Mariners minor league daily wrap up: May 15th, 2024
By Berlin Kofoed, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - You win some, you lose some. While it wasn’t a sweep across the Seattle Mariners minor league teams today as it was in across the organization yesterday, there are still many notable plays from each team, along with a welcome to Caleb Cali on his promotion, and a walk off win. As is expected throughout the course of the season, there are a few promotions to look at within the farm system, and we expect to see more of them soon!
Mariners minor-league transactions
Seattle Mariners optioned 2B Sam Haggerty to Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers activated SS Jake Slaughter
The Mariners acquired Slaughter in a trade with the Chicago Cubs that, sending reliever Tyson Miller in exchange for him.
Tacoma Rainiers transferred C Matt Scheffler to the Development List
OF Curtis Washington Jr. assigned to Modesto Nuts from ACL Mariners
3B Caleb Cali assigned to Everett Aquasox from Modesto Nuts
3B Ben Williamson assigned to Arkansas Travelers from Everett Aquasox
Arkansas Travelers transferred RHP Logan Gragg to the Development List
Arizona Complex League
ACL Mariners did not play. They will play on May 16 at 5pm versus the ACL Brewers.
Arizona Complex League notes
Record: 4-3
Standings: T-1st, -- GA
YESTERDAY: OFF DAY
TODAY: Will travel over to American Family Fields of Phoenix Complex to take on the ACL Brewers with first pitch at 5:00 pm (PT)
TOMORROW: The ACL Mariners will face the ACL Guardians Friday with first pitch at 5:00 pm (PT).
Low-A: Modesto Nuts
Modesto Nuts picked up a loss after a challenging game against the San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants). Pitcher Elijah Dale unfortunately got his first loss, taking the mound at the start and going 3.0IP. Several others from the pitching rotation tried to help stop the Giants, but to no avail. Dale’s final line: 3.0IP, 6H, 6R, 2BB, 4K, 1HR, 69-41, ERA 3.94.
A couple of sac flies in the bottom of the first gave Modesto some hope. Right fielder Lazaro Montes walked while bases were loaded, scoring Jonny Farmelo. Both designated hitter Luis Suisbel and third baseman Tai Peete hit sac flies, scoring Colt Emerson and Michael Arroyo.
There were more signs of life in the sixth, seeing catcher Jacob Sharp scoring Tai Peete on a line drive single to center field and center fielder Johnny Farmelo doubling to bring Charlie Pagliarini home. Five runs was not enough to take down the dominating Giants, who took the game with a final score of 5-16.
Modesto faces San Jose in game three on May 16 at 7:05pm at John Thurman Field.
Modesto notes
Record: 24-9
Standings: 1st, +5.5 GA
YESTERDAY: The Nuts were defeated by the Giants in a 5-16 loss last night…Charlie Pagliarini, Jonny Farmelo and Lazaro Montes each recorded a double…Jonny Farmelo, Lazaro Montes, Luis Suisbel, Tai Peete and Jacob Sharp all had an RBI outing…Elijah Dale (1-1, 3.94) started for Modesto and pitched in 3.0 innings while allowing 6 runs (6 ER) on 6 hits, 1 home runs, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.
TODAY: Modesto takes on San Jose in the 3rd game of the series with first pitch at 7:05 pm (PT).
PLAYER TO WATCH: Lazaro Montes has been highly ranked in Single-A this season…he ranks T-1st in extra base hits (15), 1st in total bases (68), 2nd in RBI (40) behind B Pimental-FBG (41), 2nd in hits (40), 3rd in runs (28), 3rd in home runs (6), 4th in slugging (.540) and 7th in OPS (.968). Montes also was added to the Top-100 Prospects list earlier this week…Montes is the only Mariners player to join the Top-100 in the May update and is debuting at No. 85…this season he is batting .317 (40x126) with 28 runs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 40 RBI, 23 walks and a .968 OPS in 32 games.
STREAKING: Jonny Farmelo continues to extend his active on base streak to 20 games from 4/16/24-c…his streak is the 3rd longest in Single-A this season.
Photos from the May 15th Everett Aquasox win over the Eugene Emeralds at Funko Field. (Photos by Shari Sommerfield)
High-A: Everett Aquasox
Everett Aquasox fought hard against the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants), securing their second win of the series after a walk-off double from right fielder Jared Sundstrom scored Brock Rodden.
