It has been a mixed start to the season on the pitching side. Some pitchers, like Alek Manoah, have pitched well. But overall a lot of the pitchers have been hit around. On Friday, all the affiliates lost and conceded 48 runs over four games. Tampa scored 25 against Dunedin. Things can only get better, right?
Worcester 4 Buffalo 2
New Hampshire 4 Portland 9
Vancouver 6 Tri-City 10
Dunedin 10 Tampa 25
This is what I noted from yesterday's games.
TJ Zeuch started for the Bisons. He threw four innings but had a rough third where he gave up three runs thanks to two triples. Tayler Saucedo pitched three shutout innings in relief, his second strong outing after 2.1 shutout innings on opening day.
It will be interesting to see how the Jays handle the new six day series with their starting pitchers. Do they just run through five guys? If so the starters will only start every five days about five or six times in 2021. That is not ideal preparation for taking a regular turn in the major leagues. In the lower minors will the Jays use six starters and have them start once per week?
Yesterday I noted that Warmoth, Wall and Large had started well. Warmoth didn't play on Friday and Wall was hitless. But Cullen Large had two more hits including a triple and is hitting .438.
Kyle Johnston started for the Fisher Cats and was hit around. Eight hits in three innings with no strikeouts shows his struggle. Fitz Stadler, out of the bullpen, gave up six runs.
Gabriel Moreno had two hits, a single and a double. He is hitting .462. The other red hot hitter is Kevin Vicuna who is hitting .455. Vicuna was 2-3 with a double and hasn't struck out in three games this season. Austin Martin had a triple in four trips to the plate but he struck out twice. Jordan Groshans went 0-4. Otto Lopez was 1-4 but threw two runners out at the plate from left field in the same inning.
The pitching disaster area that is the Dunedin Blue Jays continued unabated. Jol Concepcion started and was charged with seven runs in three innings. A shout out to Brandon Eisert who threw 2.1 shutout innings with four K's to show it can be done. Eisert was the only pitcher out of six used, who didn't allow a run.
Eric Rivera went 4-4 with a walk. Zach Britton hit his first home run. Miguel Hiraldo was 4-6 with two doubles.
CJ Van Eyk's professional debut didn't go as planned. He had trouble throwing strikes, 23 of them as compared to 19 balls. His inning roughly went lead off single, a couple of wild pitches, a couple of walks and a couple of doubles. Four runs later he was out of there after two thirds of an inning.
Rafael Lantigua led the hitters with three hits.
Each year Baseball America lists the youngest players in each league. No member of the Bisons made the list which was topped by Wander Franco, Tampa's super prospect. At AA Simeon Woods Richardson is tied with Riley Greene for the youngest in the league. Gabriel Moreno and Elvis Luciano are tied for fourth youngest. At Vancouver, Adam Kloffenstein is the second youngest while in Dunedin new signing from Brazil, Rafael Ohashi is also second youngest.
These daily minor league summaries are prepared by #2JBrumfield and myself. Others who have helped over the years have dropped out. If you would like to take a regular turn in helping out, send an email to roster at batters box dot ca.
Three Stars
Third Star - Brandon Eisert
Second Star - Miguel Hiraldo
First Star - Eric Rivera
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