What are you Frogs up to?
Midwest Mariners
The Clinton LumberKings are off to a good start in the Midwest League. They currently sit in 2nd place in the Western Division, only 1.5 games behind the 1st place Cedar Rapids Kernels. A few former AquaSox are leading the charge as the early season opens up.
C James Alfonso - 2014 AquaSox
Alfonso is currently hitting .385 with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs in only 13 at bats. Continuing to hit at that pace could earn Alfonso additional playing time as the season progresses.
OF Luis Liberato - 2015 AquaSox
The 2015 AquaSox fan-favorite has continued to prove his value to the Mariners fans and management. Liberato gained some valuable experience in Spring Training this year, and it looks like the extra work is paying off.
Luis is currently hitting .320 with an incredible .433 On Base Percentage. Liberato's 5 walks through 7 games show a measured approach at the plate that could signify his early adoption of the Mariners' "Control the Zone" initiative.
P Lukas Schiraldi - 2014 AquaSox
Schiraldi has dominated the competition through his first 2 starts in 2016. The 2014 15th round draft pick has held opponents to 7 hits and 1 run through 10 innings. Lukas has also fanned 10 batters en route to a phenomenal 0.90 ERA. Read an article about his latest start here.
Desert Frogs
The Bakersfield Blaze kicked off 2016 as a new Mariners affiliate with a host of former AquaSox players in their starting lineup. The hitter-friendly California League will do no favors to the stat lines of its pitchers, but it is a great place for fans to witness an offensive onslaught.
1B Kyle Petty - 2014 AquaSox
Petty spent the off season winning Adelaide Bite team MVP honors and tearing up the Australian Baseball League. After mashing 14 home runs in only 55 games in the ABL, it could be expected that his 1:4 home run per game ratio would drop off in the 2016 MiLB season. Fortunately for Blaze fans, Petty has continued his power display and hit 2 home runs through the first 7 games.
P Andrew Moore - 2015 AquaSox
Moore is hoping to buck the trend of skyrocketing ERAs for California League pitchers. Andrew has given up more hits than he is accustomed to through 10.2 innings over 2 starts, but none of those runners has been able to cross home plate. Moore is winless so far, but his 0.00 ERA and 8 strikeouts sparkle.
SS Drew Jackson - 2015 AquaSox
The 2015 Northwest League MVP is currently ranked as the Mariners' #3 overall prospect. The 2015 draft pick bypassed the Midwest League altogether, and is proving that he can live up to the aggressive promotion. Jackson is hitting .281 with 4 RBIs and only 5 strikeouts in 32 at bats.
OF Brock Hebert - 2013 AquaSox
Hebert is a little too old to be considered a prospect in the California League, but he has simply destroyed the opposing pitching in his 17 at bats. Brock has a .353/.450/.647 slash line as well as a home run and stolen base. Also impressive is his plate discipline, with only 1 strikeout in 4 games.
Arby Fields - 2014 AquaSox
This fleet-footed former frog should receive more attention in this list, but his strikeout rate is abysmal through 6 games. Fields is hitting an astonishing .389 with 3 RBIs and 4 walks, but his 7 punch outs in only 18 at bats are concerning. Arby could be a potent weapon for the Blaze if he can continue to hit and get that strikeout ratio down.