Rylan Kobre, broadcaster of the Round Rock Express, joined Cameron Parker to discuss the 2025 season for the Express. They touch on Josh Jung's demotion to Round Rock and the similarities between Jung's demotion and the demotions of Evan Carter and Jake Burger. Plus, the season for Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker at the big league level and Rylan's thoughts on Sebastian Walcott.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:17):
Well, we continue on this Wednesday edition of The Craig
Ways Show. Cameron Parker, You're taking you through the final
hour and what was a hot, in humid and just
nasty day has turned into a monsoon here in a
Higheart Studios and hopefully staying dry and staying cool out
in sugar Land, Texas is our good friend, my good friend,
(00:40):
rolland Kobe with the Round Rock EXPRESSI play broadcaster in
his second year as a lead broadcaster. So first off, Rollan,
how humid is it out there in sugar Land?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
And how are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Yeah, it's it's not too bad today. I good you
got ninety five. Humidity is lower than it usually is
this time of year down here. So I'm I'm a
joined this week. I didn't realize it was raining back
there in Austin today.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
We're in that weird part of the year where you know,
four or five o'clock we just get some showers. Hey,
you know, I think I know I'm getting old Rolin
because like, oh man, it's raining all we just we
just really need the rain man. This is great, Like
shut up, dude, come on, you're twenty seven years old.
But here I am, you know, just like Oh good,
We've got some rain today. So of course rain is
(01:24):
good as long as it doesn't delay Round Rock Express Baseball,
which beginning second half the season five and two so far,
a good start in the PCL in a real big
series against sugar Land, and you know, the last couple
of years we've seen sugar Land really dominate the PCL.
Obviously Rylan the Triple A team for the Houston Rockets,
but it's changed a little bit. We saw Oklahoma City
(01:44):
win the first half. In the second half so far
it's been Round Rock's way. So take us through the
first half for the Express and the second half and
what you're looking forward to.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Yeah, I think the entire first half with this group,
you felt like the record was not indicative of how
good they were. You know, you finish that first half
of the season struggling there in Oklahoma City, and this
offense has been really good. It's been maybe the best
offensive the PCL since the start of June other than
(02:13):
Las Vegas, and Las Vegas has just been great this year.
So it feels like you're starting to turn a corner.
There's a little more stability with the roster, although as
of an hour ago that changed as Josh Young was
just optioned down from the Rangers, which is a bit
of a surprise. So but as far as what's going
on with the Express right now, this is a really
(02:34):
solid group and you feel like they've got a chance
to maybe make a run at it in the second
half of the season. Blank crim has been great all year.
Cody Freeman, you can make a case as one of
the best hitters in this league. He's right now tied
for fourth and hits in the PCL type for third
and batting average. So the lineups deep is just whether
or not you can get enough pitching. And they've gotten
(02:55):
some reinforcements this week from Double A Frisco, so three
new arms added two to the bull pin in one tonight.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We're really excited to see. That's Cole Drake the left.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
He was an eleventh round pick by the Rangers back
in twenty twenty two who really dominated the Double A
level to start this year, and so we'll see what
he's made of here at the Triple A level.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Tonight in sugar Land.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
You mentioned Josh Seong, the former All Star first round
draft with the Rangers, a huge part of their World
Series championship season, and he has struggled blate. He's gone
through his various injuries throughout his career, including last season
of course, and in this season up and down year.
Believe he batted one fifty eight in the month of June,
and the Express announced or the Rangers and the Express
(03:34):
announced earlier today that he's been optioned the Triple A,
making room for Jake Berger to come up, who is
just was taking off the ten day DL list.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
So what do you make of this move of sitting
down Josh Shung.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Maybe just a mental reset for him to be able
to kind of find some confidence in his swing, because,
without a doubt, the talent's there, but so far he's
not been able to execute out the plate this season.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, it's shocking.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
I think the last couple of days there was rumblings
that this might happen. They sat him for a couple
of games. He's in two thirty seven this year. He
got off to a nice start, but that Rangers lineup,
which has just struggled for most of this year. I
just pulled up the tweet from Evan Grant, who Evan
does such a great job covering the Rangers. At the
(04:21):
end of May, Josh Young had a seven sixty two OPS.
Marcus Simeon had a five thirty six OPS. As June ended,
Simeon had an OPS twenty points better than Josh Young,
which is startling. And he just struggled to hit with
runners in scoring position, and then there was a couple
(04:41):
of defensive miscus over the weekend there against the Mariners
that didn't help his cause. So you know, this worked
for Jake Berger, who the Rangers sent down to the
Express when we were in al Paso in early May.
