For a while, it was a very interesting debate—who was the better prospect, Nick Barnese or Matt Moore? Moore always had the explosive arsenal, the electric mid-90′s fastball and the devastating breaking ball, but Barnese, picked 5 rounds earlier in the 3rd round of the ’07 draft, had the polish, the composure, and still awfully good stuff. His fastball stayed in the low-90′s but he threw it for strike after strike, and he paired it with an unconventional though still effective slurve and a changeup that had its moments. And in the low minors, Barnese was better. While Moore was striking people out like there was no tomorrow but also walking more than his fair share, Barnese managed a 2.45 ERA at Short Season-A, a 2.53 ERA at Low-A, and a 3.02 ERA at High-A, not blowing hitters away but throwing strikes and keeping hitters off-balance. However, none of it mattered because his shoulder issue just never went away. It bothered him at the end of the 2009 and 2010 seasons, even as he pitched well, and while everyone just tried to focus on how well he did on the field and hope that the coming year would be the one where he finally stayed completely healthy and broke out, the story kept looping in circles and when he stopped spinning, he wasn’t the same. He pitched while not at 100% in 2011 on the way to his worst full season as a pro but that was nothing compared to his 2012, when more shoulder problems sidelined him until late-June and Barnese came back a shadow of his former self. The Rays just kept waiting, hoping that he would finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, but this camp it finally hit them that Barnese’s shoulder wasn’t getting any better, and the promise he had displayed for so long was gone.

Joe Cruz was a lottery ticket prospect from the start, selected way down in the 30th round of the 2007 draft out of junior college. His humble beginnings didn’t matter, though, when his fastball reached the mid-90′s and his results were excellent from the start, including a 2010 season at High-A Charlotte that saw him go 13-6 with a 2.85 ERA and a 131-39 strikeout to walk ratio in 142 innings pitched. Cruz was never the caliber of prospect of Price, Moore, or even Barnese–after his fastball, he featured a decent slow breaking ball and a changeup he could never get a consistent feel for. But thanks to his great fastball, Cruz always looked to have the ability to be a solid contributor to the Rays’ team, whether out of the bullpen or as a back-of-the-rotation starter who could flash dominance every once in a while. When your 30th round pick turns into a player like that, you have to be ecstatic. But while we all love a good underdog story, there’s always a reason why they go there, in Cruz’s case a delivery with a lot of effort that put pressure on his shoulder, and unfortunately, that caught up to Cruz. He struggled in 2011 while dealing with shoulder issues and then had a repeat performance in 2012, and as time passed, his tantalizing stuff began to appear less and less often and the injury became something that it looked like he would never get by. Things happen and expectations change, and in Cruz’s case he quickly became a much more impressive pitcher than his draft slot would have indicated. Even though the Rays never could have hoped for Cruz to amount to anything when they drafted him, watching him pitch so well and come so close to reaching his potential only to fall apart as suddenly as he did had to sting.

On Wednesday, the Rays released Nick Barnese and Joseph Cruz from their minor league camp. The stories of Barnese and Cruz make it apparent just how fortunate the Rays have been to have so many pitchers pan out. We know that the Rays have always prided themselves on their pitching depth, both in the major leagues and among their prospects, knowing just how variable pitching prospects can be, but even then so much can go wrong and even the best pitchers and the most heartwarming stories just disappear into thin air before you know it. Just because the Rays and every team in baseball find ways to move on when top prospects fail doesn’t make the stories of those prospects any less depressing. All we can do now is wish best of luck of Barnese and Cruz moving forward, whether it’s in a different organization giving their dreams one more go or simply transitioning to regular life.

