Texas Rangers First-Round Pick Makes Minor-League Debut

Round Rock (14-11, 58-41, 3rd, 3.0 GB) lost to El Paso, 8-3. LF Elier Hernandez (1-for-4, 2B, RBI) continued his recent torrid stretch, driving in a run with a 9th-inning RBI double; Hernandez, who now leads the Pacific Coast League with 105 hits, is batting .303 on the season. RHP Jonathan Hernández (1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 SO) spun a scoreless inning in relief and has posted a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) over his last 11 appearances (beg. 6/14). 

Frisco (14-11, 45-48, 3rd, 1.0 GB) defeated Wichita, 10-7. 2B Thomas Saggese keyed the ‘Riders offensive onslaught, posting a 3-hit night with a pair of RBI; Saggese’s last 8 games (beg: 7/20): .371/.421/.600/.1.021 (13-35), 2 HR, 12 RBI. Frisco also got multi-hit efforts from SS Luisangel Acuña (2-for-6, 2B, RBI), 1B Josh Hatcher (2- for-4, 2 RBI), RF Kellen Strahm (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and 3B Jax Biggers (2-for-4, BB). LHP Grant Wolfram (2.0 IP, 1 H) tossed 2.0 scoreless IP in relief and earned his 7th win to improve to a perfect 7-0 on the season; his 7 victories are T3rd-most in the Texas League in ‘23. RHP Justin Slaten (SV, 0.1 IP) entered in the 9th and retired the lone batter he faced to nail down his 2nd save of the season. 

Hickory (18-9, 45-43, 1st, +2.5 GA) lost to Hudson Valley, 11-2. 1B Tucker Mitchell (1-for-4, 2 RBI) poked a 2-RBI single to disrupt the potential shutout. Mitchell now has hits in 4 of his last 5 contests. RHP Emiliano Teodo (2.2. IP, 5 H, 7 R-ER, 5 BB, 4 SO) shouldered his 2nd loss of the season after permitting a season-high 7 runs; this came in the wake of 4 consecutive starts with 2-or-fewer ER allowed. RHP’s Jacob Maton (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) and Gavin Collyer (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) combined to toss 3.0 scoreless frames in relief of Teodo. 

Down East (13-15, 50-39, 4th, 4.5 GB) defeated Fayetteville, 9-6. LF JoJo Blackmon (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) collected a pair of RBI on a 2-run shot of the leadoff spot, while RF Zion Bannister (1-for-3, HR 2 RBI) drove in 2 runs himself, including one on a solo homer. Bannister has hit safely in each of his last 4 games, going 5-14 (.357) with 2 HR and 3 RBI. C Ian Moller also went deep for Down East, connecting for his 6th home of the season – a solo blast in the 1st. LHP C.J. Widger (2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 SO) earned his first win after tossing a pair of shutout innings in relief. Across 6 app. for the Wood Ducks in ’23, the southpaw Widger has permitted one ER over 7.1 combined frames (1.23 ERA) with no walks and 9 strikeouts.

The ACL Rangers (17-21, 5th, 6.0 GB) defeated the ACL Mariners, 19-15, in 10 innings. 2023 fourth overall pick LF Wyatt Langford (2-for-5, 2 2B, 1 RBI) made his professional debut, starting in left field and batting third. The University of Florida product collected a pair of doubles and an RBI in the victory. RF Quincy Scott, the Rangers’ 9th-round selection this season, also made his pro debut, going 1-for-4 with a double and walk. Tied at 12 after 9 frames, the ACL Rangers posted a 7-spot in the top of the 10th, punctuated by an Echedry Vargas (4-for-6, 2 2B, 4 RBI) 3-RBI double to put the away team in front and seal the victory. 4 hits and 4 RBI each marked season highs for the Azua, DR native.