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There's a lot of good things that happened last night in the minor leagues but only one really stands out. I didn't follow the minors last night as it was date night with wife and I was in the middle of a movie when my phone started buzzing with this tweet.
Jason Schwartz@jasondschwartzSpringer has hit 4 HRs today and where in the world is
@Subber10@whattheheck57@farmstros????
Really?!?! The night I really take off from the minors and Springer goes all Josh Hamilton? And yes, I will say that! I don't care if it was in two games, it was four consecutive at-bats in a double header. I wasn't even going to write this morning, but this is too good not to post and discuss.
Rodney Linares shook up the lineup for yesterdays games, which included dropping Telvin Nash to number five in the order and Springer to number two. I think Springer responded well.
So, lets check in Springer's stats on the season. He's now batting .310 and has hit six doubles, four triples, and an outstanding eight home runs. He's drawn eleven walks and has struck out forty-four times. That makes his triple slash line of .310/.356/.572 which ends up in a .929 OPS. That 27.5 K% is quite bad for the season, but it's his first season (I don't count those eight games last season) in an aggressive placement with a reputation of striking out in college. I think that number will come down over time, but he'll never be a low strikeout guy. It's just not in his profile.
But, he's been much more impressive in his last ten games, so let's see how he's performed in that time. First off, a 1.298 OPS over that period of time is jaw dropping. Although, it's upheld by last night mostly, but his batting average has been good over that time (.415). He's struck out nine times in forty-four plate appearances over those ten games, which is a much better 20% K% (SSS). He also has another HR in that period of time that wasn't last night.
I'm seeing improvement, and that's the goal. It seems like putting Springer in Lancaster wasn't too aggressive after-all.
Oklahoma City RedHawks: PPD
Corpus Christi Hooks won 4-2
- Brett Oberholtzer-7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 5/3 GO/AO, 101 pitches
- Jason Stoffel-1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
- Jose Martinez 2B-2-3, 2B, BB, SO
- Jair Fernandez C-1-2, HR, SO
Lancaster JetHawks won 7-2
- Tyson Perez-5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 6/3 GO/AO
- Pat Urckfitz-2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
- George Springer CF-2-4, HR, SB
- Domingo Santana RF-1-2, 3B, BB
- Erik Castro 1B-2-2, BB
- Jonathan Meyer 3B-2-3, 2 2B
- Ben Heath C-2-3, 2B
- Enrique Hernandez 2B-1-3, 2B
Lancaster JetHawks won 5-3
- Jose Trinidad-5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 7/3 GO/AO
- Brian Streilein-1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R 0 BB, 2 SO
- George Springer CF-3-3, 3 HR
- Domingo Santana RF-1-3, 2B, SO
- Ben Heath DH-2-3
- Telvin Nash 1B-2-2, 2B, HR
Lexington Legends won 4-3
- Nicholas Tropeano-6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR, 8/2 GO/AO
- Carlos Quevedo-2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO, 3/3 GO/AO
- Delino DeShields Jr. 2B-1-3, 2 BB, SO, 2 SB
- Jordan Scott CF-1-3, 2B, BB
- Matt Duffy DH-0-3, BB, 3 SO, SB
- Drew Muren RF-2-4
- Brandon Meredith LF-2-4, 2 SO, SB
- Roberto Pena C-2-4, 2B, 2 SO