CarL1 Down East Wood Ducks

April 9 Transactions & Game Information

Published on April 9, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Down East Wood Ducks News Release


Today the Texas Rangers announced the following transaction for the Down East Wood Ducks:

+ RHP Jason Bahr has been transferred from extended spring training to Down East and will start tonight

- RHP Michael Matuella has been placed on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 8

Tonight the Down East Wood Ducks will play the middle game of their three-game series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Right-hander Jason Bahr (0-0, -.--) will make his first start of the season for the Woodies, opposed by lefty Luis Lugo for the Pelicans. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and it's Food Lion BOGO night at Grainger Stadium, where all fans who buy a ticket when presenting their Food Lion MVP card will get a second ticket for free. Tonight's broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull and online at 960thebull.com as well as the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. Complete game notes are attached.

LAST TIME OUT: The Wood Ducks fell behind 4-0 after half an inning of played but rallied to score two in the first, four in the third, and six in the fourth on their way to a 12-4 victory. Yonny Hernandez hit a bases clearing double to give the Woodies their first lead at 5-4, and Yohel Pozo hit a three run homer in the sixth.

SEASON-HIGHS: The Wood Ducks 12 runs on 13 hits were both season highs, and both the most in a game since the Woodies scored 16 runs on 16 hits last August, also against Myrtle Beach, helped by an 8-run eighth inning.

LONG BALL FLYING: After not hitting a home run in their first three games of the season the Wood Ducks have now gone deep three times in their last two games, with Ryan Dorow, Eric Jenkins and Yohel Pozo leaving the yard.

ARIAS ABOARD: Diosbel Arias singled and scored in yesterday's win over Myrtle Beach. Arias has now reached base in all five games this season, with five hits and four walks. His on-base percentage sits at .429 on the season. Last year Arias finished the season with an OBP of .451 at Low-A Spokane which led the Northwest League.

D-TRAIN DOMINATES: In his first appearance in the Carolina League, Saturday, Demarcus Evans picked up right where he left off a season ago. Evans struck out the side in the ninth, all swinging strikeouts. He threw 12 pitches, 3 balls, 3 called strikes and 6 swinging strikes in the frame. Last season he led all MiLB relievers (min. 50 IP) with a SO/9 of 16.88.

TAVERAS' TERRIFIC START: Leody Taveras opened the season by going 4-4, with a double, a triple, and four runs driven in. The four hits are a career-high, while the four RBIs match a career-best. He has also tallied a hit each day since, riding a team-best five-game hitting streak.

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.

RAGS AT THE HELM: Corey Ragsdale takes over as skipper for the Wood Ducks in 2019. Ragsdale will remain the Rangers Minor League Field Coordinator, while assuming a managerial seat for the first time since 2015, when he led the Hickory Crawdads to a South Atlantic League Championship, 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)

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 opportunities. 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.

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.

NEED FOR SPEED: The 2019 Wood Ducks will possess a lot of speed, especially 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.

TOP-30 in Kinston: The Wood Ducks open the 2019 season with sev-en 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, and 24. Demarcus Evans

Check out the Down East Wood Ducks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from April 9, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central