Mariners Minor League Report — June 18
Games of June 17, 2021
TRIPLE-A — TACOMA RAINIERS
RECAP: RF Dillon Thomas, 3B Jantzen Witte, C Cal Raleigh and LF Jarred Kelenic each homered has Tacoma defeated Las Vegas 11–7 on Thursday night. The victory was the Rainiers 5th straight win. Kelenic (2x4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB, SF), SS Donovan Walton (3x6, R, 2B, RBI), Raleigh (2x5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB) and Thomas (1x5, R, HR, 2 RBI), the Rainiers 1–4 batters in the lineup, combined to hit 8-for-20 with 6 runs scored, 1 double, 4 home runs, 8 RBI and 2 walks. 1B Jose Marmolejos (1x2, R, 3 BB), Witte (1x4, R, HR, 2 RBI), CF Luis Liberato (1x4, r, 3B, RBI) and 2B Jack Reinheimer (1x5, R) each collected 1 of the Rainiers 12 hits. Starter Ian McKinney (2.2,8,5,5,2,2,3HR) recorded a no decision in his AAA debut, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2 over 2.2 innings. LH Aaron Fletcher (2.1,4,2,2,0,1) improved to 2–0 on the season with the win, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits over 2.1 innings.
NOW MANAGING THE RAINIERS: Tony Arnerich takes over managerial duties of the Tacoma Rainiers on June 1 as Kristopher Negrón began paternity leave. He earned his first AAA win as manager on June 1 at Reno. Arnerich is in his 5th season in the Mariners organization, including his 2nd season as Field and Catching Coordinator.
OF NOTE:
· GIVE ME 20 — C Cal Raleigh has hit safely in 23 consecutive games (5/15-c), batting .396 (38x96) with 22 runs scored, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 22 RBI, 2 HBP and 6 walks…it is the longest hitting streak of his career (previous: 8, 7/1–10/19 w/High-A Modesto).
· HOT — Since May 13, C Cal Raleigh has hit safely in 24 of 25 games, including 13 multi-hit contests, batting .388 (40x103) with 25 runs scored, 15 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 24 RBI, 2 HBP and 10 walks…overall this season he has hit safely in 28 of 30 games, batting .355 (44x124) with 27 runs scored, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, 27 RBI, 3 HBP, 12 walks and 2 stolen bases.
· A LEADER AMONG US — C Cal Raleigh ranks among Triple-A West leaders in doubles (1st, 16), extra-base hits (2nd, 24), total bases (3rd, 83), slugging percentage (4th, .669), OPS (4th, 1.078), average (5th, .355), RBI (T6th, 27) and runs scored (T7th, 27).
· JK — OF Jarred Kelenic has hit safely in 10 of 13 AAA games he has appeared this season, batting .296 (16x54) with 13 runs scored, 2 doubles, 5 home runs, 13 RBI, 5 walks and 4 stolen bases.
· HOT — INF/OF Jose Marmolejos has reached base safely in all 18 games he has appeared with Tacoma, including 13 games with at least 1 hit…he has also drove in at least 1 run in 9 of 18 games…overall he is batting .333 (19x57) with 10 runs scored, 3 doubles, 5 home runs, 13 RBI and 14 walks.
· HEATING UP — INF Jack Reinheimer has reached base safely in 14 straight games, including at least 1 hit in 11 games (5/29-c), batting .268 (15x56) with 8 runs scored, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 1 HBP and 3 walks.
· ON THE MOUND — RH Jimmy Yacabonis has appeared in 12 games (1 GS) with Tacoma, going 1–0 with 2 saves and a 1.96 ERA (4 ER, 18.1 IP)…he has limited opponents to a .206 (14x68) average, while walking 5 and striking out 17.
· TOUGH IN RELIEF — RH Wyatt Mills is 1–1 with a 2.53 ERA (3 ER, 10.2 IP) in 7 relief appearances with Tacoma…he has limited opponents to a .238 (10x42) average, while walking 3 and striking out 18.
