Bronze for Julio
Olympics Baseball over and JRod Show moves back to North Little Rock, Grant Black's Corner, plus scores, stats and so much more.
Welcome to Baseball on Broadway, a weekly look at the Arkansas Travelers that's published on Monday. This newsletter is extra coverage for readers of ArkansasNewsroom.com and, remember …
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The Travs went 2-4 in last week’s homestand with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Now the Travs host Springfield for a week before hitting the road for a trip to league-leading Frisco.
As of Monday morning star outfielder Julio Rodriguez had not yet been activated after going on hiatus to allow him to play in the Olympics but more on that in a bit.
Rodriguez, the No. 3 prospect in all of Minor League Baseball, is the best player to come through for the Travs since Mike Trout came through the Angels system.
There’s not many more chances to see Rodriguez play in North Little Rock and Little Rock attorney Matt Campbell is exactly right, if you like baseball, you need to get down to Dickey-Stephens Park to watch a rising star.
Olympics Baseball
The 2020 Olympics concluded on Sunday in Tokyo and it was a good showing by Julio Rodriguez and the Dominican Republic National Team that finished with a Bronze Medal.
Japan defeated the United States for the Gold Medal while the Israeli National Team finished in fifth place. Travs pitching coach Alon Leichman played for the Israeli team and was knocked out of medal contention by Rodriguez and the Dominican Republic National Team.
The pair shared a moment in Japan after the game and for Leichman, who speaks Spanish and was very familiar with Rodriguez and the DR team since he spent 2018 as a pitching coach in the Dominican Republic and Mariner’s Academy there.
Individual leaders
Jake Scheiner is in at No. 20 in hitting, while catcher Josh Morgan in No. 24
Alejandro Requena is in at No. 9 in pitching.
Transactions
Aug. 7: RHP Levi Stoudt roster status changed by Arkansas Travelers.
Aug. 7: Arkansas Travelers transferred RHP Collin Kober from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
Aug. 7: LHP Holden Laws assigned to Arkansas Travelers from ACL Mariners.
Aug. 5: Arkansas Travelers activated RHP Jake Haberer.
Aug. 5: Arkansas Travelers placed RHP Collin Kober on the 7-day injured list.
Aug. 3: RHP Levi Stoudt assigned to Arkansas Travelers from Everett AquaSox.
Aug. 3: Arkansas Travelers released RHP Ryne Inman.
Players of the Week
James Outman - Tulsa and Austin Cox - Northwest Arkansas
The scores
Tuesday: Travs 5, Naturals 2
Wednesday: Naturals 5, Travs 1
Thursday: Naturals 5, Travs 1
Friday: Travs 7, Naturals 0
Saturday: Naturals 3, Travs 2
Sunday: Naturals 7, Travs 3
The standings
Wichita ... 49-35 ... .583 (2nd overall)
Tulsa … 45-39 ... .536 (3rd overall)
Travs ... 44-40 ... .524 (4th overall)
NW Arkansas ... 44-40 ... .524 (5th overall)
Springfield ... 32-52 ... .381 (Last overall)
Frisco leads overall with a record of 50-34
Grant Black’s Corner
About Grant Black’s Corner: This is a weekly look at current Minor-League players with Arkansas roots. Have an addition to this list? Email us at arkansas@substack.com or leave a comment on the post.
Newport's Grant Black is still in Memphis and has thrown a total of 46 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched for the Redbirds and Double-A Springfield.
Many thanks to Arkansas high school baseball expert Kevin Bohannon for his help in compiling this list. You can catch him on the radio at 103.7 The Buzz as he's the station’s high school insider. He is also the co-host of The Hawg Talk podcast, which can be listened to here. He’s also on Twitter, @CoachKBo_HTP, so give him a follow.
Others on the Corner
Note: Click the player’s name to get current stats.
Luke Bandy, Springdale: Was released. He previously played in the Boston Red Sox farm system and @Luke_Bandy
Gray Fenter, West Memphis: Bowie Baysox, Double-A Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles and @Bear_Fenter
Logan Gragg, Prairie Grove: Peoria Chiefs, High-A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and @GraggLogan23
William Hancock, Little Rock Catholic: Quad Cities River Bandits, the High-A Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals
Tink Hence, Watson Chapel: GCL Cardinals, the Rookie Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and @HenceTink3
Blaine Knight, Bryant: Bowie Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
Grant Koch, Fayetteville: Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Evan Lee, Bryant: Wilmington Blue Rocks, the High-A Affiliate of the Washington Nationals and @Evan_Leeeee
Casey Martin, Lonoke: Jersey Shore BlueClaws, the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies and @cmartin15_
Jake Reindl, Fayetteville: Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Low-A Affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and @jreindl24
Cody Scroggins, Bentonville: Greenville Drive, the High-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and @cody_scroggins
Gavin Stone, Riverside High School (Lake City): Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Low-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and @gavinstone02
Nick Starr, Conway: Hickory Crawdads, the High-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers and @nickstarr6
Schedule, tickets and promotions
On deck this week
Tuesday: Springfield
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Kid's Night; Free Train Rides & $1 Select Ice Cream.* *Sales tax will be added for all food and beverages. Presented By Hiland Dairy
Wednesday: Springfield
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Dog Days of Summer; $3 General Admission Ticket at the Box Office if you bring your dog and $1 Hot Dogs.* Presented By Moix RV
Thursday: Springfield
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Thirsty Thursday; $2 Busch Light, $3 Select Draft Beer for Mug Club members
Friday: Springfield
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Post Game Fireworks; Presented By Arvest Bank
Game Highlight: Diamantes Night; Presented by Telemundo
Saturday: Springfield
Start time: 6:10 p.m.
