MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

TinCaps Game Notes: August 11 vs. West Michigan (Game 116)

Published on August 11, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


Fort Wayne TinCaps (21-25, 53-62) vs. West Michigan Whitecaps (23-23, 59-57)

LHP Ben Sheckler vs. RHP Wilkel Hernandez

Saturday, Aug. 11 - Parkview Field - 7:05 PM (Game 116)

WATCH: Comcast Network 81

LISTEN: ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM / TuneIn / TinCapsRadio.com

FRIDAY: The TinCaps came up short in their bid to sweep the Captains at Classic Park as the Captains prevailed, 3-1. In the loss, Jack Suwinski went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a season-long 10 games.

STAYING GROUNDED: For MWL pitchers who've worked as many or more innings than Sheckler this year, he has the 2nd highest

Ground Ball % (57%), the 3rd lowest Fly Ball % (26%), and ranks 3rd in GB/FB Ratio (2.15)

QUITE THE FIRST IMPRESSION: Since being transferred to the TinCaps on Wednesday, Owen Miller is 5-for-13 with 2 home runs, and 3 RBIs. Miller homered in his first 2 games as a TinCap on Wednesday and Thursday in Lake County after only homering 2 times in 49 games this season with Tri-City after being drafted in the 3rd round in June.

WHAT'S ON THE LINE: The TinCaps currently are in control of the MWL East Division's second-half wild card. Fort Wayne is 2 games back of West Michigan for the second-half's top seed. The 'Caps are 1.5 games ahead of Dayton, Great Lakes, and South Bend, and 2 up on Lake County

260 TO THE SHOW: 2016 TinCaps starting pitcher Jake Nix made his MLB debut with the Padres on Friday night. Nix tossed 6 shutout innings, allowing only 4 hits, walking 2, and striking out 4. Coincidentally, he matched up against 2013 TinCaps starter Zach Eflin. Nix is the 3rd 2016 TinCap to debut for the Pads this week, joining reliever Trey Wingenter and starter Brett Kennedy. Nix makes 170 former Fort Wayne Wizards/TinCaps to reach the big leagues.

ROSARIO ON THE RISE: Jeisson Rosario had a 12-game on-base streak end last Sunday. Nevertheless, the 18-year-old who slashed .269/.381/.322 in the first half, is at is at .291/.379/.417 in 41 games since the All-Star break. Rosario had 7 extra-base hits in the first half and has 14 so far in the second half.

SUWINSKI STREAK: Jack Suwinski has hit safely in 10 consecutive games, going 14-for-34 (.412) with 5 doubles, 2 homers, and 8 RBIs. His 1.235 OPS in this window is the highest in all of class Low-A (Midwest League & South Atlantic League).

HEATING UP: Gabriel Arias is on a career-best 19-game on-base streak. Going back to July 19, the 18-year-old from Venezuela is slashing .313/.410/.478 with 5 doubles, 2 homers, 11 RBIs, a stolen base, and 11 walks.

LEAGUE LEADERS: Osvaldo Hernandez has the MWL's lowest ERA (1.81)... Jeisson Rosario is tied for 4th in runs (70), 9th in OBP (.380), and 8th in walks (57) ... Esteury Ruiz is 4th in stolen bases (37).

IN CONTROL: TinCaps pitchers have walked the fewest batters in the Midwest League this season - only 2.9 BB/9. Fort Wayne also has the best ratio of strikeouts to walks (3.16/1).

THE NEW GUYS: Owen Miller and Olivier Basabe were promoted to the TinCaps from Short-Season Tri-City on Wednesday... Miller was drafted by the Padres in the 3rd round of June's draft out of Illinois State. MLB.com rates him as San Diego's 30th-best prospect. In 49 games for Tri-City, he slashed .335/.395/.440 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, and 20 RBIs. The Wisconsin native was leading the NWL in hits (64) as he started 43 games at shortstop and 1 at second... Basabe grew up in Venezuela but moved to Centerville, Iowa, to attend Indian Hills Community College for 2 years. (TinCaps hitting coach Jonathan Mathews went to Indian Hills as well and coached there from 2000-12. Padres Amateur Scouting Director Mark Conner once coached there, too.) Basabe then went to Faulkner University (NAIA) in Montgomery, Alabama, to play the 2017 season, after which he was drafted by the Pads in the 8th round. With Tri-City, Basabe posted a .313/.371/.480 line with 13 doubles, 4 home runs, and 28 RBIs in 40 games.

ON THE SHELF: The TinCaps currently have 5 key players on the Disabled List in catcher Luis Campusano (mild concussion), starting pitcher Mason Thompson (tricep strain), infielder Justin Lopez (broken left thumb), and outfielders Robbie Podorsky (back) and Tirso Ornelas (right wrist).

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