Arkansans Across the Minors

Dominic Ficociello
Dominic Ficociello

Who's hot

DOMINIC FICOCIELLO (AA Tigers) saw his batting average rise from .226 to .240 in his past 7 games. Ficociello is 13 for 36 (.361), including 2 home runs, with 8 runs scored, 8 RBI and 5 walks in his past 10 games through Thursday. He went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI on June 26 as the Erie SeaWolves beat the Hartford Yard Goats (AA Rockies) 5-2. Ficociello followed that by going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored Monday in an 8-7 loss to the Reading Fightin' Phils (AA Phillies). He went 2 for 4 again Tuesday in a 7-2 loss to Reading.

JUSTIN THOMAS (High-A Nationals) was activated from the disabled list on June 24 and has earned a save and a victory in his 2 appearances since being activated. The save came June 26 as the Potomac Nationals beat the Lynchburg Hillcats (High-A Indians), in which Thomas allowed 1 hit with 3 strikeouts in 3 innings. Thomas earned the victory Thursday as Potomac beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High-A Cubs) 3-2 in 10 innings. He did not allow a run, hit or walk or have a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.

Who's not

BRIAN ANDERSON (AA Marlins) saw his batting average drop from .279 to .266 in the past 5 games. Anderson is 5 for 35 (.143) with 4 RBI, 5 walks and 12 strikeouts in his past 10 games through Thursday. He had gone hitless in 5 consecutive games (0 for 16) before going 1 for 3 Thursday in the Jacksonville Suns' 2-1 loss to the Tennessee Smokies (AA Cubs).

MARK REYES (High-A Giants) has lost each of his past 2 starts after winning 4 consecutive. Reyes took the loss June 24 as the San Jose Giants lost 6-4 at the Stockton Ports (High-A Athletics), allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts over 51/3 innings. He followed that with his shortest outing of the season, lasting 21/3 innings Thursday as San Jose lost 12-6 against the Visalia Rawhide (High-A Diamondbacks). Reyes allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits with 1 walk and 1 strikeout.

News and notes

• Former Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Andrew Benintendi (AA Red Sox, Portland, Maine) and former Hogs pitcher Ryne Stanek (AA Rays, Montgomery, Ala.) were selected Tuesday to play for the U.S. team at the MLB Futures Game on July 10 in San Diego. Stanek was 1-6 with a 3.91 ERA and 2 saves in 17 appearances through Thursday's games, but he said he's had a pretty good year.

"The numbers have been skewed a little bit because there have been innings where I've given up chunks of hits and runs," Stanek said. "It's just been one inning here and there that have hurt me."

Stanek said he didn't know he'd been selected to play in the game until he was called in to Manager Brady Williams' office.

"I just try to concentrate on having a good outing every time I go out. When you get lazy or complacent, that's when things can get away from you, so I just try to keep performing at a high level," Stanek said.

Stanek said having Benintendi on the U.S. roster with him is an added bonus.

"I've known Andrew for a little while. He actually came and stayed with me in the offseason to train for a little while. I'm happy and excited for him and it'll be great to have a couple of Hogs in San Diego," Stanek said.

Benintendi has been hot for the Portland Sea Dogs, going 13 for 38 (.342) with 9 runs scored, 6 RBI and 2 stolen bases in his past 10 games through Thursday. He went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 2RBI on June 26 in a 9-8 victory over the Reading Fightin' Phils (AA Phillies), then went 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI Tuesday in a 10-9 loss to the Trenton Thunder (AA Yankees).

While he's looking forward to the trip to San Diego, Stanek said he still has work to do for the Montgomery Biscuits.

"It's something to look forward to and being with the guys will be really fun, but we have 8 or 10 games and I'm sure I'll pitch a couple of times before then, so I just need to stay locked in to what I need to do for this team," Stanek said.

The game begins at 6 p.m. Central and will be televised on MLB Network.

