Kyle Funkhouser continues to dominate on the mound with 2 scoreless starts this week for the Erie Seawolves and he is really starting to look like one of the top prospects in the Tigers organization. Matt Koch records another win after a quality start against the Mets in the desert. Lincoln Henzman dominates in 2 starts and is looking like he could be up for a promotion soon as well.
Weekly statistics are from the week of 6/12-6/18/2018
Major Leagues
Adam Duvall played in 5 games this week and had 2 hits, one of those being a Grand Slam on the 13th against Kansas City. His topsy-turvy year at the plate continues and after 215 at-bats this year, Duvall has 10 doubles, 11 home runs, 38 RBI’s, and is slashing .186/.270/.386.
Adam Engel had 3 hits in 7 games for the White Sox. To this point in the season, the defensive specialist is hitting .211/.272/.297 with 14 RBI’s, 2 home runs, 2 triples, and 6 doubles.
Chad Green appeared out of the bullpen twice this week for the Yankees, totaling 2.1 innings and recording 3 strikeouts and 2 hits, one in each outing. Mr. Consistent has begun to generate a bit of All-Star buzz, especially after posting these numbers: 45 strikeouts to 7 walks in 34.1 innings pitched, and a 4-1 record to go along with a 2.36 ERA and a WHIP of 1.05.
Matt Koch was the winning pitcher against the Mets on the 14th after a start of 6 innings that saw 3 hits and two runs sprinkled in against 5 strikeouts. Koch has really come into his own at the back end of the rotation for the Diamondbacks and is now 5-3 with an ERA of 4.09 and 38 strikeouts.
Nick Burdi was placed Nick on the 60 Day Disabled List to start the season by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
AAA
Kyle McGrath pitched 3 times for the Chihuahuas totaling 1.2 innings, 4 strikeouts, and 0 hits. In an up and down year this was the strongest week for McGrath who is now 2-2 with 27 strikeouts in 24.2 innings, and an ERA of 3.65 and WHIP of 1.26.
Josh Rogers was back to his dominant ways this week with another start of 7 innings, 6 strikeouts, and 0 earned runs. 13 starts into the season, Rogers is now 6-5 with an ERA of 3.38 and 65 strikeouts for the Railriders.
Cole Sturgeon collected 4 hits in 5 games for Pawtucket and added 3 more RBI’s to his total of 28. This summer at the AAA level, Sturgeon is batting .223/.293/.321 with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 10 RBI’s.
Dean Kiekhefer pitched three times this week, having great outings the first two appearances, both going .2 innings and striking out 2, but he was roughed up for 3 runs on 3 hits in 2.1 innings his last time out.
Chris Dominguez tallied 4 hits in 5 games this week for the Sky Chiefs. An injury has limited Dominguez to 27 games this year, but in those 27 games, he is averaging .179/.224/.305 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 2 games this week and recorded 3 hits, including 2 doubles on the 12th, for the Flying Squirrels. In a season that has seen him play at 3 different levels, Arnold has 6 doubles, 1 home run, 10 RBI’s and is slashing .193/.273/.275.
Derek Self collected a save, struck out 3 and did not allow a run in 2 appearances for the Senators. Self is putting together a nice season at the back of the Senators bullpen this year with 6 saves, an ERA of 3.24 and a WHIP of 1.00 to go along with 22 strikeouts in 25 innings.
Kyle Funkhouser went 2-0 this week in two dominant starts where he did not allow a run over 11 innings, struck out 13 batters and walked only 2. If he can continue to pitch near this level going forward, Funk should be earning a promotion sooner rather than later this summer.
Nick Solak hit safely in all but one game this week with 2 more doubles and 3 RBI’s. 65 games in and Solak is putting together another tremendous season of 11 doubles, 2 triples, 10 home runs, 44 RBI’s, 10 stolen bases while averaging .297/.399 /.478.
Corey Ray picked up 4 hits in 5 games for the Shuckers. His average might not be stellar at .252 but he is producing when he gets hits this year with 19 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs and 30 RBI’s.
Will Smith has come back from injury on a tear hitting two more home runs in 7 games for Tulsa. The Dodgers catching prospect has spent the season with the Drillers and has drilled 7 doubles, and 7 home runs with 18 RBI’s, while hitting .246/.335/.444.
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 tallied 4 hits that included 1 double and 1 home run for Visalia. Last summer’s second-round pick of the Diamondbacks has performed well to start his first full season of professional baseball and through 61 games is batting .250/.335/.442 with 19 doubles, 8 home runs, 40 RBI’s and 1 stolen base; I knew he would get that bag!
Brendan McKay did not play this week because it was the All-Star break for the Florida State League.
Jeff Thompson did not pitch this week for Lakeland due to the All-Star break.
A
Blake Tiberi hit safely in 2 games, both singles for the Fireflies. In 60 games, Tiberi is slashing .243/.375/.300 with 9 doubles, 1 home run, and 16 driven in.
Lincoln Henzman started twice this week and dominated in both, going 13 total innings, striking out 11 hitters and only allowing 1 earned run. I don’t think that we will be seeing last years Stopper of the Year in A ball much longer.
Devin Hairston recorded 1 hit in 3 games this week, it was a triple for the Timber Rattlers. In 39 games this year, Hairston has 2 doubles, 2 triples and is hitting .218/.349/.266 for the Brewers farm club.
Colby Fitch came back from the DL this week and played in two games but did not record a hit.
Kade McClure was placed on the 7 day DL on May 14th.
Dace Kime retired from professional baseball on June 16th.
Rookie Level
Drew Harrington was released by the Atlanta Braves on June 9th but signed by the Chicago White Sox on June 18th and assigned to the AZL White Sox, he has yet to pitch in a recorded game for them.
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.
