Down on the farm: More hype for Zyhir Hope
A recap of Saturday’s minor league action.
Oklahoma City Comets
OKC’s win streak came to and end, as they fell to the Chihuahuas 12-8.
Alex Freeland (SS) had a three-hit day and drove in three runs.
Newly acquired outfielder Esteury Ruiz recorded two hits and drew two walks. He also showed off his speed, as he stole his second base in two games.
Dalton Rushing (C) continues to hit, as he picked up two more hits and reached with a walk. He’s hitting .346 this season.
It was a rough outing for Noah Davis (RHP) who was recently acquired from the Red Sox. He allowed four runs in 0.2 innings.
Tulsa Drillers
The Drillers fell to the Naturals, 9-5.
John Rhodes (1B) hit two homers and drove in three runs.
Jared Karros (RHP) had a debut to his season he’d like to forget. In 3.2 innings, the righty allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks.
Great Lakes Loons
The Loons picked up their first win of the season with a 6-1 victory over the Captains.
Zyhir Hope (OF) had a three-hit day. He hit his first homer of the season, crushing one 111-mph off the bat. He drove in three runs for the game. Hope also stole his second base of the season.
Josue De Paula (OF) reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
Jordan Thompson (SS) hit his first homer of the season.
Brooks Auger (RHP) made his minor league debut in LA’s system. The 23-year-old went 5.2 innings and didn’t allow an earned run. He struck out three and issued one walk. Auger was LA’s sixth round pick in 2024.
Reynaldo Yean (RHP) struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Quakes picked up their second straight win with a 6-1 victory over the Storm.
Joendry Vargas (3B) drove in two runs with a triple. He also walked twice.
Eduardo Quintero (CF) had at two-hit day and drove in two runs.
Samuel Munoz (LF) reached base twice and drove in two runs.
Aidan Foeller (RHP) had a great 2025 debut. LA’s 11th round pick in 2024 tossed 4.1 scoreless innings and struck out eight.
Can we please bring up Kim, Outman, Ruiz, Hope, or De Paula? I am tired of watching 1 for 19 Pages needing a road map to find fly balls in center field and a copy of 'Base Running for Dummies.'
The announcers today tried to sell us on Pages lost it because it was a knuckleball. Wrong, it was a knucklehead! Pages had the same panicky, "I'm lost going straight back," look in his eyes Sunday as the other day.
Pages can't hit RH pitching but can LH. Outman can't hit LH pitching but he can RH and we all know you see twice as many RH pitchers than LH in a season.
But right now I will take Kim, Ruiz, Hope, or De Paula, even Rushing if they can play CF. They can't do any worse in the batter's box, but if they can do better in CF then bring them up.
Reminder, the far better CF Outman was sent down doing better than Pages during his Sophomore 2024. In 2023 Outman's Rookie year was better than Pages. What is the reason for the delay? We complained if umpires are not consistent. Well, the team needs to be consistent.
Vargas strolled into home to late, misplayed LF, and hit better than Pages and was traded--to the White Sox!
Time to trade Pages before he has zero value and bring up somebody, anybody from the MiLB.
Consider this my Mail-Box Monday. I will try to remember to post it there as well.