Results tagged ‘ Leonys Martin ’
RoughRiders Roundtable Podcast, Episode #4
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
The latest episode of the RoughRiders Roundtable Podcast is now yours to listen to and download on iTunes. As
always, a big thanks to our producer Ted Price, Jason Cole of LoneStarDugout.com, and Brian.
In this episode we discuss the rumored call-up of Leonys Martin and Mark Hamburger (at time of publication this still has not been made official). We also chat about Tommy Mendonca being named a Texas League Post-Season All-Star, Robbie Ross thriving in Double-A, and Renny Osuna’s future in the Rangers’ system.
Feel free to leave a comment on this page if there’s a topic in the future you’d like us to discuss.
Thanks for downloading and listening!
-AG
My Texas League Postseason Ballot
The 2011 Texas League Postseason All-Star ballots are out to managers and media members, and both Aaron and I have a vote. Below, I have my picks along with a brief explanation why.
First off, here are a few notes. As a member of the RoughRiders organization, I cannot vote for a RoughRider. Still, I have included six ‘Riders who could be on this list. Also, anyone who has played in the TL this year is eligible. Finally, all of the ballots are due by tomorrow, so the last two weeks of the season do not factor into the decision.
Share your thoughts at the bottom in the comments section. Here we go.
Catcher: Wilin Rosario (Tulsa)
The Rockies’ number two prospect, Rosario has not had the best season offensively. But, he could get a September promotion to Colorado and he has put up the best numbers of any Texas League catcher (.254, 18 HR, 41 RBI).
First Baseman: Matt Adams (Springfield)
Triple Crown? Matt Adams has a chance in '11 (Photo courtesy of Mark Harrell/Springfield Cardinals).
With Tim Wheeler’s recent struggles and Jermaine Mitchell’s promotion to Triple-A Sacramento, Adams has an outside shot at a Triple Crown. Adams has a league-leading 30 homers (one better than Wheeler) and 94 RBIs, and he is sixth in the league in average at .313. However, the top three (Mitchell, J.D. Martinez and James Darnell) will not have enough plate appearances to qualify barring a return to the TL. His real target is Mike Trout (.326).
Second Baseman: Jose Altuve (Corpus Christi)
I like to steer away from players who did not spend much time in a league for postseason awards, but the second base spot is weak here in the Texas League and Altuve was incredible to watch. He hit .361 in his 35 games with Corpus Christi. During that short stint, Altuve drove in 25 runs and scored 21.
Shortstop: Darwin Perez (Arkansas)
Shortstop is a fairly weak position in the Texas League this season, as well, so Perez is my choice because of his on-base percentage (.378, 11th), stolen bases (22, 6th) and fielding percentage (.982, 1st among qualifiers). If I could vote for a RoughRider, Renny Osuna would be my choice here.
Third Baseman: James Darnell (San Antonio)
With apologies to Arkansas’ Luis Jimenez, Darnell was a machine in his 76 games with the Missions. Darnell hit .333, which still qualifies for third in the Texas League, and he had an OPS of 1.038. Darnell hit 17 homers and drove in 62 runs, and now his home is San Diego.
Outfielder: Mike Trout (Arkansas)
Trout was advertised as the number one or number two prospect in the minors at the start of the season, and he has not disappointed. Trout is hitting .326 with 33 stolen bases, and he earned a brief stint in the big leagues. He is incredibly fun to watch.
Outfielder: Jermaine Mitchell (Midland)
Mitchell still qualifies as the league’s leader in batting average (.355), on-base percentage (.453) and OPS (1.042). He didn’t have the gaudy home run (10) or RBI (50) totals, but he was a menace atop Midland’s order.
Outfielder: Tim Wheeler (Tulsa)
Wheeler has struggled in August, but he still boasts great numbers (Photo courtesy of Shawn E. Davis/MiLB.com).