A number of close games highlight the action around the minor leagues tonight. The Princeton Rays and Johnson City Cardinals faced off in a doubleheader as well. Here is this morning’s look at the action Friday night around the farm system:

Columbus Clippers 4, Durham Bulls 3

The Clippers used a two out home run in the bottom of the fifth by Juan Diaz to snap a scoreless tie, taking a 2-0 lead over the Bulls. Durham came back in the top of the sixth, as Tim Beckham led off the inning with a solo home run, and tied the game on a run scoring double by Leslie Anderson. The Bulls had the bases loaded with one out in the inning, but Matt Langwell struck out Reid Brignac and Cole Figueroa to end the threat. Durham took the lead in the top of the seventh, as Brooks Conrad‘s two out base hit drove in Chris Gimenez, giving the Bulls a 3-2 lead. However, the Clippers rallied in the bottom of the eighth, as Cord Phelps and Russ Canzler hit back to back home runs, giving the Clippers the eventual 4-3 victory. Brandon Gomes took the loss, giving up 2 earned runs on 2 hits in his inning of work. Conrad and Anderson both had two hits in the defeat.

Huntsville Stars 9, Montgomery Biscuits 8

The Stars jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a run scoring throwing error by Nick Barnese, and a two run, bases loaded double by Hunter Morris. Barnese was knocked from the game after the 6 run barrage, having not recorded a single out. The Biscuits got two runs back in the top of the fourth, scoring on a hit batsman and a walk with the bases loaded. Montgomery batted around in the fifth, scoring six times, highlighted by a two run single from Brett Nommensen and Kyeong Kang‘s RBI double. Huntsville got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, as Brock Kjeldgaard led off the inning with a home run. The Stars took the lead with two out in the bottom of the eighth, as T. J. Mittelstaedt hit a two run single. The Biscuits attempted to rally in the top of the ninth, putting runners on first and second with no outs, but were unable to push a run across. Marquis Fleming took the loss, giving up a run on a hit and a walk in his inning of work. Kang was 3-5 with 2 runs scored, a double, and an RBI.

Charlotte Stone Crabs 6, St. Lucie Mets 5

The Mets put a quick run on the board, as Alonzo Harris singled to lead off the top of the first, stole second, and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Muno. The Stone Crabs tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Luke Scott led off the inning with a home run, knotting the game at 1-1. The Mets took the lead again in the top of the fifth, as Cory Vaughn hit a two run double, and came around to score on Aderlin Rodriguez‘s single. The Rays and Mets swapped runs over the next inning, giving the Mets a 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Charlotte then exploded int he bottom of the seventh, as Luke Scott hit a two run single with the bases loaded, putting the Stone Crabs within one. Todd Glaesmann, who homered in the sixth, double to tie the game. Scott then scored the game winning run on Cody Rogers‘ base hit. Alex Koronis picked up the victory in relief, giving up 1 run on 3hits and a walk over 2 innings, striking out 3 batters. Scott and Glaesmann each finished 2-4 with a home run.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 2, Great Lakes Loons 1

The Hot Rods jumped out to a quick lead, as Ryan Brett doubled, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly to give Bowling Green a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game. The Loons tied the game in the bottom of the third, as James Baldwin singled, stole second, and scored on a groundout. Hot Rods’ starter Jake Floethe left while warming up in the bottom of the fourth, due to an apparent injury. The Bowling Green bullpen, however, was up to the task, shutting down the Loons the rest of the way. The Hot Rods got another run in the top of the fifth, when Juniel Querecuto doubled, and advanced to third on an error by Nick Akins. Querecuto then scored on a base hit by Tyler Goeddel. The Bowling Green bullpen pitched six innings, giving up two hits and three walks. Justin Woodall picked up the victory, pitching 2 hitless innings, walking 2 and striking out 3 Loons. Brett was 1-3 with a double, a stolen base, a run scored, and 2 walks.

Connecticut Tigers 5, Hudson Valley Renegades 3

After falling behind 1-0 after the first inning, the renegades came back, scoring a run as Ryan Dunn singled, went to second on a passed ball, stole third, and scored on a Jake DePew single to tie the game at 1-1. Hudson Valley took the lead in the top of the fifth, as Joey Rickard doubled, scoring DePew, and came around to score on a base hit by Richie Shaffer. The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, and scored a run with a two out bases loaded walk. Jordan Dean singled, the ball glancing off of Luke Maile‘s glove, driving in two and giving the Tigers a 4-3 lead. Connecticut tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, coming back for a 5-3 win. Matthew Spann took the loss, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3 in 5.2 innings. Three Renegades had two hits each in the loss.

