Okay. First things first:
George Springer and Jake Buchanan have been promoted from Corpus to OKC. And I think we all know why. Also, Brady Rodgers was called up to Oklahoma City from Lancaster to make a spot start.
Springer is hitting .297/.399/.579 with 96 strikeouts and 42 walks in 273 ABs. He has 19 home runs and 23 stolen bases. His .297 average is 6th in the Texas League. The .399 OBP is 4th, and the .579 is #1. His .978 OPS is 2nd in the League behind some A's freak of nature hitting .358/.461/.558. The 19 homers are tied for the League-lead. While I'm sure you're worried about the strikeouts, the 42 walks are 4th-highest in the League.
Buchanan is 7-2 with a 2.09 ERA/0.93 WHIP in 82IP. He has allowed 67H/19ER, 44K:9BB. Buchanan's ERA leads the Texas League (he's actually tied with teammate David Martinez, who is 10-1 with a 2.09 ERA and the exact same 0.93 WHIP as Buchanan), as does his (and Martinez's WHIP). His nine walks are the lowest among anyone who has pitched at least 50IP. Springfield's Tim Cooney has eight walks in 45.2IP.
Now, here's where we need to take a little breather: The RedHawks have three double-headers this week, counting today's against Omaha. There's another double-header Tuesday against Omaha - both are make-ups from rainouts at the end of May. There's an off-day Wednesday, and then a double-header at Nashville on Friday. Corpus is off today, and then there's the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but both Springer and Buchanan will participate.
Of course OKC has an extra OF spot available, what with the delightfully unexpected trade of Fernando Martinez. Things are moving along, friends.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
