Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at San Jose
April 14, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies and Giants continue their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm PT from Excite Ballpark. Grizzlies LHP Evan Shawver and Giants RHP Keaton Winn are the probable starters.
FROM BEARCAT TO BEAR: Tonight, the Grizzlies will hand the ball to lefty Evan Shawver. The 22-year old was drafted by the Rockies in the 7th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Cincinnati. In 2021 for the Bearcats, Shawver posted a 2.72 ERA in 46.1 innings. The year prior, Shawver recorded 35 strikeouts in 22.2 frames with a 1.59 ERA in a shortened 2020 season. In his first season with Cincinnati, Shawver fanned 69 batters over 61.2 innings. He is a product of Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, Ohio (also known as Amherst Steele). Shawver holds the Amherst Steele career record for strikeouts with 316 in 191 frames, going 21-8 with a 0.77 ERA. As a senior, he struck out 122 batters in 61.1 innings with a 0.11 ERA. He was named the 2018 Division I Player of the Year by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association and Lorain County Mr. Baseball. Read more about the lefty on Page 2.
GIANT AMOUNT OF MATCHUPS: The Grizzlies and Giants continue their first series tonight against one another since meeting in September for the 2021 Low-A West Championship series. This season, the two clubs will play 30 times against one another with 18 of those contests being held in San Jose. Last season, the two clubs faced each other 33 total times with three of those games being in the playoffs. Despite being swept by the Giants, the Grizzlies won the regular season battle 16-14 and went 8-5 at Excite Ballpark.
FROM FRIEND TO FOE: The San Jose Giants coaching staff have a few names that the Central Valley may recognize. Giants pitching coach Dan Runzler was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 9th round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft. He would play for the Grizzlies from 2009-2014, appearing in 144 games. Runzler would then end up pitching in the major leagues for parts of five seasons (Giants 2009-2012, Pirates 2017) before playing overseas and in independent ball. Over 97 big league games, he had a 4-2 record with a 3.89 ERA, 82 strikeouts. 46 walks and 72 hits allowed in 76.1 innings pitched. The other coach and former Grizzlies player fans may remember is Giants hitting coach Travis Ishikawa. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 21st round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Federal Way HS in Washington. He would play eight Major League seasons starting in 2006 and ending in 2015 with time spent in San Francisco (2006, 2008-2010, 2014-2015), Milwaukee (2012), Baltimore (2013), New York AL (2013) and Pittsburgh (2014-15). Ishikawa would also don a Grizzlies uniform in 2008, 2011 and 2014, playing in 175 games. In 2008, Ishikawa would bat .310 with a 1.107 OPS over 48 games, one of the best stretches by any Fresno hitter.
LET'S GOOOOO: The Fresno Grizzlies brought back almost their entire field staff for the 2022 season. Manager Robinson Cancel will once again pilot the team after leading the Grizzlies to a league-best 74-41 record and earning a playoff spot in his inaugural season at the helm. Assuming the same roles in 2022 as well are Pitching Coach Mark Brewer and Hitting Coach Nic Wilson. Steve Soliz remains on the staff as well, moving from Development Supervisor to Bench Coach. Finally, Genevieve Payne rounds out the group as the Performance Coach. On the players side, 16 pitchers and 14 position players were assigned to Fresno. There are six returning players from the 2021 regular season championship squad and six of the Rockies top 30 prospects as listed by MLB.com will don the Grizzlies threads in 2022. The returning players include RHP Noah Gotsis, RHP Juan Mejia, RHP Case Williams, C Bryant Quijada, INF Warming Bernabel and INF Trevor Boone. The top prospects include #3 OF Benny Montgomery, #10 INF Adael Amador, #14 INF Warming Bernabel, #16 OF Yanquiel Fernandez, #20 C Hunter Goodman and #24 OF Juan Guerrero. There are also a few names that the Central Valley may recognize, outfielders EJ Andrews Jr and Braiden Ward. Andrews Jr. was a Fresno State Bulldog prior to being drafted by the Rockies last year and Ward is a product of El Capitan High School in Merced, one hour from Chukchansi Park.
#CLAWSANDPAWS: EJ Andrews Jr. became the ninth Fresno State Bulldog to don a Fresno Grizzlies uniform after starting Sunday afternoon against Stockton. He joins LHP Dean Hartgraves, '98, RHP Steve Soderstrom, '98-99, C Giuseppe Chiaramonte, '00-'01, RHP Mark Gardner, rehab, '01, OF Tom Goodwin '02, LHP Adam Pettyjohn '04, C Trent Woodward, '15 and '17 and RHP Justin Miller, '19.
WARMING UP: Warming Bernabel has been on fire to start his 2022 campaign. The returning third baseman has hit safely in all five games this season, batting .474 with a 1.249 OPS. Bernabel has recorded four multi-hit games over those five contests, driving in three runs and scoring four times. He has one homer and steal while only striking out three times.
BRAIDEN BITES: Braiden Ward has been a nightmare for opposing teams over the three games he has appeared in this season. The Merced native is 4-for-6 (.667) with a 1.167 slugging peecentage and 1.945 OPS. He has scored four times, driven in a pair of runs, walked three times and stolen a trio of bases. Ward also has one homer, a solo shot to right against Stockton.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (0-1), Beige (3-0), Black & Gold (0-0), Gray (0-1), Specialty Promo (0-0), Fresno Tacos (0-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 0-0), Fresno Growers (0-0), Fresno Tigers (0-0), Red Pants (0-0).
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California League Stories from April 14, 2022
- Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes at San Jose - Fresno Grizzlies
- Diaz Grand Slam Helps Quakes Win Second Straight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Power to Fourth Straight Win - San Jose Giants
- Big Inning Dooms Ports in Loss to Nuts - Stockton Ports
- Four Home Runs Give the Rawhide the Win - Visalia Rawhide
- Early scoring dooms Grizzlies in 7-3 loss to Giants - Fresno Grizzlies
- Lake Elsinore Storm Lose Power in Game 2 of Series - Lake Elsinore Storm
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