Who's hot
ANDREW BENINTENDI (short-A Red Sox) scored 5 runs on 11 hits, including 1 triple and 3 home runs, with 3 RBI to raise his batting average from .244 to .283. Two of the three home runs came against the Tri-City Valley Cats (short-A Astros) on Tuesday.
DJ BAXENDALE (AA Twins) earned a victory against the Mobile BayBears (AA Diamondbacks) on Aug. 9 and saw his ERA drop from 3.99 to 3.92. Baxendale allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts in 6 innings.
Who's not
CRAIG GENTRY (AAA Athletics) saw his batting average drop from .252 to .238 after scoring 1 run on 1 hit in his past 5 games.
TREY KILLIAN (R Rockies) suffered a loss Aug. 9 against the Missoula Osprey (R Diamondbacks) and saw his ERA rise from 5.81 to 7.48. Killian allowed 6 earned runs on 7 hits with 3 walks in 1 1/3 innings.
News and notes
• Pitcher Drew Smyly (Arkansas Razorbacks, Little Rock Central) made steady improvements while pitching in the minor leagues to rehabilitate a torn labrum and, according to ESPN.com, is scheduled to start for the Tampa Bay Rays today against the Texas Rangers. ESPN.com said Smyly threw a bullpen session Friday with no problems.
"I feel really good that I've worked hard the past three months to get back to where I am. I feel healthy," Smyly told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "A lot of guys counted me out. There was probably a day or two when I wasn't sure if I would pitch again this year as well. And here I am, getting ready to go. So I am really, really excited."
Smyly went 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA in 4 starts for the Class AAA Durham Bulls and the high-A Charlotte Stone Crabs. Both losses came against the Norfolk Tides (AAA Orioles) in Smyly's first and last starts. In his final start Tuesday, Smyly allowed 2 earned runs on 4 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts in 4 innings. Topkin reported Smyly's velocity was consistently in the low 90s and he had no discomfort or concerns.
"You can look into the box score all you want, but I walked away very happy," Smyly said.
Smyly, 26, complained of tightness in his arm during a start at Boston on May 5. The Rays announced he would miss the rest of the season and transferred him to the 60-day disabled list. Smyly opted for rest instead of surgery and Rays Manager Kevin Cash backtracked on the original prognosis, saying Smyly had the chance to pitch again this season.
• Pitcher Jess Todd (Arkansas Razorbacks) was placed on the disabled list by the Pawtucket (R.I.) Red Sox (AAA Red Sox) on Aug. 6 with right triceps tendinitis. "I'm honestly not sure about the extent of the injury," Pawtucket radio broadcaster Josh Maurer said. "I do know he is still with the ball club everyday, so I imagine he could come back relatively quickly. But that's just an observation more than concrete information." Todd is 3-5 this season with a 5.07 ERA in 22 appearances for the Red Sox. He last pitched on July 31 against the Buffalo Bisons (AAA Blue Jays).