He came down, worked on some things, looked great by
the time he was leaving at the end of the week.
And so you hope for Josh it's same situation where
he'll come down.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I'll join this club.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Over the weekend, get his three games in, maybe stay
in Round Rock next week when Albuquerque comes to town,
starts to swing the bat a little better and then
goes right back up. But yeah, you didn't see this coming.
That's a piece that obviously was a huge reason why
the Rangers won the World Series in twenty twenty three
and last year had to deal with injuries, but even
when he was on the field, was very productive.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
And also a big part of that run in twenty
twenty three was Evan Carter, who similarly has you know,
had his ups and downs this season. Earlier in the
season he was sent down to Round Rock and now
was you know, called back up to Texas and he's
hit very well. You know, the last seven games got
ten hits. You go back to thirty games, twenty six
hits in thirty games. He's bat near the three hundred mark.
(05:45):
So obviously tex is looking for something similar here with
Josh youung that you mentioned Jake Berger, but also with
Evan Carter.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, Evan that first week of the season, you know,
after it was announced he was going to start the
season at Triple A, and he took everything in stride
right away day one when he was taking questions from
the media. You know, he knew that he hadn't played
very much over the last few seasons because of the
back injury.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Last year.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
He obviously, you know, vaulted through the system and helped
the Rangers win the World Series in twenty twenty three
in that final month of the year getting called up.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
But in twenty four he dealt with the.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Back problems, had to have surgery, and so he just
hadn't played very much. This is a twenty two year old,
and so he came to Round Rocket. I think the
first week two weeks he struggled a bit. He's still
trying to figure out the back. And then you know,
you started to see the Evan Carter from twenty twenty three,
and they started working on some things with him and
they opened up his stance a little bit more. He
(06:44):
started feeling much better, and the numbers proved it before
he was brought up to back up to the big
leagues there in early May. And now as he's starting
to get more at bats every day, I think you're
only going to see him get better and better. And
he is so important to what the Rangers are trying
to do right now. If he can get on base,
he's a guy, he's a high on base guy. If
(07:05):
he could play a great center field, he can be
the straw that really stirs the drink for the Rangers.
And it's nice to see that he's playing well. He's
had the last few nights off. He's on the bereavement
list right now, but he should be back shortly, and
you know, you just hope the Rangers offense can start
to turn a corner here because it's been such a
slow start. Right when you think they're going to start
to figure things out, they take a couple steps back.
(07:26):
But hopefully the ten runout Purst yesterday will start to
change things.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
You mentioned a couple moves with cold Drake and Sculler
Hayes being called up from Frisco to Round Rock. Looking
at cold Drake's fantastic prospect number eleven in the Texas
Rangers prospect rankings from twenty twenty five six foot five
to twenty only twenty four years old, you know, what's
the scouting report on cold Drake so far this season
(07:52):
and his ability to pitch this year that have allowed
him to have such a fantastic season down in Frisco
and now hopefully up in Round Rock.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Yeah, you know, going back in the last three years,
I'm trying to remember a guy that's come up from
Double A that's been as exciting of a starting pitching
prospect as Cole Drake is. And it's hard to pinpoint somebody,
but you said, at twenty four years old, he's six
five two twenty five, he's a big guy out on
the mound, and this.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Year he's been great with Frisco.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
He was part of a no hitter there against San Antonio,
as he threw six no hit innings to start off
what was a three pitcher no hitter there early in
the season. I think what's going to be interesting to see,
and he'll start in a ballpark that is very favorable
to pitchers, is how he'll adjusted to the PCL. And
that's that's kind of what you say about all these
guys when they come up from Double A, is that
(08:44):
this league is such a hitter friendly league. You know,
how will he fare in Albuquerque or Las Vegas, two
places that Round Rock goes to in the second half
of the season. But this season with Frisco, he's got
a big fastball, terrific chain. I think what the Rangers
are hoping for is that he can come here and
(09:05):
finish this second half of the season strong. The great
thing about where they're at right now is there is
no timeline to get any of these starting pitching prospects
up to the big leagues. They've been the best group
rotation wise in the major leagues this year, and so
it's not like Cole Drake needs to get up there
by September and throw and he's got, you know, a
(09:26):
little bit of the leeway here to figure things out
at the Triple A level. But man, he's been dominant.
