Your 2022 Montgomery Biscuits Primer

Your Montgomery Biscuits return to Riverwalk Stadium for the new season ready to take on the freshly re-minted Southern League, facing the Smokies in the home opening series.

 

Its tough to get into baseball after labor issues and money politics have put it in such a bad light. MLB taking over the minors means fans are putting more money in MLB owners pockets while getting less and less from teams between the chalk. 

 

Locally speaking, as a fan its been painful to watch as season after season the Montgomery roster has been used as a feeder, sending players to affiliate teams above and below regardless of the Southern League standings. Often the Biscuits are left short of a full roster for days or weeks on end. Pitchers are expected to work more innings than in other organizations and players are pressed into roles they are unprepared for. 

 

Some claim development as the reason for minor league roster construction, but when the Rays come up a game short I say its because that's just how they were taught right here in Double-A.

 

There have been fewer posts on this blog. That may be a trend that continues, as when I post my research it gets quickly assimilated into the baseball research community - and usually sans authors credit. 

Also, while truly I love to share about the Biscuits, the feeling has been hardly seemed mutual from a professional standpoint. In spite of repeated offers to work together with the Biscuits team to present history, even to pay them as a way to advertise this not-for-profit blog, I am still waiting for a call back.

Yet, hope springs eternal right?

 

YOUR 2022 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS

Skipper Morgan Ensberg addresses the squad at open practice

PITCHERS

Bradley

Taj Bradley is a fifth round pick out of Stone Mountain, rising quickly in the Rays pitching ranks. Doubling his innings pitched each of his three seasons, Taj should be able to shoulder a solid load as a starter, offering high strikeouts and efficient outings more often than not.

Brigden

Tall Canadian Trevor Brigden's ERA last season was already a touch higher than one would like when the Rays saw fit for him to skip development in double-A and go straight to Durham, where he was torched for nine earned runs in an inning and two thirds over two games. Now he finally makes his Double-A debut after a nice experience in the Arizona Fall League.

Costanzo

Chicago-born Michael Costanzo has worked his way up the organization ladder the past three seasons with consistency, bringing strikeout stuff to the bump the former Austin Peay product is a lefty option in the pen. 

Garcia

Carlos Garcia, righthander from the Dominican, as well as former Perth Heat of ABL, had a nice showing the Arizona Fall League and looks ready to take on Double-A as a reliever or starter. Offering nice punchout totals, Garcia had been getting good results until hitting a rough patch last summer that pushed his ERA higher than his career mark.

Gau

Chris Gau sent to durham

Hogan

Miller Hogan sent to Durham.

Lopez

Dominican lefty Jose Lopez brings the punchouts. He will give up a few walks, a few hits, rarely a homerun, most of the time it will just be a K.

Mercado

After a long layover Mike Mercado got back on the mound last season. The numbers probly dont matter to him, after a two year plus absence that included tommy juan and a pandemic lockdown he was just happy to be on the hill. With 18 starts at High-A Mercado comes to Montgomery with a chance to fine tune the delivery and see if the numbers will fall in line.

Murray

Jayden Murray has the quiet swagger and he should. With twenty starts last summer Murray is poised to increase his innings pitched and take his game to the next level. Efficiency has been the hallmark of Murrays moundsmanship, keeping baserunners to a limit while posting good strikeout totals. This guy is one to watch.  

Reifert

Evan Reifert arrives as "the guy we got for Brosseau", a thirtieth rounder in his second pro season. But the Iowa native shows eye-popping strikeout numbers at two levels last year.

Sampen

Caleb Sampen made four starts for the Biscuits last summer, posting an ERA of 9.17 after skipping from rookie ball all the way to Double-A. No low-A or High-A for Caleb, whom the Rays felt would better develop by not going back to single-A where he posted a sparkling 2.68 ERA in 21 starts in 2019. The son of former MLB pitcher Bill Sampen, it is to be expected that Caleb will likely adjust quickly after a shaky debut in the league last season.

Seymour

Ian Seymour is probably wondering why he is here. After skipping double-A last summer, the Rays felt he should get in some innings at Montgomery after all, and shipped him here in spite of his zero ERA in two starts for the Durham Bulls last year. Pitching well at three levels in 2021, basically every affiliate but the Biscuits, one has to wonder who is at the wheel for these assignments.

Sterner

Justin Sterner is a boss. Efficient, able to get the punchout, intimidates hitters and gets the job done. 

Strong

San Diego-born and drafted out of UNLV, Alan Strong got hammered in his Biscuits debut last year, taking one loss and pitching mostly in mop-up roles and maybe didn't pitch as well last year as his 6.91 ERA looks. Strong looks to get a much better gig this year in the Skitz pen, and is an early pick for guy to watch - because he has so much to prove.

Witt

Nathan Witt, I love this guy, give him the ball. He had an 8.44 ERA for us last year. Don't care, give him the ball. He walked eight guys in ten innings. Don't care, give him the ball. He's got a career WhIP of almost 1.5. Don't care, give him the ball. Maybe he won't get you all of them, but he will get the ones you really need. Give him the ball.

