There really aren't any huge stories from last night in the minor leagues. The biggest two perhaps are the Nolan Fontana went yard for the second time and Jiovanni Mier made a rehab appearance for the GCL team.
Fontana's batting average has been trending downward at a fairly alarming rate (.172 over the last ten games), but as you know, the walks are keeping his OBP right up there (.455 over the last ten games). It's still blowing my mind that he is getting on-base at a clip over .500! His overall OPS is now .973 and his SLG is lower than his OBP which is normally only seen in players with no power. For Fontana so far, it's a ridiculous ability to get on base. I, in no way, do not expect for him to continue this type of play, but remains nice to see somebody be able to maintain an ability to get on base even if they are struggling to put the ball in play or drop for a hit. I think I am also allowed to claim him from Tim as my new favorite minor leaguer since we share the same birthday...except I have four years on him.
Jio made a brief appearance in the GCL yesterday morning before being pulled for Carlos Correa. Rehab stints are usually brief, but given the consistent reports of Jio going through setbacks and getting frustrated with his rehab, it's possible he aggravated it. Tags even put an article out saying that Jio was frustrated and that Fred Nelson said that Jio returning to Lancaster is looking less and less likely. Good and bad news on Jio in the same day.
Another interesting thing I read yesterday that I believe was in the same article from Tags is that Lance McCullers Jr. will be getting one more start in the GCL before being promoted to Greeneville.
Oklahoma City RedHawks lost 7-6
- Brett Oberholtzer-6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 4/6 GO/AO-Improvement
- Fernando Abad-2/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R,4 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO-Ouch
- Mickey Storey-2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
- Brandon Barnes CF-2-4, 2B
- Jimmy Paredes 2B-2-4, BB
- Travis Buck DH-2-2, 2 BB
- Brian Bixler SS-1-4, 2B, SO
- J.B. Shuck RF-2-4
Corpus Christi Hooks won 3-2
- Rob Rasmussen-7 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR, 4/7 GO/AO, 102 pitches
- Josh Zeid-2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
- Jason Stoffel-1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
- Jonathan Singleton 1B-3-4, 2B, SO
- Bobby Borchering DH-1-3, BB, 2 SO, SB-Debut
- Ben Heath C-1-4, 2B, 2 SO
Lancaster JetHawks lost 11-4
- Nicholas Tropeano-3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR, 1/2 GO/AO
- Zachary Grimmett-3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR, 1/4 GO/AO
- Brad Dydalewicz-2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 4/0 GO/AO
- Erik Castro DH-2-4, 2B, 2 SO
- Jonathan Meyer 3B-2-4
Lexington Legends lost 9-8
- David Rollins-1 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 3/1 GO/AO-A debut to forget
- Juri Perez-5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 6/2 GO/AO
- Delino DeShields Jr. 2B-1-4, BB, 2 SO, 2 SB
- Zachary Johnson 1B-2-4, HR, BB
- Brandon Meredith LF-3-5
- Mike Kvasnicka RF-1-5, 2B
- Nolan Fontana SS-2-5, 2B, HR, 2 SO
- Luis Alvarez C-0-5, 4 SO
Tri-City ValleyCats lost 9-5
- Brady Rodgers-6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 7/6 GO/AO
- Travis Ballew-2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
- Neiko Johnson 2B-2-3, 2 BB, CS, PO
- Andrew Aplin CF-1-4, 2B, BB, SO, CS
- Jesse Wierzbicki 1B-1-3, HR
- Preston Tucker LF-2-4
Greeneville Astros lost 8-3
- Daniel Minor-4 1/3 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 8/2 GO/AO
- Michael Dimock-2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4/1 GO/AO
- Tanner Bushue-1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
- Scott Zuloaga-2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
- Marc Wik LF-1-4, 2B, 2 SO
- Jean Batista 2B-1-4, 2B
- Ernesto Genoves C-1-4, 2B, SO
- James Howick SS-2-3, 2B
GCL Astros won 4-2
- Enderson Franco-5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 3/8 GO/AO
- Ricardo Batista-1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 SO
- Gera Sanchez-2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
- Jiovanni Mier SS-0-1, BB-Slowly coming back
- Rio Ruiz DH-1-3, 2B, BB, SO
- Darwin Rivera 3B-1-4, 2B, 2 SO
- Jon Carnahan C-1-4, 2B
DSL Astros lost 10-5
- Luis Abad-2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 0/2 GO/AO
- Javier Saucedo-2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO
- Juan Delis-1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
- Cristian Murillo LF-2-4
- Mesac Laguna 1B-2-4, BB
- Frederick Serrano DH-1-5, 2B, SO
- Marlon Avea C-2-4, BB, SO
- Jarico Reynoso CF-2-4, 2B