Minor league update from May 5, 2021

Day two of the minor league season, and the story of the day, for me, was with the Hickory Crawdads, despite their 8-4 loss.

Hickory’s starter today was Cole Ragans. The Rangers 2016 first rounder missed all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery, and then, when he was close to returning to the mound in official game action in 2019, he tore his UCL again and needed a second TJS.

Ragans gave up 3 runs in 3 IP for Hickory, with 5 hits allowed, 1 walk and 3 Ks in 60 pitches. Not a great line, but Ragans just getting on a mound again is tremendous to see. Ty Thomas gave up 2 runs in 3 IP with 4 Ks. Jesus Linarez gave up 3 runs in 2 IP.

The Crawdads picked up just four hits — a homer and a single by Blaine Crim, a double by Justin Foscue, and a single by Jonathan Ornelas.

For Frisco, Jake Latz got the start but struggled to throw strikes — he had 28 strikes against 25 balls in 2.1 IP, allowing 5 runs on 1 hit, 2 walks and an HBP. He retired the first six batters of the game before things went sideways. Blake Bass had 1.2 scoreless IP with 3 Ks, and Blake Bass had 2.1 IP with one run allowed.

Offensively, J.P. Martinez had a single, a double and a walk, Steele Walker had a single and a triple, Bubba Thompson had a triple, Sherten Apostel had a double, and Matt Whatley and Jax Biggers had a pair of hits apiece.

For Down East, Wyatt Sparks had a rough outing, giving up 6 runs in 2.1 IP, though Abdiel Mendoza had three shutout innings. Evan Carter had a pair of singles, a pair of stolen bases and a walk. Marcus Smith had two hits, and Luisangel Acuna had a hit and a walk.