By Kyle Bennett and Aaron Brand
A week after getting rocked to the tune of allowing eight earned runs in two innings, Alex Faedo turned in the best start of his young professional career. The righty threw a career-high seven innings of shutout ball, striking out five along the way to earn his first win as a pro.
“I’m not saying it’s ever good to have a start [like my last one], but when it happens it really gives you a chance to reflect. And for me, it served as a reminder that I’m going up against professional hitters and everyone out there is trying to get the best of you and beat you, so I need to always get the best out of myself,” Faedo told MiLB.com. “So it definitely was a reminder that I need to pay attention to detail every single time I’m throwing. With everyone having access to a scouting report, it’s crucial to put an emphasis on every pitch and just keep getting better every time I go out there. So that’s been my focus.”
Faedo’s ERA climbed from 2.34 to 4.17 after his previous start, but he lowered it to 3.50 with the win. He now owns a 1-3 record and has struck out 34 in 43 ⅔ innings across eight starts.
#Tigers RHP Alex Faedo final line:
7 IP 0R 2H 1BB 5K.
For those curious about the velo: still just 89-91mph t92. pic.twitter.com/uIYAZFrYRU— James Chipman (@J__Chipman) May 19, 2018
Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani has made two rehab starts for Double-A Pensacola on his way back from a left oblique injury he suffered in the spring. The right hander hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2016 after a UCL injury last season. In his first start Monday, DeSclafani struck out four over three perfect innings. In his most recent start Saturday, he went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk, and struck out eight. He’s eligible to come off the DL May 28.
#Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani on injuries last 2 seasons:
“I’m ready to prove myself again and show I’m relevant in this game.” @fox19 #RedsST pic.twitter.com/pKb2bTsm1r
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) February 17, 2018
(The following is a complete and updated list of major and minor league players who went to UF, listed alphabetically by last name)
MLB Players
Harrison Bader (OF) — St. Louis Cardinals
Bader is pushing Dexter Fowler for starts in the Cardinals outfield. He got hits in both starts this week including a 2-for-4 win over the Padres Monday where he knocked in two RBIs off a home run and a triple.
Red Sox pitcher Brian Johnson pitched clean innings in each of his two appearances this week. The righty gave up zero hits, zero walks and struck out one batter over two innings, bringing his ERA down to 6.00 for the year.
Austin Maddox (RHP) — Boston — DL
Red Sox relief pitcher Austin Maddox returned to action Thursday to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket. He has been on the DL since early March and hasn’t pitched in a game until this week.
Darren O’Day (RHP) — Baltimore Orioles
O’Day has been pitching all week, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he isn’t quite ready to activate the right-hander from the DL. The submariner has made 13 appearances and holds a 3.77 ERA and 0.98 WHIP this season.
Bobby Poyner (LHP) — Boston Red Sox
Poyner was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket this week and came in as a reliever against Oakland on Tuesday. The lefty allowed one hit but managed to limit the damage and get out unscathed after Steven Wright had already given up two runs in the inning.
Preston Tucker (LF) — Atlanta Braves
Tucker has 15 plate appearances in 25 days since top prospect Ronald Acuña, Jr. was called up in late April. This week, Tucker made the most of his three plate appearances as he got on base with a hit and tallied an RBI.
Mike Zunino (C) — Seattle Mariners
Zunino struck out 41 percent of the time and was 4-for-22 at the plate this week. As a result his average dipped to .193 but he seems to be doing just fine defensively.
Just… no. Don’t. 💤 #TrueToTheBlue pic.twitter.com/D5uB0cOgIf
— Mariners (@Mariners) May 19, 2018
MiLB Players
Peter Alonso (1B) — Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets Double-A)
Alonso went 8-for-21 this week with three home runs and seven RBIs. The Rumble Ponies first baseman now leads the Eastern League in home runs (tied with Cavan Biggio) and OPS (1.145). He will possibly be looking at a call-up in the second half of MLB season if he keeps up this pace.
Shaun Anderson (RHP) — Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants Double-A)
Anderson suffered his worst loss of the year Tuesday when he gave up season-highs of four earned runs and five hits through five innnings.
Kevin Chapman (LHP) — Free Agent
Released by the Rochester Red Wings in June of 2017.
Jonathon Crawford (RHP) — Daytona Tortugas (Cincinnati Reds Class A Advanced)
Crawford remains on the disabled list.
Matt den Dekker (LF) — Las Vegas 51s (New York Mets Triple-A)
The left fielder had another stellar week with the 51s, collecting 11 hits in 25 at bats, including a home run and six RBIs to raise his average to .299. He went down on strikes just once all week.