And the strikeout to walk ratio last year was seventh
best in Minor league baseball. So I think we're going
to be looking at a big part of this rotation,
with rotation that has been unsettled the entire season because
(09:46):
of just the number of roster moves round Rock we've
gone with I think three bullpen days a week. It's
felt like for the last you know, two or three series.
And now you bring a guy like this up, and
that's why I really do think this team has a
chance to win this second half the season.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
A year ago, we were talking about two pitchers and
just wondering, hey, every going to click Jack Leider and
Kumar Rocker. And as we stand right now, both those
guys on the Rangers forty men roster and I think lighter.
You know, it's always the ability. Could he add that third,
four to fifth pitch and he has done so. And
for Kumar, can he stay healthy? Can he say consistent
with that fastball? And you know, Kumar ended up being
(10:24):
coming down and going back up with the Rangers, but
Lighter has been so stable with the Rangers pitching staff
are really good pitching staff this season. How about those
two guys and their ability to be able to stay
up on the big league level after you know, a
lot of question marks from from the around the league
and just wondering if those two guys are ever going
to make it to the show.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I think the crazy thing about those two guys. Obviously
you know they pitched together in college and all that,
but going into this past offseason, finishing up twenty twenty four,
if you pulled most people, I think they would say, yeah,
more Rocker is the guy Jack Lder we're unsure of.
And then in spring training and the start of the season,
(11:08):
it's now turned where Jack looks like the guy and
Kamar is still trying to figure things out. Either way,
they both have thrown it well. And for Rocker, you know,
he was supposed to come back down here. He had
a miss you there in Tampa Bay. Didn't go over
to cover the bag at first. It was a costly mistake.
Bruce Bochi the next day, when they decided to option
(11:29):
Rocker to the Express in early June, he said it,
he's like he's got to go work on the fundamentals,
go down there and figure things out. But injuries have
allowed both those guys to stay in the rotation this
season until Rocker went right back up right away. I
think the Rangers originally were planning on him staying down
with the Express for longer, but that was not the case.
(11:49):
And he continues to get better and better. He's added
a cutter that's looked really good. You go to Jack
and his kick change has been a big part of
what he's been able to do, something that he can
offer up against left hand hitters. So both those guys,
I think the injuries unfortunately, you know John Gray and
Cody Bradford. You would have loved to have them in
the starting rotation to start the year. But it's so
tough for these guys when they're not in a stable
(12:11):
spot in the big leagues and they know, you know,
a couple of bad outings, you're going back down to
Triple A. I think this is the best thing for
both of them is to be able to have a
spot in the rotation and know, look, if I don't
throw it well, which Jack has had a couple of
outings where he's been shaky I'm not going anywhere. I'm
staying up here, and that says a lot for them
to have thrown the baseball as well as they have
with this rotation, as good as it has been, they've
(12:33):
been able to stick there with the rest of those
guys and fit right in. So yeah, I mean, it
was fun to watch them both. Last year we thought
maybe we'd get a couple of starts from each of them.
This year, we've seen Rocker. I don't think we're seeing
Jack Lighter anytime soon. We did see him on a
rehab start, and hopefully those will be the only occasions
we'll get Lighter at Del Diamond again in the future.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Last player I want to ask you about. He's not
in Arlington, He's not in Round Rock. He's actually in Frisco.
Sabastian Walcott, the number one prospect for Texas, batting two
forty six this season, almost three under at bats with Frisco.
