This is a few weeks old, but I’ve had it open in a tab and didn’t get around to reading it until today. Josh Norris spoke to SS Cito Culver, who confirmed he stopped switch-hitting in favor of batting right-handed exclusively right after being cut from big league camp in March. It was his idea and he took it to the brass. So there, confirmation.
Also, apparently LHP Matt Tracy is working on a cutter according to Mike Ashmore. He’s primarily a fastball/changeup guy with some curveballs mixed in.
Triple-A Scranton was rained out for the second day in a row. No word when they’ll make this one up.
Double-A Trenton (6-5 win over Richmond in 11 innings, walk-off style)
- CF Slade Heathcott: 3-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB — tripled with one out in the 11th to setup the winning run
- LF Ramon Flores: 2-6, 1 RBI, 1 K — walk-off sac fly
- RF Tyler Austin: 0-5, 1 K — stuck in an 0-for-14 slump
- C J.R. Murphy: 1-5, 1 K, 1 E (catcher interference)
- DH Neil Medchill: 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K
- RHP Zach Nuding: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 6/2 GB/FB — 56 of 90 pitches were strikes (62%)
- RHP Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GB/FB — 26 of 35 pitches were strikes (74%) … eight runs allowed in his last 2.1 innings
High-A Tampa (3-2 loss to Dunedin in 11 innings, walk-off style)
- CF Mason Williams: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS — six walks and seven strikeouts through seven games
- 2B Angelo Gumbs: 0-5, 2 K — stuck in an 0-for-20 rut at the moment
- LF Ben Gamel: 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K — first hitless game of the year
- DH Gary Sanchez: 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B — three straight games with a double
- RHP Corey Black: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 6/3 GB/FB — Kiley McDaniel had him sitting 92-94 and touching 96
- RHP Zach Arneson: 1.1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1/0 GB/FB — he was sitting 93-95 with what McDaniel called “the worst arm action I’ve seen this year … Maybe ever”
Low-A Charleston (3-0 loss to Augusta)
- SS Cito Culver: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K — six extra-base hits in eight games this year after 22 in 122 last year
- 1B Greg Bird: 1-4, 1 K
- 3B Dante Bichette Jr.: 0-4, 1 K
- C Peter O’Brien: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K
- RHP Rafael DePaula: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 2 HB, 1/0 GB/FB — only 24 of 55 pitches were strikes (44%), and he threw 11 straight balls to open the game … the kid lost a lot of development time these last few years and has a lot of catching up to do
- RHP Phil Wetherell: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 7/1 GB/FB — 48 of 60 pitches were strikes (80%) … pretty awesome job in relief