FSL1 Charlotte Stone Crabs

Stone Crabs Game Notes - Sat, April 6 vs Fort Myers

April 6, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Charlotte Stone Crabs News Release


After dropping both games in Fort Myers, the Stone Crabs open the home schedule at 6 p.m. Saturday against the Miracle.

LHP Resly Linares makes his High-A debut for Charlotte against LHP Tyler Watson of Fort Myers.

Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on the Stone Crabs Baseball Network.

STONE CRABS FALL SHORT 4-3 FRIDAY

Despite two comebacks which tied the game, the Stone Crabs surrendered the game-winning run in the bottom of the 8th on a passed ball, dropping their second straight game to the Fort Myers Miracle by a score of 4-3 Friday night.

A TREASURE CHEST OF HITS

Stone Crabs outfielder Carl Chester delivered the team's first home run of the season Friday, a long homer down the left field line to tie the game at one. The Miami product has begun the season 5-for-7 with a home run and a walk.

OPENING NIGHT ROSTER ANNOUNCED

Eight of the organization's top 30 prospects highlight the 2019 Stone Crabs Opening Night roster, as well as five of the organization's top 14 position player prospects.

Catcher Ronaldo Hernandez (No. 6 Rays prospect according to MLB Pipeline) and second baseman Vidal Brujan (No. 7) both debuted on MLB Pipeline's list of the top 100 prospects prior to the 2019 season after breakout campaigns with Low-A Bowling Green. Hernandez placed third in the Tampa Bay organization in home runs (21) and RBI (79), batting .284 over 109 games. He ranked second in the Midwest League in homers and third in RBI and slugging percentage (.494).

Brujan scored more runs (112) than any player in Minor League Baseball in 2018, finishing second in stolen bases (55) behind only the Astros' Myles Straw. The Dominican Republic native placed second in the Midwest League and the Rays' organization in batting average (.320) amongst full season hitters. He was also the toughest hitter in the circuit to strike out (8.19 PA/SO). Brujan earned a call-up to the Stone Crabs on August 6 and hit .347 with 13 extra-base hits in 27 games (1.015 OPS).

Outfielder Moises Gomez (No. 13) led the Midwest League in RBI (82), doubles (34), extra-base hits (6) and total bases (237), recording 10 more extra-base hits than anyone else in the league. The Guatire, Venezuela native finished second in the league in slugging (.503) and fourth in home runs (19).

Outfielder and right-handed pitcher Tanner Dodson (No. 18) will become the second two-way player to don a Stone Crabs uniform in as many years. A finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award at Cal in 2018, Dodson hit .273 while pitching to a 1.44 ERA for Low-A Hudson Valley last summer.

Left-hander Resly Linares (No. 20) will head up the Stone Crabs' pitching rotation after going 7-3 with a 3.20 ERA over 84.1 innings for Bowling Green last season. The Dominican Republic native struck out 97 while surrendering only 69 hits, limiting the opposition to a .222 average.

Infielder Tyler Frank (No. 22), right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers (No. 26) and outfielder Garrett Whitley (No. 27) round out the top-30 prospects to earn an Opening Night assignment to the Stone Crabs.

CLAW POINTS

- Manager Jeff Smith made his debut in the Rays organization Thursday. Ironically, he faced his former team. Smith managed the Fort Myers Miracle for four years and owns a 457-366 (.555) record in the Florida State League.

- The Stone Crabs roster features eight returners, including seven who played for Charlotte last year. Jim Haley played 42 games in 2017 before spending all of 2018 with Low-A Bowling Green.

Check out the Charlotte Stone Crabs Statistics



Florida State League Stories from April 6, 2019


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