis 1
Record: 4-3

Cole Wiper (5.14 ERA) struck out seven of 17 batters and allowed a solitary run in four innings on two hits and three walks. Righty Collin Wiles, who could enter the rotation at some point, followed with four scoreless frames, fanning four and permitting three hits.

I'd love to write more about the offense but need a reason. The Crawdads were limited to three hits and are .206/.267/.299 in the early going.

Texas sent 1B Ronald Guzman to Extended Spring Training for missing the team bus. I would characterize that as a strong message to him and his young teammates.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Doug Mathis, released by Texas today, allowed two runs in six innings for AAA Oklahoma City. Closer Pedro Strop blew a 9th-inning lead. Frisco's Tommy Hunter allowed five runs in 2.2 innings, while Justin Smoak singled twice in his AA debut. Wilmer Font made his full-season debut with Hickory.

Today's Starters
AAA: Scott Baker
AA: Luke Jackson
Hi-A: Cody Buckel
Lo-A: David Ledbetter
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

Yeah I know we've tried this before, but figured it was worth re-hashing, I don't have time to hunt for minor league info and I get too many emails as is

I also know people get info from a variety of places,

Plus people have their "pet prospects" they like to follow, so even if they don't show up in the daily email, people should feel free to give info on those guys

 

[jta4437]

For example: Nick Williams off to a slow start; .207/.258/.310 slash thus far and no HRs

Perhaps most troubling is the 15 Ks in 7 games

It also looks like Gallo has gotten hot .333/.393/.625 2 HRs and 4 RBIs with a reasonable (compared to last year) 8 Ks in 7 games

Jorge Alfaro also struggling .200/.310/.200 with no HRs or RBIs BUT on the plus side he has walked 3 times already, which is so far is a sign of better plate discipline, hopefully he maintains

 

[Windingmywatch]

Yeah I know we've tried this before, but figured it was worth re-hashing, I don't have time to hunt for minor league info and I get too many emails as is

I also know people get info from a variety of places,

Plus people have their "pet prospects" they like to follow, so even if they don't show up in the daily email, people should feel free to give info on those guys

Whatever ... I read Scott Lucas. That gives me all the info I could ever want. Takes me about 2 minutes if that to update on everything from AAA to short season and rookie league when they are active.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Ford was far more diligent than I was/am going back and putting in the hyperlinks ... I'm too lazy. If you want the hyperlinks that are each of the score lines ... then subscribe to Scott's email or look up the individual game box scores. Here's today's (Friday 11 April) email ...

Rangers Farm Report: Games of Thursday 10 April

After a week of offensive doldrums, the system erupted for 12 homers and 37 runs on Thursday.

Stars of the Day
AAA: Bryan Petersen, Jared Hoying, Kensuke Tanaka, Brett Nicholas… almost everybody
AA: Phil Klein, Matt West / Jordan Brown, Drew Robinson, Trever Adams, Ryan Rua
Hi-A: Alex Claudio, Jose Leclerc / Chris Garia, Joey Gallo
Lo-A: Cody Kendall / Lewis Brinson, Nomar Mazara, Nick Vickerson, Travis Demeritte

AAA: at Round Rock 14, Col. Springs 8
Record: 5-3, tied for 1st

Round Rock mustered 24 baserunners and put four crooked numbers on the scoreboard. CF Jared Hoying (.240/.367/.480) hit his first homer, doubled and walked. On what is (so far) the Texas' oldest group of AAA hitters in at least 15 years, Hoying and C/1B Brett Nicholas (2-3, 2B, 2 BB) are the only homegrown position players on the roster and the only hitters under the age of 26. OF Bryan Petersen (2-4, 2 BB) .250/.324/.719) hit his fourth homer, 2B Kensuke Tanaka (3-4, 2B, BB) his first.

Scott Baker threw five scoreless innings after a four-run 1st.

AA: Frisco 11, at NW Arkansas 7
Record: 3-4, -3.0

Four players went deep for the first time: RF Drew Robinson (2-4, 2B), 3B Ryan Rua (1-4), DH Trever Adams (1-3, BB) and 1B Jordan Brown (1-5). Robinson is up to .286/.348/.524 on the young season. Rougned Odor (.200/.250/.320) singled twice.

Brown is a recent signing who I hadn't mentioned to date because, well, he's 30 and in AA. Drafted in the 4th round of 2005 along with Justin Maxwell, Mat Gamel, Jeremy Hellickson and current Ranger Brent Lillibridge, Brown has .225/.266/.304 line in 40 MLB games with Cleveland and Miami.

Kansas City's prospects pummeled Luke Jackson in their home opener. Jackson allowed seven runs on seven hits, two walks and three wild pitches in just 3.1 innings, inflating his ERA to 7.56. He's a very good prospect but will lose the handle on occasion, leading to days like Thursday. Phil Klein (2.2 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Matt West (2 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) held the Naturals at bay while the offense executed its comeback.

