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Toledo Mud Hens 2023 Season: A Glimpse of Triumph and Challenges

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As the 2023 baseball season continues to unfold, the Toledo Mud Hens have been keeping fans on the edge of their seats with their mix of victories, setbacks, and promising performances. The team’s journey so far has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by stellar individual achievements and collective efforts that have defined their quest for success.

One of the defining aspects of the Mud Hens’ season has been their strong offensive lineup. Led by power hitters and consistent batters, they have displayed impressive batting averages, contributing significantly to their win column. Young talents emerging from the farm system have seamlessly integrated with experienced veterans, creating a balanced and potent offensive force.

Pitching, too, has been an area of pride for the Mud Hens in the 2023 season. Their starting rotation has exhibited depth and quality, with several standout performances by both seasoned pitchers and up-and-coming talents. The team’s pitching staff has consistently kept opposing batters at bay, leading to memorable victories throughout the season.

However, no season is without challenges, and the Mud Hens have had their fair share. Injuries to key players at crucial moments have tested the team’s depth and resilience. Despite these hurdles, the coaching staff has managed to maintain the team’s competitive edge, filling gaps and encouraging players to step up to the plate when needed.

Off the field, the Toledo Mud Hens have continued their commitment to community engagement and philanthropy. Through various initiatives and partnerships, the team has actively contributed to local causes, reinforcing their role as a pillar of support and inspiration for the community.

As the season progresses, the Mud Hens are positioned well in the standings, keeping themselves in contention for a playoff spot. With a strong combination of talent, experience, and determination, they have set their sights on clinching a postseason berth and pursuing a coveted championship title.

The Toledo Mud Hens’ 2023 season has undoubtedly been a rollercoaster ride, brimming with unforgettable moments of triumph and challenges. As they forge ahead, their unwavering dedication to the game and their fans continues to shine, cementing their place as a beloved institution in the world of baseball. Fans eagerly await the rest of the season, hoping for more thrilling victories and unforgettable performances from their favorite team.

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Toledo Mud Hens on the Rise: Aiming for Playoff Glory

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The Toledo Mud Hens, currently standing at 30-26 as of June 6, have found their rhythm, winning three consecutive games to climb to third place in the West Division. This surge in performance marks a significant turning point in their season, igniting hopes for a playoff push as the midpoint of the season approaches.

Key Players Leading the Charge

Jace Jung: The Offensive Dynamo

Third baseman Jace Jung has been a cornerstone for the Mud Hens’ offense. With a solid batting average of .273, Jung has consistently delivered when it matters most, contributing crucial home runs and amassing 35 RBIs. His performance at the plate has been instrumental in the team’s recent successes and will be a key factor as Toledo aims for the top of the division.

Bryan Sammons: The Pitching Ace

On the mound, starting pitcher Bryan Sammons has been nothing short of spectacular. Sporting a 4-2 record and a commendable ERA of 3.12 over 10 games, Sammons has provided the stability and dominance needed to anchor the Mud Hens’ pitching staff. His ability to control games and deliver quality starts has been a significant boost for Toledo.

A Season Under New Leadership

The Mud Hens are thriving under the leadership of new manager Tim Federowicz. The 36-year-old from Apex, NC, took the reins this season, becoming the 11th manager to lead the Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field and the 59th in Toledo baseball history. Federowicz, who served as the Tigers’ catching coach last season, brings a wealth of experience, including a managerial stint with the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in 2022.

Federowicz’s transition from coach to manager has been seamless, instilling a winning mindset and strategic acumen that have clearly resonated with the team. His leadership is a critical component of Toledo’s quest to climb the standings and secure a playoff berth.

Looking Ahead

As the Mud Hens approach the halfway point of the season, the team is focused on maintaining their momentum and continuing their ascent in the standings. With Jung’s offensive prowess and Sammons’ pitching excellence, complemented by Federowicz’s effective management, Toledo is well-positioned to challenge for the top spot in the West Division.

