It’s Christmas in July and mascot Shelldon’s birthday this weekend at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
It’s also the Daytona Tortugas’ return from the All-Star Break. After four days off, the club hosts the Palm Beach Cardinals for a three-game set beginning at 6:35 p.m. Friday.
Daytona won six of its last seven games before the vacation. It stands with a 43-42 overall record and a 12-7 record in the second half. The latter mark ties the local squad for second in the Florida State League with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
The team the Tortugas trail?
Palm Beach.
A series victory could vault Daytona into first place. Only eight series remain this year, with four at home. The regular season closes Sept. 8.
COMEBACK STORY:Former MLB infielder Alex Blandino transitions to pitching with Tortugas
Pitching staff enjoys turnaround from 2023
It’s not a highly touted group, with one only member cracking MLB Pipeline’s list of top 30 Cincinnati Reds prospects. But, the Tortugas’ pitching staff has been productive this summer.
Daytona carries the second-best earned run average in the FSL at 3.36. That’s more than a full run better than its 2023 number of 4.59, which was seventh out of 10 teams.
Fifteen of the 22 Tortugas to throw a pitch this year have an ERA less than 4.00. That includes Nestor Lorant, who paces the staff with a 1.10 in 17 appearances (65⅔ innings).
Lorant is the reigning FSL Pitcher of the Month. He grabbed the award after surrendering only one earned run in 21⅓ frames in June, becoming the first Daytona hurler to win it since Javi Rivera in June of 2022.
Adam Serwinowski, Cincinnati’s 29th-rated prospect, owns a 2.87 ERA in 16 starts. He has struck out 70 batters in 59⅔ innings.
The Tortugas are tied for second in the league in WHIP (1.29). They have shut out opponents nine times, also good for second-most, and they allow a .224 batting average, placing third.
Ricardo Cabrera is Daytona’s top prospect
Ricardo Cabrera ranks as the Tortugas’ top prospect, checking in at No. 8 in the Reds organization. That slots him one spot ahead of Daytona catcher Alfredo Duno, who moved from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day earlier this month.
At 19 years old, Cabrera has also been the Tortugas’ steadiest presence.
The infielder holds the team lead in at-bats (297), hits (79), batting average (.266), on-base percentage (.336) and slugging percentage (.434).
He also is tied with outfielder Ariel Almonte atop the runs leaderboard with 42.
In 76 games, Cabrera has played 45 of those at third base. He has seen time at shortstop, designated hitter and one game at second base, as well.
Rece Hinds, other Daytona alums thriving in July
Could Rece Hinds have experienced a better start in Major League Baseball?
The 2021 Tortugas alum reached the big leagues on July 8 and instantly performed his best Willie Mays impression.
During his first five games, he tallied nine hits, seven extra-base hits, three home runs, one grand slam, one triple and two stolen bases. The Say Hey Kid was the last MLB player to reach those totals over a five-day span, accomplishing the feat in May of 1958.
Oh, and in his sixth game, Hinds slammed two more home runs.
Naturally, the Reds rookie outfielder won last week’s National League Player of the Week award.
Hinds was the second former Tortuga to debut this season. Outfielder Blake Dunn beat him to the majors and suited up for 12 games in June and July.
Another former Daytona player, Cam Collier, has not advanced past High-A ball yet. But he did earn an invitation to the Futures Game, where he claimed the MVP award Saturday.
Collier blasted a solo home run for the NL’s first hit and first run during its 6-1 victory. He is hitting .231 with 13 dingers for the Dayton Dragons this season.
MLB Draft means new Tortugas coming soon
After the MLB Draft took place Sunday-Tuesday, a new crop of Tortugas could arrive soon.
The Reds have signed only one of the 21 players they picked so far, but that register will grow in the coming weeks. Some will land in Daytona Beach. A few could even make an immediate impact.
Last July, outfielder Ethan O’Donnell was selected in the sixth round. He made his Tortugas debut on Aug. 6, and by the end of September, he was accepting the FSL’s Player of the Month award.
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