A round up of the San Francisco Giants Minor League affiliates.
Just three games for the San Francisco Giants affiliates on Wednesday, as it was a day off for AAA Sacramento, as well as both Arizona Complex League teams, and both Dominican Summer League Teams.
Some fun performances though, so let’s dive in.
Link to the 2021 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List
AA Richmond (39-35)
Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Bowie Baysox (Orioles) 5-2
Box score
It was a Sean Hjelle (No. 11 CPL) start, and the tall righty finished the month strong after a few tough outings. Hjelle pitched 6 innings and allowed 6 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs, while striking out 5, lowering his ERA to 3.53 and giving him 65 strikeouts to 17 walks in 58.2 innings for the year.
The bullpen was even stronger, not allowing a single hit. RHP Patrick Ruotolo struck out 2 in a perfect inning to lower his ERA to 2.28, and RHP R.J. Dabovich (No. 36 CPL) struck out all 3 batters he faced, pumping 11 of 12 pitches into the strike zone. The 2020 fourth-round pick’s ERA still sits at 5.40, but he’s struck out 22 batters in 13.1 innings since getting promoted, and has 50 strikeouts in 26 innings on the year.
The Flying Squirrels lacked for power on Wednesday, but did have 9 hits and 7 walks drawn against 8 strikeouts. Shortstop Simon Whiteman and designated hitter Vince Fernandez both went 2-4 with a double, with the former adding a walk to raise his OPS to .723, and the latter moving his OPS to .863.
A double by @Vince_F_51 and we’re on the board pic.twitter.com/7EXQvQf9MR
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 28, 2021
Second baseman Bryan Torres went 2-4 with a walk to raise his OPS to .692.
Bryan Torres puts us in the lead pic.twitter.com/sX2YVFIJZx
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) July 28, 2021
Center fielder Luis Alexander Basabe (No. 33 CPL) drew a pair of walks as he continues to rehab.
High-A Eugene (42-32)
Eugene Emeralds split a doubleheader against the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), winning the first game 2-0 and losing the second 9-6.
Game 1 box score
Game 2 box score
It was a tale of two starting pitchers for Eugene on Wednesday. RHP Kai-Wei Teng (No. 18 CPL) started the first game and pitched 5 innings, allowed just 2 hits, 3 walks, and 0 runs, while striking out 5. His ERA (5.68) is ugly, as this was his only good start in July, but he’s certainly flashing moments of brilliance, and has 74 strikeouts in 52.1 innings.
Game 2 was started by RHP Nick Avila, who allowed 8 earned runs in 2 innings while struggling to find the strike zone.
As a result, the Emeralds won the first game despite having just 5 hits and 2 walks, and lost the second game with 9 hits and 6 walks.
Infielder Tyler Fitzgerald (No. 40 CPL) had the best offensive day, going 3-7 with all of his hits being doubles, raising his OPS to .814. Right fielder Franklin Labour also had a stellar day, hitting 3-4 with 3 walks to move his OPS to .865. He’s been great lately, and has a .923 OPS in July.
There were also a handful of strong bullpen performances. RHP Chris Wright allowed 0 hits and 2 walks in 2 innings, with 2 strikeouts, bringing his ERA down to 1.23 and his strikeout tally up to 36 in 22 innings at High-A, and 53 in 30 innings across 2 levels. RHP Austin Reich struck out 5 in 3 perfect innings, lowering his ERA to a nice 1.69 and giving him 68 strikeouts in 42 innings at 2 levels.
Low-A San Jose (48-26)
San Jose Giants beat the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 4-3
Box score
The best game of the day came from the best team (err … relative to competition) in the Giants farm, as the Baby Giants had a lot of exciting offensive performances, despite the relatively low run total.
Shortstop Marco Luciano (No. 1 CPL) returned after missing a few games with a mild injury and blasted one over the fence as he continues to lead the league in home runs, while making them look magnificent.
END 5
Giants 4 | 66ers 2
Welcome Marco Luciano! Hits an absolute no-doubter to left center to extend the lead. pic.twitter.com/P9fjSBrynL
— San Jose Giants (@SJGiants) July 28, 2021
Second baseman Jimmy Glowenke (No. 34 CPL) also had a home run (as well as a walk), as his absurd July nears an end. After struggling in his first two months as a professional, Glowenke now has a 1.061 OPS in July. If he keeps this going through August it will definitely be time to start getting very excited about him.
END 4
Giants 3 | 66ers 2
No question about that one! Jimmy Glowenke crushes one to left center for the lead. pic.twitter.com/Zzkja2Z9PJ
— San Jose Giants (@SJGiants) July 28, 2021
A pair of strong prospects had good days, with first baseman Luis Toribio (No. 12 CPL) and right fielder Jairo Pomares (No. 14 CPL) both hitting 2-4 with a double. Toribio added a walk to move his OPS to .740, and Pomares kept his OPS in elite territory at 1.100.
END 3
Giants 2 | 66ers 1
Jairo Pomares puts the Giants in the lead with an RBI double! pic.twitter.com/ccnig5Y20H
— San Jose Giants (@SJGiants) July 28, 2021
RHP Wil Jensen had an old school game, allowing 7 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs in 5 innings, with just 1 strikeout. Punch outs haven’t been an issue for Jensen this year (he has 82 in 69.2 innings), so it was more funny than concerning.
Home runs
Low-A Marco Luciano (17)
Low-A Jimmy Glowenke (5)
Thursday schedule
Sacramento: vs. Reno Aces, 7:05 p.m. PT
Richmond: vs. Bowie Baysox, 3:35 p.m. PT
Eugene: @ Everett AquaSox, 7:05 p.m. PT
San Jose: vs. Inland Empire 66ers, 6:30 p.m. PT
ACL Orange: vs. D-backs
ACL Black: vs. Cubs
DSL Orange: vs. Colorado
DSL Black: vs. Cubs Red