Brandyn Garcia started on the mound for his 7th game, pitching through 5.0 innings and putting up an impressive and career high 11 strikeouts. His final line: 5.0IP, 4H, 1R, 0BB, 11K, 0HR, 81-53, 3.72 ERA.
Despite leading for the majority of the game after a single from designated hitter Josh Hood scored Brock Rodden and a triple from center fielder Bill Knight scored both R.J. Schreck and Josh Hood, things ended up tied during the 9th inning. Stolen home base, a 1-run RBI, and a 2-run home run pushed the game into the bottom of the 9th and the possibility of once again going into extra innings.
Pitcher Jason Ruffcorn did unfortunately allow the runs in the 9th, but got the Frogs out of the stress without letting Eugene get the lead. Thanks to the heroics in the bottom of the inning, Ruffcorn was awarded his first win of the season.
With two outs and Brock Rodden on second base after stealing it, Jared Sundstrom knocked a ball into right field that was just barely not caught, allowing Rodden to cross home and give the Frogs the win. The team took to the field to celebrate with Sundstrom.
There has to also be a nod to a wonderful play from the Emeralds in the 8th. Short stop Axel Sanchez hit a ground ball to the third baseman and, in a rare event, there was a triple play 5-4-3, getting out Sanchez, Josh Hood, and Bill Knight. There was applause even as Frogs fans saw their own team get three outs, but how often do you see a triple play?
Everett faces Eugene in game three on May 16 at 7:05pm at Funko Field.
Everett notes
Record: 15-19
Standings: T-5th, -4.0 GB
YESTERDAY: The AquaSox won their 3rd straight game and their 7th in the last 10 games with the 5-4 win over the Emeralds…for the first time since July 25-26, 2018 vs. Vancouver, Everett has walked it off in back-to-back games…Josh Hood and Jared Sundstrom both finished the game with 2 hits and combined for 3 RBI…the other 2 RBI came from Bill Knight on his 2nd triple of the season…on the mound Brandyn Garcia started and went 5.0 innings and allowed 1 run with 0 walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts.
TONIGHT: The Aquasox host the Emeralds with first at 7:05 pm (PT)…Ty Cummings (1-1, 2.40) is expected to start for the AquaSox in his 7th start of the season.
ALWAYS ON: RJ Schreck has now reached base in each of his last 20 games (4/20-c), the longest active streak in the Northwest League, and the longest by an Everett player this season…over that streak he has a slash line of .338/.482/.554 with an OPS of 1.036…minimum 80 plate appearances, his OPS in that time is the 3rd-best in High-A and his on-base percentage is the 2nd-highest of all minor leaguers.
AA: Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers met up with the NW Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals) once again, but couldn’t put up any runs against their pitching. Juan Mercedes earned his second loss afterwards, with his ERA rising to 3.74. His final line: 5.0IP, 3H, 2R, 3BB, 4K, 0HR, 79-48.
Throughout the game, the Travelers racked up 5 hits versus 13 strikeouts, keeping the bases empty. Right fielder Alberto Rodriguez hit a double to center field in the bottom of the 5th, eventually moving to 3rd after a groundout, but with a lineout and strikeout from Jake Anchia and Ben Ramirez, he was left stranded.
A double from third baseman Ben Ramirez once again put a runner in scoring position with no outs on the board in the 8th. Unfortunately, from second base, Ramirez watched Kaden Polcovich strikeout swinging, Cole Young hit a flyout to center field, and a groundout from Spencer Packard, once again a possible run being left behind.
The Travelers lost 0-3 to the NW Arkansas Travelers, but it is still early in this series.
Arkansas faces NW Arkansas in game three on May 16 at 4:35pm at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Arkansas notes
Record: 19-15
Standings: 2nd, -1.0 GB
YESTERDAY: Arkansas fell short to NW Arkansas yesterday in a 0-3 loss…the team was held to no runs on 5 hits…Alberto Rodriguez had 2 of those hits…Spencer Packard, Tyler Locklear and Ben Ramirez each record 1 hit on the evening…Juan Mercedes (1-2, 3.74) started for the Travelers and pitched in 5.0 innings while allowing 2 runs (2 ER) on 3 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
TODAY: The Travelers will face the Naturals in the 3rd game of the series tonight…first pitch is scheduled at 6:35 pm (CT)…Blas Castano (0-1, 5.79) is expected to make the start tonight.
