So that was exciting, huh? Two exciting Reds pitchers making their professional debuts, but only one makes our list this week. For the 2010 season, we're introducing a new feature on Farmers Only called the Farmer's Market, where we look at the minor league players whose stock has risen and fallen the most in the past week. Without further ado:
Mariekson Gregorius - SS (Dayton)
The man they call DiDi started off his season on a high note, with 9 hits in his first 20 at-bats, including a double and two triples. The 20-year-old from Amsterdam had a 4-hit night in his season debut, and already has a 3-hit and 2-hit game to his credit so far this year.
Sean Henry - OF (Carolina)
Maybe it's expected since he's repeating the level, but Henry has a homer and 4 RBI in his 3 games so far. He's had a hit in every game so far.
Dallas Buck - SP (Carolina)
Coming back from injury last year, Buck started out his 2010 season with a great outing, giving up 1 run on 3 hits in 6 innings in his season debut. He struck out 3 and didn't walk anyone, and should jump right back on to prospect lists everywhere with that outing.
Aguido Gonzalez - RP (Lynchburg)
"The Save Situation" found himself in the doghouse this weekend with a bad relief outing. He gave up 6 ER in 1/3 of an inning in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, and has been replaced as closer this year by Mace Thurman. I'm confident that he'll be able to lower his ERA from 40.50, but it's not a good start.
Justin Reed - OF (Lynchburg)
Reed has had a very slow start to the year so far, as he has yet to get a hit in 9 AB. What's worse, is that he's struck out in 6 of those 9 at-bats. He'll improve, but he needs to get that first hit soon.
Todd Frazier - LF (Louisville)
Really? Really. Todd just has 2 hits in 17 at-bats so far this year, and has been a black hole in the middle of the Louisville order. 4 games doesn't make a season, but hopefully he'll bounce back soon.
A recap of this weekend's games is after the jump...
- After losing a rough 7-4 game on Friday night, Louisville bounced back on Saturday and Sunday winning 7-1 and 2-1 respectively to win the series on the road against Toledo. Drew Sutton had a 3-hit game on Friday, and Travis Wood had a pretty crazy line, striking out 9 with one walk and one earned run on 7 hits, but his defense (him included) allowed 4 unearned runs to earn the loss. Saturday was a big win, with Matt Maloney taking the hill and striking out 8 in 5 2/3 innings of work and walking nobody. Chad Reineke pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, and Sutton added another 3 hits while he and Zack Cozart homered. Sunday saw the professional debut of some pitcher from Cuba. Have you heard about this Chapman guy? He throws fast! Aroldis Chapman threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed 1 unearned run, and struck out 9 hitters in the process. Enerio Del Rosario, Carlos Fisher, and Jon Adkins were all solid out of the bullpen to hold the close win. Cozart provided all of the offense with 3 doubles, which should hopefully get Slo-Cab sweating. Up next: Louisville travels to Columbus to take on the Clippers at 6:35, so you locals better get your butts out there. Justin Lehr takes the hill.
- Carolina swept all three of their games over the weekend, winning 11-3, 3-2, and 4-1. The offense came alive on Friday, with 7 Mudcats having multiple hits, Eric Eymann leading the way with 3. As mentioned above, Dallas Buck had a great outing in his comeback from injury. As good as Buck was on Friday, Tom Cochran may have been better on Saturday. Cochran went 6 innings and gave up 2 R (1 ER), and struck out 7 Baron hitters. The bullpen was solid, with Jerry Gil, Jesus Delgado, and Jordan Smith each pitching a scoreless inning to seal it. There was another player coming back from injury on Sunday as Daryl Thompson took the hill, pitching 4 1/3 innings of 1 run ball with 7 strikeouts. He didn't qualify for the win, but the bullpen stepped up and was perfect for the remaining 4 2/3 innings. Phillipe-Alexandre Valiquette got the save, and the pitcher who earned the win was none other than Daryl Harang, who went struck out 2 in his 3 2/3 perfect innings of relief. Up next: Alexander Smit makes his season debut to close the series against Birmingham at 8:05.
- Lynchburg played 4 over the weekend and split the series with Frederick. Matt Fairel had a great outing on Friday, going 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 3-1 win. Devin Mesoraco had two hits in that game as well. Curtis Partch started game 1 of the doubleheader on Saturday, only giving up 1 run in 5 innings. Jeremy Horst made an appearance in his new role as a reliever, and the Hillcats prevailed to win 4-3 behind a 2-for-3 game by Josh Fellhauer. Brad Boxberger made his pro debut in the second game, also giving up 1 run in 5 innings, but while striking out 7. The bullpen blew this one in extras, giving up 8 runs in the 8th inning (minor league doubleheaders are 7 innings) to lose 9-1. Travis Webb started on Sunday and pitched 4 shutout innings, but the bullpen blew it and the offense couldn't get anything going as the Hillcats lost 4-1, the only run coming on a Cody Puckett homer. Up next: Lynchburg has an off day today, they'll be back at it tomorrow starting a new series against Salem.
- Dayton has also yet to lose, as they complete their sweep of Lansing to start the season and win against the newest MWL team, the Bowling Green Hot Rods. On Friday, the Dragons won their second straight extra innings game 4-3 in 13 innings. After a decent start by Pedro Villarreal (5 IP, 1 ER, 4 K), Doug Salinas pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief to close the game out. Kevin Coddington has already matched his season HR total from a year ago with his second in two games. Brian Pearl made his debut as a starter on Saturday, with a 4 2/3 inning outing where he gave up 1 ER and struck out 3. On Sunday, Mariekson Gregorius and Andrew Means both had 3 hits to start their seasons on a tear. J.C. Sulbaran started the game and gave up 3 runs in 5 innings, and Nick Christiani earned the win with 2 2/3 perfect innings with 4 strikeouts, but got credit for a blown save while he let an inherited runner score. Donnie Joseph got his 2nd save of the year with a hitless 9th. Up next: Jacob Johnson takes on Bowling Green at 7:35.