Number one prospect again with the Texas Rangers organization. You
know what's you know what was? What were the Rangers
hoping to get out of him this season? In terms
(13:14):
of his development? Where do you think he's at right
now and do you think him do you think he'll
stay in Frisco the rest of the season. Do you
see him being called up perhaps to the big leagues
to round Rock? Give us your thoughts on Sebastian Walcott.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
How much time you got?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
I think everybody's everyone was talking about him last year
and it hadn't gotten to double A yet. I remember
when Ross fencer Maker, who is the Rangers GM under
Chris Young, he came to round Rock in twenty twenty
three and they had just signed him out of the Bahamas,
as you know, a sixteen year old or whatever he
(13:51):
was at the time, and Ross was just glowing about
this kid. And obviously back then you knows as fans,
we get excited, Oh it's a it's a prospect the guy,
but we haven't seen him, STATESID.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
We have no idea who this kid is.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
And then he comes over and he starts seeing some
of the clips and you're you're looking at him. He's six',
four he's, slender but he's put on weight over the
years now and you just you can't wait till he
gets to your. Ballpark throughout the minor league system and
Specifically Dell diamond with The, express he's still only, nineteen
which is, crazy and we were saying at the end
(14:25):
of last, year some of our, staff we're joking, around,
well maybe we'll get him next.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
SEASON i don't know if it's going to.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Happen by the end of the year the, NUMBERS i
think it's, been you, know an up and down season four,
him which is what tends to happen with a nineteen
year old At DOUBLE. A i think there's a chance
if he goes on a, tear maybe In august they,
say all, right send him up there for the you,
know final three.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Weeks of the season and see what he's made.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Of but like you, SAID i mean you just you
look at who he is as an, athlete and you,
know everybody you talk to says how the baseball sounds
just so different coming off as. BAT i think we'll
hopefully see him at the start of next. Year i'm
not gonna say end of this, year but you, know
(15:10):
he has a good month coming up and it might,
happen and fans will able to see him in The
Futures game In atlanta in a couple of, weeks as
he's the only representative from The rangers to appear in.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
That so, YEAH i hope we get him at the
end of the.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
SEASON i hope when you when you're Calling express games
In Las, vegas maybe somehow he's he's.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Gonna be up up with the club by then he.
Is Ryan colbrey The TRIPLE a broadcast for The Round Rock.
Express they're taking on the Sugar Lands Space cowboys tonight
six fifty pre. Game Cole drake making his first start
with The express tonight At Constellation. Field, Rolin, hey thanks stopping.
By Tell Garrett, GREEN i, said, hi and looking forward
(15:48):
to seeing, you hopefully in working with you in the
broadcast next week At Dell.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Diamond can't.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Wait i'll Tell garrett you said, hello and, yeah stay.
Drying make sure to put your you got your raincoat?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
ON i know you got your. Rangers sure you get
your rain. Jacket we have a garage, here, fortunately SO
i can just go straights of my. Car, Alright i'm
not concerned. Today all, right good, Good thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
On.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Man Thanks.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Man rollingtobrey with The Round Rock express against six fifty
pre game start, tonight seven oh, five first Pitch express
in the Sugar Land Space. Cowboys Round rock in first
place so far in the second half of the PC.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
L we'll be back to.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Get ready to close out today's program here On The
Greig Way.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Show
Well, we continue on this Wednesday edition of The Craig
Ways Show. Cameron Parker, You're taking you through the final
hour and what was a hot, in humid and just
nasty day has turned into a monsoon here in a
Higheart Studios and hopefully staying dry and staying cool out
in sugar Land, Texas is our good friend, my good friend,
(00:40):
rolland Kobe with the Round Rock EXPRESSI play broadcaster in
his second year as a lead broadcaster. So first off, Rollan,
how humid is it out there in sugar Land?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
And how are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Yeah, it's it's not too bad today. I good you
got ninety five. Humidity is lower than it usually is
this time of year down here. So I'm I'm a
joined this week. I didn't realize it was raining back
there in Austin today.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
We're in that weird part of the year where you know,
four or five o'clock we just get some showers. Hey,
you know, I think I know I'm getting old Rolin
because like, oh man, it's raining all we just we
just really need the rain man. This is great, Like
shut up, dude, come on, you're twenty seven years old.
But here I am, you know, just like Oh good,
We've got some rain today. So of course rain is
(01:24):
good as long as it doesn't delay Round Rock Express Baseball,
which beginning second half the season five and two so far,
a good start in the PCL in a real big
series against sugar Land, and you know, the last couple
of years we've seen sugar Land really dominate the PCL.
Obviously Rylan the Triple A team for the Houston Rockets,
but it's changed a little bit. We saw Oklahoma City
(01:44):
win the first half. In the second half so far
it's been Round Rock's way. So take us through the
first half for the Express and the second half and
what you're looking forward to.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Yeah, I think the entire first half with this group,
you felt like the record was not indicative of how
good they were. You know, you finish that first half
of the season struggling there in Oklahoma City, and this
offense has been really good. It's been maybe the best
offensive the PCL since the start of June other than
(02:13):
Las Vegas, and Las Vegas has just been great this year.
So it feels like you're starting to turn a corner.