Wheeler has struggled lately (.200, 0 HR, 2 RBIs in August), but you have to wonder if he is getting bored at the Double-A level. He is still second in homers (29) and tied for fourth in RBIs (79). It was between Corpus Christi’s J.D. Martinez and Wheeler, and I went with Tulsa’s leadoff hitter, who is putting up middle-of-the-order stats. Don’t worry, Martinez fans…
Designated Hitter: J.D. Martinez (Corpus Christi)
The Hooks have the worst record in the Texas League, but they are one of three teams to have two offensive representatives on my list. Martinez, like Jose Altuve, is in the big leagues now, but he is fourth in the TL in OPS (.959) and seventh in RBIs (72) despite only playing in 88 games.
Three toughest offensive omissions:
1. Arkansas 3B Luis Jimenez (barely edged by Darnell and Martinez)
2. Springfield OF Alex Castellanos (gave Wheeler edge despite being in recent funk)
3. San Antonio OF Blake Tekotte (outfield was the most loaded position)
Three most likely RoughRiders on the list:
1. Renny Osuna (2B/SS)
2. Tommy Mendonca (3B)
3. Leonys Martin (OF)
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Pitchers:
1. Matt Shoemaker (Arkansas)
Matt Shoemaker has the best ERA in the TL, and it's not even that close (Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Travelers).
Shoemaker started the season in Triple-A, but he came down to the Texas League in early May and began his dominance. He leads the league, by a wide margin, in ERA (2.18) and WHIP (1.00) among qualifiers. He also paces all Texas Leaguers in strikeouts with 121 and is tied at the top with 12 wins.
2. Garrett Richards (Arkansas)
Richards is the man who is deadlocked with Shoemaker in wins. Both hurlers are 12-2, and Richards is the league leader in innings with 141. Richards, who is currently with the Angels, is 12-2 with an ERA of 3.06, which is second to Shoemaker among qualifiers.
3. Dallas Keuchel (Corpus Christi)
Don’t let his 9-7 record fool you—Keuchel has been a legitimate ace all season long. The lefty has worked through five innings in all but one of his 19 starts, and he has only surrendered more than three runs four times. He is not overpowering (76 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings), but he is second among qualifiers in WHIP at 1.12.
Joe Wieland tossed a no-hitter with Frisco, and he is now dominating with San Antonio (Photo courtesy of James Garner).
4. Joe Wieland (San Antonio)
Casey Kelly is San Diego’s top prospect, and Jorge Reyes has the best numbers of any San Antonio starter who has been on the club all year. However, who has made a bigger impact in the Texas League this season than Wieland? Wieland tossed a no-hitter with the RoughRiders against San Antonio, and then he went to the Missions. Wieland’s ERA is 1.50 in Double-A, and he has a 1.85 overall this season.
5. Nick Vincent (San Antonio)
Vincent has made more appearances (58) than anyone else in the Texas League. The reliever is 7-1 with a 2.19 ERA in 70 innings, and he has 82 strikeouts to 14 walks. In the eighth inning, the righty owns a 1.91 ERA. In the ninth, that mark falls to 1.50. The Missions have been dominant all year long, and the bullpen is a big reason why.
6. Brad Brach (San Antonio)
Closers are not that common in the minors, but Brach was the man who dominated the ninth inning while in San Antonio. Brach had a 2.25 ERA and went 23 for 25 in save opportunities with the Missions before earning a promotion to Triple-A Tucson. When ahead in the count, the TL’s save leader held his opposition to an .097 average (7-for-72).
Three toughest pitching omissions:
1. Springfield’s Shelby Miller (good numbers, but not good enough to overcome small sample size)
2. Tulsa’s Juan Nicasio (better numbers than Miller, but fewer innings)
3. San Antonio’s Jorge Reyes (4th in ERA, but only worked more than five innings once)
Three most likely RoughRiders on the list:
1. LHP Martin Perez
2. RHP Justin Miller
3. RHP Tyler Tufts
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Springfield’s Matt Adams
He is the most dangerous hitter in the Texas League right now, and he has a chance at the Triple Crown. He may not have the upside that some other players in this league possess, but he has been the best hitter on the best offense, by far, in the TL.