The coming weeks will be crucial as the Mud Hens seek to build on their recent successes and solidify their position as contenders. Fans and analysts alike are optimistic about Toledo’s potential to make a deep playoff run, provided they can sustain their current form and continue to perform at a high level.

The Toledo Mud Hens have shown resilience and determination, and if their recent winning streak is any indication, they are on the verge of turning their season around in spectacular fashion. As they march towards the playoffs, the Mud Hens are a team to watch, with a blend of talent and leadership that could see them achieve great things this season.

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Are the Yankees in trouble?

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Are the New York Yankees in trouble even after a win over the struggling Boston Red Sox and with a very hot home run leading Aaron Judge?

The Yankees started off the season at 49-16 after their first 65 games, headed for a record breaking season. The team was on pace for a 122 win season, which would be a MLB record. Though unlikely, the way the Yanks were swinging the bat and how pitching was on point, it was an accomplishment that didn’t seem too far fetched. After that amazing start the Yankees have recorded a sub .500 win loss record of 23-26. What changed in the Yankees dugout and bullpen to generate such a fall in their winning momentum?

What went wrong?

One thing that has changed is most of the Yankees lineup has went cold since that fiery start. Aaron Judge needs more help. With 46 home runs and 100 RBI, Judge is hitting the ball at a record pace and leading the majors in Home Runs and RBI. DJ LeMahieu is still hitting quite well with a .303 batting average and 4 home runs since the All-Star break. The rest of the lineup batting a mere .222, and with Stanton out, who is expected to come back later this month, the Yankees need a little more help for Judge to get back on track.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa did have a big day against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday August 13th. With Kiner-Falefa driving in a three runs to win the game, it does show hope that the Yankees have help coming up in the lineup. Hopefully this will give them a much needed boost and continue to win as we head to the last couple of months of the season.

Where will they end up?

After its all said and done, where will the Yankees end up at the end of the season? Will they still be the favorite to go to the World Series or has Houston Astros taken over the AL lead permanently? Where do you think the Yankees will end up this year? Are the New York Yankees in trouble? Or can they still win it all? Let us know in the comments below.

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2022 MLB Draft

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Photo: MLB.Com

After a wild first day of the 2022 MLB Draft covering Rounds 1 and 2, eight compensation picks and Competitive Balance Rounds A and B, Day 2, which covered Rounds 3-10, saw plenty of talent go off the board. Below are some of the more notable picks made before the Draft concludes on Tuesday. Day 3 of the Draft will include Rounds 11-20 and starts at 2 p.m. ET, with no delay between selections, all heard on MLB.com.

ROUND 3

Pick 1 (81st overall), Orioles: Nolan McLean, 3B/RHP, Oklahoma State (Ranked No. 115 on MLB Pipeline’s Draft Prospects list):Baltimore went with a legit two-way talent to begin the third round. McLean slugged 19 homers this spring for the Cowboys and also struck out 39 batters over 25 ⅓ innings. He has three above-average pitches, but the power and defensive arm might earn him a look as a position player with the O’s.

 

2022 Draft: Nolan McLean, 3B

 

Pick 9 (89th overall): Angels, Ben Joyce, RHP, Tennessee (No. 112): 105. That’s what you need to know. Joyce went way beyond triple-digits to touch 105 mph out of the Volunteers’ bullpen this season. His mid-80s slider might be a better swing-and-miss pitch, but it’s the velo that’s always going to pop for the 6-foot-5 reliever.

He throws 105 mph … and the Angels just drafted him

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Pick 14 (94th overall): Reds: Bryce Hubbart, LHP, Florida State (No. 72): Hubbart tied for the Cape Cod League in strikeouts last summer, pushing up Draft boards heading into 2022. The Seminoles southpaw throws in the low-90s with high spin rates, and his curveball, slider and changeup should help him compete for a starting place in the Cincinnati system.

 

Pick 20 (100th overall): Yankees, Trystan Vrieling, RHP, Gonzaga (No. 71): Gabriel Hughes went 10th overall on Day 1, and Vierling gives the Bulldogs’ pitching staff another arm in the top three rounds. The 6-foot-4 right-hander moved to the rotation this season with a four-pitch mix, and he’s at his best when he’s commanding his low-90s fastball and deceiving with an above-average changeup.

