CarL1 Down East Wood Ducks

April 4 Game Information

Published on April 4, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Down East Wood Ducks News Release


TODAY: The Wood Ducks open the season tonight at 7 p.m. at Grainger Stadium against the Carolina Mudcats. Righty Tyler Phillips earns the opening night start for the Wood Ducks, and he will be opposed by fellow right-hander Francis Bowden of the Mudcats.

HOME AT LAST: For the first time in the team's three year history, the Wood Ducks open the season at home. In the first game in franchise his-tory, the Wood Ducks defeated the Red Sox, 7-6, in Salem, and went on to win the four game series to open the 2017 season. Last year, the Woodies opened with a four game set in Lynchburg. They spit the series, both loss-es coming by a 1-0 score, including on opening night in the Hill City.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO: The 2019 Wood Ducks are a heavily decorated bunch. Tyler Phillips was recognized as the Rangers Nolan Ryan Pitcher of the Year after posting an 11-5 record and a 2.67 ERA in Single-A Hickory. He struck out 124 while walking just 14 in 128.0 innings. Demarcus Evans was named the organization's Reliever of the Year. In 35 appearances out of the Crawdads bullpen, Evans pitched to a 1.77 ERA and struck out 103 batters while walking just 27. He also converted all nine save opportu-nities. Infielder Ryan Dorow earned the Rangers defensive player of the year honors. He started games at all four infield positions, in addition to a game in the outfield, committing just 9 errors in 418 chances for a fielding percentage of .978.

TOP-30 in Kinston: The Wood Ducks open the 2019 season with seven players on the MLB Pipeline Rangers Top-30 list on their roster.

4. Anderson Tejeda

5. Bubba Thompson

6. Leody Taveras

14. Tyler Phillips

19. Diosbel Arias

20. A.J. Alexy

24. Demarcus Evans

NEED FOR SPEED: The 2019 Wood Ducks will possess a lot of speed, espe-cially in the outfield. Last season Leody Taveras, Eric Jenkins, and Bubba Thompson combined to steal 86 bases and hit 21 triples. Infielder Yonny Hernandez also ranked second the South Atlantic League with 44 stolen bases, and his 46 overall led the Rangers organization.

RAGS AT THE HELM: Corey Ragsdale takes over as skipper for the Wood Ducks in 2019. Ragsdale will remain the Rangers Minor League Field Co-ordinator, while assuming a managerial seat for the first time since 2015, when he led the Hickory Crawdads to a South Atlantic League Champion-ship, the second of his career.

YEAR CLUB LEAGUE W-L FINISH

2012 AZL Rangers AZL/R 34-22 League Champs

2013 Hickory South Atlantic (A) 76-63 5th Place

2014 Hickory South Atlantic/A 41-28 5th Place

2015 Hickory South Atlantic/A 44-24 League Champs

TOTALS 237-179 (.570)

SPRINGS HAS SPRUNG: Former Wood Duck Jeffrey Springs was named to the Rangers opening day roster for the 2019 season. Springs made his MLB debut last season, and is one of three former DEWDs to make it to the show, along with Ricardo Rodriguez and C.D. Pelham. A 30th Round selection out of Appalachian State in 2015, Springs is the first Wood Duck to appear on a Major League Roster on Opening Day.

SWITCH IT UP: After leading the Rangers organization with 74 RBI last season, Anderson Tejeda returns to the Wood Ducks, but this time as a switch hitter. Signed by the Rangers in 2014, Tejeda hit from the left side of the plate exclusively for the first four season in pro ball.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Five players on the Wood Ducks opening day roster are just 20 years of age. The handful includes RHP A.J. Alexy, INF Yonny Hernandez, INF Anderson Tejeda, OF Leody Taveras, and OF Bubba Thompson.

Tonight's game will be broadcast locally on 960 AM The Bull and will also be available online on 960thebull.com and on the TuneIn Radio app. For tickets and more information visit woodducksbaseball.com or call (252) 686-5172.

Check out the Down East Wood Ducks Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from April 4, 2019


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