ON THE MEDAL STAND: 2. Arkansas’ Mike Trout; 3. San Antonio’s James Darnell.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Arkansas’ Matt Shoemaker
The Travelers earned a first-half title because of their pitching staff, and Shoemaker has been the go-to guy. Shoemaker stumbled a bit in Triple-A earlier this season, but he figures to do much better in his second go-around at that level after an incredible season at the Double-A level.
ON THE MEDAL STAND: 2. Arkansas’ Garrett Richards; 3. Corpus Christi’s Dallas Keuchel.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: San Antonio’s Doug Dascenzo
The Missions have the best record in minor league baseball, and they have had many good players. However, Dascenzo has navigated his club through many promotions, and they haven’t slowed down at all. This San Antonio club is a dominant force that will go into the playoffs as the heavy favorites, and Dascenzo is a big reason why.
ON THE MEDAL STAND: 2. Frisco’s Steve Buechele; 3. Northwest Arkansas’ Brian Poldberg.
- Brian
Top Pictures of 2011
There have been plenty of great moments this season, and those moments can be captured in photography. Our team of photographers–James Garner, Alex Yocum-Beeman and others–have done a great job of getting those photos. Here is a look at some of the best ones as the 2011 season winds down.
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A few RoughRiders mob Travis Adair after his walk-off single against San Antonio June 10.
Guilder Rodriguez avoids Jonathan Greene and makes a catch earlier this year at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Nelson Cruz rehabbed with the ‘Riders back in May.
So did Josh Hamilton.
Leonys Martin made his stateside debut with the RoughRiders earlier this season, and he was an instant hit in Frisco.
Renny Osuna, the new hits king in RoughRiders history, is all smiles, too.
Great focus here by Davis Stoneburner in the camo jersey.
Tommy Mendonca avoids the net and makes a great play in foul ground.
Jose Ruiz painfully slides home during a game with Northwest Arkansas here in Frisco.
Now, how about some fun. The Phillie Phanatic dancing with a RoughRider fan.
BirdZerk visited Dr Pepper Ballpark as well.
And who can forget when the RoughRiders’ game was snowed out earlier this season? Wait–scratch that. Instead, it’s been 100+ degrees almost every day in the second half. Hopefully this image gives you a much-needed chill.
Feel free to send us your pictures during games here at Dr Pepper Ballpark! Tweet us at twitter.com/ridersbaseball!
- Brian
Alumni Report
The RoughRiders have made 82 different transactions this season, and many players have come and gone. Let’s update you on a few of the guys who are no longer with the RoughRiders and, in some cases, no longer even in the Rangers’ system.
Miguel De Los Santos: A member of the 40-man roster, De Los Santos is the reigning Carolina League Pitcher of the Week after tossing seven no-hit innings for Myrtle Beach against Potomac Saturday. The P-Nationals broke up the no-no bid in the ninth inning after De Los Santos left. The southpaw is 3-3 with a 2.95 earned run average in eight High-A appearances this season with the Pelicans.
Robbie Erlin: After the Rangers sent him to the San Diego farm system in the Mike Adams deal, Erlin joined up with the best team in minor league baseball–the San Antonio Missions. So far, Erlin has made two starts and he has thrived. Erlin has surrendered only one run on seven hits in 12 innings of work. However, the southpaw is without a decision with San Antonio. Overall this season, Erlin is 8-4 with a 3.11 ERA.
Tommy Hunter: The Rangers sent Hunter and former RoughRider Chris Davis for reliever Koji Uehara. So far with the Orioles, Hunter is 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA in three appearances (two starts). In 11 and two-thirds innings, Hunter has allowed nine runs on 17 hits.
Leonys Martin: In his 58 minor league games since signing as an amateur free agent with the Rangers in early May, Martin is hitting .306. However, the outfielder has a .269 batting average with Triple-A Round Rock. In his 25 games with the Express, Martin has driven in 13 runs and stolen four bases. In a strange split, Martin is batting .394 against fellow lefties but only .213 against righties in Triple-A.
Martin Perez: The Rangers’ top prospect is 3-2 with a 5.28 ERA in six starts with Triple-A Round Rock. Perez has had two great outings in a row, including last night’s no decision against Tacoma (5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 K). Opponents at Triple-A are hitting a pretty healthy .341 against Perez in his first six efforts for Round Rock.
