Down on the Farm: 4/15/2016

AAA  Salt Lake City Bees stung the Sacramento River Cats 4-3 in 10 innings:

Conor Gillaspie 3B- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .303.
Matt Lujan LHP- 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.00.
Duke Welker LHP- 1. 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.
Jake Dunning RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.60.

Welker is a recent minor league FA signing.  I remember this guy from when he was a draft prospect at Univ. of Arkansas.  He's a 6'7" 220 lb RHP drafted in 2007 by the Pirates in the second round, #68 overall.  He kicked around the Pirates minor league system until 2014 when he was released after undergoing Tommy John surgery.  This was his first professional action since then.  Looking back at his minor league numbers, he always had decent K rates and was right around a 9 K/9 in 2012 and 2013.  His walk rates were inconsistent and often too high.  I like this signing. If he is healthy and the Giants can show him how to throw strikes, he could be a sleeper along the lines of Ryan Vogelsong.

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AA  Richmond Flying Squirrels edged out the Altoona Curve 3-2:

Chase Johnson RHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.63.
Mike Kickham LHP- 2.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.
Tyler Rogers RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 0.00.
Jake Smith RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Mike Kickham is trying to resurrect his pro career with another gig in the Giants organization.  Last year's SJ bullpen is picking up where it left off last year, except at a higher level.

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High A  Inland Empire 66'ers beat the San Jose Giants 4-2 on a windy night in the IE:

CJ Hinojosa SS- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .364.
Andrew Suarez LHP- 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.00.
Pat Young RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.38.
Jeff Soptic RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.86.

Nothing to comment on here.

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Low A  Augusta Greenjackets outscored the Charleston River Dogs 8-7:

Tyler Brown 2B- 2 for 3, BB, SB(2).  BA= .286.
Dylan Davis RF- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(1).  BA= .265.
Jean Angomas LF- 1 for 3, 2B, BB, SB(4).  BA= .227.
Logan Webb RHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.38.
Ryan Halstead RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, Save(1).  ERA= 0.00.

Angomas looks like a dynamic player if he can hit a bit more.  Fun fact:  Angomas is Edwin Encarnacion's cousin(I think).  According to David Lee of the Augusta Chronicle(found link on Covechatter), Webb's FB sat 88-90 with peak of 91 MPH.  He rates his changeup as a potential 5+, whatever that means(I think it's good).