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Texas Rangers pitching prospects: The Texas Rangers’ minor league system has been up-and-down this year, but the one team that has emerged as being the most interesting from a player development standpoint is the Down East Wood Ducks of the high-A Carolina League. The Ducks are 26-20, tied for first place in the Southern Division, and are tied for the second best record in the league.
The DEWDs are doing this in large part due to contributions from guys who are legitimately on the prospect map, with the pitching, in particular, looking promising. Michael Matuella is the big name on the Down East pitching staff, but he is off to a very rough start of the season, putting up an 8.04 ERA in 31.1 IP over 7 starts, with 28 Ks, 14 walks and 6 home runs allowed. He’s also been extremely hittable, allowing 42 hits in that span, an indication that he’s struggling with his command.
There are three guys in the Down East rotation, however, that weren’t generating much prospect buzz coming into the season who have been impressive in the early going. Jonathan Hernandez, a 21 year old righthander added to the 40 man roster this past offseason, is third in the league with a 1.94 ERA, and is leading the league in strikeouts, fanning 62 in 46.1 IP. Edgar Arredondo, a righthander out of Mexico who just turned 21 last week, is sporting a 2.32 ERA, good for fourth in the Carolina League, and has 48 Ks against just 10 walks in 42.2 IP. Meanwhile, although Emerson Martinez has an underwhelming 4.53 ERA, he’s struck out 39 batters against just 11 walks in 43.2 IP.
Meanwhile, in the bullpen, C.D. Pelham has been doing work. The huge (6’6”) 23 year old lefty was a 33rd round pick of the Rangers in the 2015 draft, and currently has 28 Ks in 19.2 IP over 15 outings against 11 walks, good for a 1.83 ERA.
Hernandez was the subject of a story by Kyle Glaser with Baseball America yesterday, and he could be pitching in Frisco later this season, especially given he finished the 2017 season with the Ducks. You can check out all the numbers for the DEWD pitchers this season below: