Arkansas's early barrage spoils Waldschmidt's debut and Amarillo's second half opener

The Amarillo Sod Poodles (0-1) second half got off to a slow start in Tuesday’s series opener against the Arkansas Travelers (1-0). Dawning their Pointy Boots de Amarillo alternate identity the Sod Poodles dropped game one after Arkansas released a first inning barrage on Amarillo starter Logan Clayton. The right hander gave up a pair of 2-RBI base hits to Travelers center fielder Bill Knight and first basemen Hunter Fitz-Gerald to give Arkansas an early 4-0 lead. Clayton would walk his third batter of the night before Javier Colina made the move to the bullpen after just one out in the first inning. Both inherited runners would score, driving Clayton’s total to 17 earned runs given up at Hodgetown in his last two home starts, a polar opposite to his career high seven shutout innings against Northwest Arkansas in his previous start.

The Travelers would pile on 11 total runs on the evening with four total multi-hit games from Fitz-Gerald, Caleb Cali, Josh Hood, and Knight who drove in 4 runs on the night for Arkansas. The vistors would be aided by nine walks from the Amarillo pitching, with the Sod Poodles turning to catcher Jerimiah Boyd to get the last three outs in the ninth inning, getting the first two before giving up a homer to Caleb Cali that was deposited behind Bar 352 for the final Arkansas blow of the night. Eli Saul continued his scoreless start to his season at Double-A, inducing an inning ending double play with the bases loaded to avoid even more damage on the night.

After former Sod Poodle Dylan File retired the first 10 Amarillo batters in order, Tommy Troy contributed the Sod Poodles' first run and hit of the second half with a solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the fourth inning. That would be the only run for Amarillo all night, despite multi-hit games from Troy and Ivan Melendez.

None of the three MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects (Lazaro Montes, Michael Arroyo, and Ryan Waldschmidt) picked up their first Double-A hits tonight. 

Despite the loss on Tuesday night, Ryan Waldschmidt's much awaited arrival in Double-A was a welcome one. The Diamondbacks #3 Prospect by MLB Pipeline, and #93 in all of baseball was promoted to Double-A officially on Tuesday. The outfielder has hit .268/.415/.447/.862 with 9 home runs for Hillsboro this season, and is 4th in the Northwest League in RBI with 43. 

Outside of maybe Ivan Melendez, no one's game has been more tailored to Hodgetown than the Sod Poodles new outfielder. Waldschmidt's 42% Flyball rate this season with his power should play well with the altitude, and more importantly the famous Amarillo wind that has terrorized Texas League pitchers since 2019.

Along with his pop, the former Kentucky Wildcat and 2024 first round pick (31 overall) will bring even more discipline with his 16.9 BB% to a lineup that already holds 3 of the top 10 spots in BB% in the Texas League this season, with Gavin Conticello 15.7% (5th), Kristian Robinson 14.4% (7th), and Tommy Troy 14.3% (8th).

This is the most significant addition for the Sod Poodles since Melendez began the season on the IL, made a comeback, now leading the league in home runs. Waldschmidt will be a valuable asset to an offense that has already demonstrated its talent this year.