Position players
PLAYER;COLLEGE/HOME;POS;AFFILIATION, LOCATION;AVG.;G;AB;R;H;2B;3B;HR;RBI;SB
Forrestt Allday;Central Arkansas;OF;high-A Red Sox, Salem, Va.;.239;66;205;33;49;6;0;2;18;5
Brian Anderson;Arkansas;SS;high-A Marlins, Jupiter, Fla.;.231;109;394;41;91;19;2;8;55;2
Andrew Benintendi;Arkansas;OF;short-A Red Sox, Lowell, Mass.;.283;32;113;19;32;1;4;7;15;6
Zack Cox;Arkansas;3B;AA Marlins, Jacksonville, Fla.;.302;94;308;43;93;18;1;4;24;0
Jonathan Davis;UCA/Camden;OF;high-A Blue Jays, Dunedin, Fla.;.266;59;207;35;55;17;1;3;22;10
Aharon Eggleston;SAU;OF;independent, Somerset, N.J.;.315;87;308;62;97;19;0;5;37;7
Brett Eibner;Arkansas;CF;AAA Royals, Omaha, Neb.;.295;85;319;51;94;19;1;17;64;8
Dominic Ficociello;Arkansas;1B;AA Tigers, Erie, Pa.;.290;105;404;53;117;21;3;6;39;2
Eric Fisher;Arkansas;1B;A Marlins, Greensboro, N.C.;.220;37;132;11;29;6;1;1;11;2
Craig Gentry;UA/Fort Smith;OF;AAA Athletics, Nashville, Tenn.;.238;77;303;52;72;12;0;4;15;22
Zach George;Arkansas State;1B;R Pirates, Bristol, Va.;.314;19;70;16;22;6;1;2;18;1
David Harris;SAU;OF;A Blue Jays, Lansing, Mich.;.252;60;242;30;61;15;2;5;25;5
Matty Johnson;Watson Chapel;OF;independent, Sioux City, Iowa;.258;76;322;60;83;9;6;2;34;27
Stuart Levy;Arkansas State;C;R Orioles, Sarasota, Fla.;.197;22;71;9;14;3;0;0;8;1
Shaquille Matta;Ark. Baptist JC;C;rookie Rangers, Dominican Rep.;.182;19;55;8;10;2;1;0;6;3
D'vone McClure*;Jacksonville;RF;short-A Indians, Niles, Ohio;.231;8;26;5;6;3;0;0;3;0
Austin Pfeiffer;UALR;SS;short-A Orioles, Aberdeen, Md.;.225;35;142;14;32;8;1;2;15;0
Collin Radack;Hendrix;OF;high-A Cardinals, Palm Beach, Fla.;.304;86;316;42;96;11;2;2;35;11
Matt Reynolds;Arkansas;SS;AAA Mets, Las Vegas;.281;94;359;62;101;25;5;5;58;11
Tyler Spoon;UA/Van Buren;OF;R Red Sox, Fort Myers, Fla.;.152;12;33;5;5;0;0;0;3;0
Skyler Stromsmoe;SAU;2B;high-A Giants, San Jose, Calif.;.253;35;95;16;24;8;0;0;8;2
Logan Uxa;ASU;1B;high-A Orioles, Frederick, Md.;.261;62;218;27;57;14;5;5;29;1
Geraldo Valentin;SAU;OF;independent, Amarillo, Texas;.283;75;293;42;83;13;1;7;39;3
Doug Votolato;UCA;RF;short-A Rangers, Spokane, Wa.;.174;26;86;9;15;2;3;0;3;0
Bobby Wernes;Arkansas;3B;short-A Astros, Troy N.Y.;.327;33;113;19;37;3;0;0;13;3
Andy Wilkins;Arkansas;1B;AAA Dodgers, Oklahoma City;.263;106;354;54;93;26;1;16;63;0
Pitchers
PLAYER;COLLEGE/HOME;AFFILIATION, LOCATION;W-L;ERA;G;GS;SV;IP;H;BB;SO
Brad Allen;Arkansas State;high-A Blue Jays, Dunedin, Fla.;1-3;4.25;16;5;0;48.2;45;24;37
Barrett Astin;UA/Forrest City;AA Reds, Pensacola, Fla.;8-6;3.24;25;20;0;127.2;114;45;103
D.J. Baxendale;UA/Jacksonville;AA Twins, Chattanooga, Tenn.;5-3;3.92;19;17;0;96.1;100;31;79
Jalen Beeks;UA/Fayetteville;A Red Sox, Greenville, S.C.;9-4;3.85;22;22;0;128.2;131;25;87
Mike Bolsinger;Arkansas;AAA Dodgers, Oklahoma City;2-1;2.10;6;5;0;25.2;18;8;36
