Minor League Ball Gameday: Saturday, March 22

Hey folks, welcome to the Minor League Ball Gameday Thread for Saturday, March 22. It's Opening Day, technically, in Australia with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks facing off in a sold out tilt at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground. Interesting note - phenom Archie Bradley did travel with the team as they have still not decided whether to slot him in the rotation to start the year. Use this thread for any predictions you have for the series abroad.

Center fielder Jake Marisnick of the Miami Marlins turned in a solid all-around performance yesterday, going 3-3 with a double, a pair of singles, his fourth stolen base and two runs scored. Royals short stop Raul Mondesi got the start in a split squad game and went 1-5 with a run scored and pair of strike outs. Kolten Wong makes the list once again as he hit a double in three trips to the dish. Finally, Cubs short stop Javier Baez is making it really hard on Theo and Co. to not go North with him. He went 1-3 with a single and a strike out against the rival White Sox,

Aaron Sanchez continued to throw up zeroes for Toronto as they faced off against Tampa Bay. He allowed six base runners (three hits, three walks) in 5.1 innings with no runs allowed and a pair of strike outs. Diamondback stud right hander Archie Bradley struggled against Team Australia, allowing three runs in 3.2 innings. He gave up four hits and three walks with three strike outs and a home run to right fielder Tim Kennelly. James Paxton was the only other Top 100 pitcher to toe the rubber with four innings of work against San Diego. The Mariners southpaw allowed four hits and two walks with three runs allowed and four punch outs.

Outside the high end prospects, Tim Wheeler of the Rockies had another strong game, hitting his third home run of the spring with a single and strike out as well. Recent Cuban defector Aledmys Diaz was a perfect 2-2 in his debut for St. Louis with a pair of singles playing short stop. Cubs third baseman Mike Olt keeps on raking, going 2-4 with a double, walk, and a run scored. Neftali Soto went yard for the third time for the Reds, driving in three with a pair of strike outs and an error manning the hot corner.

Braves righty Gus Schlosser turned in four solid innings, allowing just one run to score on one hit with three strike outs and no walks. Brett Marshall of the Reds also went four innings, allowing two runs with five base runners allowed (three walks, two hits), and four strike outs. Relievers Zeke Spruill from Arizona and Spencer Patton from Kansas City each threw two perfect innings. Patton sent four back to the dugout with K's in the scorecard while Spruill set down three. Twins righty Michael Tonkin also went two frames, allowing a pair of hits with no runs, walks, or strike outs.

The Top 100

Position Players

Rank (Ovr)	Name, Pos	Team	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
4 (5)	Javier Baez, SS	CHC	3	0	1	0	0	0	K
14 (27)	Austin Hedges, C	SD	1	0	0	1	0	0
15 (29)	Jose Abreu, 1B	CWS	2	0	1	0	0	0
24 (47)	Raul Mondesi, SS	KC	5	1	1	0	0	0	2 K
27 (50)	Jackie Bradley, CF	BOS	4	0	0	0	0	0	K

Rank (Ovr)	Name, Pos	Team	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
29 (58)	Kolten Wong, 2B	STL	3	0	1	0	0	0	2B
32 (66)	Chris Owings, SS	AZ	2	0	1	0	0	0
34 (70)	Stephen Piscotty, RF	STL	1	0	0	0	0	0
41 (79)	Jake Marisnick, CF	MIA	3	2	3	0	0	1	SB (4), 2B
42 (80)	Hunter Renfroe, RF	SD	2	0	0	0	0	0

Rank (Ovr)	Name, Pos	Team	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
46 (85)	DJ Peterson, 3B/1B	SEA	2	0	0	0	0	0	K
48 (90)	Jorge Bonifacio, RF	KC	1	0	0	0	0	0	K
49 (91)	Marcus Semien, 2B	CWS	3	0	0	0	0	0	BB
54 (98)	Michael Choice, CF	TEX	3	0	0	0	0	0

Pitchers

Rank (Ovr)	Name, Pos	Team	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Notes
2 (9)	Archie Bradley, RHP	AZ	3.2	4	3	3	3	3	HR (T. Kennelly)
17 (32)	Aaron Sanchez, RHP	TOR	5.1	3	0	0	3	2
45 (99)	James Paxton LHP	SEA	4	4	3	3	2	4

