Rather than watching Chris Bassitt shut down the White Sox because he's a decent right-handed pitcher, I figured I'd learn more on a Sunday afternoon from watching Casey Mize pitch.
Mize, last year's No. 1 overall pick and a consensus top-three pitching prospect, couldn't successfully shake New Hampshire hitters off his fastball. After suffering hard contact early in counts -- including a solo homer -- he started pitching backwards, with sliders as his primary pitch to righties, and doubling up on changeups to lefties.
But they adjusted back, and it all collapsed on him during a five-run fifth, including this back-breaking three-run shot on a 94 mph fastball.
Lehigh Valley 6, Charlotte 3
- Nick Madrigal went 1-for-3 with two walks.
- Luis Robert, 1-for-4 with a walk, two strikeouts and a stolen base.
- Yermin Mercedes was 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Zack Collins went 0-for-3 with a sac fly, walk and two strikeouts.
- Danny Mendick played left, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout and getting ejected afterward.
- Seby Zavala went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Dylan Covey isn't a risk to be called up in the next few days: 4 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Montgomery 12, Birmingham 4
- Luis Basabe went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Laz Rivera was 2-for-4 with two doubles.
- Blake Rutherford went 2-for-4 with one double.
- Gavin Sheets was 1-for-4 with a K.
- Ti'Quan Forbes, 2-for-4.
- Tyler Johnson: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
- Alec Hansen: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Fayetteville 4, Winston-Salem 2
- Steele Walker went 1-for-4 with a walk.
- Andrew Vaughn was 0-for-2 with two walks.
- Taylor Varnell's High-A debut: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 2 WP
- Caleb Frare: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Delmarva 4, Kannapolis 2
- Lenyn Sosa singled twice and struck out twice.
- Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Corey Zangari went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
