Rochester Takes Game 1 of the I.L. Championship Series
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | Won, 4-3 | @ Memphis, 7:30pm | Lyon (2-0, 1.53) vs. Molina (5-2, 4.45) |
Rochester 4 Memphis 3
• Krook 2IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K, HR
• Glassey (W, 1-0) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K
• Nicolas (SV, 1) 1⅓ IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 3K, 3-0 IR-S
• King 3-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 2RBI
• Pinckney 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
Seaver King’s solo HR to lead off the 5th broke a 1-1 deadlock. The Red Wings added two more in the 6th to take a 4-1 lead and held on to win, 4-3 and take a 1-0 lead in the Best-of-Three I.L.C.S. Matt “By Hook or” Krook opened the game and gave up a solo HR in his second and final inning pitched. Joe Glassey put up two goose eggs in the 3rd and 4th and was the pitcher of record when King went deep to get the “W.”
Kyle Nicolas stranded three while getting the last out of the 8th and wobbled through the 9th, letting in a run but holding the lead to earn the save. King also doubled as did Andrew Pinckney, Trey Lipscomb, and Leandro Pineda as the Rochester offense tallied ten hits total and drew three walks. Pay no attention to the 12 batting strikeouts.
OH, LOOK SOME TRANSACTIONS
- RHP Jack Cebert reassigned from Rochester to Harrisburg
- UT Jorgelys Mota, LHP Gavin Bruni, RHPs Mikey Tepper and Brady Hill activated from 7-Day I.L. (Wilmington)
- RHP Chance Huff activated from Development List (Wilmington)
- LHPs Merritt Beeker, L.J. Waco activated from 7-Day I.L. (Fredericksburg)
- C Christian Fagnant, LHP Levi Huesman activated from Development List
- RHP Ethan Thomas (Fredericksburg) activated from NDFA who never pitched list (or something like that)
I was intrigued by the Nats hiring Brian Rodgers from Houston to be our new heading of international scouting. After reading a bit about him (there isn’t much) and looking at the Astros’ work since 2022 when he assumed the role of head of international scouting, there isn’t much that stands out in his tenure.
In 2023, the Astros signed two notable prospects. Camilo Diaz was rated 17th by MLB and 16th by FG, and Esmil Valencia was rated 21st by MLB and 27th by FG. Neither of whom are any longer rated in any prospect lists (Valencia was traded to Miami).
In 2024, Houston signed two Cubans, Cesar Hernandez and Luis Rives for big bucks. Rives ranked 38th according to FG but was unranked by MLB, and Hernandez was ranked 60th by FG and also unranked by MLB. Neither any longer feature in any Astros top prospects lists.
In 2025, the Astros signed one highly rated prospect, Kevin Alvarez. He was rated 7th by MLB and 4th by FG. He is currently the Astros’ consensus top prospect, and is rated 77th overall by MLB and 67th by FG.
In 2026, they signed two more highly rated prospects, Albert Fermin (19 MLB, 14 FG) and Randy Arias (37 MLB, 44 FG). Still far too early to assess their prospect status.
Also looking at the geographic profile, the Astros have signed mostly Dominicans, followed by Venezuelans, which isn’t particularly interesting. But there’s always been a smattering of Mexicans and Cubans, which is certainly different from the Nats’ org. (There was one Colombian signed in this period too, none from Central America or elsewhere in the Caribbean).
While most of the big price tag signings have been busts (Alvarez excepted), the Astros have found some success, much like the Nats in fact, with their low-budget signings. Currently, there are around 6 IFAs in their top 30 prospect lists (though remember, the Astros have one of the worst farm systems in the majors, rated 29th by both MLB and FG, so many of these guys are at best very lowly rated prospects). Miguel Ullola, rated 14th by MLB, signed for $75k in 2021, Alimber Santa (17th according to MLB) also signed for $75k in 2020, Juan Fraide (#20) signed for $10k in 2025, Luis de Leon (#25) signed for $17k in 2025. It’s a weird anomaly, but maybe there’s something in it?
Either way, I’m not seeing much here to be impressed by. The Astros have developed basically one player of note, Kevin Alvarez, via IFA since Rodgers assumed control of the Astros’ international operations 4 years ago.
As I said previously
Brian’s last name is not Alou and Rogers not as in one of Gene Mauchs favorite cstchers !!
Can’t resist
Welcome back Ball State Beeker
Beeker as in what one might feed a bird liquid .
in the last of the ninth with the tying run on 3rd Nicolas bounced one that got past Romero but hit the umpires leg.
when you’re hot you’re hot.
Fred md
When you’re hit you’re hot , Jerry Reed!
Link to tonight’s starting lineup and free TV coverage:
https://x.com/RocRedWings/status/2102821741286379578