DOUBLE-A — ARKANSAS TRAVELERS
RECAP: CF Connor Lien hit a 3-run home run with 2 outs in the 2nd inning as Arkansas defeated Tulsa 5–3 on Thrusday night. It was the Travelers 3rd consecutive win, moving them back to .500 on the season. C Josh Morgan (2x3, R, BB) and 2B Jake Scheiner (2x4, RBI) each collected multi-hit games, while 3B Joe Rizzo (1x3, R, RBI), 1B Bobby Honeyman (1x4, R, 2B) and Lien (1x4, R, HR, 3 RBI) each recorded 1 of the Travelers 8 hits. Starter Steven Moyers (5.0,2,0,0,0,4) earned his 1st win of the season, allowing only 2 hits while walking 0 and striking out 4 over 5.0 innings. RH Stephen Kolek (2.0,3,3,2,3,1) allowed 3 runs (2 ER) on 3 hits over 2.0 innings in his AA debut. RH Collin Kober (1.0,0,0,0,1,3) struck out 3 over a scoreless 8th inning, while RH Michael Stryffeller (1.0,0,0,0,1,3) struck out 3 in a scoreless 9th inning for his 2nd save of the season.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK: LH Ian McKinney was named Double-A Central Player of the Week, June 7–13…in his only start during the week on June 10 at Springfield, McKinney earned his 3rd win of the season, allowing only 1 hit while walking 3 and striking out 11 over 7.0 scoreless innings…McKinney has allow 1 run or few in 4 of his 6 starts this season.
MAY PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Arkansas Travelers left-hander Ian McKinney was named Double-A Central May Pitcher of the Month by Minor League Baseball. McKinney went 2–0 with a 1.17 ERA in four starts. He allowed 14 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 37 over 23.0 innings. He held opponents to a .169 average and threw a 7.0-inning complete game on May 20 at Corpus Christi. McKinney, 26, was originally selected by St. Louis in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of William Boone High school in Orlando, Florida.
OF NOTE:
· STREAKING — INF Jake Scheiner has reached base safely in 26 of 33 games of the season, including hits in 23 games, batting .284 (38x134) with 28 runs scored, 7 doubles, 9 home runs, 25 RBI, 2 HBP, 12 walks and 1 stolen base.
· HITS IN BUNCHES — C Brian O’Keefe has hit safely in 11 of his last 14 games (5/28-c), batting .296 (21x53) with 7 runs scored, 2 doubles, 5 home runs, 14 RBI, 1 HBP, 5 walks, 2 stolen bases…he has hit safely in 21 of his last 26 games, including 11 multi-hit contests (5/11-c)…during this stretch he is batting .347 (35x101) with 16 runs scored, 4 doubles, 7 home runs, 25 RBI, 2 HBP, 11 walks and 2 stolen bases.
· MULTI-HOME RUNS — On June 8 at Springfield, C Brian O’Keefe (2x4, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI) recorded his 4th career multi-home run games with a solo home run in the 2nd inning and a 2-run blast in the 3rd inning…all of his previous multi-home run games came in 2017 with A Peoria: June 17 vs. Burlington (2x3, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI), July 2 at Kane County (2x5, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and Aug. 8 at Clinton (2x4, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI).
· HEATING UP — C Josh Morgan has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games (6/6-c), batting .375 (15x40) with 5 runs scored, 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 13 RBI and 4 walks.
· BULLPEN BULLY — RH Collin Kober tossed 8.1 scoreless innings over his first 7 relief appearances to open the season season (5/5–5/22)…overall his season he is 1–0–1 with a 1.32 ERA (2 ER, 13.2 IP) in 12 games…he has limited opponents .184 (9x49) average, while walking 7 and striking out 19 (1 HB).
