I know what you’re thinking. Lines from two days ago? I can barely remember yesterday! If it’s any consolation, I can barely remember yesterday either.
As a memory jogger, this is the day where Madison Bumgarner dominated the competition, but Angel Villalona did NOT strikeout. Also Salem-Keizer was blown out by Eugene 21-4.
Fresno
CF Ben Copeland: 0 for 5
2B Travis Denker: 2 for 5, 2B
RF John Bowker: 1 for 3, 2B, BB, K
SP Steve Hammond: 5 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
RP Geno Espineli: 1 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Connecticut
CF Antoan Richardson: 2 for 3, 2 BB, 1 K
C Eliezer Alfonzo: 2 for 4, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
SP Joey Martinez: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
RP Justin Hedrick: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K
San Jose
3B-2B Matt Downs: 1 for 4, K
1B Andy D’Alessio: 2 for 4, HR, K
SP Jesse English: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K
RP Joe Paterson: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
Augusta
2B Nick Noonan: 3 for 4
DH Thomas Neal: 2 for 5, 2 K
1B Angel Villalona: 1 for 4
SP Madison Bumgarner: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 9 K
RP Wilmin Rodriguez: 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K
Salem-Keizer
3B Conor Gillaspie: 2 for 3, 2 2B
RF Francisco Peguero: 0 for 4
DH Michael Ambort: 2 for 3, 3B, HR
RP Jonathon Pannell: 2 IP, 3 H, BB, 5 K, 2 HR
RP Joseph Edens: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K
AZL Giants
CF Wendell Fairley: 1 for 4, BB, K
DH Buster Posey: 2 for 4, BB
RP Aaron King: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K
RP Jose Casilla: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
RP Andrew Bowlin: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
Notes
How good is this kid? In the month of August, he struck out 41% of all batters he faced. There are hot streaks, and then there are hot streaks. Also, he leads the Sally League in Wins (15), ERA (1.46) Strikeouts (164), and WHIP (0.93). He has no drastic lefty-righty splits or home/road splits. By all reports, he is a “humble kid” and has “excellent makeup”. Detractors bring up his lack of secondary pitches, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just means that he has a higher ceiling, and a lower floor. In other words, if he’s dominating the competition to such a degree with only a fastball, think how dominant he will be once he has a couple of offspeed pitches to work with. Certainly, there is a chance that he will never develop an viable offspeed pitch, but there is just as high a chance that he will get injured and flame out in AA ball. There is always risk involved when you’re talking about a 19 year old pitcher. I expect him to rocket up the minors next year.
