This is a big week for baseball teams all over the country, from high school up to the Big Leagues. The week of the first year player draft is always a time of hope for the future as well as a celebration of individuals and all of their hard work that propelled them to this moment. This year only saw one Card taken on day 1. Josh Stowers went 54th overall to the Seattle Mariners. With 40 rounds in total there are a few more current Cards expected to be taken in the next couple of days and as their professional careers unfold we will be here to tell their stories.
Weekly statistics are from the week of 5/28-6/4/2018
Major Leagues
Adam Duvall had 4 hits this week that included 1 double and 1 home run. The Reds are continuing to tinker with their line up and that has meant that a struggling Duvall is not seeing consistent playing time right now. Through the first two months of the season he is hitting .177/.263/.387 with 9 doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI’s.
Adam Engel totaled 6 hits with 3 multi hit games this week that saw 2 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run. He may not hit over .300 for the year but with the rising temperatures his season numbers are continuing to follow a steady upward trajectory. After the first two month, Engel is slashing .223/.284/.324 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, and 12 RBI’s.
Chad Green pitched twice again this week, 1 inning each time, striking out 2 and surrendering only 1 hit. So far through 28 innings, Green has 36 strikeouts, 7 earned runs for an ERA of 2.25 to go along with a WHIP of 1.04.
Matt Koch pitched twice this week and was the winning pitcher in both outings. In his first outing against Cincinnati, Koch went 5 innings, gave up 5 earned runs and struck out 0. His second start against Miami was 7 shutout innings with 6 strikeouts. Through 9 starts, Kochie is 4-3 with an ERA of 3.76 and a WHIP of 1.16 with 31 strikeouts in 55 innings.
Nick Burdi: The Pirates have placed Nick on the 60 day Disabled List to start the season
AAA
Kyle McGrath was Designated for Assignment on May 27th but agreed to a minor league deal with the Padres and pitched once this week for the Chihuahuas. In his one outing this week he went 1 inning, gave up two hits but did not surrender a run. Through an up and down first couple months, McGrath has posted a 1-2 record with an ERA of 4.29, a WHIP of 1.38 and 21 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.
Josh Rogers had two completely opposite starts this week. The first one, in Louisville against the Bats, was a strong, 7 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts. In the second start he went 1.1 innings, gave up 9 hits and 6 earned runs. In 11 starts, Rogers is 5-4 with an ERA of 3.29, a WHIP of 1.25, and 56 strikeouts in 63 innings of work.
Cole Sturgeon added 8 more hits to his total including a 2 home run night on June 3rd. His numbers are down a bit at the AAA level compared to where they were on the AA level, but he is adjusting to the pitching and continuing to show growth this season. Between the two levels, Sturgeon is batting .316/.382/.516 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 25 RBI’s and 8 stolen bases.
Dean Kiekhefer pitched twice this week totaling 3 innings, 2 earned runs and 2 total strikeouts; 1 K per outing. With multiple teams, across multiple levels, the Oldham County Southpaw is 2-0, has 3 saves in 22 innings to go along with 25 strikeouts, an ERA of 2.05 and a WHIP of 1.18.
Chris Dominguez was activated off the DL on May 30th and has played in 4 games this week, unfortunately he was unable to record a hit. After 17 games to this point, Dominguez is hitting .164/.225/.295 that includes 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run and 8 RBI’s.
Zack Burdi is starting this season on the Disabled List as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery.
AA
Jeff Arnold had 1 hit in 3 games this week and is now batting .163/.245/.239 with 4 doubles, 1 home run and 8 RBI’s.
Derek Self threw twice this week, each an inning, striking out 1 batter per outing and not allowing a run in either outing. In 19.2 innings, Self has 18 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.12 and a WHIP of 1.12.
Kyle Funkhouser started once this week and did not factor into the decision after throwing 6 innings, striking out 7 but giving up 6 earned runs. In an up and down season to this point, Funk is 0-3 with an ERA of 4.67, a WHIP of 1.54, and has 49 strikeouts in 52 innings.
Nick Solak added 8 hits in 7 games this week with 1 of those 8 hits being a home run. In 53 games with Montgomery this year, Solak is hitting .305/.414/.477 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, 33 RBI’s and 9 stolen bases.
Corey Ray had 5 hits in 7 games for the Shuckers including 1 home run. 56 games into the season, one of Chicago’s finest is averaging .250/.346/.460, 15 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 24 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases.
Will Smith was activated off the DL on June 3rd and immediately went 3/4 in his first action since the injury. After 26 games so far, Smith is slashing .276/.355/.459 with 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 13 RBI’s and 1 stolen base.
Grant Kay was placed on the 7 day DL at the start of the season.
Jared Ruxer was released on 5/23 by the Kansas City Royals
Joe Filomeno was released on 4/23 by the Texas Rangers.
A Advanced
Drew Ellis added 6 hits this week to his total of 46 on the year. While he didn’t hit any home runs he did club 2 more doubles. So far this season, Ellis is averaging .256/.348/.444, 16 doubles, 6 home runs, and 35 RBI’s.
Brendan McKay the hitter recorded 3 hits this week and an astonishing 8 walks in 5 games. At two levels he is hitting .238/.446/.307 with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 23 RBI’s and 36 walks to 23 strikeouts. Brendan McKay the pitcher added 9 strikeouts in 7 innings this week. On the mound this season he has 59 strikeouts and 3 walks in 41.2 innings to go with an ERA of 1.51 and a WHIP of 0.48.
Jeff Thompson pitched twice this week, 1.2 innings total where he struck out 1 batter and gave up 2 earned runs. Across a couple of levels this season, Thompson has an ERA of 7.08 a WHIP of 2.31 and 19 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
A
Blake Tiberi recorded 6 hits in 5 games this week. In the Mets organization this year, Tiberi is hitting .281/.402/.351 with 9 doubles, 1 home run, 15 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases.
Drew Harrington got the win this week in his lone start going 5 innings, striking out 7 and only giving up 2 runs. Harrington is now 3-2 with a 5.61 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.
Lincoln Henzman got the win in his 1 start this week after going 5 innings, striking out 4 and allowing 0 runs. In 10 starts this year, Henzman is 4-3 with a 2.68 ERA, a WHIP of 1.16, and 43 strikeouts in 53.2 innings.
Colby Fitch is riding an active 6 game hitting streak that saw 6 hits in 5 games this week. In 28 games this year, Fitch is averaging .276/.368/.449 with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 14 RBI’s for the Phillies farm team.
Devin Hairston only got 2 hits this week in 5 games. Hairston is now slashing .210/.284/.268 with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 12 RBI’s and 5 RBI’s.
Dace Kime was activated from the DL on May 29th and for the first time this season he saw game action, going 2.1 innings, striking out 1 and giving up 3 earned runs.
Kade McClure was placed on the 7 day DL on May 14th.
Rookie Level
Logan Taylor was released on June 2nd.
2018 Draft Picks
Josh Stowers was selected in the 2nd round, 54th overall, by the Seattle Mariners.