· TOUGH IN RELIEF — RH Darin Gillies is 0–0–4 with a 0.69 ERA (1 ER, 13.0 IP) in 12 games this season…he has limited opponents to .188 (9x48) average while walking 7 and striking out 21.
· WHAT A START — In 4 starts for the Travelers this season, RH Tyler Herb is 2–3 with a 2.03 ERA (7 ER, 31.0 IP)…he has limited opponents to a .252 (29x115) average, while walking 3 and striking out 23…Herb signed a Minor League Contract with Seattle on May 12.
· LOTS OF K’S — LH Ian McKinney has struck out 50 batters in 33.0 innings this season…overall he is 3–0 with a 2.18 ERA (8 ER, 33.0 IP) in 6 starts…he has limited opponents to a .179 (21x17) average, while walking 15 and striking out 50…McKinney struck out 11 batters in 7.0 innings on May 20 at Corpus Christi (7.0,4,1,1,1,11,HR) and 11 batters in 7.0 innings on June 10 at Springfield (7.0,1,0,0,3,11)…it marked his 6th and 7th career starts with at least 10 strikeouts (prior to this season, last: 8/27/19 at Corpus Christi w/AA Arkansas).
HIGH-A — EVERETT AQUASOX
RECAP: The AquaSox scored 1 run in the 2nd inning and added 2 more in the 3rd and 4th inning, but couldn’t overcome a 6-run first inning by the Canadians as Everett fell to Vancouver 9–5. SS Joseph Rosa (2x3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, BB) led the team with 2 hits, while RF Zach DeLoach (1x2, R, 2B, 3 BB), DH Tyler Keenan (1x4, R, 2B), 1B Jake Anchia (1x3, 2 R, 2B, BB) and LF Connor Hoover (1x4, R) each collected 1 of the AquaSox’s 6 hits. Starter Matt Brash (0.2,4,6,3,2,0,HR) fell to 1–2 on the season with the loss, allowing 6 runs (3 ER) on 4 hits in the 1st innings. RH Brendan McGuigan (1.1,1,2,2,1,2) allowed 2 runs in the 2nd inning. RH Tim Elliott (6.0,3,1,1,1,10,HR) allowed 1 run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 10 over 6.0 innings.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: INF Austin Shenton was named Low-A West Player of the Week, June 7–13…he hit safely in 4 of the 5 games he appeared during the week, batting .450 (9x20) with 6 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBI, 2 HBP, 2 walks and 1 stolen base…he recorded 3 consecutive multi-hit games June 8–10, going 8-for-15.
MAY PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Everett AquaSox outfielder Jack Larsen was named High-A West May Player of the Month by Major League Baseball. Larsen led the league in batting average (.337), hits (28), doubles (10), RBI (16) slugging percentage (.602) and OPS (1.019), while finishing second in total bases (50) and third in on-base percentage (.417). Larsen, 26, was signed by Seattle as a non-drafted free agent on June 19, 2017 out of the University of California-San Diego.
OF NOTE:
· WALK THIS WAY — RH George Kirby issued his first career walk in the 2nd inning on May 14 vs. Tri-City…dating back to 2019, he tossed 27.2 consecutive innings without allowing a walk to open his career (23.0 innings in 2019 and 4.2 innings in 2021)…overall this this season he is 2–1 with a 2.25 ERA (4 ER, 16.0 IP) in 4 starts…he has limited opponents to a .182 (10x55) average, while walking 3 and striking out 19.
LOT’S OF K’S — In 7 games (6 GS) this season, RH Matt Brash is 1–2–1 with a 3.38 ERA (10 ER, 26.2 IP)…he has limited opponents to a .216 (21x97) average while walking 19 and striking out 41.
· ‘PEN PALS — RH Bernie Martinez is 2–0 with a 1.93 (2 ER, 9.1 IP) over his first 4 appearances with Everett this season…he has limited opponents to a .176 (6x34) with 5 walks and 9 strikeouts.
