Nick Solak has a huge week for the Montgomery Biscuits, hitting 3 home runs and knocking in 8. Kyle Funkhouser was stellar again on the mound and seems to be hitting his stride in AA. Corey Ray had a powerful week in Biloxi with 4 doubles and a home run to go along with 6 RBI’s. Lincoln Henzman dominated again with Kannapolis, striking out 6 in his most recent start.
The draft concluded last week and the Cardinals who were drafted between the 3 days are listed below. If and when they all sign and what levels they are assigned to as the summer progresses will continue to be updated in the coming weeks. If any of these guys are contemplating on whether or not they want to return to the Ville they will have until the middle of July.
Weekly statistics are from the week of 6/5-6/11/2018
Major Leagues
Adam Duvall had 5 hits this week that included a double. It’s a small sample size but June has been Duvall’s best month to date and almost has his average back over .200 as he is now hitting .191/.274/.392 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs, and 34 RBI’s.
Adam Engel collected 3 hits in 4 games including a multi-hit game on June 5th. To this point in the season, Engel is hitting .225/.290/.325 with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 8 stolen bases.
Chad Green pitched 3 innings in 2 appearances out of the Yankees Bullpen where he struck out 2 batters in each appearance and gave up 0 runs. It may seem like he is not getting much action these last few weeks but the Yankees have a loaded bullpen and Green is showing that every time he is run out he performs. As the playoff races heat up towards the end of summer I have a feeling the Bronx Bombers are going to rely heavily on him again just as they did last year. In 25 games so far, “Jolly” is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA, a WHIP of 1.00 and has 40 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched.
Matt Koch did not factor into the decision in his start for the Diamondbacks where he went 5 innings, gave up 5 earned runs and struck out 2. He did give up 3 home runs but he was pitching in Colorado so take that as you will. On the season, Koch is 4-3 with 33 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.20.
Nick Burdi: The Pirates have placed Nick on the 60 Day Disabled List to start the season
AAA
Kyle McGrath pitched twice and did not allow an earned run while striking out 2 in a total of 2 innings. It has been an up and down spring for “Blood” but he seems to be on an upward trend. Through 23 innings of work, McGrath has an ERA of 3.91, a WHIP of 1.35 and 23 strikeouts.
Josh Rogers struggled again taking the loss after a start where he went 4.2 innings, gave up 13 hits and 5 earned runs while striking out 3. 12 starts in Rogers, is 5-5 over 67.2 innings, he has 59 strikeouts, an ERA of 3.72 and a WHIP of 1.39.
Cole Sturgeon had 7 hits in 6 games, including a 3 hit game back on June 8th. His average is not as high as he wants at the AAA level yet, but he is continuing to show that he can hit at a proficient level and is knocking on the door of the Big Leagues. To this point in the season, Cole is hitting .310/.375/.486 between both AA and AAA. At the AAA level, Sturgeon is batting .221/.295/.337 with 3 doubles, 1 triple and 2 home runs.
Dean Kiekhefer pitched twice with 2 very different results. In his first outing, he went 3 innings, struck out 3 and did not give up a run. His second outing of the week did not see him record an out after giving up 4 earned runs. At multiple levels with two different teams, Kiekhefer has 28 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched, an ERA of 3.24 and a WHIP of 1.36.
Chris Dominguez hit safely 3 times this week with 1 home run and 2 driven in. With the Syracuse Sky Chiefs, Dominguez is hitting .171/.218/.329 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 10 RBI’s.
Zack Burdi is starting this season on the Disabled List as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery.
AA
Jeff Arnold played in 3 games and had 2 hits and 2 walks. He continues to be a strong defensive catcher and a mainstay in the Giants organization. Between a few different levels so far this year, Arnold is averaging .178/.265/.248, 2 doubles, 1 home run, and 6 RBI’s.
Derek Self pitched twice striking out 1 and not allowing a run in 3.1 innings. Coming out of the bullpen for the Senators this year, Self is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA to go along with 19 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched.