Guilder Rodriguez: In Rodriguez’s second go-around at the Triple-A level, the infielder is batting .278 with nine RBIs in 22 games with the Express. For the most part, Rodriguez has batted ninth and played at shortstop. However, he is getting some time at second base with Nick Green now on the Round Rock roster.
Tanner Scheppers: Scheppers joined Triple-A Round Rock Saturday after a couple of months with the RoughRiders. The dynamic reliever has tossed five innings with the Express, and he has allowed nine hits but only one run. Last night against Tacoma, Scheppers tossed three shutout innings during extra frames.
Joe Wieland: Wieland accompanied Erlin to San Antonio in the deadline deal with the Padres, but not before the righty posted the fourth no-hitter in Frisco history. With the Missions, Wieland has made one start, during which he went six innings and gave up a run on three hits. Wieland will start for the Missions tonight at Springfield.
- Brian
100 Things on 100 Games
The RoughRiders have played 100 games this season. With only 40 games left, the ‘Riders currently own the Texas League’s second best record at 57-43. To celebrate the century mark, let’s tell you about 100 things from each of the 100 games. I promise that everything will not be listed, but let’s add up some of the RoughRiders’ most notable numbers and get to 100 x 100, or 10,000. Here we go.
0: The number of runs, hits, or base runners that Martin Perez allowed during his rain-shortened perfect game April 19 at Arkansas.
12: The number of home runs hit in the RoughRiders’ 19-4 victory over Corpus Christi this past Friday. The ‘Riders had eight of those, including three by Tommy Mendonca.
19: Frisco’s run total from that win last week, which matched a franchise-high for runs in a game. The club also surpassed its previous record in home runs (8) and hits (24).
20: How many times Dr Pepper Ballpark has been sold out this season. The RoughRiders currently lead the Texas League in attendance, averaging almost eight thousand people per night.
26: The ‘Riders have come from behind in 26 victories this season, which makes up almost half of Frisco’s wins.
48: How many different men have donned the RoughRiders uniform this season, which is a list that consists of men like defending American League MVP Josh Hamilton and undrafted 2011 free agent Jimmy Swift. And seemingly everyone in between.
65: The number of days the RoughRiders have been tied for or in sole possession of second place in the Texas League South Division.
76: The RoughRiders have made 76 transactions this season. The first one was sending now Chris Mobley, who is now with the Reds, to Triple-A Round Rock April 5. The most recent one was Robbie Diaz’s return to Frisco late last week.
100: Uh well, this is the number of games the ‘Riders have played. Sorry, I had to include it.
103: The number of home runs that the ‘Riders have hit this season, which is already 35 more than the club’s season total last year.
186: When you add the home runs and RBIs for Mike Bianucci (23, 70) and Tommy Mendonca (20, 73), you get 186. According to Michael Damman, the Director of the RoughRiders Statistical Research Department, the RoughRiders are the only team in the minors to have teammates that own 20+ homers and 70+ RBIs.
199: The number of wins in Frisco manager Steve Buechele’s career. He is 199-170 in his career and 120-101 during his time with the RoughRiders.
264: That’s how many minutes the RoughRiders’ longest game lasted. It was a 4-hour, 24-minute thriller that Arkansas won 4-3 in 15 innings.
296: Through Monday’s action, the Rangers’ minor league system has won 296 games, which is third-most in baseball. Texas’ farm system has the best winning percentage at .584.
306: Renny Osuna’s hit total while with the RoughRiders, which is second to Steve Murphy. Murphy had 319 during his time in Frisco.
541: The number of runs Frisco’s offense has scored this season, which is good for more than five runs per contest.
.570 (this is counting as 570, by the way): Frisco’s winning percentage, which would be the fourth-best in franchise history. The previous high is .607 back in 2007.
774: The number of strikeouts that Frisco’s pitching staff has come up with during the season. Jake Brigham leads all ‘Riders with 85.
910: Frisco pitching has thrown 910 innings this year. In that span, the club owns a 4.41 ERA, which is third in the Texas League.