· STARTER — RH Emerson Hancock has allowed only 4 ER in 16.0 innings over 5 starts (2.25 ERA)…he has limited opponents to a .167 (9x54) average, while walking 9 and striking out 12.
· START ME UP — LH Brandon Williamson is 2–1 with a 3.19 ERA (11 ER, 31.0 IP) in 6 starts…he tossed 8.0 scoreless inning over his first 2 starts (5/8–5/15)…he has limited opponents to a .189 (21x111) average while walking 10 and striking out 59…he earned his first career win on 5/29 at Vancouver (7.1,2,1,1,1,13,HR,HB).
· LOTS OF K’S — LH Brandon Williamson has struck out 33 batters over his last 18.1 innings…he struck out a career-high 13 batters on May 29 at Vancouver (7.1,2,1,1,1,13,HR,HB) and followed it up with a 12 strikeout game on June 2 vs. Hillsboro (5.2,9,5,5,0,12,2HR,HB).
· IMMACULATE INNING — LH Brandon Williamson tossed an immaculate bottom of the 3rd inning on 5/29 at Vancouver (Ronny Brito called out on strikes, David Schneider strikes out swinging and D.J. Neal strikes out on a foul tip)…he also struck out the side in the 4th inning, a stretch of 6 consecutive strikeouts (7.1,2,1,1,1,13,HR,HB).
· LOTS OF HITS — OF Zach DeLoach has hit safely in 10 straight games (6/3-current), batting .384 (15x39) with 11 runs scored, 6 doubles, 4 RBI, 1 HBP, 8 walks and 1 stolen base.
· STREAKING — C Carter Bins has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games (6/4-c), batting .419 (13x31) with 11 runs scored, 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBI and 5 walks…he has also hit safely in 14 of his last 18 games with 8 multi-hit contests (5/18-c), batting .343 (24x70) with 19 runs scored, 5 doubles, 6 home runs, 17 RBI and 9 walks…in 10 games in June, Bins has hit safely in 8 of 10 games with 7 multi-games, batting .424 (17x40) with 14 runs scored, 4 doubles, 5 home runs, 13 RBI and 5 walks.
· HOT START — Julio Rodriguez has reached base safely in 12 straight games, including at least 1 hit in 11 games (5/22-c), batting .340 (17x50) with 12 runs scored, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 8 RBI 2 HBP, 6 walks and 2 stolen bases…Rodriguez has hit safely in 24 of 28 games this season, including 9 multi-hit contests…overall he is batting .325 (38x117) with 29 runs scored, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 21 RBI, 3 HBP, 14 walks and 5 stolen bases.
· WHAT A STREAK — OF Julio Rodriguez hit safely in 10 games (5/6–16)…during this 10-game stretch (5/6-c) he hit .405 (17x42) with 17 runs scored, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 12 RBI, 7 walks, 1 HBP and 3 stolen bases.
· HEATING UP — INF/OF Kaden Polcovich has hit safely in 9 of his last 12 games (5/30-c), batting .340 (17x50) with 11 runs scored, 4 doubles, 5 home runs, 11 RBI, 1 HBP, 6 walks and 2 stolen bases…he has also hit safely in 15 of his last 20 games (5/20-c), batting .298 (25x84) with 17 runs scored, 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 16 RBI, 10 walks, 1 HBP and 3 stolen bases.
· CAREER DAY — INF/OF Kaden Polcovich recorded his first career multi-home run game and set a career-high with 4 RBI on June 1 vs. Hillsboro (3x5, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI)…he also hit 2 home runs on June 4 vs. Hillsboro (3x5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI).
· WARMING UP — INF Austin Shenton has hit safely in 5 of his last 8 games (6/8-c), batting .313 (10x32) with 8 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 14 RBI, 2 HBP, 4 walks and 1 stolen base…Shenton has also reached base safely in 22 of his last 26 games, including 17 games with at least 1 hit (5/16-c)…during this stretch he is batting .291 (30x103) with 24 runs scored, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home run, 25 RBI, 16 walks and 1 stolen base.
