The game time temperature read 97 degrees at Riders Field, but Kohl Drake didn’t seem to notice. The local kid from Sachse, Texas, and Wylie High School alum didn’t let the heat slow him down.
Drake, a 6’5″, 220-pound left-hander, was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Making his second start for the Frisco RoughRiders—and his first at Riders Field—Drake showed why he’s one of the team’s promising prospects.
His first Double-A outing back in April against the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) didn’t go as planned. Drake only lasted 1.1 innings, giving up 4 runs on 2 hits, with 6 walks and 3 strikeouts. But that was four months and two minor league levels ago.
Since then, Drake has turned things around in a big way. Across 81.2 innings between Low-A Down East and High-A Hickory, he’s issued just 19 walks, racked up 122 strikeouts, and posted a stellar 2.20 ERA.
Dominating the Missions
In tonight’s series finale against the San Antonio Missions (Padres), he continued Frisco’s run of strong starting pitching.
Over 6 innings, he allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out 6 batters. His fastball typically sits 93-95 mph, and he mixes in a cutter, curveball, and a wicked changeup to keep batters guessing.
At one point, I saw him hit 94 mph on the radar gun. This was my first time seeing him live, and he didn’t disappoint. The lefty is now 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA at the Double-A level.
As a fan, there’s always something special about rooting for local talent. Kohl Drake is no exception.
Abimelec Ortiz Powers Frisco’s Offense
At the plate, Abimelec Ortiz carried the RoughRiders. He broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the 4th inning with a two-run homer, his 11th of the season. Ortiz finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs, including an RBI double. His bat has been heating up lately, with 3 home runs in his last 8 games.
The RoughRiders have a 10-1 record in games where Abimelec Ortiz hits a home run.
Max Acosta steals home
Max Acosta and Cody Freeman executed a double steal, with Acosta stealing home for his 25th stolen base of the season.
RoughRiders Prepare for the Playoffs
With this 6-3 win, the RoughRiders improve to 72-48. They will go back on the road to face the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) on Tuesday before returning home for their final regular-season homestand against the Wichita Wind Surge on Monday, September 2nd.
Frisco has already locked in a playoff spot by winning the first half of the season. They are guaranteed at least one home game in the Division Series, scheduled for Thursday, September 19th.
This was the Texas Rangers 2022 draft recap that we wrote up if you want to read what we wrote about Kohl Drake.