Thursday Newsletter time: Justin Foscue gets well-deserved promotion to Double A Frisco, where COVID has altered roster
Foscue crushed High A pitching after returning from injury, posting a 1.396 OPS in 81 at-bats.
The move that many who follow the Texas Rangers farm system had wanted for a few weeks arrived Tuesday, when 2020 first-rounder Justin Foscue was promoted from High A Hickory to Double A Frisco.
The second baseman left Hickory with a 1.143 OPS and 14 home runs in only 125 High A at-bats. Those numbers include some rather meager numbers (.183 average, two homers, .679 OPS) before a rib injury that cost him about two months.
After returning to Hickory, Foscue batted .358 with 12 home runs, a .458 on-base percentage and a .938 slugging percentage that was good for a 1.396 OPS in only 81 at-bats.
Among his overall minor-league numbers entering Wednesday, which include three rehab games in the Arizona Complex League, were 15 homers and a 1.133 OPS in 136 at-bats.
Yeah, he earned his bump, and went 2 for 5 with an RBI double Wednesday night in his Frisco debut.
Coming along with him from Hickory were shortstop Josh Smith, who was acquired in the Joey Gallo trade, and right-hander Daniel Robert. Righty Zak Kent was promoted Monday.
The bad news is that those players helped take the place of six Frisco players who hit the injured list, some of them because of COVID-19 or close contact. Top prospect Josh Jung was not one of the six, but he was not with Frisco on Wednesday to open a series at Northwest Arkansas because of COVID protocols.
ICYMI …
Did you catch T.R.’s Memoirs on Monday and Wednesday? How about the Sam Huff story? There were some others the past few days at this website worth a look in case you missed it …
A ballpark never given a fair chance. Part I and Part II.
Sam Huff can’t wait to catch … in 2022.
A home run
I’ve watched the following tweet, which tracks the all-time home-run leaderboard, multiple times and find it pretty interesting.
A couple things in particular:
1. How about Jimmie Foxx’s staying power? He was second to Babe Ruth for a long time.
2. How about Ruth’s staying power and the cushion he had over second place for so many decades? And he took over the top spot so quickly.
3. Things were relatively quiet from Hank Aaron’s retirement until … the Steroid Era and the A-Rod Steroid Era.
Anyhoo, take a look for yourself. It’s worth the time.
Doggy video!
This is me when the chips, salsa and margaritas arrive. Enjoy. See you Friday.
Wasn't following LY draft that closely so didn't know anything on Foscue. After Rangers picked him, I checked out some video and could see what they liked, he's an Ian Kinsler (dare I say it!) starter kit.
Not on today’s topic, Jeff, but I saw that Chris Davis - after sitting out this entire season with injury - has decided to retire. I think it would be interesting to read your, or T.R.’s, baseball obituary of this Former Rangers Great.