SAL Hudson Valley Renegades

HVR Game Notes - May 16, 2023

Published on May 16, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release


Hudson Valley Renegades (21-12) vs. Brooklyn Cyclones (11-19)

LHP Joel Valdez (0-2, 7.65 ERA) vs. RHP Jeffrey Colón (0-1, 7.84 ERA)

| Game 34 | Home Game 16 | Heritage Financial Park | Wappingers Falls, N.Y. | May 16, 2023 | First Pitch 6:05 p.m. |

FUHGEDDABOUDIT: The Hudson Valley Renegades and Brooklyn Cyclones begin a six-game series on Tuesday at Heritage Financial Park. It will be the first of four series meetings between the two New York Major League affiliates this year. Last season, the home team won the first three series, before the road team won the latter two.

YESTERDAY'S NEWS: Drew Thrope tossed six innings as the Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds 8-3 on Sunday. Marcos Cabrera tallied a season-high three hits while Spencer Jones collected a pair of doubles and drove in pair of runs. Hudson Valley trailed 2-1 until the fifth inning when the 'Gades plated three runs. Alexander Vargas highlighted the frame with a moonshot two-run home run to right field.

BIG WINS AND LOSSES: The Renegades have already played in an extraordinary number of lopsided games this season, with 16 of the team's 33 games (48.4%) being decided by 5-or-more runs.

- Hudson Valley sports a 11-5 (.687) record in game decided by 5+ runs.

- The club has already played six games decided by 11-or-more runs (18.1% of games), and has a 3-3 (.500) record in those games.

- The 'Gades have also played seven one-run games, and are 2-5 (.286).

DON'T RUN ON ME: After catching another IronBirds runner on Saturday night, Antonio Gómez has now caught 12 baserunners in 18 games behind home plate this season. It's the highest mark in the South Atlantic League, tied for the most in High-A, and 7th in MiLB. In High-A, Gómez is tied with Darrien Miller (WIS, MIL) while Nick Clarno (AUG, ATL) leads all of MiLB with 22. In the month of May, Gómez has caught eight runners in 33 total attempts. It's a 13% improvement in CS% from the first month of the season.

GAS STATION: Through 33 games this season the Renegades pitching staff has registered 379 strikeouts, the most in the SAL and among all High-A teams, and the fourth-most among all non-Triple-A teams in the minor leagues. Hudson Valley pitchers are striking out 11.70 batters per nine innings, and 30.0% of all batters faced this season.

TEXAS SIZED: Kilgore, TX native Chase Hampton has been dominant over his last three starts for the Renegades. The right-handed pitcher has punched out 28 batters in 14.2 IP in that span, while sporting a 0.90 ERA in his last two starts.

A BOTTLE OF HENNY: With a solo home run in the second inning on Thursday, Spencer Henson is now ranked fourth in the South Atlantic League with seven home runs in 22 games this season. Henson hit 10 in 71 games last year for the Renegades. His 17 HR with HV ranks tied for fourth all time.

MAN ON FIRE: Over the past sixteen games, Aaron Palensky is batting .349/.423/.762 (22-for-63) with 2 doubles, 8 HR, 17 RBIs, 4 SB and 14 runs.

- He is currently tied for first in HR (9), second in SLG (.694), third in OPS (1.096), sixth in RBI (24), tied for sixth in TB (59), and ninth in AVG (.318) in the SAL.

- He is tied for second among NYY minor leaguers with 9 HR (Andrés Chaparro, 10).

HOME RUN ROAD KINGS: The Renegades have excelled offensively on the road this season, ranking second in AVG (.266) on the road in the SAL.

During the series against the Drive, the 'Gades offense erupted for 18 home runs, the most in a week by any team in MiLB this year.

Hudson Valley's 28 road home runs this season is second-most among non-Triple-A teams in Minor League Baseball.

Overall, the Renegades have hit 45 home runs, the second-most among non-Triple-A MiLB teams. The Tennessee Smokies (AA, CHC) have hit 50.

The Renegades are averaging a gaudy 6.70 runs per game on the road.

CLIMBING THE LADDER: With a pair of hits on Saturday night, Eduardo Torrealba has tallied 103 career hits with the Renegades. He currently sits just one hit outside the top 10 all-time list. Angel Perez holds the franchise record with 125. Aaron Palensky is also starting to near the century mark as well with 82 career hits in a Renegades uniform.

THE K-ZONE: Over the last five games, Renegades starting pitchers have combined to allow just 6 ER on 14 hits in 25.1 innings, striking out 33 and walking only nine. Tyrone Yulie (5.0+ IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K), Zach Messinger (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K), and Juan Carela (4.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) each received no decisions. Chase Hampton (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K) and Drew Thorpe (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) both received wins. The starters' 2.13 ERA during this span is the lowest in the SAL and second best in High-A only trailing the Vancouver Canadians (TOR, A+).

MR. STEAL YOUR BASE: The Renegades are 62-for-72 in stolen base attempts this season. They rank fourth in the South Atlantic League, fifth in High-A in steals. They are currently ranked 15th in all of MiLB with the Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE, A) leading the way with 105 through 33 games. Caleb Durbin leads the team with 15 steals, the third most in the SAL.

"MR. JONES AND ME": In just three games against Aberdeen, Spencer Jones hit .571 (8-for-15) with four doubles, one home run, six RBIs and two stolen bases. With 25 RBIs on the season, Jones now leads the team and is tied for fourth in the South Atlantic League. He also ranks tied for first in XBH (20), second in doubles (11), third in TB (69), tied for fourth in triples (3), fourth in H (34), sixth in SLG (.616), and eighth in OPS (.955) in the SAL.

Check out the Hudson Valley Renegades Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 16, 2023


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