Rangers Prospect Brock Porter's High Strikeout Rate Best at Down East

The Texas Rangers' pitching prospect continues to strike out hitters in this round-up of the Rangers' minor-league organization entering this week.

Four of the Texas Rangers' five affiliates were off on Monday, as they each prepare for a new week of games for the first time since the All-Star Break. The only affiliate in action on Monday was the ACL Rangers. 

With that, there's an opportunity to check in with each affiliate to see how players did last week and are doing for the season. 

Texas Rangers Minor League Update

Here is an update on each Texas Rangers minor league affiliate for Tuesday, July 18.

Triple-A Round Rock

Round Rock (11-4, 55-34, T1st, -- GB) has won a season-high 7 straight games and is coming off a 3-G sweep of Tacoma last weekend. C Sam Huff (.298) has led the charge in July going 16-for-40 (.400) and ranking among PCL leaders for the month with 5 2B (T3rd), 4 HR (T3rd), and 16 RBI (T1st). SS Jonathan Ornelas (.262) extended his hit streak to 11 G: 16-for-42 (.381), 1 HR, 7 RBI (3rd longest active in PCL). LF Sandro Fabian (.296) has multi-hit efforts in 4 of his last 7 G: 12-for-28 (.429) with 6 XBH. RHP Owen White (3-3, 3.61) made his 4th AAA start on Sun., and hasn’t allowed a run across his last 2 outings: 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R-ER, 5 BB, 5 SO. RHP Alex Speas (1-0, 2.35) earned his first Triple-A win on Sat., tossing a pair of scoreless innings, first 2 G with RR: 5.40 ERA (2 ER/3.1 IP), 6 H, 4 SO), last 3 G: 0.00 ERA (0 ER/4.1 IP), 1 H, 6 SO.

Double-A Frisco

Frisco (7-8, 38-45, 3rd, 3.0 GB) dropped a quick 3-G set to Amarillo (1-2) last weekend after falling the final two games. Since returning from the 7-day IL on 6/21, CF Evan Carter (.298) has seven multi-hit games and is batting .342 (27-for-79) with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 14 RBI. Across 14 G with Frisco, OF Josh Hatcher (.353) has driven in 17 runs and is slashing .355/.371/.548/.919 in July. SS Thomas Saggese (.313) has hits in 28 of his last 31 games, and just had his 11-G hit streak snapped on Sat. SS Luisangel Acuña (.308) leads the Texas League with 36 stolen bases this season. RHP Jack Leiter (2-5, 5.51) leads the ‘Riders with 85 strikeouts. LHP Antoine Kelly (2-0, 2.78) has yet to allow a run in July (6.1 IP), and across his last 11 app.: 11.1 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 16 SO. 

High Class-A Hickory

Hickory (14-3, 41-37, 1st, +2.5 GA) took a series victory against Greenville (2-1) over the weekend as the Crawdads have won 14 of their last 17 G. C Tucker Mitchell (.306) drove in 4 runs in the set and is now 18-for-55 (.327) with a 2B, 3 HR, and 10 RBI in his last 14 G. in 62 G between Down East and Hickory this season, 1B Abimelec Ortiz has slashed .326/.397/.661/1.058 (76-233) with 19 home runs, 4 triples, 13 doubles, and 59 RBI, ranking among all affiliated minor league batters (min. 200 PA) in both slugging pct. (2nd) and OPS (3rd). RHP Emiliano Teodo (2-1, 4.13) punched out a career-high 8 of 16 BF (50%) on Sun., and has an 11.12 SO/9 figure this season. RHP Jackson Kelly (3-2, 2.62) has scoreless app. in 8 of his last 9 outings, tossing 15.1 innings and allowing just a pair of runs. 

Class-A Down East

Down East (9-9, 46-33, 2nd, 1.5 GB) is looking to bounce back after being swept by Charleston this past weekend. The Woodies have been led offensively by SS Cam Cauley (.244) who went 5-for-12 (.429) across the weekend series, with 2 XBH and an RBI. The 20-year-old also leads the team with 35 RBI this season. Through 10 G in July, OF Zion Bannister is 10-for-33 (.303) with 3 RBI. RHP Dylan MacLean (5-1, 2.74) has made a pair of starts this month, allowing just one ER across 8.0 IP (1.13 ERA). RHP Brock Porter (0-2, 2.57) has punched out 67 batters in 49.0 innings and leads the team with a 12.31 SO/9 figure. If Porter had the qualifying innings, he would lead the Carolina League in that category. RHP Jacob Maton (3-0, 1.54) across his last 10 scoreless relief app: 16.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R-ER, 3 BB, 25 SO, limiting opponents to a .093 BA (5-for-54). 

ACL Rangers

The ACL Rangers defeated the ACL Mariners, 13-6, on Monday. CF Jose De Jesus (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) drove in a career-high 5 runs, while DH Miguel Villarroel (1-for-3, 3 RBI) added a trio of his own. SS Sebastain Walcott (1-for-3, RBI) is in the midst of a 12-G hit streak, including 6 multi-hit efforts over that span. The 17-year-old is 22-for-59 (.375) with 10 XBH and 12 RBI through 14 games this season. RHP Bryan Chi (2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) punched out 5 batters in 2.2 innings, while RHP Juan Gonzales (W, 2.1 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) earned the win.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.