Minor League round up, July 14

Wednesday was a day off for the San Francisco Giants AAA affiliate, as well as both of their Arizona Complex League teams and both of their Dominican Summer League teams.

That left just three affiliates. But those three put on a show, and went 3-0.

Let’s dive into it.

Link to the 2021 McCovey Chronicles Community Prospect List (CPL)

AA Richmond (34-28)

Richmond Flying Squirrels beat the Somerset Patriots (Yankees) 7-6 (11 innings)
Box score

It was a rather exciting game in Richmond. The game was tied 3-3 going into the eighth inning, but the Patriots put up a 3-spot in the top half of the inning — only for the Flying Squirrels to counter with 3 runs of their own. They went to extras and the Richmond pitchers — RHP RJ Dabovich (No. 36 CPL) and RHP Frank Rubio — kept the ghost runner from scoring in both the 10th and 11th innings, making way for a walk off on a single by left fielder Vince Fernandez.

Fernandez was the star of the day. In addition to the walk off, he had a 4-hit day, drew a walk, and finished a triple shy of the cycle. After a mediocre May and June, Fernandez has turned it on in July and is hitting 14-30 with 4 home runs and 2 doubles.

Speaking of hitters turning it on in July, center fielder Heliot Ramos (No. 3 CPL) was 1-3 with a double and 3 walks. He had a disastrous June, with an OPS of .529. He’s at .948 so far in July. That looks much more like the Heliot we know and love.

LHP Michael Plassmeyer — the player the Giants received when they traded Matt Wisler to the Rays — got the start and allowed 4 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs, and 1 earned run in 3 innings, while striking out 4. His ERA is a modest 4.34 since being traded to the Giants, but he has 33 strikeouts to 4 walks in 29 innings.

Dabovich had “only” 2 strikeouts in as many innings, bringing his total to 47 in 22.1 innings across two levels.

High-A Eugene (36-25)

Eugene Emeralds beat Spokane (Rockies) 12-6
Box score

As is so often the case, it was a strong offensive day for Eugene. They had 11 hits, 6 extra-base hits, and 4 home runs.

2 of those home runs came off the bat of left fielder Heath Quinn. Quinn had a 3-hit day with a sixth inning grand slam that took the Emeralds from down a pair to up 8-6. His season didn’t start until mid-June, but he’s up to a 1.059 OPS.

Shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald (No. 40 CPL) and right fielder Franklin Labour also contributed home runs, and each added a single and a walk as well.

RHP Conner Nurse had a rough start, but the bullpen combined to allow just 1 run in 6 innings. RHP Austin Reich made his third appearance since being promoted, and now has allowed 0 hits, 1 walk, and 0 runs in 6.1 innings, with 9 strikeouts.

Low-A San Jose (39-23)

San Jose Giants beat the Modesto Nuts (Rockies) 13-1
Box score

If you like offense, this is the game for you. The Baby Giants are a ridiculously stacked Low-A team, and they put that on full display. Right fielder Carter Williams went hitless and designated hitter Jairo Pomares (No. 14 CPL) had 1 hit, but the 7 other players in the lineup had multi-hit days. Not only that, but all 7 players who had multi-hit days had at least 1 extra-base hit, with 4 of them having multiple extra-base hits. Yeesh.

Second baseman Jimmy Glowenke (No. 34 CPL) went 4-6 with a pair of doubles to raise his July OPS to 1.285. Not bad for someone who had a .545 OPS in May and a .470 OPS in June. His first pro season is starting to look pretty nice.

Shortstop Marco Luciano (No. 1 CPL) and first baseman Abdiel Layer both had 3-hit games, with the former having a double and a walk, and the latter having a double and a triple.

Center fielder Alexander Canario (No. 7 CPL) had the lone home run of the day, as well as a double.

And catcher Patrick Bailey (No. 8 CPL), in his second game in San Jose, had a pair of doubles. I’m still leaving out some good offensive contributors, but I’ve got to stop somewhere.

RHP Carson Ragsdale struck out 6 in 5 innings, and allowed just 1 run, though he did walk 4 batters. RHP Abel Adames made his San Jose debut after a promotion from the ACL, and allowed 1 hit, 1 walk, and 0 runs in 2 innings, with 4 strikeouts.

News

The Giants announced a string of cuts from their DSL rosters, which shouldn’t be surprising given the new season that just started. Lots of new names to make room for.

There were also some promotions and demotions made over the last few days, in case you missed them.

Home runs

AA Vince Fernandez (11)
High-A Tyler Fitzgerald (8)
High-A Franklin Labour (8)
High-A Heath Quinn, 2 (2, 3)
Low-A Alexander Canario (9)

Thursday schedule

Sacramento: vs. Round Rock Express, 7:05 p.m. PT
Richmond: vs. Somerset Patriots, 3:35 p.m. PT
Eugene: @ Spokane, 6:30 p.m. PT
San Jose: @ Modesto Nuts, 7:05 p.m. PT
ACL Orange: vs. Royals Blue, 6:00 p.m. Pt
ACL Black: vs. Padres, 6:00 p.m. PT
DSL Orange: vs. Pirates Gold, 7:30 a.m. PT
DSL Black: vs. Tigers, 7:30 a.m. PT