Pick 21 (101st overall): White Sox, Jonathan Cannon, RHP, Georgia (No. 60): Chicago found an absolute control artist in the third round. The 6-foot-6 right-hander walked only 12 batters in 13 starts this spring. He sports an upper-80s cutter that is his best pitch.

ROUND 4

Pick 3 (109th overall): Rangers, Brock Porter, RHP, St. Mary’s Prep (Mich.) HS (No. 11): Texas worked its strategy to perfection. The Rangers shocked many by taking Kumar Rocker at No. 3 overall Sunday, but the organization, which lacked a second- and third-round pick, looks primed to use the bonus-pool savings on MLB Pipeline’s top pitcher in this class. Porter already throws in the mid-90s, touches 100 and shows an above-average slider and plus changeup. He was Gatorade’s National Player of the Year after posting a 0.41 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 58 innings. More >>

 

2022 Draft: Brock Porter, RHP

 

Pick 4 (110th overall): Pirates, Michael Kennedy, LHP, Troy (N.Y.) HS (No. 89): Make that five of MLB Pipeline’s Top 90 prospects heading to Pittsburgh. Kennedy will be looking to follow Ian Anderson’s path out of upstate New York, and his advanced feel for a slider and changeup should give him a chance to start in the pros, event at just 6-foot-1.

Pick 7 (113th overall): Cubs, Nazier Mule, RHP/SS, Passaic Tech (N.J.) (No. 94): The Cubs may have taken their third pitcher and their second shortstop of the class in the same selection. Mule showed off power in high-school showcase events last year but looks most likely to stay on the mound. He’s already throwing in the mid-90s and flashes an impressive slider, pitches that could play up if he sticks to pitching full-time.

Nazier Mule on Improvements

 

Pick 12 (118th overall): Angels, Jake Madden, RHP, Northwest Florida State JC (No. 93): This could make two high-velo relievers for the Halos. Madden can touch 98 mph with a heavy fastball that can break bats as well as miss them. He’s already had Tommy John surgery and he’s dealt with blister issues, but his combination of stuff and size (6-foot-6) could have him moving quickly, should he rein in command issues.

Pick 27 (133rd overall): Astros, Trey Dombroski III, LHP, Monmouth (No. 111): Houston may have picked up the best control in the entire Draft by taking the Monmouth southpaw. The 6-foot-5 lefty walked only 10 batters in 95 innings, and that strike-throwing ability came with a full bevy of four pitches. The stuff may not match his size, but the command and control could make him a No. 5 starter in time.

ROUND 5

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Pick 7 (143rd overall): Cubs, Brandon Birdsell, RHP, Texas Tech (No. 101): It isn’t often you find two plus pitches in the fifth round, but the Cubs seem to have done that here. Birdsell’s mid-90s fastball and good breaking slider helped him win Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors this spring and could get him moving quickly toward Wrigleyville. The downside: He has a history of elbow and rotator cuff issues, causing this slide.

2022 Draft: Brandon Birdsell, RHP

 

Pick 10 (146th overall): Rockies, Connor Staine, RHP, Central Florida (No. 88): A transfer from Maryland, Staine didn’t allow an earned run until mid-April this spring and finished with a 1.87 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 43 ⅓ innings in his first season with Central Florida. He has touched the mid-90s in the past and shows the makings of a decent slider and changeup. Staine is the fourth pitcher selected by the Rockies, a club that needs to develop arms for the elevation of Coors Field.

Pick 11 (147th overall): Tigers, Luke Gold, INF, Boston College (No. 87): The Eagles had a solid group of 2021 Draft picks in Sal Frelick (first round) and Cody Morisette (second round), and Gold leads the group this summer. A career .303 hitter with BC, the 21-year-old could be an above-average hitter at the next level with decent power. He does have experience at second base but might have to slide over to third base in deference to first-rounder Jace Jung in the Detroit pipeline.

