Who's hot
ANDREW BENINTENDI (High-A Red Sox) had a .346 batting average through Thursday's game and had a 17-game hitting streak. Benintendi hit his first home run of the season Wednesday in a 14-7 victory over Frederick (High-A Orioles), then hit a three-run double Thursday to provide the winning margin in a 7-4 victory over the Keys. He's scored 17 runs on 28 hits, including 9 doubles and 6 triples, with 18 RBI.
BARRETT ASTIN (AA Reds) is off to a 3-0 start this season with a 1.54 ERA in 7 appearances. He's allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 10 strikeouts in 112/3 innings. In an April 23 victory against Jackson (AA Mariners), Astin did not allow a run, a hit or a walk and had three strikeouts in three innings.
Who's not
COLLIN RADACK (AA Cardinals) once led the Texas League in batting average, but that average has fallen back to .315. Radack has scored 9 runs on 17 hits with 8 RBI.
RYNE STANEK (AA Rays) is 0-3 to start the season with a 5.30 ERA in 4 starts. He's allowed 12 runs -- 11 earned -- on 16 hits with 11 walks and 26 strikeouts in 182/3 innings. In a 4-3 loss to the Jacksonville Suns (AA Marlins) on April 25, Stanek allowed 3 earned runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts in 6 innings.
News and notes
• Pitcher Brad Allen (Arkansas State) combined with two other pitchers for the High-A Dunedin (Fla.) Blue Jays to throw a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A Tigers) on April 25 in the second game of a doubleheader. Allen, in his first start of the season, gave up 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in 4 innings. It's the first combined no-hitter Allen has been part of. Allen threw a no-hitter on Aug. 10, 2013, when he was with the South Bend (Ind.) River Hawks (A Diamondbacks) in a 2-0 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps (A Tigers).
• Several players with Arkansas ties have started the season on the disabled list, including Stuart Levy (Arkansas State), Logan Uxa (Arkansas State), and Colby Suggs (Arkansas Razorbacks). Suggs underwent Tommy John surgery last July in Pensacola, Fla., and told The Sulphur Springs (Texas) News-Telegram in January he could be pitching by July. Uxa is with the Delmarva Shorebirds (A Orioles), while Levy appears to have been injured in the Shorebirds' season opener.
• Pitcher Andy Ferguson (Arkansas State) started the season with the Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA Royals) on the disabled list. Royals team officials said Ferguson is at the team's spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz., rehabilitating a shoulder injury. Team officials said Ferguson is progressing well and the Royals are hopeful he can pitch at some point this season.
• Pitcher Jacob Lee (Arkansas State/Jonesboro) started the season with the Akron Rubber Ducks (AA Indians) on the disabled list. Indans team officials said Lee has a right elbow strain and a timetable for his return has not been determined. Adam Liberman with the Rubber Ducks said he believed the injury was "more of a wear and tear issue," and did not come about from any one instance.
• Pitcher Chase Huchingson (UCA/Fayetteville) was placed on the disabled list by the Las Vegas 51s (AAA Mets) on April 20. Huchingson was also briefly sent down to Class AA Binghamton, N.Y., on April 15 but was sent back to Las Vegas less than 24 hours later. His last appearance was on April 18 in a 4-3 Las Vegas loss to the Fresno Grizzlies (AAA Astros). Huchingson allowed 1 earned run with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts in 1 inning of work.
Around the horn
• Third baseman Zack Cox (Arkansas Razorbacks) was selected by the Washington Nationals in the Rule 5 draft in December, but was released by the Class AAA Syracuse Chiefs on April 2. ... Outfielder Forrestt Allday (Central Arkansas) was released by the Portland Sea Dogs (AA Red Sox) on April 6, but was assigned to the Orem Owlz (R Angels) in Orem, Utah, on April 12. Orem begins its season on June 17. ... Shortstop Brian Anderson (Arkansas Razorbacks) is 17 for 42 (.405) with 10 runs scored and 6 RBI in past 10 games through Thursday. Anderson went 4 for 5 with 3 runs scored Thursday in a 12-3 victory over Fort Myers (High-A Twins). ... Outfielder Brett Eibner (Razorbacks) is 11 for 35 (.314) with 8 runs scored and 4 RBI in his past 10 games through Thursday for the Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA Royals). He went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored Tuesday in an 11-9 loss to Colorado Springs (AAA Brewers). Eibner hit his first home run of the season in a 10-2 victory over Oklahoma City (AAA Dodgers) on Thursday, which gave Omaha a 2½-game lead over Oklahoma City in the American North Division of the Pacific Coast League.
-- Todd J. Pearce
Sports on 05/01/2016