Ryon Healy Named Texas League Player of the Week
August 24, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
The RockHounds open their final homestand of the 2015 regular season Tuesday night, hosting the Corpus Christi Hooks in what is almost assuredly a "playoff preview." The 'Hounds and Hooks are not only the top two clubs in the Texas League South Division, but have (by far) the top two overall records in the league. The two clubs, who are a combined 54 games over .500 (no other club is more than five games over), will play a four-game set at Security Bank Ballpark, one which could decide the second half race.
The RockHounds return home after a 5-1 road trip, winning two-of-three in Springfield, over the Cardinals and sweeping a three-game series from the Drillers in Tulsa. The outstanding road trip was capped by Ryon Healy earning Texas League Player of the Week honors, the second time in four weeks the RockHounds third baseman has captured the award.
Healy had an outstanding week, batting .469 (15-for-32) in six games, with seven runs, five doubles, one home run and four RBI.
The week, however, is just part of a remarkable stretch of hitting (covering more than a month) in which Healy is hitting nearly .400. He enters the homestand on a nine-game hit streak (19-for-43, .442) and has hit in 21 of his last 22 games, with a .404 average (40-for-99) in that time. In his last 37 games, the former University of Oregon star is hitting .391 (61-for-156) and has moved into the Texas League's top 10 hitters, now ranking third with a .307 season average. Selected by the A's in the third round of the 2013 draft, the West Hills, California, native is in just his third pro season (his second full year) and is rated the Oakland A's # 23 prospect by Baseball America and # 22 by MLB.com.
RockHounds at Security Bank Ballpark - Saturday, August 29 through Monday, August 31
Tuesday August 25 vs Corpus Christi Hooks Tickets 2-for-1 6:30 p.m. First Pitch
Wednesday August 26 vs Corpus Christi Hooks Player Photo Night 6:30 p.m. First Pitch
Thursday August 27 vs Corpus Christi Hooks "Thirsty" Thursday 7:00 p.m. First Pitch
Friday August 28 vs Corpus Christi Hooks RockHounds Umbrellas 7:00 p.m. First Pitch
Saturday August 29 vs Frisco RoughRiders Post-Game Fireworks 7:00 p.m. First Pitch
Sunday August 30 vs Frisco RoughRiders Family Day 2:00 p.m. First Pitch
Monday August 31 vs Frisco RoughRiders $2 Ticket 6:30 p.m. First Pitch
- The RockHounds enter the homestand closing in on a playoff berth and the Texas League South second half pennant.
There are two separate steps (and two "magic numbers") remaining in the club's playoff drive. The first would be to eliminate the Frisco RoughRiders from the second half race, which would clinch a playoff berth. The other is the race ... with Corpus Christi ... for the second half pennant.
- Magic numbers:
Three (3) to clinch a playoff spot (eliminating Frisco) ... any combination of RockHounds wins and RoughRiders losses
Seven (7) to clinch the second half pennant (over Corpus Christi) ... any combination of RockHounds wins and Hooks losses
- The significance of winning the second half pennant:
The Corpus Christi Hooks won the first half crown in the Texas League South and are in second place (behind the RockHounds) in the second half. Games one and two of the South Division Championship Series will be played at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi (September 9 & 10) - - - that much is "set in stone." The RockHounds will then (in all likelihood) host games three and four (September 11 & 12).
If the Hooks rally back to complete a sweep of both half-season pennants, game five of the division series would be played in Corpus Christi.
If the RockHounds go on to capture the second half crown, game five would be here at Security Bank Ballpark.
One game might not seem overly significant, but hosting the decisive game of a playoff series can, in any sport, be critical.
- The 'Hounds are closing in not only on a return trip to the postseason, but also on the best half-season in franchise history.
The 2001 'Hounds (under manager Tony DeFrancesco) finished 43-27, the second-best record in all of Double-A baseball (30 teams) for the first half of the '01 season. Ironically, the Round Rock Express (the club which is now the Corpus Christi Hooks) went 50-20, playing not only in the same (eight-team) league, but also the same (four-team) division as the 'Hounds. The 2015 club is five wins away from setting a new all-time franchise half-season mark.
- Speaking of the second half ...
The RockHounds are a season-best 22 games over five hundred, all of that in the second half (the 'Hounds went 35-35 in the first half of the season). The club has won five straight ... seven of their last eight and 12-of-14 ... and is 28-10 in its last 38 games (a .737 winning percentage). The 'Hounds are above .500 both at home and on the road (the 5-1 road trip pushed the club three games over five hundred away from home) including a Texas League home winning percentage of .651 (the RockHounds are 41-22 at Security Bank Ballpark). Corpus Christi, meanwhile, enters the series with a remarkable .667 road winning percentage (the Hooks are a league-best 79-47 overall, including a 42-21 mark on the road).
Texas League Stories from August 24, 2015
- Ryon Healy Named Texas League Player of the Week - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Welcome Tulsa for 4 Games - Arkansas Travelers
- Homestand Highlights: August 25 - August 31 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Weather in Tulsa: Thunder & Lightning - Midland RockHounds
- Former Driller Helps Midland Complete Sweep of Tulsa - Tulsa Drillers
- RoughRiders Come Back for 7-4 Win Before 6,851 Fans on Sunday - Springfield Cardinals
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