as the seams turn

Life in the minor leagues can be quite the roller coaster. There are good days and bad days, all part of the process. A sampling of the experiences on Sunday of a handful of pitchers with Mississippi ties: In the Low-Class A Florida State League, former Southern Miss and West Lauderdale High standout Ben Ethridge pitched the final inning of a four-man no-hitter for Fort Myers, notching his first career save. The right-hander, a 2022 draftee making his pro debut this season, has enjoyed a run of good days; he has a 1.13 ERA over nine games for the Minnesota farm club. Ben Ethridge is not to be confused with Will Ethridge (no relation), an Ole Miss alumnus who pitched for Colorado’s Double-A Hartford club on Sunday. Will Ethridge, a four-year pro, allowed three hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings of relief work in a game his Yard Goats lost 9-2. Converted to the bullpen this season, Ethridge has a 2.35 ERA in four appearances; his numbers as a starter in three prior seasons in the low minors weren’t so good (13-15, 4.50 ERA). At Double-A Midland in the Texas League, former Mississippi State star J.T. Ginn, a highly regarded Oakland prospect now in his third pro season, came off the injured list Sunday to make a start. It was a bad day. Brandon native Ginn retired just one batter, allowing four hits, a walk, an HBP and six runs. His ERA swelled to 12.83 over four starts. It was a tough day also for Jonathan Holder, the ex-State standout who is trying to get back to the big leagues in the Los Angeles Angels’ system. On in the ninth for the save for Triple-A Salt Lake, Holder loaded the bases on two hits and a walk and was undone by a two-out error on his third baseman that allowed the tying and winning runs to score for Sacramento. Holder, soon to turn 30, fell to 0-4; the Gulfport native has a 4.58 ERA in 12 games. P.S. The Double-A Mississippi Braves, who got off to a rough start this year, completed a five-game series sweep of Chattanooga at Trustmark Park on Sunday as starter Alan Rangel (1-3) went five innings and punched out 10 batters in a 10-5 win. Victor Vodnik, an Atlanta prospect, got the last five outs for the save. Cade Bunnell hit a grand slam on his 26th birthday. The M-Braves are now 14-18.