Guardians Baseball Insider

Scoreboard

Triple-A – Columbus Clippers 2, Omaha Storm Chasers 0
Double-A – Akron RubberDucks 5, Erie SeaWolves 0
High-A – Lake County Captains 3, Fort Wayne TinCaps 0
Low-A – Lynchburg Hillcats 10, Salem Red Sox 1

HIGHLIGHTS

Owen Miller (Columbus, SS): 3-4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI – Miller came up a homer short of the cycle on Tuesday in his fourth multi-hit game in his last five (three-game streak). He is currently batting ,500 with a 1.247 OPS. Many are calling for his promotion to the Big Club. It will be interesting to see if the Indians front office is thinking the same way.

Hunter Gaddis (Lake County, SP): W (1-1), 5 IP, 6 K, 1 HBP, 1 Pickoff – Standing out among the incredible starting pitching in the Indians organization last night required a spectacular performance. I’d say facing the minimum while retiring the last 14 in a row and picking off the leadoff guy following a game-opening HBP would do it.

Xzavion Curry (Lynchburg, SP): W (1-0), 5 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K – Curry is starting his professional career in spectacular fashion. The extent to which he has hit the ground running is evident in his stat line: 9 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 12 K, 1 HBP, .103 opponents’ AVG, 0.67 WHIP. I would be absolutely shocked if he isn’t pitching at the corner of SOM Center and Vine before this season is finished.

BEST OF THE REST

Daniel Johnson (Columbus, CF): 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 K – Johnson has multiple hits in each of his two Triple-A games so far this season, resulting in a stratospheric 1.611 OPS. While this is clearly unsustainable, it is a good sign regarding what to expect from him this season.

Kirk McCarty (Columbus, SP): W (2-0), 6 IP, 3 H, 3 K, 1 Pickoff – McCarty was dominant in his second start above the High-A level. Kirk seems to be handling the loss of a Double-A season in 2020 just fine.

Robert Broom (Columbus, RP): H (1), 1 IP, perfect 3 K – Broom struck out the side to remain unscored upon in 3.2 innings in three appearances this season.

Anthony Gose (Columbus, RP): H (1), 1 IP, 1 H, 3 K – Gose also struck out the side, albeit not in order.

D.J. Johnsin (Columbus, RP): S (2), 1 IP, perfect, 2 K – Johnson has converted both of his save opportunities and has struck out five in three scoreless inning to start his 2021 campaign.

Alex Call (Akron, CF): 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 K – The RubberDucks pulled off their blowout victory on only four hits, especially two of those hits. Call’s two-RBI single to right started the scoring in the ‘Ducks’ five-run fifth.

Trenton Brooks (Akron, 1B): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K – The second of these hits came later in the frame when Brooks sent another ball to right field, this one clearing the fence for a three-run homer.

Eli Lingos (Akron, SP): W (1-0), 5 IP, 3 H, 5 K) – Lingos continued the dominance for Tribe system starters on Tuesday.

Nick Mikolajchak (Akron, RP): 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K – Mikolajchak is unscored upon in 4.2 frames after closing out the road opener victory with this solid multi-inning effort.

Will Brennan (Lake County, CF): 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 K – _Brennan had the only multi-hit effort of the night for the Captains.

George Valera (Lake County, LF): 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB, 1 CS – A 2-for-3 stolen base stat line is one you don’t see much anymore.

Joe Naranjo (Lake County, 1B): 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K – What did you do on your 20th birthday? I’m guessing it wasn’t hitting an Opening Day home run in a professional baseball game, let alone the ultimately game-winning one.

Nate Ocker (Lake County, RP); 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K – Five strikeouts in a relief appearance? Definitely ATF-worthy.

Kellen Rholl (Lake County, RP): S (1), 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K – Rholl remains perfect in four career professional save opportunities.

Julian Escobedo (Lynchburg, starting CF): 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB – An all-around stellar evening from Escobedo, including the second two-steal game of the night in the org.

Micah Pries (Lynchburg, LF): 3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 SF – Pries’ big night at the plate brought his season slash line to .467/.500.867 in his first five professional games.

Yainer Diaz (Lynchburg, C): 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 K – Diaz doubles his season RBI total as he continues to alternate multi-hit and hitless games to start the season.

Andres Melendez (Lynchburg, DH): 3-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K – Melendez topped his first three games combined with this stellar offensive performance.

Eric Mock (Lynchburg, RP): S (1), 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R (earned), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR allowed, 1 HBP – Mock converted his first full-season save opportunity with one of the rare four-inning variety.