James Hicks @ San Antonio: 5 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K He got staked to a 7-0 lead after the first half-inning but still went out and did his job.
Big night for Yamal Encarnacion as he drove in 4 on 3 hits. He had a two-run single in Corpus Christi's 7-run 1st, added an RBI single in the 5th, and capped off the evening with his first homer of the season. Joseph Sullivan with 10 walks in the first six games of the year... that'll do.
Don't know if this was already mentioned but the Astros made a signing this week: RHP Andrew Dunford was signed on Tuesday; he was released by the Tigers last Thursday (4/2). Dunford, 21, was picked in the 12th round by the Tigers in 2023 out of high school in Georgia and has only made 5 appearances in the FCL. Dunford's fastball was up to 95 mph in 2023, but he has spent the last two seasons on the minor league full-season injured list. With just 5 pro appearances for a total of 4.1 IP, Dunford is essentially a blank slate. Can the Astros development team make something out of a 6-7, 235 kid who basically hasn't pitched at all as a pro?
Interesting, Dunford got a ~6th round bonus. He has the kind of delivery and physical upside Houston looks for. I also saw that AA P Ramsey David was suspended. Not sure if that’s a failed drug test or what.
This is a great sign. Encarnacion is one of the 2-3 fastest players in the system and he is only 22. He posted one of the lowest swinging strike rates in the system last year. If he can show even double digit HR power he will project as a viable major leaguer.
Rough night for Gabel Pentecost, rough night for Fayetteville. On the bright side, Kevin Alvarez has a pair of RBI singles.
Pascanel Ferreras hit a go-ahead 2-run homer in the 9th to give Corpus a... 2-1 lead, and win, in San Antonio.
Ramsey David didn’t get a PED suspension, but Corpus and San Antonio got into it the other night, and he was right in the middle of it…
Andrew Taylor going to the Asheville IL again. That'll probably do it for him, as injuries have just taken too much of his development time away.
Man dude please be that guy. We need a new stud to come out the system. Him K. Alvarez, or Neyens. At least give us 1.
Ethan Pecko made his 2026 debut in Fayetteville tonight, allowing a run on a solo homer and one other hit, and striking out three in three innings.