2022 Draft, Luke Gold, 2B/3B

 

Pick 23 (159th overall): Red Sox, Noah Dean, LHP, Old Dominion (No. 124): Old Dominion’s most famous pitching alum is Justin Verlander, but expect Dean to try to reach Boston as a reliever. Expect a lot of high fastballs. The 6-foot-2 left-hander throws in the mid-90s with good riding life – a big reason why he throws the heater 80% of the time – and his 2-to-7 breaking ball keeps hitters off balance too.

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Pick 29 (165th overall): Dodgers, Sean McLain, SS, Arizona State (No. 161): The name should be familiar to prospect fans. McLain is the brother of 2021 first-rounder and Top 100 prospect Matt McLain, currently plying his trade in the Reds system. This McLain heads to the NL West as an above-average runner who can also make hard contact at the plate. A limited arm probably keeps him at second base in the pros.

ROUND 6

Pick 8 (174th overall): Twins, Jorel Ortega, 2B, Tennessee (No. 222): How does this sound? Ortega, who wasn’t even on the Volunteers’ travel team earlier in his NCAA career, had more extra-base hits (42) than strikeouts (40) this spring. His breakout was one of the keys to making Tennessee one of the best regular-season teams in recent college history, and he’s the seventh Vol off the board.

Pick 9 (175th overall): Royals, Hayden Dunhurst, C, Ole Miss (No. 155): Dunhurst won the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove for his defensive work at backstop, and scouts believe he’ll continue to be at least above-average behind the plate in the pros. He’ll need to hit to keep his space as an everyday catcher, but you can bet the Royals don’t mind getting him fresh off a College World Series title with the Rebels.

Pick 15 (181st overall): Guardians, Dylan DeLucia, RHP, Ole Miss: Speaking of Ole Miss stars, DeLucia may never have to pay for a meal in Oxford again after winning College World Series Most Outstanding Player honors this spring. Among his exploits, the 6-foot-1 right-hander tossed a four-hit shutout against Arkansas that sent Ole Miss to the finals, and he heads to a Cleveland system known for developing pitching.

Pick 21 (187th overall): Cardinals, Max Rajcic, RHP, UCLA (No. 172): Four of the Cards’ six picks to this point have been college pitchers. Rajcic fits the St. Louis bill as a hurler who thrives best with his pitchability over pure stuff, and the Cardinals could squeeze more stuff out of him as they’ve done with Gordon Graceffo (among others) in 2022. Rajcic posted a 3.28 ERA with 92 strikeouts and 20 walks in 85 innings this season with the Bruins.

Pick 29 (195th overall): Dodgers, Logan Wagner, 3B, P27 Academy (S.C.) (No. 133): An Illinois native, Wagner transferred to a South Carolina school to face better competition, and the move may have helped him secure a spot in the top six rounds. He has plus raw power as a switch-hitter, thanks to promising strength and bat speed, and could be the next young position player to pop in the Los Angeles pipeline. While he was a shortstop in school, his fringe speed likely leads to a move to second or third with the Dodgers.

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2022 Draft: Logan Wagner, 3B

 

ROUND 7

Pick 3 (199th overall): Rangers, Luis Ramirez, RHP, Long Beach State (No. 143): Shoulder issues may have kept Ramirez out of the first five rounds, but when he’s on, he has the three-pitch mix and solid control to belong in that conversation. His best asset might be a low-90s sinking fastball that generated ground balls at a rate around 60%.

Pick 9 (205th overall): Royals, Mack Anglin, RHP, Clemson (No. 179): It’s all spin here for the 6-foot-4 right-hander. Both Anglin’s mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball grade out as plus potential pitches, and that helped him be Clemson’s No. 1 starter each of the past two seasons. His 92-95-mph fastball can be hittable, however, and he may play best as a reliever because of lackluster control.

Pick 17 (213rd overall): Reds, Trey Faltine, SS, Texas (No. 162):The Longhorns shortstop is one of the better college defenders in the class with the hands, range and arm to stick at the six. He could also move around as needed because his bat is well behind the glove. He could be in for a swing overhaul in the Cincy system.

