CarL1 Down East Wood Ducks

RHP Alex Eubanks reinstated from 7-day IL

Published on May 2, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Down East Wood Ducks News Release


Today the Texas Rangers announced the following transactions affecting the Down East Wood Ducks:

+RHP Alex Eubanks reinstated from 7-day IL

-RHP A.J. Alexy placed on 7-day IL

An updated roster is attached.

Tonight the Woodies (19-8) go for their first four-game sweep in team history, sending righty Reid Anderson (1-0, 0.44) to the mound to face off with Pelicans (7-20) right-hander Paul Richan (2-1, 3.79), with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. The broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m. on 960AM The Bull, and online at 960thebull.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch and TuneIn Radio Apps. Complete game notes are attached.

LAST TIME OUT: After falling behind, 3-2, the Wood Ducks plated five runs in third inning, on their way to an 8-3 victory over the Pelicans. Leo-dy Taveras enjoyed his second four-hit game of the year, while Disobel Arias added in three of the team's 13 hits. A.J. Alexy exited in the third inning, but Sal Mendez was sensational out of the bullpen, going 5.2 hitless innings in relief to earn his first win of the season.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Wood Ducks six game winning streak is the lon-gest of the season, and it matches the longest in team history. The 2018 Wood Ducks won six in a row twice, doing so April 26-May 2, and again August 20-25. The six straight wins match Salem for the longest streak in the Carolina League this year, and tonight Down East goes for their first four-game sweep in team history.

BEST OF THE BEST: The Rangers Organization now leads all of affiliated baseball in winning percentage (.517) with a combined record of 76-57

Texas (MLB) 14-15 3rd (AL West)

Nashville (AAA) 8-18 Last (Pacific Coast League)

Frisco (AA) 17-9 1st (Texas League)

Down East (A+) 19-8 1st (Carolina League)

Hickory (A) 18-7 2nd (South Atlantic League)

AMAZING APRIL: The Woodies 18-8 record in April is their best winning percentage (.692) of any month in team history, while the 18 victories equals the best month all-time (May 2018), when the Woodies went 18-11 (.621). The 10 games above .500 is also most in team history (previous high, +8, May 27, 2018).

YONNY SETS THE TABLE: Today Yonny Hernandez was named the Caro-lina League Player of the Week for April 22-28. Hernandez reached base 16 times in six games played this week, and has now reached base safely in 12 straight, after being hit by a pitch and singling on Wednesday. He has reached base three times in a game six times in the last 11 games and ranks second in the league in OBP (.465), and is tied for the league leads in walks with 18.

ARIAS ABOARD: Disobel Arias has now hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games, going (26-65, .400) at the plate. Over that span he has increased his batting average from .250 to .351, and now ranks fifth in the Carolina League. He has also raised his slugging percentage from .281 to .454 over that stretch. In Short-Season Spokane last year, Arias posted a slash line of .366/.451/.491/.942.

SUCCESS vs the BIRDS: This season the Woodies are now 6-0 against the Pelicans, outscoring Myrtle Beach 42-15, and boasting an ERA of 2.50. Four of the six wins have come in comeback fashion including 12 unanswered runs on April 4. They account for four of the Woodies eight comeback victories on the season.

ROAD WARRIORS: Despite leading the league in wins, the Wood Ducks are now 10-7 at home, compared to a 8-1 mark on the road. At home this season the Woodies are batting .229, with an OPS of .645, and an ERA of 3.13. On the road the Woodies boast an average of .285 to go along with an OPS of .784, and an ERA of 1.84.

DENYING THE LONG BALL: Wood Ducks pitching this year has given up just seven home runs through 27 games, the fewest in the Carolina League. The Red Sox (9) are the only other team that has allowed fewer than ten home runs on the year, with Frederick leading the league with 22 home runs allowed. At the plate the Woodies have hit 14 long balls, double the number they have allowed.

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.

SHOWTIME: Former Wood Duck Brett Martin made his MLB debut for the Rangers last Friday night, firing a scoreless ninth inning in a 7-2 loss to the Astros. Martin needed just nine pitches to get through the inning, recording three ground ball outs. The left-handed reliever becomes the fourth Wood Duck in franchise history to make their Major League de-but, joining Ricardo Rodriguez, Jeffrey Springs, and C.D. Pelham. Martin pitched for the Woodies in their inaugural season in 2017, helping Down East to a share of the Carolina League Championship.

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.

TOP-30 in Kinston: With the promotion of Julio Pablo Martinez to Down East on April 17, the Woodies now have eight Top-30 prospects as ranked by MLB Pipeline: 2. J.P. Martinez, 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

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Carolina League Stories from May 2, 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.

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