Frisco RoughRiders 2019 pitching

The Frisco RoughRiders 2019 roster was released this week. Of course things are always fluid with rosters, especially in the Minor-Leagues.

We will be covering the RoughRiders up close this year so be sure to follow along and we will keep you updated.

This is a long post and we have included some of the total stats from 2018 for each player. Some players were on multiple teams. The stats come from baseball-reference.com.

Roster: Set
Players: Listed
Let’s: Ride

Full Release: https://t.co/KCcIZ2V2LP pic.twitter.com/p5Trr9iouF

? Frisco RoughRiders (@RidersBaseball) March 27, 2019

Pitching

This starting rotation is going to be?tough on opposing Double-A line-ups. It features 3 of the top pitching prospects in the Rangers farm system.

Let’s take a look at each guys numbers from last year.

Joe Palumbo(LHP)

Palumbo, 24, had Tommy John surgery in 2017. He pitched in 11 games last year between Arizona League, Down East and Frisco.

In the Arizona League he pitched 9 innings and had an earned run average of an even 4. That was spread across 3 games.

While in Down East, he pitched 27 innings over 6 games. His record was 1-4 with an earned run average of 2.67.

With the RoughRiders, in 2 games he pitched a total of 9.1 innings with an earned run average of 1.93. He struck out 10.

This Spring with the Rangers he pitched 1.2 with an earned run average of 10.80.

There is alot to be excited about here with Palumbo. We will be keeping an eye on his progress. I imagine the Rangers want to take it slow with him but he could move fairly quickly to Nashville or to Arlington if there is an injury.

2018: 2-4, 2.78 ERA, 59 SO, 10 BB, 0.993 WHIP

Jonathan Hernandez (RHP)

Hernandez, 22, is one that I am really intrigued with. Last year he was promoted from Down East to Frisco. With Down East in 2018 he made 10 starts pitching 57.1 innings. He had a 4-2 record and had an excellent 2.20 earned run average.

In Frisco, his numbers were not as good. He ended with a 4-4 record with a 4.92 earned run average. Between Down East and Frisco he pitched 121.1 innings and struck out 134.

2018: 8-6, 3.63 ERA, 134 SO, 53 BB, 1.220 WHIP

Brock Burke (LHP)

Burke is the guy that the Rangers received in 3 team Profar trade. He had huge success last year with the Montgomery Biscuits, the Rays Double-A affiliate. He had a record of 6-1 with a 1.95 earned run average in 9 games.

2018: 9-6, 3.08 ERA, 158 SO, 44 BB, 1.223 WHIP

Edgar Arredondo (RHP)

Arredondo, 22, in May started 8 games for the RoughRiders last year but appeared in 9. He pitched 45 innings and ended with an 0-4 record and an earned run average of 4.80. In those 45 innings he walked 10 while striking out 27.

2018: 5-6, 3.71 ERA, 95 SO, 21 BB, 1.188 WHIP

Blake Bass (RHP)

Bass, 26 in June, has never pitched at the Double-A level. In High-A last year, he went 1-1 in 24.2 innings with an earned run of average of 2.92. He struck out 21 batters but also walked 10 so he will need to lower the walk ratio.

2018: 1-1, 2.35 ERA, 24 SO, 11 BB, 1.304 WHIP

Jairo Beras (RHP)

Beras, 24, has experience in the Outfield as well. Back in 2016 in High-A he put on a power display with 22 home runs.

In 2017 is when he converted to pitching. Last year with the Down East Wood Ducks, he appeared in 38 games pitching 54 innings. He ended with a 3-2 record and turned in a 4.33 earned run average.

2018: 3-2, 4.33 ERA, 75 SO, 26 BB, 1.130 WHIP

Yoel Espinal (RHP)

Espinal, 26,?was also part of the Profar trade from the Rays. He pitched in High-A and Double-A last year. With the Montgomery Biscuits he had a 3-3 record with a 1.98 earned run average.

In 54.2 innings he struck out 71 but walked an alarming 29 batters. With that his WHIP was only 1.061 since he only allowed 29 hits.

2018: 3-4, 2.25 ERA, 79 SO, 32 BB, 1.141 WHIP

Wei-Chieh Huang (RHP)

Huang, 25, you know as being part of the Diekman trade with the Diamondbacks in July, 2018.

Huang had solid numbers with the Double-A team thethe Jack Generals. In 27 innings, he had an even 2 earned run average and struck out 32.

He struggled in his 20 innings with Frisco after the trade. He had a 6.30 earned run average but still had the strikeouts working with 25 but walked 8. As is the case with anyone, this is an important year for him.

2018: 7-3, 3.33 ERA, 103 SO, 31 BB, 1.136 WHIP

James Jones (LHP)

Jones, 30, played for the Mariners in 2014 and 2015 as an Outfielder.

He had a career .238 batting average with 9 runs batted in and 28 steals.

He converted to pitching but has still batted as well. Last year in 4 at bats he hit .500.

With the pitching, between the 4 leagues he played for in 2018 and only 30.2 innings his earned run average was 9.10.

2018: 1-1, 7.34 ERA, 22 SO, 18 BB, 2.022 WHIP

Jacob Lemoine (RHP)

Lemoine, 25, was drafted by the Rangers 2 separate times. The first time was in the 2012 draft and the second time was in 2015 from the University of Houston.

In 2018, with the Down East Wood Ducks he ended with a 3-4 record. Pitching 56.1 innings he had a very respectable 2.40 earned run average. He allowed 48 hits, walked 26 and struck out 54.

2018: 3-4, 2.40 ERA, 54 SO, 26 BB, 1.314 WHIP

Emerson Martinez (RHP)

Martinez, 24, pitched in Frisco back in 2016 and now comes back in 2019.

In Down East he had a record of 5-11 with a 4.01 ERA. He pitched 137 innings he struck out 110 and had a WHIP of 1.292.

He also pitched in the Venezuelan Winter league where he dominated. His record was 5-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 32 innings.

2018: 5-11, 4.01 ERA, 110 SO, 32 BB, 1.292 WHIP

Jeffeson Medina (RHP)

Medina, 25 in May, had decent stats last year. In High-A with Seattle’s affiliate, he had a 5-3 record with a 3.73 ERA. He walked 34 batters in his 72.1 innings so he will need to improve the control at bit.

2018: 5-3, 3.73 ERA, 66 SO, 34 BB, 1.341 WHIP

Pedro Payano (RHP)

Payano, 24, spent the whole season with the RoughRiders last year. He had a 5-10 record with a 5.54 ERA in 118.2 innings.

2018: 5-10, 5.54 ERA, 87 SO, 48 BB, 1.416 ERA

Locke St. John (LHP)

St. John, 26, started 2018 with the Wood Ducks where he went 4-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 43.2 innings.

He was promoted to Frisco and was 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA in 17 innings.

2018: 6-3, 2.67 ERA, 78 SO, 23 BB, 1.137 WHIP

Walker Weickel (RHP)

Weickel, 25, pitched for Down East and Frisco in 2018. While with the Wood Ducks he went 2-8 with a 4.92 ERA in 100.2 innings.

In Frisco he only pitched 13 innings and had a 3.46 ERA.

2018: 4-9, 4.75 ERA, 102 SO, 38 BB, 1.372 WHIP

As a whole, the pitching on this team is solid. 2019 is going be an exciting year for the RoughRiders.

Part 2

**Updated 4/4/2019**

RHP Pedro Payano (#15) transferred to Extended Spring Training
RHP Edgar Arredondo (#17) transferred to Extended Spring Training
C Chuck Moorman (#22) transferred to Extended Spring Training