Checking In with the Sod Poodles Before a Duel with Frisco
- Austin Hartsfield
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
The Sod Poodles (2-7) are set to take on the Frisco Roughriders (5-4) in a 6 game set at Hodgetown this week! Lets look at some of notable storylines so far in this early part of the season.
Cabrera and Serretti Start Strong
A familiar face has come to play early in the season, Jose Cabrera pitched twice in the previous series and delivered a combined total of 8 innings of 1 run baseball. Cabrera struck out 10 Naturals and didn’t walk a single batter in his two outings in Springdale, only allowing 3 hits throughout the week. After carrying a lot of the workload in 2025 for Amarillo, 135.1 innings pitched, Cabrera has started hot to start 2026.
A new face to the Bomb City faithful is infielder Danny Serretti, and he's wasted zero time making an impact slashing .304/.467/.609/1.076 and leading Amarillo in the three of those catagories.
A Rule-5 Draft Pick last December from the Detroit Tigers, the Diamondbacks picked up the former college teammate of Sod Poodles legend Caleb Roberts at North Carolina, and has provided a steady bat so far this year for Amarillo. Serretti's excellent patience has shined early walking 7 times so far in just 8 games on top of his 3 extra base hits (2 home runs and 1 double).
Mashing Manny
Despite registering just seven total hits so far Sod Poodles infielder Manuel Pena has cleared the fences 5 times this season in 8 games.
Pena delivered 14 home runs in 2025 for Amarillo while also finishing second in the race for the batting title (.288) to LuJames Groover. Pena’s 5 long balls leads the Texas League thus far.
Gavin Logan has also mashed to start the season with 3 bombs of his own, after hitting 8 between three levels in 2025.
Still Groovin’
After putting together one of the more impressive seasons in franchise history (.309/.399/.434/.833 slash in 123 games for Amarillo in 2025) , LuJames Groover is back at it after a promotion to Reno, earning MiLB Player of the Week Honors. Groover shredded Salt Lake to the tune of 13 RBI in the six game set, hitting a smoldering .476/.571/.762/1.333 against the Bees.
Groover’s time with Amarillo last season was nothing short of spectacular. He won the Texas League batting title playing the hot corner, and also went 2/2 in the MLB Futures Game while representing the Diamondbacks during All-Star Week.
It’s just a matter of time before Groover represents Arizona once again, this time on the biggest stage.
Jose Says Hello to the Big Leagues!
Former Sod Poodles’ shortstop Jose Fernandez has made himself a fast favorite in Phoenix, producing multi-hit games in three of his last outings, driving in 5 runs in that stretch and delivering hits in high leverage situations. Fernandez also sits third on the team this year with 44.4% of his hits being classified as hard hit, continuing to scorch the ball after seeing success in front of the Amarillo faithful all season last year.
On top of impressing early this season at the plate, Fernandez has already played four different positions for Arizona this season, flashing versatility that the organization always knew was there.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. joins Amarillo
The 2023 All-Star will continue his rehab assignment on his way back to the big leagues this week! Gurriel gives Amarillo a rare rehab assignment, as most of the Diamondbacks head to Reno before returning to Phoenix.
Gurriel has slashed .274/.319/.454/.773 in his 8 seasons in the bigs, and looks to be in line to collect hit number 1000 at some point this year!
Let’s go! Glad baseball is back.