South Atlantic League baseball
Asheville Tourists
at Lexington Legends
What: Three-game series
When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights, 12:05 Wednesday afternoon)
Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark
Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867
Major League affiliates: Colorado Rockies (Tourists), Kansas City Royals
Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Jake Junis (6-3, 3.19) vs. RH Johendi Jiminian (7-2, 3.21); Tuesday, LH Cody Reed (0-6, 8.27) vs. RH Zach Jemiola (5-6, 6.33); Wednesday, RH Pedro Fernandez (0-2, 13.50) vs. RH Antonio Senzatela (6-1, 4.21).
Johendi Jiminian
Tourist to watch: Monday starter Johendi Jiminian (6-foot-22, 190 pounds, age 21, bats and throws right, from Nagua, Dominican Republic) has struck out 50 and walked 21 over 67 1/3 innings. He leads the Tourists with seven wins in 12 starts, holding opponents to a .245 batting average. His ERA drops from 4.15 at home to 2.61 on the road. Signed as a minor-league free agent Jan. 2, 2010 for $350,000, Jiminian spent two seasons with the Dominican Summer League Rockies before moving to Grand Junction of the Pioneer League in 2012 (2-4, 7.71). He spent last year with the Northwest League’s Tri-City Dust Devils (3-5, 3.38). Rated by Baseball America as the No. 27 prospect in the Rockies system. Baseball America reports in part: “He has a live arm and a chance to throw with above-average velocity, particularly when he irons out a raw delivery.”
Alfredo Escalera
Legend to watch: CF Alfredo Escalera (6-1, 186, 20, right and right, from San Juan, Puerto Rico) has hits in five of his last seven games, going 10-for-31 (.326) with three RBI and five runs. Overall, he is batting .230 with four homers, 21 RBI and 35 runs, and has stolen 10 bases in 12 attempts. Selected in the eighth round of the 2012 draft, he graduated from The Pendelton School in Bradenton, Fla., where he was named honorable mention pre-season All-American by Rawlings and Perfect Game. Assigned to the Surprise (Ariz.) Royals in 2012, he hit .303 with 11 RBI and 26 runs over 30 games. Last year, with Burlington, he hit .277 with a homer, 13 RBI and 23 runs over 48 games. He tied for sixth in the Appalachian League with 14 doubles. An uncle, Nino, played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1954 and later scouted for the Giants. A cousin, Ruben, played in the Milwaukee and Cincinnati organizations, later serving as an instructor in the Oakland system.
Radio: WLXG-AM 1300