There's a little more stability with the roster, although as
of an hour ago that changed as Josh Young was
just optioned down from the Rangers, which is a bit
of a surprise. So but as far as what's going
on with the Express right now, this is a really
(02:34):
solid group and you feel like they've got a chance
to maybe make a run at it in the second
half of the season. Blank crim has been great all year.
Cody Freeman, you can make a case as one of
the best hitters in this league. He's right now tied
for fourth and hits in the PCL type for third
and batting average. So the lineups deep is just whether
or not you can get enough pitching. And they've gotten
(02:55):
some reinforcements this week from Double A Frisco, so three
new arms added two to the bull pin in one tonight.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We're really excited to see. That's Cole Drake the left.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
He was an eleventh round pick by the Rangers back
in twenty twenty two who really dominated the Double A
level to start this year, and so we'll see what
he's made of here at the Triple A level.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Tonight in sugar Land.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
You mentioned Josh Seong, the former All Star first round
draft with the Rangers, a huge part of their World
Series championship season, and he has struggled blate. He's gone
through his various injuries throughout his career, including last season
of course, and in this season up and down year.
Believe he batted one fifty eight in the month of June,
and the Express announced or the Rangers and the Express
(03:34):
announced earlier today that he's been optioned the Triple A,
making room for Jake Berger to come up, who is
just was taking off the ten day DL list.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
So what do you make of this move of sitting
down Josh Shung.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Maybe just a mental reset for him to be able
to kind of find some confidence in his swing, because,
without a doubt, the talent's there, but so far he's
not been able to execute out the plate this season.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, it's shocking.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
I think the last couple of days there was rumblings
that this might happen. They sat him for a couple
of games. He's in two thirty seven this year. He
got off to a nice start, but that Rangers lineup,
which has just struggled for most of this year. I
just pulled up the tweet from Evan Grant, who Evan
does such a great job covering the Rangers. At the
(04:21):
end of May, Josh Young had a seven sixty two OPS.
Marcus Simeon had a five thirty six OPS. As June ended,
Simeon had an OPS twenty points better than Josh Young,
which is startling. And he just struggled to hit with
runners in scoring position, and then there was a couple
(04:41):
of defensive miscus over the weekend there against the Mariners
that didn't help his cause. So you know, this worked
for Jake Berger, who the Rangers sent down to the
Express when we were in al Paso in early May.
He came down, worked on some things, looked great by
the time he was leaving at the end of the week.
And so you hope for Josh it's same situation where
he'll come down.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I'll join this club.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Over the weekend, get his three games in, maybe stay
in Round Rock next week when Albuquerque comes to town,
starts to swing the bat a little better and then
goes right back up. But yeah, you didn't see this coming.
That's a piece that obviously was a huge reason why
the Rangers won the World Series in twenty twenty three
and last year had to deal with injuries, but even
when he was on the field, was very productive.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
And also a big part of that run in twenty
twenty three was Evan Carter, who similarly has you know,
had his ups and downs this season. Earlier in the
season he was sent down to Round Rock and now
was you know, called back up to Texas and he's
hit very well. You know, the last seven games got
ten hits. You go back to thirty games, twenty six
hits in thirty games. He's bat near the three hundred mark.
(05:45):
So obviously tex is looking for something similar here with
Josh youung that you mentioned Jake Berger, but also with
Evan Carter.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, Evan that first week of the season, you know,
after it was announced he was going to start the
season at Triple A, and he took everything in stride
right away day one when he was taking questions from
the media. You know, he knew that he hadn't played
very much over the last few seasons because of the
back injury.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Last year.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
He obviously, you know, vaulted through the system and helped
the Rangers win the World Series in twenty twenty three
in that final month of the year getting called up.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
But in twenty four he dealt with the.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Back problems, had to have surgery, and so he just
hadn't played very much. This is a twenty two year old,
and so he came to Round Rocket. I think the
first week two weeks he struggled a bit. He's still
trying to figure out the back. And then you know,
you started to see the Evan Carter from twenty twenty three,
and they started working on some things with him and
they opened up his stance a little bit more. He
(06:44):
started feeling much better, and the numbers proved it before
he was brought up to back up to the big
leagues there in early May. And now as he's starting
to get more at bats every day, I think you're
only going to see him get better and better. And
he is so important to what the Rangers are trying
to do right now. If he can get on base,
he's a guy, he's a high on base guy. If
(07:05):
he could play a great center field, he can be
the straw that really stirs the drink for the Rangers.
