RoughRiders Notebook: Call-ups, Acuña in the outfield and Carter's big return
A look at some of the latest from the Frisco RoughRiders with words from Manager Carlos Cardoza.
It’s been a hectic final few weeks of the first half of the minor league baseball season for the Frisco RoughRiders.
The defending Texas League Champions are sitting last place in their division and have seen their roster shifting constantly as the season has wore on. Here are a few things to catch up on.
Top prospect call ups
Although the Riders have sent players up and down throughout the season, as usual, last week two call-ups felt fairly important to the Texas Rangers organization.
No. 2 overall prospect RHP Owen White was called up to the major league roster on June 13 for a spot relief appearance against the Los Angeles Angels. White would enter the game after former Frisco pitcher Cody Bradford in the fifth inning.
White began his first major league outing by striking out Los Angeles’ Chad Wallach. He would go two innings, but give up three earned runs, primarily off a Hunter Renfroe long ball.
“It was very exciting. I’m happy it was Owen,” Riders manager Carlos Cardoza told JR Sports TX. “He was with his wife and a couple of his teammates when he got the call, so that made it even more sweet.”
It was Cardoza’s first time being a part of a major-league call up and the call came in late in the evening on June 12.
Although it wasn’t a stellar debut, White more than earned the opportunity posting a 3.51 ERA in 12 starts with Frisco. And after making a short appearance for the Riders on June 18, he was officially called up to Triple-A Round Rock.
White wasn’t the only one to head to Triple-A, with No. 7 overall prospect OF Dustin Harris getting the call on June 20 to join Round Rock.
The numbers speak for themselves with Harris — particularly his June batting average of .277 and his 24 steals this year — but his effort in adjusting his swing and remaining patient at the plate gave the organization good reason to elevate Harris to the next level.
“It's not just the week he had or the month, it’s his whole body of work ever since he came into this organization,” Cardoza said. “Everything he’s done to put himself in a position to continue to improve, to be on the 40-man roster and to be the next man up.”
The adjustment has looked easy for the 23-year-old, going 6-for-11 with three extra-base hits in his first three games.
“To see the start he got off to the first few days up there, it's not surprising,” said Cardoza. “The best is way ahead.”
Another Acuña in the outfield
Five years into a minor league career, you don’t expect too many professional firsts on the baseball field, but No. 3 overall prospect Luisangel Acuña had one Tuesday. Acuña made his first professional start in center field in the Riders’ series-opener with the Springfield Cardinals.
While Acuña’s bat has been heralded for his bat, arguably his best strength is as a defender. He’s become one of the top defensive shortstops in the minor leagues, with a .978 fielding percentage from the spot and more than enough highlight-reel plays.
Acuña has also slotted in at second base six times, with a modest .926 fielding percentage. Most of those reps came when Rangers’ shortstop Corey Seager was rehabbing with Frisco.
However, as Harris was being called up to Triple-A, the Riders were still moving personnel back into the clubhouse and needed to call on Acuña to fill in out in center.
“We signed Luisangel as a prime defender,” Cardoza said. “That includes shortstop, second base and — if needed — in center field. That’s why he was out there.”
Now that the roster has been replenished, it’s unlikely to see Acuña taking regular reps in the outfield, but showing he can play yet another spot could be crucial to his potential career as a Ranger.
Seager and Marcus Semien have the middle infield starting spots in Arlington locked down for the foreseeable future, adding outfield to his game makes Acuña a much more desirable utility man for the Rangers.
Evan Carter is back in a big way
Texas’ No.1 prospect Evan Carter had one of the hottest starts of any minor leaguer this season. But it all came crashing down in month two. After hitting .343 in April, he hit a measly .236 in May.
It seemed obvious something was off and it turned out to be his right wrist which he suffered a minor injury to in May and proceeded to play through. The Riders eventually put Carter on the development list and then the injured list to recover.
Well, it did wonders.
On Carter’s first return at-bat on Wednesday, he blasted a triple. On his second, a homer. Carter would finish the game 3-for-4, missing out on what would’ve been the first cycle in Frisco history by a double.
By his third game back in the lineup, Carter earned his spot as the leadoff hitter.
“He’s 100% healthy and ready to go,” said Cardoza. “And he sure looks it, doesn’t he? I’m happy to have him back.”