NOT AROUND HERE: In 11 appearances, Garrett Davila is currently on a 6-game no earned runs streak from 4/25/24-c.
STAYING ACTIVE: Spencer Packard and Tyler Locklear both have no errors active streaks…Packard is at 30 games with no errors from 4/5/24-c…Locklear is at 27 games with no errors from 4/7/24-c…both are leading the team with no errors.
LOCKED AND LOADED: Tyler Locklear continues to make his mark in the Texas League by ranking highly in a number of categories…he is 3rd in OPS (.938), 4th in OBP (.421), T-4th in doubles (9), T-4th in extra base hits (15), T-4th in total bases, 5th in slugging (.517), T-5th in hits (36), T-5th in walks (21), 6th in runs (23) and 7th in average (.300).
PROMOTION!: Ben Williamson and Troy Taylor have been promoted from High-A Everett to the Travs.
AAA: Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers squared up with the Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels) for game two and, after a close 8th inning, they came away with the win, going 5-4. Pitcher Collin Snider took the hill to start things off for Tacoma, but only made it through 2.0IP, allowing 2 hits and a run. Levi Stoudt started off the 3rd inning, going for a total of 5.1IP and earning the win, his 3rd of the season. Stoudt’s final line: 5.1IP, 6H, 3R, 0BB, 4K, 2HR, 82-56, 5.40 ERA.
In what had been reported to most likely be his final rehab appearance with the Rainiers, shortstop J.P. Crawford took a pitched ball off of his right hand/wrist. Thankfully, the Mariners aren’t concerned with the hit causing a long extension of his IL stint, and he should hopefully be returning with the team shortly.
Tacoma put up 3 runs in the 1st inning, never allowing Salt Lake to take the lead again. J.P. Crawford scored on a triple from center fielder Jonatan Clase, who then later scored courtesy of a ground ball single to right field from right fielder Cade Marlowe. Marlowe then stole his 21st base of the season, and got to 3rd on a fielding error that saw newest addition to the team, Jake Slaughter, reach first. First baseman Jason Vosler popped a sac fly into right field that allowed Marlowe to score.
Shortly after Nick Solak replaced Crawford on base due to the aforementioned injury, now-shortstop Samad Taylor knocked his second home run out of the park, getting the Rainiers the final out of their 5 runs. Things got a bit tight in the 8th as a home run and 1-run single brought Salt Lake within one of tying, but thankfully the team was able to get the final out before another made it home.
Pitcher Brett de Geus held the Bees to only 4 runs, earning himself his 4th save of the season.
Tacoma faces Salt Lake in game three on May 16 at 7:05pm at Cheney Stadium.
Tacoma notes
Record: 23-18
Standings: 4th, -3.0 GB
YESTERDAY: Won their 4th game in the last 5 in a 5-4 game against Salt Lake…Collin Snider pitched 2.0 innings as the opener before Levi Stoudt took over and went 5.1 innings with 3 runs allowed…Samad Taylor hit his 2nd home run of the season and drove in 2 runs…Cade Marlowe had a 2-hit game and added a stolen base.
TONIGHT: The Rainiers continue their series with Salt Lake and Dallas Keuchel (2-3, 4.06) is expected to start…first pitch is slated 7:05 pm (PT).
STOLE ANOTHER: Cade Marlowe stole his 21st base of the season last night…this is tied for the most in Triple-A with teammate Ryan Bliss…their combined 42 stolen bases are more than 13 Triple-A teams have in 2024…Tacoma leads Triple-A in stolen bases and is tied for 4th-most in all of the Minor Leagues.
THE MARLOWE SHOW: With 2 hits yesterday, Cade Marlowe extened his hit streak to 7 games (5/8-c)…this is the 4th-longest hit streak by a Tacoma player this season…a hit tonight would tie Michael Chavis’ 8 game hit streak (5/5-5/14) for 3rd-longest…over this span he is slashing .296/.406/.556 with 1 double, 2 home runs, 7 RBI, 3 runs, 4 walks and 9 strikeouts…he also has an RBI in each of his last 5 games.
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Cover photo by Shari Sommerfield.
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