Player Spotlight: Starting Rotation Shines Bright

AMARILLO, TX – Since the calendar turned to May, it has been the month of the starting pitcher for the Sod Poodles. As the team returns to hitter-friendly HODGETOWN this week, let’s shine the spotlight on the arms of the starters.

Amarillo’s five-man rotation of Dylan Ray, Avery Short, Spencer Giesting, Roman Angelo and Jose Cabrera have carved up opponents over the last 22 games. The five starters have held opposing hitters to fewer than five runs in each outing and have tallied 10 quality starts in 22 opportunities, the second most in the Texas League. A quality start is defined, per MLB, as at least six innings pitched allowing no more than three earned runs.

In addition to the ten quality starts, the staff has also recorded two shutouts in the month, both on the road. Ray turned in a six-inning shutdown performance on May 3 in Midland, while Short highlighted a 1-0 pitcher’s duel victory on May 23 at Corpus Christi.

Providing the bulk of the success is Ray. The right-hander from Huntsville, Ala., has posted a 4-0 record with a 1.88 ERA in four May starts. He has tallied 29 strikeouts in the month, good for the Texas League lead among starters. The Yellowhammer State native earned Texas League Pitcher of the Week honors for his shutout performance against the RockHounds. With his current numbers, the 20th-rated prospect in the Diamondbacks’ system has earned consideration in the league’s monthly awards conversation.

The top pitching prospect in Amarillo, 18th-rated Giesting, has delivered 23.1 innings with a 2.70 ERA in the month to go along with 24 punchouts. The lefty tossed the first seven-inning start of the season for Amarillo in their series opener against Springfield on May 13. Giesting has been a staple of consistency for the pitching staff, completing five innings of work in all nine of his starts this season.

Short, the other lefty in the rotation, has had a month to remember. The lone non-top 30 prospect of the staff tallied two of the 10 quality starts in May, completing six innings in each outing. The lefty from Indianapolis, Ind., holds a 2-0 record and a 2.11 ERA in May, second best among the rotation. His 4.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio is seventh in the Texas League among those who have started at least four times in the month. Short shined with five scoreless innings in his final road start of the month, adding five strikeouts in May 23’s shutout win over the Hooks.

Angelo and Cabrera have anchored the bottom half of the starting rotation. Both arms share the single-game season high in strikeouts with nine, having each accomplished the feat away from HODGETOWN. Cabrera’s efforts in May ascended him into the organization’s top 30 prospects as he now sits at number 25. Ranking as the 26th prospect in the Diamondbacks’ system, Angelo delivered a gem in his penultimate May outing. The righty notched a new Double-A high with seven shutout frames and nine strikeouts on May 25 in Corpus Christi.

For the month of May, Amarillo arms lead the Texas League in starter ERA (2.92), sit second with strikeouts (126) and innings pitched (120.1), while ranking third in WHIP (1.16). The starting rotation has induced nine twin killings in the month, the most in the Texas League, and holds a 3.32 K/BB ratio in May. These statistics would be impressive in any month, let alone one in which Amarillo played as the visitors 72% (16 of 22) of the time. Nine quality starts were recorded on the road and in three separate ballparks: Midland, Springfield and Corpus Christi.

The crown jewel of the road success may have been at the very beginning of May. Cabrera, Ray and Short turned in three straight quality starts against Midland, combining for 18.2 innings, five earned runs and 22 strikeouts on their way to three straight wins.

The five starters are set to close out the month at home as Amarillo welcomes the league-leading Frisco RoughRiders (Double-A, Texas Rangers) to HODGETOWN this week. All five arms are scheduled to pitch one final time before the calendar turns to June, with Cabrera kicking off the series as Tuesday’s starter.

All single-game tickets for this homestand, along with the rest of the 2025 regular season, are on sale at the HODGETOWN Box Office or online at www.sodpoodles.com/tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.sodpoodles.com, call the HODGETOWN Box Office at (806) 803-9547, or reach us via email [email protected].