Minor league starting pitchers excel on Opening Day

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty ImagesToday was Opening Day for full season minor league affiliates, and the Texas Rangers had four of their top starting pitching prospects on the mound tonight. All four had solid outings, a precursor for what hope will be many to come in 2019.

Hans Crouse started for the low-A Hickory Crawdads, and with a 50-60 pitch limit for today, the 2017 2nd round pick ended up getting pulled with two outs in the third, due in no small part to some problematic defense behind him that prolonged the inning. In 2.2 IP he allowed a single unearned run on 1 hit and 1 HBP, with a pair of strikeouts.

Tyler Phillips was the starter for the high-A Down East Wood Ducks, and Phillips…