· OFF AND RUNNING — OF Jack Larsen has reached base safely in 27 of 32 games this season with at least 1 at-bat, batting .298 (37x124) with 21 runs scored, 11 doubles, 5 home runs, 21 RBI, 1 HBP, 16 walks and 7 stolen bases…Larsen has also hit safely in 20 of his last 26 games (5/13-c), batting .307 (31x101) with 19 runs, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 18 RBI, 1 HBP, 13 walks and 7 stolen bases.
LOW-A — MODESTO NUTS
RECAP: The Nuts rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, but it wasn’t enough as Modesto fell to San Jose 9–3 on Thursday night. DH Alberto Rodriguez (2x4, 2 R, 2B) and C Matt Scheffler (2x3, BB) each recorded multi-hit contests, while RF Kennie Taylor (1x3, R, BB), LF Trent Tingelstad (1x3, BB), 3B Brett Rodriguez (1x4) and 2B Cesar Izturis Jr. (1x3, 2B, RBI, BB) each collected 1 of the team’s 8 hits. Starter Matt Willrodt (2.0,4,2,2,0,2) recorded the loss in his 1st start of the season, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits over 2.0 innings. RH Robert Winslow (1.0,0,2,1,3,2), RH Leon Hunter (2.0,0,0,0,1,2), LH Jorge Benitez (2.0,0,0,0,0,4), RH Juan Mercedes (1.0,6,5,4,0,1) and RH Kelvin Nunez (1.0,1,0,0,0,0) combined to allow 7 runs (5 ER) over 7.0 innings in relief.
MAY PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Modesto Nuts outfielder Cade Marlowe was named Low-A West May Player of the Month by Minor League Baseball. Marlowe led the league in batting average (.358), hits (29), runs (23), total bases (52), on-base percentage (.465), slugging percentage (.642) and OPS (1.107). He finished second in RBI (20) and triples (three) and fifth in home runs (four). Marlowe, 23, was selected by Seattle in the 20th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia.
OF NOTE:
· HOT — INF Noelvi Marte has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games (6/6-c), batting .387 (12x31) with 5 runs scored, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home run, 5 RBI, 3 HBP, 4 walks and 1 stolen base.
· WHAT A START — SS Noelvi Marte hit safely in 26 of 35 games this year, batting .315 (45x143) with 29 runs scored, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 28 RBI, 4 HBP, 21 walks and 5 stolen bases…he recorded multi-hits in 9 of 12 games (5/12–21), batting .434 (23x53) with 15 runs, 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 17 RBI, 7 walks and 3 stolen bases.
· LEADER — INF Noelvi Marte is T2nd in Low-A West League with 8 home runs…he also ranks among league leaders in total bases (1st, 80), runs scored (T2nd, 29), hits (3rd, 45), OPS (6th, .976), RBI (6th, 28), slugging percentage (6th, .559), extra-base hits (T6th, 18), average (9th, .315) and walks (T9th, 21).
· THE SHOW — OF Victor Labrada made his professional debut on May 14 vs. Rancho Cucamonga w/Modesto, going 2x3 with 1 run, 1 double, 2 RBI, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases…he singled in his first career plate appearance…he has hit safely in 19 of his first 26 career games, batting .271 (26x96) with 24 runs scored, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 16 RBI, 4 HBP, 23 walks and 11 stolen bases.
· HOT START — OF Cade Marlow hits safely in 10 of his last 17 games (5/27–6/16) with Modesto, batting .309 (21x68) with 19 runs scored, 1 double, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 15 RBI, 1 HBP, 10 walks and 5 stolen bases…Marlowe reached base safely in 28 of 34 games he appeared with Modesto this season, batting .293 (39x133) with 35 runs scored, 6 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 29 RBI, 1 HBP, 24 walks and 11 stolen bases.
