Daily Farm Report: Gorman heats up at Palm Beach

Memphis Redbirds 10 @ Round Rock Express 5

Austin Warner (SP) - 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 7 K

John Nogowski (1B) - 3-5, HR, 3 RBI

Randy Arozarena (CF) - 2-4, 2B, BB

Lane Thomas (LF) - 2-3, 2B, 2 BB

Johan Mieses (RF) - 1-5, HR, RBI, K

Memphis showed up to play last night. The Redbirds collected fourteen hits, including five doubles and two home runs, en route to a dismantling of Round Rock. Austin Warner was solid on the bump until the fourth, when he yielded a pair of runs, but the bullpen soundly closed out the game. Junior Fernandez recorded a scoreless inning out of the pen, striking out one and allowing one hit. He is currently pitching to a 0.79 ERA and a 2.19 FIP at Triple-A.

John Nogowski had a much needed strong day at the plate, given how poor his July has been. Prior to last night, Nogowski was slumping badly since the calendar turned, batting .176/.276/.275 across 14 games. His season wRC+ currently sits at 114, and he’s still walking more than he’s striking out.

The win improves Memphis to 39-59. They’ll open a series against Omaha tonight at 7:05pm CDT.

Springfield Cardinals 10 @ Amarillo Sod Poodles 9

Tommy Parsons (SP) - 6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR

Dylan Carlson (CF) - 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K

Zach Kirtley (1B) - 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, K

Yariel Gonzalez (3B) - 2-5, HR, 3 RBI

Zach Kirtley, take a bow. The first basemen launched his fifth Double-A homer at the right time, sending a walkoff out over the center field fence on the first pitch of the ninth. Kodi Whitley closed the game with a scoreless bottom nine.

Kirtley’s bomb extends what has been a hot July for the St. Mary’s product. Since July 1, Kirtley is hitting .294/.383/.529 across 62 PA’s. He’s split 2019 between Palm Beach and Springfield, with no significant change in production between the two other than the expected power bump upon escaping Roger Dean. He’s also moved to first base full time now, it appears, making his moderate power output largely unplayable unless he benefits from the juiced ball upon reaching AAA.

With the victory, Springfield now sits at 44-53. They begin a series against Corpus Christi tonight at 7:15pm CDT.

Florida Fire Frogs 4 @ Palm Beach Cardinals 2

Diego Cordero (SP) - 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Dennis Ortega (C) - 3-4, 2B, K

Nolan Gorman (3B) - 1-4, 2B, RBI, K

Zack Gahagan (1B) - 1-4, 2B, 2 K

There isn’t a whole lot to get excited about from this game. The Fire Frogs held Palm Beach silent until the bottom of the ninth, when the Cardinals furiously rallied two runs before being shut down to end the game.

Seeing as today’s theme has been hot July’s (not planned, just how things fell), let’s talk some Nolan Gorman. The 19-year old is batting .288/.299/.485 in the month, good for a 129 wRC+ in the Florida State League. Now 24 games into his Palm Beach stint, Gorman is 10th in the league in ISO if we adjust the field to include his 99 PA’s. There’s been a drop off in patience at High-A (4.0% vs. 11.3% walk rate) but the power output has barely receded even with the harsher hitting environment. The pattern isn’t dissimilar to how he handled the speedy promotion to Peoria last year, when his power kept his head above water offensively despite older pitchers exploiting his aggressiveness.

The loss drops Palm Beach to 44-49. The take on Jupiter in a series opener this evening at 5:30pm CDT.

Fort Wayne Tin Caps 12, Peoria Chiefs 11

Colin Schmid (SP) - 5 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

Ivan Herrera (DH) - 2-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 K

Brendan Donovan (2B) - 3-5, 3B, 2 RBI

Brandon Benson (RF) - 3-4, 2B, K

This one really got away from Peoria. The Chiefs entered the sixth inning with a commanding 11-6 lead, only to see it pissed away in an eighth inning bullpen implosion. The Tin Caps pillaged Freddy Pacheco and Eli Kraus for five runs in the frame, largely on the back of three walks that set the stage for a Juwuan Harris grand slam.

Speaking of home runs, catcher Ivan Herrera belted his seventh of the year and his first since June 21. The young backstop is clawing his way back after a rough June, a month that saw his ISO evaporate on the way to a 99 wRC+. Thankfully June appears to be an anomaly. His monthly wRC+’s from April to July read as follows: 168, 133, 99, 124. Most of his power output came n the first month of the season (.268 ISO and three of seven homers), but since then his plate discipline has tightened considerably (11.0% BB and 18.7% K since May 1). He’ll play the rest of the season at just 19-years old.

Peoria is now 34-61. They take on Fort Wayne again tonight at 6:05pm CDT.

West Virginia Black Bears 6, State College Spikes 1

Enmanuel Solano (SP) - 4 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Carlos Soto (1B) - 2-4, 2B, K

TERRY FULLER (RF) - 1-4, RBI, 2 K

Another game that isn’t doing me any favors. State College was entirely impotent last night, mustering only five hits and one run in the contest.

That being said, there are two things we must note. First, Terry Fuller has been promoted from Johnson City after recording a 122 wRC+ there in 21 games. He walked a remarkable amount (16.7%) there, more than allowing his inflated whiff rate (28.9%). The only component missing was the power, really (.137 ISO). Second, catcher Carlos Soto is still rising slowly but steadily through the low minors. The 20-year old has appeared in 23 games at State College, 15 of which at catcher, and is currently running a 121 wRC+ supported by a healthy walk rate (9.6%) and moderate power (.165 ISO).

The Spikes are 17-15 after the loss to West Virginia. The series continues tonight at 6:05pm CDT.

Bristol Pirates 4 @ Johnson City Cardinals 3

Michael YaSenka (SP) - 6 IP, 4 H 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Liam Sabino (1B) - 1-3, HR, RBI, BB

Jhon Torres (LF) - 1-4, 2B, RBI, BB, K

Zach Jackson (C) - 1-2, 2B, 2 BB, K

In top prospect news, Jhon Torres is tearing up rookie ball in the early going. Now 19 years old, Torres is batting .271/.394/.508 with a 15.5% walk rate, five doubles, and three homers. He’s split time nearly evenly between all three outfield spots, although it’s still unlikely he mans anything but a corner spot at maturity. In related news, Malcom Nunez has begun playing again after going off the radar post-demotion.

Johnson City now sits at 15-13. The Bristol series continues this evening at 5:30pm CDT.

GCL Cardinals 9, GCL Marlins 1

Luis Montano (LF) - 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI, K

Ramon Mendoza (2B) - 1-3, HR, RBI, BB, K

Patrick Romeri (RF) - 1-3, RBI, 2 K

DSL Cardinals Red 6, DSL Mets 5

Angel Cuenca (SP) - 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Sander Mora (SS) - 3-4, RBI, BB

Smith Vargas (CF) - 3-5, RBI

Diowill Burgos (DH) - 1-4, 2B, BB, K

DSL Cardinals Blue 7, DSL Nationals 4

Engels Martinez (SP) - 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Darlyn Del Villar (SS) - 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB

Fernando Diaz (DH) - 2-4, HR, RBI, 2 K

Elvin De Jesus (2B) - 1-2, 2B, RBI, 3 BB

~

Friday’s Probables

MEM: Harold Arauz

SPR: Evan Kruczynski

PMB: TBD

PEO: Michael Brettell

SC: Dalton Roach

JC: Francisco Justo