 

CATCHERS

Alvarez

Roberto Clemente Alvarez, this Puerto Rican catcher comes to the Biscuits fresh from a solid season split between low and high-A leagues. A consistent contact hitter at the plate, Alvarez work behind the dish grades high, with a very good arm and solid blocking ability. It has become harder for pitchers to throw it past Roberto, a skill sure to be challenged this summer at Riverwalk.

 

Hunt

Blake Hunt returns to the Gump as one of the top catching prospects around. The back of his bubblegum card reminds us he was once dealt for former Biscuit Blake Snell and was a second round choice of the Padres in 2017. Barely cracking the lineup last year in Montgomery in seventeen games, Blake brings a large presence to the batting order as he looks to prove last years hitting slump a fluke.

Ostberg

"I was only here two weeks" Erik Ostberg told me when we chatted at the open practise, "but I remember you!" And we remember you Os! His four hits in six games weren't popping off the stat sheet but I never forget it when I score a triple for a catcher in my scorebook. Ostberg's lone extra base hit for Montgomery was an RBI triple and was one of the most exciting tours of the pillows I had the pleasure of enjoying for some time. 

Look for Ostberg to share time behind the plate and in the bullpen where his affable nature makes for good company during long summer games. Also, look for Erik to hit considerably better than his .191 stat line from last year. A career .253 hitter, Ostberg has been a steady hitter at all stops.

 

INFIELD

Edwards

Evan Edwards .

Jones

Speedy Greg Jones was just getting started last year when injury ended his Biscuits season. With fourteen homers and thirty four steals between two levels, Jones will be given the green light to run and swing away. Look for Greg to bat high in the order and improve on last years totals at the plate.

Lopez 

Johan Lopez continues a trend of infielders who come to Montgomery after skipping high-A ball. The right handed Venezuelan brings versatility to the infield, capable at shortstop or third base, with occasional second base option. Speed is a weapon for Lopez, easily capable of about twenty stolen bases a season.

Mead

Curtis Mead, third baseman from Australia, skipped double-A last year after a solid season at single-A, where he absolutely smoked the ball. Mead is another Biscuit scratching their heads at why they are being sent to Montgomery after hitting .429 in four games for Durham. Look for Mead to obliterate Southern League pitching over the next few weeks while he keeps an eye out on apartments for rent in Durham.

Shenton

Austin Shenton is a rare player - one that the Rays appear to have traded for mid-season in a deal that would have helped the Biscuits and no other affiliate in the near term. And then a fractured thumb ended his season after just thirteen games in Montgomery. Now he is back and ready to pick up where he left off. A doubles hitter, the Washington state native should be a welcome addition to the batting order for skipper Mo Ensberg, who needs every power bat he can get.

Wisely

Brett Wisely should have his own radio station, the man is a hit machine. This will be Bretts third pro season, he played a lot at second base last year, which figures to be a crowded spot in Montgomery this summer. Wisely is versatile and a good bet to fill the DH role on days he isn't given a spot on the diamond.

 

OUTFIELD

Alexander

Hill Alexander tore up high-A last summer and if the numbers bear out Hill should enjoy playing at Riverwalk very much bigtimes. Able to drive the ball well, Alexander should be a staple in the batting order and in right field where he will split time with...

Hulsizer

Niko Hulsizer sent to durham. 

Misner

Kameron Misner was drafted in the 33rd round of 2016 and didnt sign, getting drafted again in 2019 just a little higher, taken in the first round by the Marlins. Last summer Kam spent fourteen games helping Biscuits opponents, swatting for Pensacola to a .309 average in his first taste of Double-A. Now with Montgomery, Misner should provide plenty of support in left and center fields.

Qsar

Jordan Qsar has played for Perth in ABL and the Arizona Fall League. I mention this not just because I am a fan of both leagues, but because the Rays send guys to both those places that the club hopes to see advance. It signals an amount of expectation that they help these guys career paths with the experience both these special teaching tools offer. 

Last year Jordan surpassed the twenty homer mark for the first time in his pro career, now getting the chance to prove himself at Double-A.

Witherspoon

Grant Witherspoon, a fourth round choice from Colorado is another with ABL experience. He, like Qsar, popped twenty plus homers last year for the first time in his career. Proving his solid .269 average and 24 homer season was no fluke is the task set before Grant this summer, with the Southern League providing the venue.

HISTORY ZONE

*formerly this week in montgomery baseball history 

Hey what can I talk about here without some clown stealing my research and throwing together a book about it before I can even verify the events? Well, at the risk of getting my papers photographed, I have been reading with enjoyment newspaper accounts of local wrestling back to the 1930s. We had a lot of famous wrestlers but the ones I like are the weird ones, though I admit I have little interest in modern wrestling. But how can you not love The Green Shadow and his big match with The Bat? Classic!

 

#BULLPENLIFE