By CHUCKIE MAGGIO
Baseball’s back, the Rochester Red Wings insist.
Last Friday’s Baseball’s Back Bash at Frontier Field was postponed due to inclement weather, an on-brand start to a Western New York April. The Red Wings are giving the event another shot on Tuesday, which will coincide with the team’s season opener in Toledo at 4:05 p.m.
The 2021 Red Wings, who used a franchise-record 77 players, struggled to a division-worst 49-77 record. The Washington Nationals upgraded their farm system during last year’s trade deadline, however, and Rochester manager Matt LeCroy views this season’s roster as both younger and more athletic.
“We’re very athletic,” LeCroy remarked. “We’ve got a chance to do some things on the bases. … This is probably one of the most athletic teams I’ve had, so I’m really excited to get going.”
Rochester’s revitalized run game could at least double last year’s Triple-A-low output of 49 stolen bases. Lehigh Valley, by comparison, totaled the second-fewest steals in the division and still managed 81.
Lucius Fox, Matt Lipka, Mitch Longo and Rudy Martin are four new organizational pieces who could turn a once-dormant club on the basepaths into the Runnin’ Red Wings. Each player tallied at least 19 steals last season.
The minor league rosters are still in some flux due to the minor league season beginning before the major league campaign. While some players will not appear at Frontier Field for the home opener on April 12 against Buffalo, there will be no shortage of talent in Triple-A.
Previewing the players and games to watch over the next five months:
Three to See- Pitchers
Cade Cavalli. Washington has tried fast-tracking Cavalli, the team’s 2020 first round selection, to the big leagues. The right-hander allowed 14 hits and 13 earned runs in 8.1 innings this spring, however, and will at least start the season in Triple-A.
Cavalli is the Nats’ top prospect and can hit 100 mph on the radar gun. He has the toolkit to succeed as a major league starter, once he gains greater command.
Jackson Tetreault. Tetreault is starting Tuesday afternoon, in line to throw the first pitch of the season after drawing the final out for the Red Wings last year. The 25-year-old, a seventh round pick in 2017, recorded a 3.81 ERA in 17 games last year across four minor league levels.
The 6-foot-5 Tetreault shut out the Worcester Red Sox over five innings on Sept. 26, striking out seven batters and scattering four hits.
“He’s got good life to his fastball. He’s working on some things with his secondary pitches,” LeCroy assessed. “When he gets on a good breaking ball, it’s pretty good. His changeup is probably his third pitch that he’s trying to master here to get to that next level. He competes, which I like; he likes to throw he ball in; he can get some swings and misses up in the zone.
“This will be a good challenge for Jackson. He’s earned it.”
Francisco Perez. Perez made his MLB debut for Cleveland last August, registering a 4.05 ERA with five strikeouts in four relief appearances. The 24-year-old Dominican native earned the promotion after surrendering just 28 hits in 53 innings with Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.
A starter turned reliever, Perez mainly throws a fastball and slider, with a less prominent changeup. He delivered each of his five major league strikeouts using the slider.
VIEW MORE JOE TERRITO PHOTOS HERE.
Three to See- Batters
Jake Noll. Noll played 118 of 126 games and garnered Triple-A East All-Star honors after posting an .840 OPS and reaching 216 total bases last year. The 28-year-old, who became a father over the offseason, did not play in Washington last season but hit safely in six of his 17 MLB at bats (a .353 mark) in 2020.
“Obviously there’s always room for improvement,” Noll acknowledged. “I would say, mostly, I wanna control the strike zone and walk a little more. Not intentionally, but if I take some borderline pitches, maybe I’ll get a few more walks.
Noll walked 29 times last season, the second-most on the team and the second-most in a single season in his career.
Richard Ureña. Ureña switches teams after collecting 11 of his 49 RBI against the Red Wings as a Buffalo Bison last season. “He’s on our side now,” LeCroy noted, “which will make our lineup a little bit deeper.”
The 26-year-old infielder has amassed over 3,000 minor league at bats and is a career .270 hitter. He slugged a career-best .438 in 2021, producing 35 extra-base hits in 92 contests.
Joey Meneses. Meneses roamed the Frontier Field outfield with the Worcester Red Sox last year, recording two multi-hit games during the first weekend of September. The 29-year-old brings pop to the Red Wings lineup, slamming 15 homers and driving in 70 runs between Worcester and Double-A Portland.
Meneses batted .311 with 23 home runs and 82 RBI for Lehigh Valley in 2018, earning International League MVP honors.
Series to Watch
April 12-17 vs. Buffalo. A cliché pick, sure, considering it’s the first home series of the year and the foe is a thruway rival. Bisons catcher Gabriel Moreno is the Blue Jays’ No. 1 prospect, however, and hit .373 with a 1.092 OPS in Double-A New Hampshire. A converted infielder, the Venezuelan commands attention as a potential AL pennant race contributor once he is called to Toronto.
May 3-8 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The RailRiders won 75 games last year and performed exceptionally away from the “Electric City,” prevailing in 42 of 63 road games. Deivi García and Luis Gil are a fun pitching tandem, especially for fans of the parent New York Yankees.
July 12-17 vs. Omaha. Rare opponent alert: Rochester has not played Omaha this century.
Milo appearances. Milo the Bat Dog has become one of the most recognizable faces at the ballpark. This year he will be fetching lumber on April 12, May 21, June 25, July 30, Aug. 13 and Sept. 17.
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