Dane Dunning (RHP) — Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox Double-A)
Dunning suffered his first loss in Double-A Friday as he gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits to the Montgomery Biscuits. His did have six Ks in the four-inning start.
Nolan Fontana (SS) — Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels Triple-A)
Gibson is currently on the 7-day DL and hasn’t played since April 18 when he was walked three times in four at bats.
Daniel Gibson (LHP) — Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks Triple-A)
Gibson is currently on the 7-day DL and hasn’t played since 2017.
Taylor Gushue (C) — Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals Double-A)
Gushue hit 5-for-19 this week with four RBIs and hit a two-run home run against the Bowie Baysox on Monday. Gushue’s average has dropped to .223, but his slugging went up after he hit that home run and added a double and a triple this week as well.
Dalton Guthrie (SS) — Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies Class A)
Guthrie had a 3-for-3 outing that included a solo home run and two doubles on Monday. He managed to get a hit in each of his five starts this week and has improved his average to .252.
Eric Hanhold (RHP) — Binghamton Rumble Ponies — (New York Mets Double-A)
Hanhold hit a batter and gave up a hit but managed to earn a save in his only opportunity this week for Binghamton.
Mark Kolozsvary (C) — Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds Class A)
Kolozsvary went 1-for-6 this week and is now hitting .208 with seven RBIs with 25 strikeouts in 77 at bats (32 percent).
Taylor Lewis (RHP) — Free agent
Johnny Magliozzi (RHP) — Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets Double-A)
Magliozzi was activated from the DL on May 6 but placed back on it May 11. He remained there all week and hasn’t seen the field.
Richie Martin (SS) — Stockton Ports (Oakland A’s Class A Advanced)
Martin raised his average from .262 to .292 with a 9-for-24 week, including a double and two RBIs but was caught stealing once.
Scott Moss (LHP) — Daytona Tortugas (Cincinnati Reds Class A Advanced)
Moss started a game Thursday but was roughed up for five runs (two earned) on nine hits through 4 ⅔ innings and had three Ks.
A.J. Puk (LHP) — Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics Class-A Advanced)
Puk underwent Tommy John surgery and is out for the rest of the season.
Buddy Reed (CF) — Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres Class A Advanced)
Reed went 10-for-21 with two doubles, a triple, four RBIs and a stolen base this week for the Storm. The center fielder was back in form after struggling last week and is now hitting .333, which is fourth best in the California League. His 53 hits have him in third place in that category, and he’s third in the league with 17 steals and has only been caught stealing twice.
Paco Rodriguez (LHP) — Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins Class A Advanced)
Rodriguez was signed on May 4 by the Twins to a minor league contract and was assigned to Fort Myers on Monday of this week. He started a game on Wednesday and gave up two hits in two innings.
Frank Rubio (RHP) — Augusta GreenJackets (San Francisco Giants Class A)
Rubio picked up his eighth save of the year and lowered his ERA to 1.37 punching out three over the course of his two appearances this week. Rubio now has the most saves in the South Atlantic League and has struck out 28 batters in 19 ⅔ frames.
Justin Shafer (RHP) — New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays Double-A)
Shafer tallied four Ks in four innings this week across two appearances and gave up a hit in each outing with no earned runs on the board. His ERA is now at 0.52.
Logan Shore (RHP) — Stockton Ports (Oakland A’s Class A Advanced)
Shore earned his second win of the season on May 12 after giving up two earned runs on four hits and striking out four through six frames. He made another start Friday and gave up eight hits but allowed no runs and seven Ks, dropping his ERA to 1.21 but raised his WHIP from 0.69 to 0.90.
Kirby Snead (LHP) — New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays Double-A)
Snead has yet to allow a run since being promoted to Double-A on May 3. The lefty from Alachua had two very similar outings this week, going two full innings in both appearances with two Ks in each one. The only difference was he gave up a hit in Friday’s game.
Tim Tebow (LF) — Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets Double-A)
Tebow went hitless in two games and went 5-for-24 overall this week with five RBIs. The former Gator quarterback went deep for a three-run home run in the sixth inning Monday to push the Rumble Ponies past the Erie SeaWolves 6-5.
Josh Tobias (2B) — Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox Double-A)
Tobias got a start on Saturday after being activated from the DL but went 0-for-4 with an RBI in his first game back.
Casey Turgeon (3B) — Free agent
Danny Young (LHP) — New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays Double-A)
Young came in as a reliever on Wednesday and pitched two innings, giving up a solo home run and striking out four batters to raise his ERA to 2.79.
Resources: MiLB.com, MLBTradeRumors.com, MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com