Derrick Bleeker*;Arkansas;A Orioles, Delmarva. Md.;1-2;6.53;10;0;2;20.2;26;0;18
Trent Daniel;UA/Bryant;high-A Rockies, Modesto, Calif.;3-4;2.47;37;0;4;43.2;47;21;37
Andre Davis;UAPB;R Royals, Burlington, N.C.;3-1;5.14;9;0;0;21.0;22;14;24
Torey Deshazier;Ark. Bap/Pine Bluff;A Royals, Lexington, Ky.;3-5;5.86;21;9;1;78.1;90;38;64
Gray Fenter;West Memphis;R Orioles, Sarasota, Fla.;0-0;1.62;7;6;0;16.2;13;6;15
Andy Ferguson;ASU/Benton;AAA Royals, Omaha, Neb.;7-3;2.43;17;13;0;77.2;61;21;89
Griffin Glaude;Lyon/Beebe;R Blue Jays, Dunedin, Fla.;3-1;1.57;11;0;3;23.0;9;6;28
Michael Gunn;UA/Wilson;A Red Sox, Greenville, S.C.;0-2;5.50;19;0;1;36.0;38;27;34
Chandler Hawkins;Arkansas State;R Cardinals, Johnson City, Tenn.;2-0;2.70;11;0;0;20.0;19;10;18
Chase Huchingson;UCA/Fayetteville;AAA Mets, Las Vegas;2-2;3.65;45;0;1;49.1;42;35;45
Trey Killian;UA/Mtn. Home;R Rockies, Grand Junction, Colo.;1-3;7.48;7;7;0;27.2;42;10;15
Jacob Lee;ASU/Jonesboro;AA Indians, Akron, Ohio;5-3;3.35;30;0;0;53.2;59;15;43
Jackson Lowery;UA/UCA/PA;R Blue Jays, Bluefield, W.Va.;0-1;3.65;7;0;0;12.1;14;4;15
Chris Oliver;Arkansas;A Diamondbacks, Geneva, Ill.;6-7;4.28;21;18;0;94.2;111;51;41
David Owen;Arkansas State;short-A Giants, Keizer, Ore.;2-2;3.50;11;0;0;18.0;19;4;14
Blake Parker*;Ark./Fayetteville;AAA Cubs, Des Moines, Iowa;0-0;2.70;3;0;0;3.1;1;3;1
Mark Reyes;Jessieville;A Giants, Augusta, Ga.;7-5;2.24;20;20;0;120.1;106;32;77
Montreal Robertson;McGehee;AA Tigers, Erie, Pa.;3-9;3.13;27;1;1;54.2;49;27;49
Drew Smyly+;UA/LR Central;AAA Rays, Durham, N.C.;0-2;5.96;7;7;0;22.2;24;9;26
Nolan Sanburn*;Arkansas;AA White Sox, Birmingham, Ala.;0-2;6.26;17;1;2;23.0;20;18;23
Ryne Stanek;Arkansas;AA Rays, Montgomery, Ala.;8-5;3.06;19;17;0;100.0;76;40;74
Colby Suggs*;Arkansas;A Marlins, Greensboro, N.C.;0-0;0.00;5;0;1;5.1;3;1;6
Richie Tate;Marked Tree;high-A Braves, Zebulon, N.C.;2-1;2.19;19;0;4;24.2;19;18;26
Sam Thoele;UALR;R Rockies, Grand Junction, Colo.;0-1;6.14;14;0;4;14.2;15;11;19
Justin Thomas;SAU;high-A Nationals, Potomac, Va.;0-6;3.94;23;0;0;45.2;45;14;38
Jess Todd*;Arkansas;AAA Red Sox, Pawtucket, Mass.;3-5;5.07;22;13;0;81.2;93;30;45
Ashur Tolliver;Sylvan Hills;AA Orioles, Bowie, Md.;1-2;2.66;31;2;1;50.2;43;21;54
Zac Treece;OBU;independent, O'Fallon, Mo.;1-2;6.75;32;1;2;32.0;37;13;34
Brad Wallace;ASU/Rison;A Rays, Bowling Green, Ky.;4-3;3.60;10;6;0;40.0;39;10;33
Kevin Walsh;UAPB;R Phillies, Clearwater, Fla.;0-1;3.37;6;0;1;10.2;9;4;4
Hunter Wood;Rogers Heritage;high-A Rays, Port Charlotte, Fla.;2-6;1.95;25;8;4;92.1;55;20;101
Daniel Wright;ASU;AA Reds, Pensacola, Fla.;8-9;4.77;23;23;0;128.1;136;41;106
Heath Wyatt;Searcy;AAA Cardinals, Memphis;3-2;2.15;39;1;2;58.2;40;19;42
Through Thursday's games
*on disabled list +rehab assignment #released
To make additions or corrections to this list, please send an email to tpearce@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 08/16/2015