Big Franmil Reyes is starting to heat up. Photo Credit: Grant Wickes
Chihuahuas 11, Reno Aces 3
Key Statistics: CF Travis Jankowski 2-4, RBI; C Brett Nicholas 2-3, HR (5), 5 RBI; RF Franmil Reyes 2-4, HR (3), 3 RBI; P Dillon Overton 2-2, 2B; LHP Dillon Overton 4.0 IP 4 H BB 3 K; RHP Eric Yardley (W, 1-0) 2.0 IP K; RHP Trey Wingenter 1.0 IP H 2 BB K.
Prospect Watch: Dillon Overton had quite a night. He got called up from San Antonio to take Eric Lauer’s spot in the rotation, threw four shutout innings and went two for two at the plate with a double. And after all that, he’s probably headed right back to San Antonio. … Brett Nicholas has ten extra-base hits in 14 games, five of them have gone over the fence. He is hitting .375 on the year. With Allen Craig on the disabled list, he will likely be in the lineup almost every day between catching and first base. … Second baseman Luis Urias was 1-for-5 with a walk and is hitting .237…While we were in El Paso, one of the players we talked to Chihuahuas’ manager Rod Barajas about was Franmil Reyes. The big man has a slash line of .291/.385/.509. Everyone knows about his power, but you can read about his plate discipline here.
Chihuahuas notes: El Paso is in something of a roster crunch. While Overton was activated for Friday’s game, neither Luis Perdomo nor Tyler Webb officially reported. The organization will need to make corresponding moves to activate them on Saturday. With Manuel Margot likely to come off the big-league disabled list, another move will be required. It has been widely speculated that Eric Lauer will join the Padres in the next few days as well.
Midland RockHounds 3, Missions 2
Key Statistics: 1B Josh Naylor 2-4; C Austin Allen 2-4; 2B River Stevens 2-4, 3B; CF Michael Gettys 1-3, 2B; LHP Jerry Keel 7.0 IP 5 H BB 4 K; RHP Erik Johnson (BS) (L, 0-1) 1.0 IP 2 H 3 R 2 ER BB 2 K.
Prospect Watch: With all the top pitching prospects in the system, Jerry Keel can sometimes get lost. He shouldn’t. In a brief three-game cameo with San Antonio last year he had a 1.02 ERA in 17.2 innings. He seems to have picked up where he left off. The six-foot-six lefty from Palmdale, California bounced back from a tough start against Arkansas and got batters to pound the ball into the ground. According to Mike Saeger, the Missions play-by-play announcer, Keel’s sinker was much better than his last start and batters had difficulty making solid contact…Unfortunately, Erik Johnson gave up all three of Midland’s runs in the bottom of the eighth spoiling Keel’s night. It’s the second outing for Johnson, who is expected to stretch out into a swing role. … The were brutal conditions in Midland, with a 35-mph wind blowing in. … Josh Naylor still managed to get a pair of hits and is hitting .404/.492/.769. He and Austin Allen – at .346/.382/.673 – have been the offensive stars of the Padres’ system.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, 7, Storm 3
Key Statistics: CF Edward Olivares 2-4, 2 RBI, BB; C Luis Torrens 2-4; SS Ruddy Giron 2-4; LF Taylor Kohlwey 2-4, HR (1), RBI; RHP Pedro Avila 5.0 IP 6 H 2 R 2 ER 2 BB 3 K; RHP Dauris Valdez (BS, 1)(L,0-1) 0.1 IP 6 H 5 R 5 ER 2 HR.
Prospect Watch: In a night full of bullpen meltdowns, Dauris Valdez’s may have been the worst. He gave up five earned runs and only got a single out. He gave up a pair of home runs, two singles, a triple and a double before being removed. When he’s on, the big man has easy upper-90s stuff, but he’s had three catastrophic outings already on the year. … Edward Olivares, 22, is off to a good start at .311/.358/.459. The lanky Venezuelan was one of our favorite players in Spring Training with his blend of defense, speed, and power. … Pedro Avila, also traded for a big leaguer, is off to a weird start to the year. His strikeout rate is way down and his walk rate is way up. But he’s figuring out how to pitch off of his fastball more consistently, and is holding opponents to only a .230 average. That’s helped him keep opponents in check through his first three starts.
Dayton Dragons 9, TinCaps 5
Key Statistics: CF Jeisson Rosario 4-5, BB, SB (3), RBI; C Luis Campusano 2-4; 1B Carlos Belen 2-5 HR (2), 3 RBI; LF Jack Suwinski 3-5; RF Tre Carter 1-3, 2 BB; SS Justin Lopez 0-3, 2 BB; LHP Tom Cosgrove 4.1 IP 4 H 3 R 3 ER 2 BB 8 K; RHP Henry Henry 0.2 IP H 2 R 2 ER 2 BB K; LHP Fred Schlichtholz (L, 1-2) 1.1 IP 3 H 4 R 4 ER 2 BB.
Prospect Watch: The TinCaps were up 5-3 going into the eighth, but both Henry Henry and Fred Schlichtholz ran into problems as the Fort Wayne bullpen surrendered six earned runs. … Jeisson Rosario demonstrated why one shouldn’t get too hung up on early-season numbers. He saw his batting average jump from .212 to .289 in one day. Through 12 games the 18-year-old has a slash line of .289/.500/.395 with three steals and 15 walks against nine strikeouts. Throw in the fact that he is in any conversation for the best defensive outfielder in the system and there are reasons to be excited. … 19-year-old Jack Suwsinki, who returned to the Summit City for his second season, is also doing well with a .270/.396/.541 line and is tied for the team lead with five extra-base hits. … The Padres’ organization seems to be overrun by left-handed starting pitching. Aaron Leasher, 21, finished today’s start with a 2.51 ERA and 16 strikeouts against three walks through his first 14.1 innings. Fellow 2017 college draft pick Nick Margevicius, 21, has also impressed early with a 2.70 ERA in 16.2 innings pitched with a dominant 24:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. … 19-year old Luis Campusano, the Padres’ second-round pick in last year’s draft, is off to a solid start hitting .278/.350/.389. To find out more about him, check out David Jay’s profile here.
For the box scores of all the games please go to the MiLB.com scoreboards.
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