And it's nice to see that he's playing well. He's
had the last few nights off. He's on the bereavement
list right now, but he should be back shortly, and
you know, you just hope the Rangers offense can start
to turn a corner here because it's been such a
slow start. Right when you think they're going to start
to figure things out, they take a couple steps back.
(07:26):
But hopefully the ten runout Purst yesterday will start to
change things.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
You mentioned a couple moves with cold Drake and Sculler
Hayes being called up from Frisco to Round Rock. Looking
at cold Drake's fantastic prospect number eleven in the Texas
Rangers prospect rankings from twenty twenty five six foot five
to twenty only twenty four years old, you know, what's
the scouting report on cold Drake so far this season
(07:52):
and his ability to pitch this year that have allowed
him to have such a fantastic season down in Frisco
and now hopefully up in Round Rock.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Yeah, you know, going back in the last three years,
I'm trying to remember a guy that's come up from
Double A that's been as exciting of a starting pitching
prospect as Cole Drake is. And it's hard to pinpoint somebody,
but you said, at twenty four years old, he's six
five two twenty five, he's a big guy out on
the mound, and this.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Year he's been great with Frisco.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
He was part of a no hitter there against San Antonio,
as he threw six no hit innings to start off
what was a three pitcher no hitter there early in
the season. I think what's going to be interesting to see,
and he'll start in a ballpark that is very favorable
to pitchers, is how he'll adjusted to the PCL. And
that's that's kind of what you say about all these
guys when they come up from Double A, is that
(08:44):
this league is such a hitter friendly league. You know,
how will he fare in Albuquerque or Las Vegas, two
places that Round Rock goes to in the second half
of the season. But this season with Frisco, he's got
a big fastball, terrific chain. I think what the Rangers
are hoping for is that he can come here and
(09:05):
finish this second half of the season strong. The great
thing about where they're at right now is there is
no timeline to get any of these starting pitching prospects
up to the big leagues. They've been the best group
rotation wise in the major leagues this year, and so
it's not like Cole Drake needs to get up there
by September and throw and he's got, you know, a
(09:26):
little bit of the leeway here to figure things out
at the Triple A level. But man, he's been dominant.
And the strikeout to walk ratio last year was seventh
best in Minor league baseball. So I think we're going
to be looking at a big part of this rotation,
with rotation that has been unsettled the entire season because
(09:46):
of just the number of roster moves round Rock we've
gone with I think three bullpen days a week. It's
felt like for the last you know, two or three series.
And now you bring a guy like this up, and
that's why I really do think this team has a
chance to win this second half the season.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
A year ago, we were talking about two pitchers and
just wondering, hey, every going to click Jack Leider and
Kumar Rocker. And as we stand right now, both those
guys on the Rangers forty men roster and I think lighter.
You know, it's always the ability. Could he add that third,
four to fifth pitch and he has done so. And
for Kumar, can he stay healthy? Can he say consistent
with that fastball? And you know, Kumar ended up being
(10:24):
coming down and going back up with the Rangers, but
Lighter has been so stable with the Rangers pitching staff
are really good pitching staff this season. How about those
two guys and their ability to be able to stay
up on the big league level after you know, a
lot of question marks from from the around the league
and just wondering if those two guys are ever going
to make it to the show.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
I think the crazy thing about those two guys. Obviously
you know they pitched together in college and all that,
but going into this past offseason, finishing up twenty twenty four,
if you pulled most people, I think they would say, yeah,
more Rocker is the guy Jack Lder we're unsure of.
And then in spring training and the start of the season,
(11:08):
it's now turned where Jack looks like the guy and
Kamar is still trying to figure things out. Either way,
they both have thrown it well. And for Rocker, you know,
he was supposed to come back down here. He had
a miss you there in Tampa Bay. Didn't go over
to cover the bag at first. It was a costly mistake.
Bruce Bochi the next day, when they decided to option
(11:29):
Rocker to the Express in early June, he said it,
he's like he's got to go work on the fundamentals,
go down there and figure things out. But injuries have
allowed both those guys to stay in the rotation this
season until Rocker went right back up right away. I
think the Rangers originally were planning on him staying down
with the Express for longer, but that was not the case.