· PROMOTION — At the time of his promotion on June 17, OF Cade Marlowe ranked among the Low-A West League leaders in runs scored (1st, 35), triples (T1st, 5), totals bases (T3rd, 74), walks (4th, 24), RBI (5th, 29), home runs (T6th, 6), slugging percentage (7th, .963), extra-base hits (T8th, 17), stolen bases (T7th, 11) and hits (8th, 40).
· HEATING UP — INF Dariel Gomez has hit safely in 9 of his last 11 games (6/2-c), batting .275 (11x40) with 5 runs scored, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 2 HBP and 4 walks.
· K’S — LH Adam Macko has struck out 40 batters in 21.2 innings this season…overall he is 2–1 with a 6.23 ERA (15 ER, 21.2 IP)…he has limited opponents to a .236 (21x89) average, while walking 15 and striking out 40…recorded back-to-back-to-back 10 strikeout games: 5/13 at Rancho Cucamonga (4.1,3,4,3,4,10), 5/20 at Inland Empire (5.0,5,4,4,3,10); also marked first career win & 5/27 vs. Visalia (5.0,4,3,2,3,10).
· LOTS OF K’S — RH Connor Phillips has struck out 49 batters in 34.0 innings over 7 starts this season…overall he is 3–2 with a 4.50 ERA (17 ER, 34.0 IP) in 7 starts…he has limited opponents to a .226 (28x124) average, while walking 24 and striking out 49…earned first professional win on May 12 at Rancho Cucamonga (5.0,2,0,0,1,7)…tossed a season-high 7.0 innings on June 6 vs. Fresno (ND, 7.0,4,3,3,5,3)…struck out a season-high 9 batters in back-to-back starts May 19 at Inland Empire (5.0,4,1,1,4,9,HB) and May 26 vs. Visalia (4.0,8,6,5,2,9).
· ALL DOLLED UP — RH Taylor Dollard has struck out 51 batters over 30.2 innings this season…overall he is 3–2 with a 3.82 ERA (13 ER, 30.2 IP), while limiting opponents to a .270 (34x126) average with 7 walks and 51 strikeouts…Dollard has struck out at last 10 batters in 3 of his 6 starts: 5/7 vs. Stockton (4.0,2,0,0,0,10), 5/21 at Inland Empire (4.2,6,3,3,3,11) & 5/28 vs. Visalia (5.2,6,4,4,1,10,HR).
· START ME UP — RH Sam Carlson is 1–0 with a 3.03 ERA (10 ER, 29.2 IP) in 6 starts with Modesto…he has limited opponents to a .217 (25x115) average, while walking 19 and striking out 39…he earned his first career win and while setting career-high in innings pitched and strikeouts on May 29 vs. Visalia (6.0,3,2,1,2,9,HR).
· SAVE ME — RH Travis Kuhn has recorded a save in 4 of his 10 appearances with Modesto (also appeared in 1 G with AAA Tacoma on 5/16)…with Modesto he is 1–0–4 with a 3.95 ERA (6 ER, 13.2 IP)…he has limited opponents toa .152 (7x46) average while walking 10 and striking out 16…he has tossed 5.1 scoreless innings over his last 4 games (6/5-current).
· BULLPEN BULLY — LH Brayan Perez has not allowed an earned run over 13.1 innings over 6 appearances (5/16–6/10)…during this stretch he limited opponents to a .275 (14x51) average, while walking 8 and striking out 19…overall this season he is 0–0 with 1.96 ERA (4 ER, 18.1 IP) in 9 games.
· WARMING UP — RH Nolan Hoffman has tossed 7.0 scoreless innings over 7 relief appearances (5/23–6/13)…during this stretch he limited opponents to a .125 (3x24) average, while walking 1 and striking out 7…overall this season he is 1–1 with 3 saves and a 2.77 ERA (4 ER, 13.0 IP) in 12 games.
