This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Note: This installment covers all nine games since the All-Star break.
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (7-20, 14.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers took two out of three from Buffalo after the break, but then dropped six in a row to Syracuse on the road. Diego Castillo hit 8-for-23 (.348) with four walks. Nick Pratto was 7-for-25 with two doubles, a triple, and three walks. Cavan Biggio was 6-for-20 (.300) with two doubles, a triple, and a home run, although he was designated for assignment to remove him from the 40-man roster. Luca Tresh was 6-for14 (.429) with three doubles and three walks. Carter Jensen continues to rake, hitting two more home runs to give him eight in 21 games with Omaha, and 14 for the year.
Dallas Keuchel struck out ten in 9 1/3 innings over his first two starts, but gave up five runs. Chandler Champlain gave up two runs in 11 innings across two starts against Syracuse. Brandon Johnson struck out four in 3 1⁄3 innings, giving up one run in relief. Stephen Nogosek gave up just one run in 4 1⁄3 innings of relief with four strikeouts. Evan Sisk struck out seven in 4 1⁄3 innings, allowing one run.
Michael Massey began a rehab assignment with the Storm Chasers. Infielder Colton Becker and outfielder Rudy Martin were moved up to Omaha and Jordan Groshans landed on the Injured List.
Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals (12-15, 5 games back)
The Naturals took two out of three after the break from Tulsa, then dropped four of six to rival Arkansas. Shane Panzini tossed 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball with six strikeouts to bring his ERA to 3.22. Ryan Ramsey struck out 13 in 12 innings, allowing three earned runs and earning his fifth win of the year. Oscar Rayo did not allow a run in 5 2⁄3 innings of relief performances. A.J. Causey also kept opponents off the board in 6 2/3 innings with just two hits allowed and no walks to lower his ERA to 0.90. Ben Kudrna tossed six shutout innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts, allowing just one hit.
Carson Roccaforte was promoted from High-A, and went 6-for-19 (.316) with four doubles and four walks in his first five games. Isan Díaz was 9-for-35 (.257) with a home run and five walks. Javier Vaz was 9-for-29 (.310) with two doubles and 5 RBI. Gavin Cross was 8-for-26 (.308) with three doubles. Justin Johnson was 7-forr-25 (280) with his seventh home run of the year.
The Royals acquired catcher Julio E. Rodriguez from the Mariners and assigned him to the Naturals. Pitcher Hunter Owen was activated from the Injured List. Daniel Lynch IV began a rehab assignment with the Naturals. Outfielder Diego Hernandez was released.
High-A Quad Cities River Bandits (17-12, first place)
The River Bandits dropped two out of three to Peoria after the break, but won four of six from Wisconsin to take a one-game lead in the division. Sam Kulasingam was 11-for-34 (.324) with two doubles, a triple, and five walks. Blake Mitchell, who missed the first half with a wrist injurry, was 8-for-28 (.286) with eight walks and his third home run of the year. Carter Frederick was 6-for-25 (.240) with three doubles and a triple. Trevor Werner returned from injury and went 7-for-24 (.292) with three doubles and his sixth home run of the year.
Felix Arronde allowed just five hits and one run in nine innings over two starts to lower his ERA to 2.59. Mason Miller struck out seven in seven shutout innings, facing the minimum in four shutout innings on Saturday. Tommy Molsky allowed just one run in six innings of relief, striking out six. L.P. Langevin joined the team and struck out 9 of the 14 batters he faced, without allowing a hit or run. Pitcher Josh Hansell landed on the Injured List.
Low-A Columbia Fireflies (8-21, 14 games back)
It has been a rough stretch for the Fireflies, who have dropped eight of nine since the All-Star break. Hyungchan Um had three consecutive two-hit games, and hit 9-for-29 (.310) with two doubles and three walks. Angel Acosta also enjoyed three consecutive multi-hit days, going 6-for-22 (.273) with two walks and three steals. Stone Russell was 10-for-33 (.303) with a double and two triples. Milo Rushford was 6-for-25 (.240) with two doubles, a triple, and eight walks.
David Shields allowed just one unearned run in eight innings over two starts, striking out eight to lower his ERA to 2.59. Henson Leal struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run in three relief outings. Dash Albus allowed two runs and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings of relief. Yimi Presinal landed on the Injured List. Infielder Jose Cerice, and pitchers Kyle deGroat and Kendy Chourio were assigned to the Fireflies.
