2018 6th rounder RJ Freure, in his 1st start in full-season ball: 4IP, 1H, 3BB, 7K eta: the "start extra innings with a runner on 2B" rule had its first appearance in CC. Wrenn on 2B, single to left wins it.
Scott Manea hit his second home run for Fayetteville... it was a solo shot in the 1st inning. He had a two-run homer in the second game of last night's doubleheader.
No idea how he is behind the plate, but his bat is promising. He'll get a ton of DH ABs this year splitting time with Papierski.
After Alex De Goti tied Round Rock's game at 6 with a two-out solo homer in the 9th, Yordan Alvarez whacked a three-run homer in the 10th to put the Express in the lead.
Colin McKee just finished off three perfect innings for Corpus, striking out 8. Not really a prospect, but I'm just passing this along...
Baseball America had him as one of the top D2 prospects when he was drafted, so there is at least some pedigree there.
Edgardo Sandoval retired after his outing this weekend, with Brendan Feldmann replacing him on Fayetteville’s roster. Tanner Duncan is now on Corpus’ roster, leaving Nick Hernandez, Carlos Canelon, and Hansel Paulino as the only 3 players not on a roster and not reported as released. I assume Hernandez and Paulino are injured and that Canelon has been released.
J.B. Bukauskas will make his 2019 debut tomorrow in the first game of Corpus Christi's series in Frisco.
The way things are going, Kemp will be the DH of the present and near future if Hinch doesn't trust him enough to rest Brantley. Alvarez is going to have to learn to play left.
wrong. And by "wrong" I mean I wish there were 2 DH spots. I love Kemp hitting 9th, but Alvarez is an actual serious bat at DH, and I want to see what he can do. But if Kemp keeps doing Kemp things then there's nothing to talk about. Part of that "wrong" is that Alvarez cannot play LF well at all (but Kemp can) Think Carlos Lee...then take a couple or three shots...and then think Carlos Lee again.
I was half joking, half not as Kemp has been the top DH so far in ABs. Astros appear to want to use the DH spot to rest players (i.e., the DH is a part-time gig). Hinch does not like having 13 position players as he doesn't like bats that don't get regular ABs. I think there is a good chance Astros go with 8 full-time starters in the near future with two or three guys playing matchups unless someone like Diaz can become a starter that bounces between positions (preference is likely to get someone that can play one position primarily, but slide around as needed). Alvarez will be a DH as a last resort. Then, the Astros will try him in the field one more time to be sure. If Alvarez is primarily a DH, he'll still likely be in the field 1-2 times a week. On Kemp, I see him as being a part-time player who gets a lot of as bats as he's a LHB. Where he plays will depend on other guys. DH, LF, Cincy, who knows. Something has to give for the Astros. I suspect Alvarez gets some time in majors this year. Even with Tucker in the doghouse, I suspect he'll get another shot this year.
Alvarez isn’t that bad in the outfield. He also can play first base as well. Not that it matters because his bat has the chance to be good enough that he DH’s regardless of how Kemp or White play.
Hitters After 1 week: studs: Manea, Fisher, Alvarez, Wrenn, Mayfield, Rojas, E Valdez, Duarte, McCormick, Papierski mirages: Ritchie, De La Cruz, Schreiber, and M Sierra. bad luck: Arauz, Salazar, Beer, Straw, Tanielu Duds: Holderbach, Meyers, Toro, T Dawson, Robinson, Jones, Costes, Reed, R Dawson, Taylor, A Sierra, Matijevic, Tucker, Stubbs, Benedetti Pitchers: Studs: Urquidy, McKee, N Rodriguez, Blanco, Conn, Ruppenthal, Ferrell, LaRue, Mirages: Guduan, Freure, Mushinski, Ivey, Rodgers, Hartman, Bailey Bad luck: Conine, Scheetz, Donato, McCurry Duds: C Perez, Adcock, France, Dubin, Deason, C Martin, G Valdez, Rosado, Bostick
He can't play 1B, can he? He struggles in LF (eta: sorry, reminds me of the Preston Tucker 1B experience) eta: he misplayed 2 or 3 balls in LF in ST, that's what I'm basing my opinion on. Please tell me I'm wrong.
Not sure it is meant to be a doghouse, but for all intents and purposes it might as well be one. For a Top 10 or so prospect repeating AAA, he looks like the 6th or 7th man in line for ABs in the OF right now. I've not seen him at 1B, but heard he's a better OF. Provided the bat plays in the majors, I think the bigger question is how much of him in the OF are the Astros willing to take. Guys like Kemp and White will be moved around, accordingly.