Standout Performances

Position Players

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
Ernesto Mejia, 1B	ATL	-	4	0	1	0	0	0
Phil Gosselin, 2B	ATL	-	4	0	1	0	0	0	2B, K
Hernan Perez, SS	DET	10	3	0	1	1	0	0
Austin Nola, 2B	MIA	-	4	1	2	1	0	0	K
Marc Krauss, 1B	HOU	-	3	1	1	0	0	1	SB (1)
Josmil Pinto, C	MIN		3	0	1	0	0	0
Zach Lutz, 3B	NYM	-	4	1	2	1	0	0	BB
Aledmys Diaz, SS	STL	-	2	0	2	0	0	0
Mike Olt, 3B	CHC	-	4	1	2	0	0	0	2B, BB
Neftali Soto, 3B	CIN	-	4	1	1	3	1	0	HR (3), 2 K, E

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	SB	Notes
Angel Franco, SS	KC	-	1	0	1	0	0	0	2B, BB
Ronald Guzman, 1B	TEX	10	1	0	0	1	0	0
Tim Wheeler, RF	COL	-	4	1	2	1	1	0	HR (3), K
Joe Wendle, 2B	CLE	-	2	1	0	0	0	0
Dean Anna, SS	NYY	-	1	0	1	0	0	0
Abraham Almonte, CF	SEA	-	2	1	0	0	0	0	BB, K, E
Leon Landry, CF	SEA	-	2	0	1	0	0	0	K, E
Tyler Smith, 2B	SEA	-	2	0	1	0	0	0	HBP

Pitchers

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Notes
Gus Schlosser, RHP	ATL	-	4	1	1	1	0	3
Ian Thomas, LHP	ATL	-	1	0	0	0	1	0
Cody Martin, RHP	ATL	10	0.1	0	0	0	0	0
Arquimedes Caminero, RHP	MIA	-	1	0	0	0	0	1
Michael Tonkin, RHP	MIN	-	2	2	0	0	0	0
Gonzalez German, RHP	NYM	-	1	1	0	0	1	0	WP
Jeurys Familia, RHP	NYM	-	1	1	0	0	1	1	WP
John Stilson, RHP	TOR	-	1	0	0	0	0	1
Blake Trienen, RHP	WAS	-	0.2	0	0	0	0	1
Danny Reynolds, RHP	LAA	-	0.1	0	0	0	0	0

Name, Pos	Team	Top 10 Rank	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Notes
Spencer Patton, RHP	KC	-	2	0	0	0	0	4
Brett Marshall, RHP	CIN	-	4	2	2	2	3	4
Jumbo Diaz, RHP	CIN	-	1	0	0	0	0	2
Chad Bettis, RHP	COL		1	0	0	0	0	1
Andy Oliver, LHP	PIT	-	1	0	0	0	0	0
Zeke Spruill, RHP	AZ	-	2	0	0	0	0	3
Charles Brewer, RHP	AZ	-	2.1	4	2	2	2	6	HBP
Derek Law, RHP	SF	-	1	0	0	0	0	1
Carson Smith, RHP	SEA	-	1.2	0	0	0	0	2
Patrick Schuster, LHP	SD	-	1	2	0	0	0	1

Injuries

- Tigers RHP Bruce Rondon (season; right elbow - TJS)

- 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

Atlanta Braves -

C Christian Bethancourt (AAA)
CF Todd Cunningham (AAA)
RHP Juan Jaime (AAA)
RHP Luis Vasquez (AAA)
SS Elmer Reyes (AA)

Tampa Bay -

RHP Brad Boxberger (AAA)

Texas Rangers -

RHP Roman Mendez (AA)

Pittsburgh Pirates -

RHP Phil Irwin (AAA)
1B Chris McGuiness (AAA)
3B Brent Morel (AAA)

Minnesota Twins -

RHP Vance Worley (AAA)

Los Angeles Dodgers -

C Tim Federowicz (AAA)

Released

Washington Nationals -

RHP Luis Ayala
RHP Clay Hensley

Cleveland Indians -

RHP David Aardsma

Traded

Los Angeles Angels -

Acquired LF Trevor Gretzky (CHC), LHP Jose Alvarez (DET)

Chicago Cubs -

Acquired 1B Matt Scioscia (LAA)

Detroit Tigers -

SS Andrew Romine (LAA)

Player of the Day

Toronto right hander Aaron Sanchez is making a strong impression on the brass with the way he has pitched this spring. He just added to the dominance with 5.1 scoreless frames.