Reliever Martire Garcia, signed in the offseason by Texas, has been suspended 50 games for a violation of the league's Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. His sample was taken before the recently agreed-upon increase to 80 games for a first violation.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 6, at Wilmington 5
Record: 3-4, -3.0

3B Joey Gallo obliterated a slow start with two homers, a double and single in four trips to the plate. Gallo improved from .200/.250/.200 to .333/.393/.625 in the span of three hours. This early in the season, one spectacular game is enough to transform Gallo from "overmatched" to "too good for the league" if you overemphasize the small handful of results, when in fact Gallo is the same player he was before the outburst.

CF Chris Garia tripled, singled and stole a base. DH Nick Williams donned the dreaded golden sombrero, striking out four times.

Unfortunately, very unfortunately, Cody Buckel reverted to 2012 form, walking six of ten batters and hitting another before being pulled with none out and the bases loaded in the 2nd. Texas will be exceedingly patient in fostering his recovery, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's long for Myrtle Beach.

Lefty changeup specialist Alex Claudio followed Buckel with a career performance, stranding three runners and striking out six in five innings marred only by a single. Claudio spent much of 2013 in AA and would be there now, in my opinion, if not for all the upper-level relievers Texas has kept for the time being. Hard-throwing Jose Leclerc fanned three in 2.1 scoreless innings.

Low-A: at Hickory 6, Asheville 5 (10)
Record: 5-3, -1.0

2B Travis Demeritte has some pop, to be sure, but he wouldn't have been on my short list of players to have three homers in his first seven games. Demeritte (.182/.308/.591) hit a solo homer in the 6th and a game-tying three-run shot in the 8th. CF Lewis Brinson (.250/.273/.469) led off the1st with his second homer and later singled.

RF Nomar Mazara (.172/.273/.207) went 2-4 with a double and walk. 3B Nick Vickerson contributed three singles and his third steal.

Akeem Bostick allowed only three baserunners in the first four innings but was touched for four runs in the 5th on a solo homer, three singles and a walk. Bostick (4.66 ERA) departed with two outs and struck out three on the evening. Cody Kendall nailed down the last three innings and fanned four.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Kasey Kiker pitched five shutout innings with five strikeouts in his AA debut. Kiker exited 2009 as Texas's #6 prospect per Baseball America, but in retrospect, permanent decline was well underway. Kiker's fastball regularly dropped below 90 by season's end and never rebounded to the mid-90s he flashed as a teenager. He also struggled with his control all year, and during the next two seasons his combined walks and HBPs exceeded his strikeouts.

Kiker pitched for Texas through 2011, meaning I'll be seeing his name in five-year-old reports through September 2016. I don't know if I'm up for that.

With a fastball regularly reaching 97 MPH, Neftali Feliz struck out four but walked six in his AAA debut.

Today's Starters
AAA: Michael Kirkman
AA: Nick Martinez
Hi-A: Chi Chi Gonzalez
Lo-A: David Ledbetter
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[jta4437]

Whatever ... I read Scott Lucas. That gives me all the info I could ever want. Takes me about 2 minutes if that to update on everything from AAA to short season and rookie league when they are active.

Different strokes for different folks, just b/c its not your way doesn't mean its wrong,

chill out and no need to get snippy

 

[gregrey972]

thanks for the added thread...very interested in following this thread as well and thanks for the advice on the sources!

 

[terpsfball09]

okay we need this thread because i usually lose track of the minor leaguers once we're in the heat of the season.

really, the guys i wanna follow are gallo, chi chi, brinson, jackson, odor, and alfaro. our future

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I did not realize this thread was out here. Sorry about the post I had on game thread about last nights games.

 

[jta4437]

I did not realize this thread was out here. Sorry about the post I had on game thread about last nights games.

Ha, no it's what reminded me to re-hash the idea

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Not sure why Kirkman only pitched 3 innings (59 pitches) last night. But RR had a 2 run lead in the 9th and blew it then a 3 run lead in the 10th and lost it. Roman Mendez and Rafael Perez stunk it up.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Odor finally broke out and had 4 hits last night including 2 HRs. Also see Tanaka is hitting 379 with RR.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Cory Burns needs to be sent down to AA. Not sure who Sam Wolf is for MB as he pitched a few games out of pen last year but is off to a good start as a starter. And I noticed that Profar's brother played his first game for Hickory last night and had a homer.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rangers Farm Report: Games of Saturday 12 April

Stars of the Day
AAA: Brett Nicholas, Jared Hoying, many more
AA: Alec Asher, Edwar Cabrera / Rougned Odor, Jordan Brown, Jake Smolinski, Ryan Rua, Chris Grayson
Hi-A: Sam Wolff, Cody Ege
Lo-A: Juremi Profar, Kevin Torres, Nick Vickerson

AAA: Round Rock 16, at Col. Springs 12
Record: 6-4, tied for 1st

The Express relinquished a six-run lead the day after losing an 8-1 advantage, but they scored five in the 9th. As I say every year, I'm glad Texas's AAA squad plays few games in high-altitude parks.

