Minor League Ball Gameday: Friday, March 21

Hello everyone and welcome to the Gameday thread for Friday. Last night we saw 14 games, including one tune up game between the Dodgers and the Australian National team in preperation for the first official game of the year Saturday.

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton led the charge from the Top 100 position player, going 2-4 with a pair of singles, a run scored. Kolten Wong of the Cardinals smacked a double in his only at bat, and Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos singled once in three at bats with a strike out as well. On the pitching side of the cat and mouse game, Zach Lee of the Dodgers started their exhibition contest against Australia and threw well over four innings. He allowed one run on three hit with no walks, a hit batter, and six strike outs. Jake Odorizzi of the Rays was the only other Top 100 pitcher to get on the bump. He threw the last four innings of the Rays/Twins game, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, one walk and three strike outs.

Of the players not in the Top 100, Aaron Hicks was unstoppable for Minnesota. The athletic center fielder was 4-4 with three singles, a double, and a run scored. Ernesto Mejia of the Braves hit his second homer of the spring while Jace Peterson of the Padres tripled and scored in his only plate appearance. Rockies outfielder Tim Wheeler and Astros catcher Carlos Perez each doubled in their only official at bats with Perez also coming around to score. Giants left fielder Juan Perez swiped his third bag of the spring in a 1-4 effort, and fellow outfielder Mitch Haniger of the Brew Crew went 1-3 with a walk and an outfield assist.

Only Chris Withrow and Arodys Vizcaino were members of their respective team's Top 10 prospect lists to pitch yesterday, with Vizcaino tossing a perfect frame and Withrow striking out the only two batters he faced. Brewers Rule 5 pick Wei-Chung Wang got the start yesterday and didn't do too hot, allowing three runs on five hits in just 2.2 innings. He struck out two without a walk, and also allowed a home run to Brandon Barnes and uncorked a wild pitch. Southpaw Mario Hollands of the Phillies threw 2.2 innings as well, allowing a run on a solo home run to Erik Kratz along with three other hits. He struck out three and did not allow a walk. One of the newest members of the Padres stable of young pitching, Jesse Hahn, threw a pair of scoreless innings with just one walk and a strike out.

The Top 100

Position Players

Rank (Ovr)	Name, Pos	Team	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
2 (2)	Xander Bogaerts, SS	BOS	3	0	0	0	0	0
11 (17)	Maikel Franco, 3B	PHI	4	0	0	0	0	0	K
13 (25)	Nick Castellanos, 3B	DET	3	0	1	0	0	0	K
16 (34)	Joc Pederson, CF	LAD	0	0	0	0	0	0	BB
20 (38)	Travis d'Arnaud, C	NYM	2	1	0	0	0	0	BB

Rank (Ovr)	Name, Pos	Team	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
23 (43)	Billy Hamilton, CF	CIN	4	1	2	0	0	0	K
29 (58)	Kolten Wong, 2B	STL	1	0	1	0	0	0	2B
38 (75)	Mookie Betts, 2B	BOS	1	0	0	0	0	0	K
54 (98)	Michael Choice, CF	TEX	4	0	0	0	0	0	K

Pitchers

Rank (Ovr)	Name, Pos	Team	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Notes
35 (67)	Jake Odorizzi, RHP	TB	4	6	4	3	1	3
43 (95)	Zach Lee, RHP	LAD	4	3	1	1	0	6	HBP

Standout Performances

Position Players

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
Carlos Perez, C	HOU	-	1	1	1	0	0	0	2B
Zach Lutz, 3B	NYM	-	2	1	1	0	0	0	K
Phil Gosselin, LF	ATL	-	1	1	1	0	0	0
Ernesto Mejia, 1B	ATL	-	3	1	1	1	1	0	HR (2), BB, K
Mike Olt, 3B	CHC	-	3	0	1	0	0	0
Abraham Almonte, CF	SEA	-	4	1	1	0	0	0	K
Tim Wheeler, LF	COL	-	1	0	1	0	0	0	2B
Mitch Haniger, RF	MIL	3	3	0	1	0	0	0	BB, OF assist
Jonathan Schoop, 2B	BAL	5	2	0	1	0	0	0	K
Andrew Lambo, 1B	PIT	-	4	0	1	1	0	0

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
Aaron Hicks, CF	MIN	-	4	1	4	0	0	0	2B
Dean Anna, SS	NYY	-	4	0	1	0	0	0	K
Zoilo Almonte, RF	NYY	-	2	1	0	0	0	0	BB
Adonis Garcia, RF	NYY	-	1	0	1	0	0	0
Jace Peterson, 3B	SD	7	1	1	1	0	0	0	3B
Tommy Medica, 1B	SD	-	4	1	2	0	0	0	K
Gary Brown, CF	SF	-	1	1	1	0	0	0
Juan Perez, LF	SF	-	4	0	1	0	0	1	SB (3)

Pitchers

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Notes
Jorge Rondon, RHP	STL	-	1	0	0	0	0	0
Mario Hollands, LHP	PHI	-	2.2	4	1	1	0	3	HR (E. Kratz)
Vic Black, RHP	NYM	-	1	0	0	0	0	1
Ian Thomas, LHP	ATL	-	0.2	1	0	0	0	0
John Cornely, RHP	ATL	-	1	0	0	0	1	2	HBP
Danny Duffy, LHP	KC	-	1	0	0	0	0	0
Nick Maronde, LHP	LAA	-	0.2	0	0	0	1	1
Red Patterson, RHP	LAD	-	3	2	1	1	1	4	WP
Chris Withrow, RHP	LAD	6	0.2	0	0	0	0	2
Arodys Vizcaino, RHP	CHC	10	1	0	0	0	0	0

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Notes
Wei-Chung Wang, LHP	MIL	-	2.2	5	3	3	0	2	HR (B. Barnes), WP
Tyler Thornburg, RHP	MIL	-	2	2	0	0	1	2
Donn Roach, RHP	SD	-	2.1	2	0	0	1	3
Jesse Hahn, RHP	SD	-	2	0	0	0	1	1

Injuries

- Padres LF Alex Dickerson (two weeks; left ankle sprain)

- Athletics SS Addison Russell (one week; right hamstring strain)

- Mariners RHP Taijuan Walker (two weeks; right shoulder inflammation)

- Cardinals LHP Marco Gonzales (one month; left forearm tightness)

- Dodgers RHP Ross Stripling (season; right elbow - TJS)

- Twins 3B Miguel Sano (season; right elbow - TJS)

Optioned to the Minors

St. Louis Cardinals -

LHP Tyler Lyons (AAA)

Baltimore Orioles -

C Johnny Monell (AAA)
RHP Suk-min Yoon (AAA)

Houston Astros -

1B Jon Singleton (AAA)

Washington Nationals -

RHP Christian Garcia (AAA)
RHP Ross Ohlendorf (AAA)
C Jhontan Solano (AAA)
SS Zach Walters (AAA)

Oakland Athletics -

LF Kent Matthes (AAA)

Boston Red Sox -

RHP Rubby De La Rosa (AAA)
IF Brock Holt (AAA)

Released

Arizona Diamondbacks -

LHP Sean Mahley
LHP Eric Perrault

Kansas City Royals -

C Troy Snitker

San Francisco Giants -

RHP Casey Weathers

Toronto Blue Jays -

LHP Luis Perez

Signed

Arizona Diamondbacks -

LHP Armando Reyes

Atlanta Braves -

C Yenier Bello

Detroit Tigers -

LHP Nate Robertson

New York Mets -

RHP Michael Hepple

Player of the Day

Aaron Hicks gets the nod for Thursdays action with a perfect performance at the plate.