CMW gets rocked in fourth Triple-A start

News and notes, notes and news:

OF Zoilo Almonte was named the Triple-A International League Offensive Player of the Week today, plus he got a little love in Baseball America’s Prospect Notebook. “An improved hitting approach could take Almonte from a longshot prospect to someone who has a chance to have a major league role in the near future,” they wrote while noting his much-improved walk rate (14.5% this year vs. 5.6% last year).
Also, remember when RHP Caleb Cotham was getting promoted to Triple-A? That’s no longer happening according to Josh Norris. I’m guessing he was supposed to take RHP Cody Eppley’s spot, but Eppley cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Triple-A rather quickly, so the roster spot closed up.
3B Rob Segedin is not close to returning and he be done for the season, says Norris. He is currently on the DL with a right hip problem. Segedin was off to a nice start for Double-A Trenton, hitting .338/.390/.606 (165 wRC+) in 24 games.
C Kyle Higashioka had Tommy John surgery and is done for the year according to Norris. At least he’s not a pitcher, I guess.

Triple-A Scranton (5-0 loss to Indianapolis)

2B Corban Joseph: 0-4, 1 BB, 1 K
1B David Adams: 2-4, 2 2B — that’s his first career game at first base, and word is he looked “uncomfortable” … no surprise there, but they’re obviously working to improve his versatility
LF Zoilo Almonte: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K
3B Ronnie Mustelier: 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 E (fielding) — hasn’t exactly torn the cover off the ball yet, he’s 3-for-16 (.188) so far
RHP Chien-Ming Wang: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 8/0 GB/FB — 59 of 84 pitches were strikes (70%) … peripherals were great, but the sinker sat 88-89 and it was getting hit hard
LHP Clay Rapada: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GB/FB — half of his 22 pitches were strikes … first official game of the year, and he retired the only lefty he faced

Double-A Trenton (5-0 win over Binghamton)

LF Ramon Flores: 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB — slumpbuster
RF Tyler Austin: 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 K
C J.R.Murphy: 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B — still mashin’
CF Slade Heathcott: 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 K
LHP Matt Tracy: 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 HB, 5/3 GB/FB — 62 of 97 pitches were strikes (64%) … easily his best start of the year given his brutal first month
RHP Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0/2 GB/FB — 28 of 46 pitches were strikes (61%)

High-A Tampa (7-0 loss to Fort Myers)

CF Mason Williams: 1-4, 1 K — threw a runner out at second
LF Ben Gamel: 0-4, 2 K — three hits in his last 37 at-bats (.081)
RF Rob Refsnyder: 2-4, 2 K, 1 SB — nothing but multi-hit games from this guy
C Gary Sanchez: 0-3, 1 K, 1 HBP
RHP Bryan Mitchell: 4 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 1 HB, 6/3 GB/FB — there’s Bad Bryan

Low-A Charleston (10-4 win over Delmarva)

CF Jake Cave: 2-6, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
SS Cito Culver: 3-6, 2 R, 1 RBI — two three-hit games and six hitless games in his last eight games
1B Greg Bird: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 E (fielding) — 11 hits in his last 27 at-bats (.407) with nine walks and three strikeouts
3B Dante Bichette Jr.: 2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI
C Peter O’Brien: 1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 E (throwing)
RHP Jose Campos: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 4/1 GB/FB — hooray for throwing more than three innings … maybe they’re starting to stretch him out a bit
LHP Evan Rutckyj: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 WP, 7/3 GB/FB