• The news is not so good for another Montgomery Biscuits pitcher. Hunter Wood (Rogers Heritage) broke his thumb on his right (pitching) hand during his last start June 23. Wood was working on a no-hitter, but Biscuits radio announcer Chris Adams-Wall said Wood broke the thumb on a comebacker and is out indefinitely. He pitched 6 innings in the Biscuits' 3-2 victory over the Biloxi Shuckers (AA Brewers), allowing 2 hits with 5 strikeouts. The Shuckers' runs came in the ninth inning on two RBI singles. Despite the injury, Wood has not yet been placed on the disabled list.

• Outfielder Brett Eibner (Razorbacks) was optioned to the Class AAA Omaha Storm Chasers by the Kansas City Royals on June 25 to make room for Alex Gordon, who came off the disabled list. Eibner was then recalled to Kansas City on Wednesday when the Royals put outfielder Lorenzo Cain on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

• Pitcher Ashur Tolliver (Sylvan Hills) was optioned to the Class AAA Norfolk Tides by the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Tolliver had been recalled to Baltimore on June 22 and earned his first major-league victory two days later.

• Three pitchers with Arkansas ties drafted in last month's MLB Draft have been assigned to new teams. Pitcher Dillon Drabble (Texarkana) was assigned to the Kansas City Royals' rookie-league team in the Arizona League on June 21, while pitcher Connor Eller (OBU/Sylvan Hills) was assigned to the Bluefield Blue Jays (R Blue Jays) on June 23 and pitcher James Teague (Razorbacks) was assigned to the Baltimore Orioles' rookie-league team in the Gulf Coast League on June 24. Eller won his professional debut June 26 as Bluefield won 4-2 at the Burlington Royals (R Royals). He gave up 2 hits with 4 strikeouts in 31/3 innings. Pitcher Doug Willey (Razorbacks) was assigned to the Orem Owlz (R Angels) on June 16 and earned his first professional victory Monday as Orem won 4-3 at the Ogden Raptors (R Dodgers). Willey allowed just 2 hits with 1 strikeouts in 2 innings.

That leaves two drafted players with Arkansas ties, both from Bentonville, who remain unsigned. Outfielder Luke Bandy (Kansas City, 32nd round) and pitcher Trenton Hill (Miami, 34th round) have until July 15 to sign a contract. Pitcher Zach Jackson (Razorbacks) signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on June 20, but has not yet been assigned to a team in the Blue Jays' farm system.

Around the horn

• Pitcher Trey Killian (Razorbacks/Mountain Home) has won 3 of his past 4 starts for the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists (A Rockies) with a 2.55 ERA in that span. His latest victory came Wednesday as Asheville won 6-3 against the Augusta (Ga.) GreenJackets (A Giants), in which Killian allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts over 5 innings. Killian has had at least 5 strikeouts in 7 of his past 10 starts, including each of the past 5. ... Pitcher Mark Reyes (Jessieville) has lost each of his past two starts for the San Jose Giants (High-A Giants) after winning four consecutive. Reyes took the loss June 24 as San Jose lost 6-4 to the Stockton Ports (High-A Athletics), in which he allowed 3 earned runs on 7 hits with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts in 51/3 innings. He followed that with his shortest outing of the season, lasting 21/3 innings Thursday in a 12-6 loss to the Visalia Rawhide (High-A Diamondbacks). He allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits with 1 walk and 1 strikeout. ... Pitcher Daniel Wright (Arkansas State) has now lost all 3 starts since being sent down to the Class AAA Louisville Bats by the Cincinnati Reds on June 14. His latest loss came Tuesday in a 6-0 loss to the Buffalo Bisons (AAA Blue Jays), in which he allowed 4 earned runs on 6 hits with 3 walks and 7 strikeouts over 5 innings. ... Pitcher Jackson Lowery (UA/UCA/Pulaski Academy) has earned saves in each of his past 4 appearances for the Vancouver Canadians (Short-A Blue Jays). He went 1 inning, allowing 1 hit, June 25 in Vancouver's 3-2 victory over the Hillsboro Hops (Short-A Diamondbacks). He did the same thing Monday against Hillsboro and earned another save in Vancouver's 3-0 victory. Lowery is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA and is 4 of 6 in save opportunities this season.

Sports on 07/03/2016

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