Tuesday’s News & Notes
Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
Rochester | OFF DAY | @ Lehigh Valley, 6:45pm | Alvarez (0-6, 5.24) vs. Rangel (4-1, 5.20) |
Harrisburg | OFF DAY | vs. Binghamton, 6:30pm | Stuart (0-1, 9.82) vs. Thornton (3-1, 2.49) |
Wilmington | OFF DAY | vs. Asheville, 6:35pm | Sthele (3-2, 4.52) vs. Pinto (0-0, 7.71) |
Fredericksburg | OFF DAY | @ Salem, 11:05am | Roman (1-4, 9.00) vs. Cohen (2-1, 3.86) |
FCL Nationals | Lost, 1-0 | OFF DAY | |
DSL Nationals | Winning, 7-0 (suspended, Top 4th) |
vs. DSL Cardinals, 11am |
Rochester Red Wings, 22-45, 10th I.L. East, 23GB
Rochester still has a week to go before the season resets next week, but there is little reason to believe the current 12-game losing streak is merely bad luck. Even a MASN Commenter can figure out why this team sucks: It’s hard to win giving up more than 6½ runs a game. The Red Wings close out the first half with six against the IronPigs with no matinees until Sunday. Roster moves: OF Daylen Lile recalled to Washington; 3B Brady House added to 40-man, recalled to Washington; OF Robert Hassell, IF José Tena optioned from Washington; Juan Yepez designated for assignment.
Harrisburg Senators, 31-32, 3rd E.L. Southwest, 10GB
Conversely, the Senators could make a run in the second half if the Nats don’t raid the team for replacements for the Red Wings (and the Mets, Tigers, and Guardians do for their AAA teams; all three teams have won 40+ games). The team has been averaging 4.4 runs a game, but that’s third-best in the league. For some strange reason, Harrisburg always seems to have a fair amount of pitching and that alone usually makes a team a contender. This week, Harrisburg hosts the Rumble Ponies for six with a nooner on Thursday.
Wilmington Blue Rocks, 30-33, 4th Sally Lg. North, 13GB
Wilmington is currently riding a seven-game win streak that has them in position to finish at .500 but they’d have to win the next three as the second half begins on Friday. It’s been all pitching during the streak as the Blue Rocks are dead-last in the Sally League in hitting at a measly 3.52 R/G, which more than a run below the Lg. Avg. (4.60 R/G). This week, the Asheville Tourists come to town for six with the usual complement of five night games and a day game on Sunday.
Fredericksburg Nationals, 29-33, 4th C.L. North, 11½ GB
The FredNats are in the same position as much of the teams above them on the organizational ladder: pitching? Yes. Hitting? Not so much – even with the additions of Luke Dickerson and Enmanuel Ramirez, who are already 1st and 2nd in OPS among the current hitters. Fredericksburg remains on the road this week with seven against Salem, including a late-morning start today and a doubleheader tomorrow, presuming it’s not reduced to a single game with both teams out of contention.
FCL Mets 1 FCL Nationals 0 (10 inn.)
• J. Feliz 5IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, PO @ 2B
• Kane (L, 5-1) ⅓ IP, 0H, 1R, 0ER, IBB, 0K
• Soto 1-3, BB
• Green 1-4, BB, 2B, 1K, OF assist @ 2B
A passed ball scored the only run, as the FCL Mets edged the FCL Nationals, 1-0. Jose Feliz went the first five and allowed four hits while allowing neither run nor a walk while striking out three. Four relievers put up a goose egg before Tommy Kane took over in the 10th and got a flyout and issued an intentional walk before Feldi Tavarez let one go past him for the loss. Elijah Green had the sole extra-base hit for the F-Nats while drawing one of two and only accounting for one of the 13 whiffs.
DSL Nationals 7 DSL Mets Blue 0 – SUSP.
• Reyes 3IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 4K
• Obispo 1-2, 2B, 2RBI
The D-Nats scored in each of the first three innings before (preumably) the rains came and suspended play. They’ll shoot to finish this one when the two teams meet again on June 26. Roster moves: RHP Greider Colina assigned from Washington (MLFA, released by Boston in Sept. 2024).
it will be interesting to see how Lile and Hassell perform in their new assignments. one of them needs to succeed so when Crews comes back they’ll have their outfield. I admire what Young has accomplished but it’s hard to hold a place in the lineup when your only tool is the ability to run down fly balls.
Good point Fred MD
Interesting that the Mets and Nats affiliates squared off on. 1-0 duel .
Ron Taylor passed away yesterday reminding us if his incredible MLB debut vs Boston . 11 scoreless innings . When some guys knew how to carry the load .
All things play out in the wash .
I think it’s a bit unfair to say that Young’s only tool is his defense. In his career he’s displayed three tools: elite defense, elite speed (though translating that into successful SBs is a different story), and solid hit tool (above average AVG and league average BB%), while obviously having nothing in the power department. Altogether he’s been worth almost exactly 3.5 WAR by both FG and BBR’s calculations in 231 games, or a 2.5 WAR/season pace.
His 2025 has been a disappointment, for sure, and he urgently needs better baserunning coaching (he’s 93rd percentile for sprint speed, but has been one of the worst base stealers in the majors!) but I am perplexed for why a team abounding with horrible defenders and horrible hitters, Young is the only one who’s lost his starting job, meanwhile Luis Garcia, Keibert Ruiz, Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell see no accountability for their miserable season(s).
But accountability comes from the top down, and there’s none to be had among leadership in this org.
With all that said, Lile does look like he could be the real deal. He’s still some ways off from being fully ready, but with Call and Young on the roster, it allows the team to ease him into the majors. He and Young are a natural platoon pairing, so they can put Lile in a position to succeed (and Young too, who we shouldn’t forget is also still a project and not the finished product).
With the collapses of the MLB and AAA teams, it is at least somewhat interesting or maybe a little hopeful or something, that the three teams down the ladder are not too far from being .500 clubs. This tells me that the whole system is not entirely broken. This shows to me that there is perhaps a possibility of a rebuild in progress. Good news!
Jose Feliz really looks like something special. He’s now thrown scoreless outings in 5 of his 8 starts this season, and is sporting a stellar 2.55 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 33:4 K:BB.
He’s a prime candidate to get a promotion to Fredericksburg once the FCL season ends if he keeps this up. Impressive for 19 year old!
Elijah Green sighting!
Elijah Green is just another high school draft pick that has become a disappointment!