Daily Farm Report: Tommy Edman wants your attention

Tacoma Rainiers 10, Memphis Redbirds 4

Anthony Shew (SP) - 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Tommy Edman (SS) - 1-5, 3B

Jose Godoy (C) - 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB

John Nogowski (1B) - 1-3, 2B, BB

The disastrous start was Anthony Shew’s sixth since being being promoted to Memphis following a stellar 1.93 ERA start at Springfield. Shew, an undrafted free agent in 2016, has seen his strikeouts tick up at AAA but he’s also walked an uncharacteristically high number of batters.

Tommy Edman continues to impress at Memphis. He sported a promising 108 wRC+ through April, but since the beginning of May he’s upped the ante and slashed a meaty .304/.357/.549. He’s also 7-7 on stolen bases this year and has seen time at shortstop, third base, and second base. Why is Yairo Munoz still kicking around on the big league bench, again?

The loss drops Memphis to 24-36. The series against Tacoma continues tonight at 9:05pm CDT.

Tulsa Drillers 4, Springfield Cardinals 1

Austin Warner (SP) - 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Zach Kirtley (1B) - 1-4, HR, RBI

Chris Chinea (C) - 3-4

Irving Lopez (2B) - 2-5

Infielder Zach Kirtley launched his first AA home run since being promoted to Springfield on June 3. Kirtley has finally found some offensive footing in pro ball, boasting a 120 wRC+ in 48 games. That would look a lot better if he had been able to stick at second base, however, but it looks like he’s tumbled down to first base for the foreseeable future.

Speaking of second baseman, Irving Lopez has been promoted somewhat aggressively since being selected in the 19th round of the 2017 Draft. In 51 games at AA, Lopez has slashed .265/.341/.444 with palatable plate discipline numbers - a 7.0% BB% and a 16.9% K%. The .180 ISO is promising for a middle infielder of such modest stature, especially with the livelier ball on the horizon in AAA.

Springfield sits at an abysmal 23-36 after the loss. They’ll open a series against NW Arkansas this afternoon at 4:05pm CDT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 3, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1

Alex Fagalde (SP) - 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Luken Baker (1B) - 1-4, 2B, RBI, BB, K

Michael Perri (2B) - 2-4, 2B

Yariel Gonzalez (3B) - 1-4, 2B, BB, K

Alex Fagalde has been a stalwart of the Palm Beach rotation in what has been a surprisingly hot start for an otherwise uninspiring roster. In 12 starts, Fagalde has run a 2.08 ERA supported by a healthy 4.00 K-BB ratio.

Luken Baker has sported a 128 wRC+ so far in his first full season, even if he’s gotten there in a bizarre fashion. Through April, he was hitting for basically no power but walking at an absurd 20.8% clip. That was paired with a 24.0% strikeout rate, however. Since the beginning of May he has maintained the strikeouts while trading in walks for a .73 bump in his ISO. Without context, the power output for a big-bodied R-R first baseman is disappointing. Once you consider that he’s playing in the power sapping Florida State League AND he’s making an effort to pull the ball in the air more, it feels like we may see a breakout once he’s freed from the confines of Roger Dean.

The win improves Palm Beach to 33-25. They play Lakeland again this evening at 5:30pm CDT.

Peoria Chiefs 6 @ Quad Cities River Bandits 2

Michael Brettell (SP) - 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Wadye Ynfante (CF) - 2-5, 2B, 2 K

Juan Yepez (1B) - 2-5, 2B

Brendan Donovan (2B) - 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Juan Yepez has finally begun his 2019 campaing, but he has started at Peoria once again after scuffling at Palm Beach upon promotion in 2018. He’s homered in his first two games so far, and might be a candidate for a call-up once Luken Baker graduates to Springfield.

Peoria improves to 26-31 with the win. The take on Quad Cities again tonight at 6:35pm CDT.

DSL Cardinals Red 4 @ DSL Tigers (1) 3

Edgar Manzo (SP) - 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Alexander Samuel (1B) - 2-5, RBI, 2 K

Miguel Maiz (RP) - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

DSL Cardinals Blue 8, DSL Nationals 7

Gustavo Rordriguez (SP) - 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Hancel Rincon (RP) - 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Leudy Pena (LF) - 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, K

Carlos Arcia (3B) - 1-2, HR, RBI, 2 BB

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Thursday’s Probables

MEM: Daniel Ponce de Leon

SPR: Johan Oviedo

PMB: Edgar Gonzalez

PEO: Kyle Leahy