Pick 22 (218th overall): Blue Jays, Peyton Williams, 1B, Iowa:First-base-only types need to show power, and Williams has the easy plus-plus raw pop to fit the profile. The All-Big Ten First Teamer hit .335/.464/.622 with 13 homers and an even 35/35 K/BB ratio this spring for the Hawkeyes.

Pick 30 (226th overall): Giants, Zach Morgan, C, Fresno State (No. 248): Morgan becomes the first Fresno State catcher to go in the top 10 rounds since Taylor Ward was a first-rounder in 2019, and he stays in-state. A finalist for the Buster Posey Award as the nation’s top catcher, the former Bulldog batted .385 over 55 games this spring and struck out only 6.7% of the time. A lack of power could hurt him in the pro game.

ROUND 8

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Pick 2 (228th overall): D-backs, Adrian Rodriguez, SS, International Baseball Academy (No. 171): Mariners shortstop Edwin Arroyo went from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy to MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, and the D-backs hope Rodriguez can follow a similar path. Rodriguez is already considered a good runner and has the glove and throwing ability to stay at short. Like Arroyo, Rodriguez will need to add strength at the plate, and he’ll have plenty of time to do that in the Arizona system.

Pick 7 (233rd overall): Cubs, Mason McGwire, RHP, Capistrano Valley (Calif.) HS: Mark’s son stays in the NL Central, albeit on the other side of the rivalry. Should he sign away from his Oklahoma commitment, McGwire brings a fastball in the low-90s and shows a decent mid-70s splitter.

Pick 15 (241st overall): Guardians, Jackson Humphries, LHP, Fuquay-Varina (N.C.) HS (No. 128): Humphries will turn 18 on Wednesday, making him one of the youngest pitchers in this class, and he may have only slipped because his stuff wasn’t quite as sharp in the spring. When he’s on, he showcases a 93-95 mph fastball along with a high-spin slider and curve. It’ll be on Cleveland to sign him away from a Campbell commitment and get his arsenal back on track.

2022 Draft: Jackson Humphries

 

ROUND 9

Pick 8 (264th overall): Twins, Cory Lewis, RHP, UC Santa Barbara (No. 238): Who wants to see a knuckleballer? Lewis does throw the occasional knuckler around 80 mph, and it has a decent enough quality that some scouts believe he may use it more in pro ball. That’s if he doesn’t squeeze a plus pitch out of his fastball, curveball and changeup, and his extension out of a 6-foot-5 frame would play better away from the knuckler. But even the possibility of a knuckleball going to the Twin Cities is a fun proposition at this stage in the Draft.

Pick 10 (266th overall): Rockies, Brad Cumbest, OF, Mississippi State (No. 173): Cumbest, a former three-star tight-end recruit, played both baseball and football in his first three years for the Bulldogs, but he is headed to the pros on the diamond. The 6-foot-6 outfielder has some tools with his power and speed, making him a decent lottery ticket for the ninth round.

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Pick 11 (267th overall): Tigers, Andrew Jenkins, 1B, Georgia Tech (No. 174): The Yellow Jackets first baseman shows raw plus power from the right side (as evidenced by his 17 homers and .679 slugging percentage this spring) but can struggle against breaking pitches. A good arm could earn him a place at third base or a corner-outfield spot in the Detroit system.

Pick 20 (276th overall): Mariners, Tyler Gough, RHP, JSerra Catholic (Calif.) HS (No. 211): The Oregon State commit is known for going right after hitters with a 91-94 mph fastball, and he can show two distinct breakers in a slider and a curveball. The latter got him three of his five strikeouts at the Draft Combine in San Diego.

Pick 23 (279th overall): Red Sox, Brooks Brannon, C, Randleman (N.C.) HS (No. 158): Brannon already has the makings of being an elite thrower from behind the plate, and there’s belief that his good work ethic will make him a quality overall defender back there. He pounds the ball from the right side, too, leading to good exit velocities, so this could be a big get for the Red Sox if they can sign Brannon away from UNC.

  • Source MLB.com

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