Written by Al Ciammiachella

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Juan Romero, LF-MVS: 2-4, 2 HR (2), 4 RBI, 2 R, K.

Well hello there. The Mahoning Valley Scrappers kicked off play in the short-season New York-Penn League last night with an 8-5 victory, and Romero appeared in his first game outside of the Arizona complex leagues. Romero celebrated his 19th birthday on Saturday, and he's the youngest player currently on the Scrappers roster. Romero isn't a big guy at 6'1", 175lbs, but he generates plus raw power from his wiry frame and should continue to add weight and strength as he matures. He has a plus arm and could develop at least an average hit tool, but like most youngsters out of the Dominican Republic he still needs to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline. He's one of the more exciting players on the Scrappers roster this season, and it will be interesting to see what he can do against the recently-signed college pitching that populates the NYPL.

T.J. McFarland, SP-COL: 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 K, BB. McFarland with a nice bounceback start after giving up 10 ER his last time out. He left the game with a chance to win, but the bullpen gave up three runs and he ended up with a no-decision.

Matt LaPorta, 1B-COL: 2-4, HR (15), RBI, R, K. LaPorta is back where he belongs, hitting HR for the Clippers. This HR was on the road, where he's now hit just 3 of his 15 bombs on the season.

Brett Brach, SP-AKR: 6 IP, R (0 ER), H, 4 K, BB. Big Red with an outstanding start, giving up just an unearned run on one hit. Unfortuneatly for Brach and the Aeros, the bullpen let him down and they walked away with a loss in an early-morning contest yesterday.

Thomas Neal, LF-AKR: 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R, K. Neal has hit in 8 of his last 9 games, but yesterday was his only multi-hit game out of those eight. He's been showing a little more pop of late, as he's hit 2 HR and 2 2B in his last 6 games. He's still slugging just .385 in 49 games for the Aeros.

Enosil Tejeda, RP-MVS: S (1), IP, K. The 22-year old Tejeda struck out an impressive 57 in just 34 IP for the Scrappers last year, and got off on a good foot yesterday with a clean save and a K. I think he's ready for the challenge of the Midwest League.

Luis Morel, RP-MVS: W (1-0), 2 1/3 IP, R (0 ER), 2 H, 2 K, BB. This was Morel's first appearance out of the complex leagues, and the 19-year old Dominican picked up the victory with two innings of effective relief.

Jose Ramirez, 2B-MVS: 2-5, 2B, R. Another 19-year old prospect in his first taste of short-season ball, Ramirez legged out a double as one of his two hits last night.