(11:49):
And he continues to get better and better. He's added
a cutter that's looked really good. You go to Jack
and his kick change has been a big part of
what he's been able to do, something that he can
offer up against left hand hitters. So both those guys,
I think the injuries unfortunately, you know John Gray and
Cody Bradford. You would have loved to have them in
the starting rotation to start the year. But it's so
tough for these guys when they're not in a stable
(12:11):
spot in the big leagues and they know, you know,
a couple of bad outings, you're going back down to
Triple A. I think this is the best thing for
both of them is to be able to have a
spot in the rotation and know, look, if I don't
throw it well, which Jack has had a couple of
outings where he's been shaky I'm not going anywhere. I'm
staying up here, and that says a lot for them
to have thrown the baseball as well as they have
with this rotation, as good as it has been, they've
(12:33):
been able to stick there with the rest of those
guys and fit right in. So yeah, I mean, it
was fun to watch them both. Last year we thought
maybe we'd get a couple of starts from each of them.
This year, we've seen Rocker. I don't think we're seeing
Jack Lighter anytime soon. We did see him on a
rehab start, and hopefully those will be the only occasions
we'll get Lighter at Del Diamond again in the future.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Last player I want to ask you about. He's not
in Arlington, He's not in Round Rock. He's actually in Frisco.
Sabastian Walcott, the number one prospect for Texas, batting two
forty six this season, almost three under at bats with Frisco.
Number one prospect again with the Texas Rangers organization. You
know what's you know what was? What were the Rangers
hoping to get out of him this season? In terms
(13:14):
of his development? Where do you think he's at right
now and do you think him do you think he'll
stay in Frisco the rest of the season. Do you
see him being called up perhaps to the big leagues
to round Rock? Give us your thoughts on Sebastian Walcott.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
How much time you got?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
I think everybody's everyone was talking about him last year
and it hadn't gotten to double A yet. I remember
when Ross fencer Maker, who is the Rangers GM under
Chris Young, he came to round Rock in twenty twenty
three and they had just signed him out of the Bahamas,
as you know, a sixteen year old or whatever he
(13:51):
was at the time, and Ross was just glowing about
this kid. And obviously back then you knows as fans,
we get excited, Oh it's a it's a prospect the guy,
but we haven't seen him, STATESID.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
We have no idea who this kid is.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
And then he comes over and he starts seeing some
of the clips and you're you're looking at him. He's six',
four he's, slender but he's put on weight over the
years now and you just you can't wait till he
gets to your. Ballpark throughout the minor league system and
Specifically Dell diamond with The, express he's still only, nineteen
which is, crazy and we were saying at the end
(14:25):
of last, year some of our, staff we're joking, around,
well maybe we'll get him next.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
SEASON i don't know if it's going to.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Happen by the end of the year the, NUMBERS i
think it's, been you, know an up and down season four,
him which is what tends to happen with a nineteen
year old At DOUBLE. A i think there's a chance
if he goes on a, tear maybe In august they,
say all, right send him up there for the you,
know final three.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Weeks of the season and see what he's made.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Of but like you, SAID i mean you just you
look at who he is as an, athlete and you,
know everybody you talk to says how the baseball sounds
just so different coming off as. BAT i think we'll
hopefully see him at the start of next. Year i'm
not gonna say end of this, year but you, know
(15:10):
he has a good month coming up and it might,
happen and fans will able to see him in The
Futures game In atlanta in a couple of, weeks as
he's the only representative from The rangers to appear in.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
That so, YEAH i hope we get him at the
end of the.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
SEASON i hope when you when you're Calling express games
In Las, vegas maybe somehow he's he's.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Gonna be up up with the club by then he.
Is Ryan colbrey The TRIPLE a broadcast for The Round Rock.
Express they're taking on the Sugar Lands Space cowboys tonight
six fifty pre. Game Cole drake making his first start
with The express tonight At Constellation. Field, Rolin, hey thanks stopping.
By Tell Garrett, GREEN i, said, hi and looking forward
(15:48):
to seeing, you hopefully in working with you in the
broadcast next week At Dell.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Diamond can't.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Wait i'll Tell garrett you said, hello and, yeah stay.
Drying make sure to put your you got your raincoat?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
ON i know you got your. Rangers sure you get
your rain. Jacket we have a garage, here, fortunately SO
i can just go straights of my. Car, Alright i'm
not concerned. Today all, right good, Good thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
On.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Man Thanks.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Man rollingtobrey with The Round Rock express against six fifty
pre game start, tonight seven oh, five first Pitch express
in the Sugar Land Space. Cowboys Round rock in first
place so far in the second half of the PC.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
L we'll be back to.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Get ready to close out today's program here On The
Greig Way.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Show
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