965: How many hits the RoughRiders’ offense has mustered, which is almost ten per game. Frisco trails only Springfield in the Texas League in hits.
1.007 (this is counting as 1,007, by the way): Leonys Martin’s OPS while with the RoughRiders, which leads all 2011 ‘Riders not named Josh Hamilton (1.087), who doesn’t quite count. Martin hit .348 with four homers and 24 RBIs in 29 games at the Double-A level.
1509: The total number of bases the ‘Riders have reached this season. That’s a lot of running.
2004: The year of the RoughRiders’ first and only Texas League championship season. Here in 2011, the ‘Riders have proven through their first 100 games that they have the talent to add another title here in 2011.
Yep, that’s 10,000. It will be fun to see what 1 or 100 amazing things the RoughRiders do in the season’s stretch run. Enjoy the ride along with us.
- Brian
Alumni Report
We checked in with some former RoughRiders a month ago, and since then the ‘Riders’ roster has changed. Let’s check in with some other former 2011 RoughRiders, including the likes of Leonys Martin and Martin Perez.
Travis Adair: After a two month stint with the RoughRiders, Adair was assigned back to High-A Myrtle Beach. Since returning to the Pelicans, Adair is hitting .275 with five RBIs and four runs. Overall, Adair is hitting .318 with two home runs and 18 RBIs with Myrtle Beach after posting a .238 average in 33 games while with Frisco.
Miguel De Los Santos: De Los Santos, a member of the Rangers’ 40-man roster, has made five appearances with High-A Myrtle Beach after almost two months on the disabled list. The left-handed starter is 2-1 with a 3.27 earned run average. After the first inning, De Los Santos owns a 2.00 ERA.
Mark Hamburger: Since his first ever promotion to Triple-A, Hamburger has gone 4-4 with a 6.03 earned run average with the Express. Opponents are hitting .273 against the right-hander whose best month came in June when he posted a 2.51 ERA. Hamburger has struggled against left-handed hitters (.356). From June 14 to July 6, Hamburger had a seven-appearance, 12.1-inning scoreless stretch.
Leonys Martin: Martin spent about two months with the RoughRiders before earning a promotion to Triple-A Round Rock July 9. In his first nine games with the Express, Martin is hitting .351 with six RBIs and five runs scored. He has hit safely in seven games, and he has posted a multi-hit effort five times. Against lefties at the Triple-A level, Martin is hitting .583 (7-for-12).
Martin Perez: The Rangers’ number one prospect has two starts with Round Rock on his resume. In his debut last Saturday, Perez held the Memphis Redbirds to one run on six hits in five innings for his first win with the Express. His home debut yesterday, though, brought with it Perez’s first loss in Triple-A. The southpaw allowed six runs, three of which were earned, on 11 hits in three and a third innings of work against New Orleans.
Guilder Rodriguez: Rodriguez joined Martin in that promotion to Round Rock July 9, and he has already played in ten games with the Express. He owns an average of .273 with five RBIs and five runs. Against righties, the switch hitter is batting .348. In yesterday’s game, Rodriguez set a Triple-A career high with three hits.
Jimmy Swift: Swift, who spent 11 days with the RoughRiders as a backup infielder, is back with the Surprise Rangers of the Arizona League. The undrafted free agent has thrived in Surprise. He has a .520 average in ten games. Since returning from Frisco, Swift is 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
- Brian
One Step Away
Leonys Martin is with the Triple-A Round Rock Express. He has not appeared in their game tonight with the Memphis Redbirds, but he is in uniform. Check out the former RoughRider in his new uniform. Thanks, as always, to fantastic RoughRider photographer James Garner for the image.
It’s a new color scheme, a bit closer to the Rangers’ look. Pretty cool stuff.
Also, check out both Martin and Guilder Rodriguez, the other new member of the Express.
- Brian
Martin, Rodriguez Promoted to Triple-A
We knew the clock was ticking on Leonys Martin. He was hitting .348 in 29 games in Double-A and was batting an astounding .429 with runners on base. Although it’s no surprise that just hours ago his promotion to Round Rock was made official (we prophesied this on the latest Roundtable Podcast), his call up was aided by the injured ankle of former RoughRider Julio Borbon (whose x-rays came back negative).
