April 7th Honor Roll: Tyler Duffey and Clete Thomas
By Wally Fish
Sunday’s MiLB action featured a number of solid performances at the plate but that special, standout performance was nowhere to be found. 29-year old veteran Clete Thomas is the beneficiary as I regarded his day as the “best of the good” though a strong case can be made that several other efforts were more “Hitter of the Day” worthy.
Turing our attention to the pitching we nearly had the same problem with a slew of similar starts that were good but not great. Thankfully Tyler Duffey turned in one of the best outings of the young season. Duffy, Minnesota’s 5th round pick in the 2012 draft, was the key cog in a trio of Cedar Rapids hurlers that combined to pitch a no hitter against the Beloit Snappers. In that same game the Kernals offense was bolstered by the Twins top pick in the 2012 draft. Byron Buxton went 4-5 with a double and triple giving him his third multi-hit game out of the four he’s played. He’s now hitting 0.563/.611/.938 on the season.
Thomas was the “best of the good” at the plate on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports)
Pitcher of the Day: MIN – Tyler Duffey, Cedar Rapids Kernals (A): 7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO
Hitter of the Day: MIN – Clete Thomas, Rochester Red Wings (AAA): 3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI
Honorable Mentions from the Mound:
ARZ – Tyler Skaggs, Reno Aces (AAA): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
BAL – Eddie Gamboa, Bowie Baysox (AA): 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
BOS – Terry Doyle, Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO
BOS – Kyle Stroup, Salem Red Sox (A+): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
CHC – P.J. Francescon, Daytona Cubs (A+): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
LAD – Ross Stripling, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (A+): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
NYM – Rainy Lara, Savannah Sand Gnats (A): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
SD – Matthew Andriese, San Antonio Missions (AA): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
SEA – Chance Ruffin, Jackson Generals (AA): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Honorable Mentions from the Plate:
ATL – Robby Hefflinger, Lynchburg Hillcats (A+): 2-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, 2 SO
BOS – Michael Almanzar, Portland Sea Dogs (AA): 2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB
CWS – Rangel Ravelo, Kannapolis Intimidators (A): 3-3, R, 2 2B, 4 RBI
HOU – Enrique Hernandez, Corpus Christi Hooks (AA): 3-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
LAD – Joc Pederson, Chattanooga Lookouts (AA): 3-7, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, SO (over two games)
MIN – Byron Buxton, Cedar Rapids Kernals (A): 4-5, R, 2B, 3B
OAK – Stephen Vogt, Sacramento River Cats (AAA): 3-4, R, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI
OAK – Maxwell Muncy, Stockton Ports (A+): 2-3, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB
PIT – Jacob Stallings, Bradenton Marauders (A+): 3-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SO – Pittsburgh’s 2012 7th round selection has reached base 8 times in his first 12 plate appearances of the season with 14 total bases.