Guardians Baseball Insider

It has been a very disappointing start to the 2022 season for the Hillcats as they took an o-for through their first week. Starting off 0-5, three players have yet to get a hit while playing in at least two games, they have two total home runs as a team and, while they did average four runs per game, seven of those came in the fifth inning on Friday and another four in the ninth on Sunday. There have been a few solid offensive performers (who will be listed below) and a pair of solid pitchers, but given the outcome of the week, it isn’t surprising that the negative performances outweigh the positive.

Day-by-Day

4/8 Suspended at Salem
4/9 L 8-11 at Salem (completion of 4/8)
4/9 L 3-4 at Salem
4/10 L 5-6 at Salem
4/12 L 6-3 vs Delmarva
4/13 L 3-1 vs Delmarva

Prospect of the Week

3B Milan Tolentino (4/13, 3 2B, R, 3 RBI, 3K – .308/.308/.538)

Tolentino continued his strong start in 2021 into 2022 with the best power numbers on the Hillcats through the first week. His three doubles give him the team lead in extra base hits and his three RBI were third behind Jorge Burgos and Jake Fox. Two of those doubles came in a three hit game on Friday.

Who’s hot

OF Isaiah Greene (4/10, 2 R, 3 BB ,4 K, .400/.571/.400) 

Greene played in four of the five Lynchburg games, leading the team in OBP. Known for his speed, he didn’t have any extra base hits, but did steal successfully in his only attempt.

SP Trenton Denholm (5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)

Denholm had the only impressive start among the Hillcats starters this week, going 5 innings on Sunday, allowing one run on a double and a single in the fifth. Otherwise he allowed just two singles in the first (he ended up picking one off) and another in the third. Among other pitchers, Reid Johnston and Jack Leftwich each went three scoreless innings in relief.

Who’s not

RP Reny Artiles (3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, K)

Artiles made just one appearance this week, jumping into early action on Friday to bail out Rodney Boone in the second inning. He got two quick outs then allowed five batters in a row to reach for four runs. Two hits and a walk in the third brought home one more run and he pitched one scoreless inning before being pulled.

1B Will Bartlett (2/17, 3 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 8 K, .118/.250/.118)

Bartlett played in all five games and struck out in four of those including four on Friday. He did score and knock in a run in that game despite not getting a hit, but overall has struggled a bit as a starter in 2022.

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Up next

4/14-4/17 vs Delmarva

4/19-4/20 AT Carolina