Matt Wieters’ bat is warming up for its likely June 1 debut as he collected three RBI and scored two runs in a double header. Joe Koshansky and Mat Gamel homered for New Orleans and Tacoma’s Michael Saunders hit his fifth HR in the last seven games and Sean Rodriguez continued his all or nothing approach at the plate belting his ninth and driving in three runs. On the mound, Chris Tillman had another fine outing tossing six innings and surrendering two runs en route to his third victory. He may find himself in Baltimore’s rotation at roughly the same time as his catcher’s MLB debut.
Today’s top prospect is a repeat offender, Kansas City Royals righty Luke Hochevar. The former #1 pick went eight scoreless innings allowing five hits and striking out nine before giving way to a bullpen that blew the lead and lost the game. Hochevar has been spectacular for Omaha this spring going 5-0 with a 0.90 ERA and an excellent 10 BB/30 K ratio in 40 innings. The key to Hochevar’s success is his ability to keep the ball on the ground. He is forcing groundball outs at a virtually unsustainable rate of 3.58/FO. Command will be key for Hochevar once he rejoins Kansas City’s rotation. Given the horror that is Sir Sidney Ponson, one has to believe that that will be sometime soon. As I predicted earlier this spring, Kansas City is showing that they are a team primed to challenge for the A.L. Central crown. The Omaha version of Luke Hochevar could and should serve to bolster K.C.’s young and talented rotation.
AAA Player of the Day—LUKE HOCHEVAR
Other Notable Peformances
Hitting:
- Juan Miranda—2-4 HR(6) 3 RBI 2r
- Steven Pearce—2-2 HR(5) RBI
- Michael Brantley—2-4 2B R SB(10)
- Wes Hodges—2-3 RBI BB
- Matt Wieters—1-2 2B 2R RBI BB (Game 1)…..1-3 2B 2 RBI
- Michael Costanzo—2-3 2 RBI
- Fernando Martinez—1-3 2R BB
- Jason Donald—2-4 2 2B 2 RBI R
- Van Pope—1-1 HR(2) 2 RBI
- Drew Stubbs—2-4 2B RBI SB(8)
- Joe Koshansky—1-4 HR(6) RBI
- Mat Gamel—1-4 HR(8) RBI
- Michael Saunders—1-4 HR(5) RBI
- Mike Carp—1-4 2B 2 RBI BB
- Sean Rodriguez—1-4 HR(9) 3 RBI
- Chin Lung Hu—3-4 R RBI
Pitching:
- Cesar Ramos—7.2 IP 7H 2 ER BB 4K W (1-2)
- Luke Hochevar—8 IP 5H 9K
- Sam LeCure—7 IP 5H 8K W (2-2)
- Chris Tillman—6 IP 7H 2 ER BB 6K W (3-0)