Promotion: Jake Fraley Bobblehead Giveaway; Presented By BEEF Council
Sunday: Springfield
Start time: 2:10 p.m.
Ticket offers
Operation Military Appreciation Day: $3 off a Box, Reserved, or General Admission ticket with a Military ID; Presented By Mid-South Ford
Edward Food Giants $3 Off: $3 off a Box, Reserved, or General Admission ticket with an Edward Food Giant Coupon. Redeemable at the Box Office.
$10 Church Bulletin Family Pack: $10 for up to 6 General Admission tickets when you bring your church bulletin, no upgrades available with this package. Redeemable at the Box Office.
Next week
AWAY GAMES | Tuesday, Aug. 17: at Frisco; Wednesday, Aug. 18: at Frisco; Thursday, Aug. 19: at Frisco; Friday, Aug. 20: at Frisco; Saturday, Aug. 21: at Frisco and Sunday, Aug. 22: at Frisco
Rest of the schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 24: Corpus Christi
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Kid's Night; Free Train Rides & $1 Select Ice Cream.* Presented By Hiland Dairy
Wednesday, Aug. 25: Corpus Christi
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Dog Days of Summer; $3 General Admission Ticket at the Box Office if you bring your dog and $1 Hot Dogs.* Presented By Moix RV
Thursday, Aug. 26: Corpus Christi
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Thirsty Thursday; $2 Busch Light, $3 Select Draft Beer for Mug Club members
Friday, Aug. 27: Corpus Christi
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Pyro In The Park; Presented By Cutwater Spirits/Budweiser
Saturday, Aug. 28: Corpus Christi
Start time: 6:10 p.m.
Promotion: Tooth Ball Giveaway; Presented By Rock Dental Brands
Game Highlight: Teacher Appreciation Night
Sunday, Aug. 29: Corpus Christi
Start time: 2:10 p.m.
Ticket offers
Operation Military Appreciation Day: $3 off a Box, Reserved, or General Admission ticket with a Military ID; Presented By Mid-South Ford
Edward Food Giants $3 Off: $3 off a Box, Reserved, or General Admission ticket with an Edward Food Giant Coupon. Redeemable at the Box Office.
$10 Church Bulletin Family Pack: $10 for up to 6 General Admission tickets when you bring your church bulletin, no upgrades available with this package. Redeemable at the Box Office.
Tuesday, Aug. 31: Wichita
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Kid's Night; Free Train Rides & $1 Select Ice Cream.* Presented By Hiland Dairy
Wednesday, Sept. 1: Wichita
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Dog Days of Summer; $3 General Admission Ticket at the Box Office if you bring your dog and $1 Hot Dogs.* Presented By Moix RV
Thursday, Sept. 2: Wichita
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Game Highlight: Thirsty Thursday; $2 Busch Light, $3 Select Draft Beer for Mug Club members
Friday, Sept. 3: Wichita
Start time: 7:10 p.m.
Post Game Fireworks Show; Presented By MiCampo
Saturday, Sept. 4: Wichita
Start time: 6:10 p.m.
Game Highlights: Diamantes Night; Presented by Univision
Post Game Fireworks; Presented By Fuller & Son Hardware
Promotion: Growth Chart Giveaway; Presented By Fuller & Son Hardware
Sunday, Sept. 5: Wichita
Start time: 2:10 p.m.
Ticket offers
Operation Military Appreciation Day: $3 off a Box, Reserved, or General Admission ticket with a Military ID; Presented By Mid-South Ford
Edward Food Giants $3 Off: $3 off a Box, Reserved, or General Admission ticket with an Edward Food Giant Coupon. Redeemable at the Box Office.
$10 Church Bulletin Family Pack: $10 for up to 6 General Admission tickets when you bring your church bulletin, no upgrades available with this package. Redeemable at the Box Office.
AWAY GAMES | Tuesday, Sept. 7: at Springfield; Wednesday, Sept. 8: at Springfield; Thursday, Sept. 9: at Springfield; Friday, Sept. 10: at Springfield; Saturday, Sept. 11: at Springfield; Sunday, Sept. 12: at Springfield; Tuesday, Sept. 14: at Wichita; Wednesday, Sept. 15: at Wichita; Thursday, Sept. 16: at Wichita; Friday, Sept. 17: at Wichita; Saturday, Sept. 18: at Wichita and Sunday, Sept. 19: at Wichita
*Sales tax will be added for all food and beverages.