Wed. 4/13 - Mudcats in The Morning

[Mass Haas]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday, lineup updates (when damuelle is available, which is often), etc.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

[damuelle]

The 3-1 Mudcats look to quickly bounce back from their first defeat of the season, playing Game 2 of 6 against Fredericksburg this week. 20-year old RHP Miguel Segura makes his Low-A Carolina debut and the line-up is again powered by LF Micah Bello (.462 AVG), C Jeferson Quero (.400 AVG) and SS Eduardo Garcia (.375 AVG):

[damuelle]

Miguel Segura exited after 3 innings (57 pitches) with a 4-1 lead. Pablo Garabitos then pitched one inning, before RHP Jefferson Figueroa entered in the bottom of the 5th inning to make his first appearance of the 2022 season. It's 5-2 Mudcats.

[damuelle]

Eduardo Garcia has hit the Carolina Mudcats' first home run of the season, helping re-build the lead to 6-4. They head to the bottom of the 7th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

I'm going to keep playing this tune: 

Eduardo Garcia is one of our more interesting prospects. In my mind, he has already solidified his Top 30 territory. I know the season is young but when you watch this young man play he already has the confidence, swagger, frame, and skill to project. I'm extremely pleasantly surprised by what I am seeing in his game in the early going. My current question is: Does he merit more Top 10 consideration. This is how impressive he has been on a game-by-game basis.

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy the 1B ump just absolutely blows a call on a tag out at First Base. Vargas' throw brought Silva off the bag but he absolutely easily and quite visibly tagged him a good 2-3' before the runner's foot touched the bag.

Early season throwing issues from the left sides of the infield across the lower levels it would appear.

[Joseph Zarr]

And, this blown call could mean trouble for Vassalotti as he hits the next batter on a breaking ball inside with the count full. The tying run is aboard. The leading run is at the plate.

And on a 1-2 count he induces the lazy pop-up just outside the LH batter's box. Queros, who loses his read in the sun and winds, makes the basket catch as he cradles it to the ground.

6-4 Mucats and we're onto the top of the 8th. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bello continues his scorching start to the season as he lines a broken bat single over the middle of the infield to Center Field. He is 2-4 on the day.

[Joseph Zarr]

Cipion absolutely crushes a HR to LF for the 2nd HR of the young season. He rips it a good 10 feet over the entire Left Field wall and stands. Both these Mudcats' home runs today have been absolute no-doubters. 8-4 Mudcats, baby.

[Joseph Zarr]

Garcia, my second favorite prospect on this young season, follows up his HR blast with an absolutely crushed double splitting the gap between CF and RF and scores 2 more. This young man is what we call: an exciting young prospect. Time to set your radars to Low A, ladies and gentlemen. 10-4 Mudcats.

[BallFour]

30 minutes ago, Julio Muchacho said:

I'm going to keep playing this tune: 

Eduardo Garcia is one of our more interesting prospects. In my mind, he has already entered Top 30 territory. I know the season is young but when you watch this young man play he already has the confidence, swagger, frame, and skill to project. I'm extremely pleasantly surprised by what I am seeing in his game in the early going.

You know a player is locked in when they are pulling breaking balls out of the ballpark and hitting fastballs the other way. Him and Quero have been impressive. It is nice to have talent to check in on each affiliate right now. Hasn't been that way for a while. 

[Joseph Zarr]

19 minutes ago, BallFour said:

You know a player is locked in when they are pulling breaking balls out of the ballpark and hitting fastballs the other way. Him and Quero have been impressive. It is nice to have talent to check in on each affiliate right now. Hasn't been that way for a while. 

Amen, my friend. Absolutely. He is swinging with confidence, freedom, and purpose. I have moved Eduardo ahead of Hedbert Perez in my own in-season running Top 30 list. This can obviously move around some as a season evolves and progresses, but, in the early going it isn't really even close in terms of impact. He's been that good.