Neftali Feliz worked out of an inherited bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 7th but allowed an inside-the-park homer and a walk in the 8th. I didn't catch any velocity readings. His fastball had plenty of movement, but he had trouble harnessing it at times.

After a rough spring, Cory Burns (17.05 ERA) has fared no better in the real games. He gave up five runs in an inning yesterday and has allowed 23 runners in just 6.1 innings.

Round Rock received homers from both of their youngest hitters, Jared Hoying (3) and Brett Nicholas (2). Both also singled. Reaching safely at least three times were vets Bryan Petersen, Brent Lillibridge, Brad Snyder and Kensuke Tanaka.

AA: Frisco 15, at NW Arkansas 2
Record: 5-4, -2.0

Rougned Odor (.257/.289/.543) hit his second and third homers of the season, his first double and a single. Here's video of the second. Odor's season-best was last year's 11, six of which came in a torrid 30-game stretch with Frisco. Also homering were vets Jordan Brown (2) and Jake Smolinski (1).

3B Ryan Rua (.375/.444/.583) and OF Chris Grayson were 3-4 with a double, and Grayson added a walk. Grayson's addition to Frisco was a surprise, as he batted .199/.298/.296 with high-A Myrtle Beach last season. He's batting .545/.667/.727 as a part-time player.

Alec Asher (4.00 ERA) fanned six and allowed two runs on a solo homer, five other hits and two walks in six innings. Edwar Cabrera pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th with three strikeouts. Demoted to Frisco to replace Martire Garcia, Ryan Rodebaugh loaded the bases but struck out the side in the 7th.

High-A: Myrtle Beach 3, at Salem 0
Record: 5-4, -1.0

Sam Wolff and Cody Ege combined on a two-hit shutout. Wolff walked and struck out three in 6.1 innings, while Ege fanned one and permitted a single runner to reach on an HBP. Texas selected both in last summer's draft, the 6th and 15th rounds, respectively. Myrtle scored on eight singles and two walks. 3B Joey Gallo (.323/.405/.645) had one of each.

Low-A: at Hickory 5, Asheville 7 (10)
Record: 5-5, -3.0

18-year-old Juremi Profar isn't a placeholder at Hickory as he was for a day in Round Rock. Making his second start in 3B, Profar hit his first professional homer. Juremi is bigger than brother Jurickson and more suited to third than the middle infield. He's not remotely on the level of the elder Profar as a prospect (few were) but is worth watching.

1B Nick Vickerson was 3-5, and ultimate organizational soldier Kevin Torres homered.

Starter Yohander Mendez (1.93 ERA) fanned four of 16 batters but allowed a solo homer and unearned run on three other hits, a walk and Profar error.

Five Years Ago Yesterday
Rain, mostly. Michael Kirkman one-hit high-A Modesto for seven innings.

Today's Starters
AAA: 36 degrees with a wintry mix. Doubleheader tomorrow.
AA: Matt Harrison
Hi-A: Luis Parra
Lo-A: Frank Lopez
--
Scott Lucas
Newberg Report (newbergreport.com)
rangers.scottlucas.com
twitter: @scottrlucas

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Thanks Winding. That answered the questions I had above.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Peterson for RR has 16 RBI's already and his avg has climbed to 300. Tanaka is hitting 382. Baker has looked like a good pick up so far as he is now 3-0 with a 2.84 era.

 

[jta4437]

Peterson for RR has 16 RBI's already and his avg has climbed to 300. Tanaka is hitting 382. Baker has looked like a good pick up so far as he is now 3-0 with a 2.84 era.

Hickory has some power potential there though, Guzman, Brinson, Mazara, and maybe Profar

They haven't got there yet but it could be impressive

Its true, if you take 2 of the top future & potential power slugger with 70 & 80 grades for power out of the mix (and Nick Williams to boot), it seems like a big step backward but its not as bad as you would think

 

[jta4437]

Speaking of Nick Williams, he's had back to back 2 hit games, looks like he's coming out of his early season funk a little later than some others

 

[fanman8825]

Speaking of Nick Williams, he's had back to back 2 hit games, looks like he's coming out of his early season funk a little later than some others

Thats encoraging because I like Willliams alot. This will be good for him if he continues to hit and get his average back up near 300