Kyle Funkhouser had a stellar start this week going 7 innings and striking out 9 while only giving up 1 run. After 11 starts, Funk is 1-3, has 58 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.27 with a WHIP of 1.41.
Nick Solak played in 7 games had 8 hits, 3 of which were home runs, and 8 RBI’s. Originally a 2nd round pick of the Yankees, Solak has continued to hit and play tremendous defense now that he is with Tampa Bay. It’ll be interesting to see what the Rays do him this summer, especially if he continues to produce like he has been this year hitting .301/.407/.489, with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 10 home runs, 41 RBI’s and 10 stolen bases.
Corey Ray totaled 9 hits this week including 4 doubles and 1 home run, and he added 6 RBI’s to his total of 30. With Biloxi this season, Ray has 19 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, 30 RBI’s, 17 stolen bases and is hitting .255/.354/.467.
Will Smith had a full week back from the DL and hit safely in 5 of 6 games that included a double and a home run. Through 33 games, Smith is hitting .267/.353/.450, and has 7 doubles, 5 home runs, and 16 RBI’s.
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 had 6 hits and is currently riding a 3 game hitting streak that started on June 8th. 3 of this weeks 6 hits were 2 doubles and a home run. After 204 at-bats in 56 games this year, Ellis has an average of .255, 18 doubles, 7 home runs, 37 RBI’s, but still no stolen bases; soon, Ellis will snag himself a base.
Brendan McKay the pitcher started two games this week, one on the 5th and one on the 11th and for the first time this season he was human, unfortunately, it happened in both starts. On the 5th, McKay went 3.2 innings gave up 7 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 5. His start on the 11th he only lasted 2.2 innings, gave up 5 earned runs on 6 hits but did strike out 5. As a pitcher this season between two levels, McKay is 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA, a WHIP of 0.75 and 69 strikeouts. Brendan McKay the hitter played in 3 games and had 2 hits, one being a home run. The more amazing stat though was that he did not walk a single time in those 3 games. This season McKay has 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 25 RBI’s, 36 walks and is hitting .230/.428/.319.
Jeff Thompson did not pitch this week
A
Blake Tiberi had only 1 hit despite playing in 6 games. After 55 contests for the Fireflies, he is batting .254/.381/.316 and has 9 doubles, 1 home run, and 15 RBI’s.
Lincoln Henzman is continuing to be a strong starter for the Intimidators this year and was even mentioned on local Chicago radio as one of the pitchers to look forward to in the future for the rebuilding White Sox. This week he started once and went 6 innings, striking out 6 and only allowing 1 earned run. So far he is 5-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 11 starts.
Devin Hairston only recorded 1 hit in 4 games. He is currently hitting .230/.360/.265 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 12 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases.
Dace Kime was activated from the DL on May 29th and in his first full week of action threw 4 times giving up 1 earned run and striking out 3 in a total of 4 innings. 6 games into the season for him, Kime has 4 strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched, an ERA of 5.68 and a WHIP of 1.11.
Colby Fitch was placed on the 7 day DL on June 7th.
Kade McClure was placed on the 7 day DL on May 14th.
Drew Harrington was released by the Atlanta Braves on June 9th.
Rookie Level
Logan Taylor was released on June 2nd.
2018 Draft Picks
Josh Stowers was selected in the 2nd round, 54th overall, to the Seattle Mariners.
Adam Wolf was drafted by the Detroit Tigers at 135 overall, in the 5th round.
Devin Mann was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 164th overall, in the 5th round.
Riley Thompson was taken in the 11th round by the Chicago Cubs with pick number 338.
Sam Bordner was drafted by the Miami Marlins, 477 overall in the 16th round.
Liam Jenkins was drafted in the 17th round, 523 overall, by the Cleveland Indians.
Austin Conway was taken 918 overall in the 31st round by the Chicago White Sox.
Bryan Hoeing was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 36th round, 1066 overall.