Did you happen to see yesterday's game? Because, it clearly isn't just offense with Eduardo. He has an incredible glove and arm at SS. He snagged a dart yesterday where I swore he jumped a good 3-3.5' to haul it out of the air. Before that, he had taken a deep hopper in the hole and fired an absolute cannon to 1st right on the money. This is a 5-Tool youngster.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hedbert Perez nearly runs down a deep deep triple to CF. He got to the fence, but, given his shorter stature, and being in a backwards sprint he missed the ball by a mere few inches as he careens off the wall. 13-6 Mudcats. Vargas makes a great play on a grounder to third base and opts to throw home to gather the runner in a pickle. After one toss back from Queros, Vargas runs him down and it's 2 down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Mudcats move to 4-1 after a fly out to RF to end the game. Time to go back and re-watch some of the earlier innings tape. A beatuiful thing of these East Coast mid day games is it isn't even Noon my way here in Washington. 

[Mass Haas]

Didn't quite make it into last night's report, Antoine quote tweeted this today:

 

[damuelle]

Mike Guerrero's Shuckers are once-again Resilient with a capital 'R'. And thus far into 2022, they're also Undefeated (4-0), despite likely being down to 10 healthy position players. RHP Carlos Luna makes his first start of 2022 in Game 2 of the series against Mississippi. DH Nick Kahle also makes his first start, after a good 3-for-4 day off the bench yesterday:

[damuelle]

RHP Dylan File makes his second start of the young season, as the 4-3 AAA Nashville Sounds seek to bounce back from yesterday's tough loss to Gwinnett. 22-year old super-prospect SS Brice Turang has hit safely and also driven runs in his last three games:

[Joseph Zarr]

I am destined to view a Timber Rattlers game in the near future during my Report nights. However, week one is just not to be so. The game is Postponed. Booooooooo! Was really looking forward to watching Smith but it would appear there is nasty weather throughout much of the Upper Midwest with many a game postponed.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Braves strike first in the top of the second. With two down, a wild pitch advances the runner and a weak grounder up the middle sees the runner head home as Joey Wiemer unfortunately bobbles the scoop up in what might have been a close play given his rocket arm.

During the next AB, the batter sends a hard rocket of the RF/CF fence and Joey redeems himself with a very fast and accurate one-hopped relay throw to the Infield. Freddy Zamora scoops the misplayed catch and fires a one-hop throw home where Reetz tags the baserunner on a bang-bang play at the play. 1 run on 3 hits. Mudcats trail 0-1.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Shuckers are facing the Braves #9 pitching prospect in Freddy Tarnok. This is a young man who has what they call: stuff. A really nice mix of Fastball, 12-6 curve, and a Change he sprinkles in. 5 up and 5 down for you young hurler.

[Joseph Zarr]

Carlos Luna has settled down through 4 innings. His past 2 innings have been a highly efficient 6 up and 6 down. On to the bottom of the fourth where the Shuckers remain hitless.

[brooks_quichenick]

7 hours ago, Julio Muchacho said:

I'm going to keep playing this tune: 

Eduardo Garcia is one of our more interesting prospects. In my mind, he has already solidified his Top 30 territory. I know the season is young but when you watch this young man play he already has the confidence, swagger, frame, and skill to project. I'm extremely pleasantly surprised by what I am seeing in his game in the early going. My current question is: Does he merit more Top 10 consideration. This is how impressive he has been on a game-by-game basis.

I’m with you here, very high on Eduardo! I’ve got him at #7 in my preseason org prospect rankings.

[Joseph Zarr]

With the bases juiced on two separate occasions, the Shuckers can't manage to knock one through. Tristen Lutz hits a week dribbler to the first baseman off the end of his bat on the first pitch and he is followed by Freddy Zamora who strikes out on a swinging foul tip for strike three. The Shuckers did manage to get their first hit of the evening on a Gabe Holt liner to shallow left. He was followed by a Felix Valerio walk. Joey Wiemer, who appears to be struggling with Tarnok's changeup, managed to hit a hard-hit groundball to the shortstop and managed to run out the grounder showing his long stride and speed. Dillard walks as well in the inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

A very impressive outing for Carlos Luna even if he grabs a loss or a no decision. He's retired 9 in a row, nabbed his 4th strikeout, and has completed 5 innings. Shuckers still trail 0-1.

[Joseph Zarr]

It is worth noting: the Shuckers camo alternates look slick. Love those jerseys.