Leonys Martin hit four home runs and had 24 RBIs in 29 games played with Frisco. (James Garner)
Martin was a joy to be around and no doubt made a lasting impression on virtually all who saw him play. His offensive abilities and strong arm stand out, along with his humility off the field. We don’t know the exact details about what his life in Cuba was like, or how exactly he made it over to the United States, but it’s a sure bet that no matter what, he was placed in an entirely new world once he rolled up to Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
For a guy who signed a contract in excess of $20 million, Leonys remained humble, kind, and hardworking. He was taking English lessons three times a week in Frisco and was really improving quickly. There’s no doubt that I’ll be rooting for Leonys in Round Rock and then one day in Arlington.
Guilder Rodriguez throws from his side during a game over the July 4th weekend. (James Garner)
Need another guy to root for? I offer you Guilder Rodriguez. He’s played in the minors for 10 seasons and is getting his second-ever call up to Triple-A. G-Rod may never make it to the major leagues (he turns 28 on July 28th), but this is great news for a guy who works hard everyday and is about as good as an organizational shortstop as you’ll find in the minors.
One scout back in Frisco on the previous home stand told me he’d love to have a guy like Guilder in his farm system because of his veteran presence and defensive ability. Not to mention that at 27-years-old he’s having a career offensive season with a new single-season high 37 RBIs, including four last night.
Guilder gets moved to Round Rock following Omar Quintanilla’s promotion from Triple-A to Arlington. Quintanilla, who is two years older than Rodriguez, played college ball at Texas and hit .298 in 51 games for Round Rock this year. The Rangers placed infielder Andres Blanco on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday with a stress reaction in his lower back, thus the move to bring Omar up. Welcome to the musical chairs of professional baseball.
Funny story: Let’s just say that I received some inside info midway through last night’s game that G-Rod would more than likely be getting the call to Triple-A. Of course I couldn’t say anything about it on-air (big time no-no) because I had to wait for it to be made official. However in the late innings last night Guilder took one of nastiest hops of the season on a ground ball the jumped up and caught him almost square in the face. First thought I had after Guilder fell down to the ground was “great, the guy doesn’t even know yet that he’s going to Round Rock after this game is over and now he might go on the DL.” Somehow Guilder was alright and finished the game. Close call.
OK, maybe that wasn’t so funny after all. Interesting at best.
Both Leo and G-Rod will be active tonight for the Express against Memphis. Here in Springfield, the ‘Riders and Cards conclude their series at 6:07 p.m. It’s the final time in the regular season the RoughRiders will play at Hammons Field. Brian and I will be on at 5:37 p.m. with the pre-game show. Talk with you then.
AG
Three RoughRiders in Top 50
Baseball America came out with its “Midseason Top 50 Prospect List,” and the RoughRiders were a fixture on the list. Three current ‘Riders are in the top 34. Frisco is the only minor league team that can boast that.
At number six in the rankings is left-hander Martin Perez, who entered the rankings this season at 24. Perez was named to both the Texas League All-Star Game and the XM Futures Game, and he sits 4-2 with a 3.16 earned run average. Perez is second in the TL in strikeouts (83), third in ERA and sixth in WHIP (1.31).
Outfielder Leonys Martin checks in at 25th on the list. Martin, who joined the RoughRiders May 12, is hitting .339 in 28 games. If he were qualified in the league rankings (he is not because of a shortage of necessary at bats), Martin would be fifth in the Texas League since May 12.
Finally, southpaw Robbie Erlin is 34th. Erlin, who was promoted from High-A Myrtle Beach in late May, is 5-0 with a 4.10 in seven career Double-A appearances. Erlin is third among Texas League hurlers since May 29 with 44 strikeouts.
Rangers shortstop prospect Jurickson Profar is 12th, and he is the only non-RoughRider from Texas’ farm system who appears on this list. Profar is currently with Low-A Hickory, and he will join Perez on the World Team in the Futures Game this Sunday.
To read the entire list, click here.
- Brian