Johnson City Cardinals 10, Princeton Rays 9 (7 innings)

In the first game of the double header, the Rays jumped out on the Cardinals. The Rays scored a run in the top of the second, then put another three runs on the board in the third, highlighted by Reid Redman‘s RBI double and a run scoring single from Andrew Toles. Princeton scored four more runs in the top of the fourth, on two runs home runs from Brandon Martin and Toles, taking an 8-0 lead midway through the fourth inning. The Cardinals got three runs back in the bottom of the inning, as Jeremy Schaffer, Gerwuins Velazco, and Ronard Castillo each had RBI doubles. Both teams swapped runs in the sixth, giving the Rays a 9-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. However, the Cardinals came all the way back, scoring six times in a wild inning. Two errors and a wild pitch contributed to the baserunners, and the scoring was highlighted by a two run bases loaded double by Carson Kelly. With the game tied and the bases loaded with two out, a passed ball allowed Bruce Caldwell to score from third, giving the Cardinals the 10-9 victory. Jonathan Weaver picked up the loss, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits without recording an out. Andrew Toles and William Argo each had three hits in the defeat.

Johnson City Cardinals 8, Princeton Rays 4 (7 innings)

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Rays again started quickly, scoring three times in the top of the first. Andrew Toles had an RBI double, moved to third on the throw home, and scored on a throwing error. The Cardinals came back in the bottom of the inning, as Bruce Caldwell hit a bases loaded single, driving in two runs. Toles scored again in the top of the third, this time on a Omar Narvaez sacrifice fly, giving the Rays a 4-2 lead. As in the previous game, the Cardinals came back, scoring a run in the fourth as Trevor Martin hit a solo home run. Johnson City then put three more runs up in the fifth, highlighted by an RBI double by Michael Knox. Knox scored on an attempted stolen base by Trevor Martin. The Cardinals scored twice more in the sixth, as Bruce Caldwell hit a two run double, providing the final margin in the 8-4 victory. Hugo Duarte took the loss, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in his inning of work, while registering 3 strikeouts. Toles, William Argo, and Chad Nacapoy each had two hits in the defeat.

GCL Rays 6, GCL Orioles 1

The Rays broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on Bralin Jackson‘s two out, bases loaded triple. The Rays tacked on single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, opening up a comfortable 6-0 lead. The Orioles got a run back in the top of the eighth, as Adrian Marin hit a two out RBI single to score Andres Aguilar. However, it was too little, too late, as the Rays won 6-1. Isaac Gil picked up the victory, pitching 5 scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 batters. Jackson was 2-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs, and Armando Araiza went 1-3 with an RBI, a walk, and 2 runs scored.

The Rays farm system had a rough day, going 2-5, including a sweep in a doubleheader on Sunday. However, there were positives, as Bruedlin Suero combined with three relievers on a 1-0 shutout. Here is your morning recap of yesterday’s action.

Toledo Mud Hens 4, Durham Bulls 3

The Bulls jumped out to an early lead, but the Toledo Mud Hens came right back, and scored a 4-3 victory Sunday night. Durham scored three times in the top of the first, as Stephen Vogt and Chris Gimenez each had RBI singles, and Brooks Conrad hit a sacrifice fly. The Mud Hens came right back with three of their own in the bottom of the inning, tying the game on Don Kelly‘s three run home run. Toledo pulled ahead in the bottom of the fourth, as Jerad Head doubled, plating Justin Henry for a 4-3 lead. The Bulls had a scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth, with Rich Thompson on third and one out, but were unable to cash in the runner. Toledo pitching then shut down the Bulls the rest of the way, as the Mud Hens won 4-3. Chris Archer picked up the loss, allowing 4 earned runs on 9 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 5 in 6 innings of work. Thompson was 2-4 with a double, a run scored, and a stolen base.

Montgomery Biscuits 5, Jackson Generals 2

The Generals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, as they loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the first inning. After a fly out, Rich Poythress had a two run single, putting the Generals up 2-0. The Biscuits got one of the runs back in the bottom of the second, as Derek Dietrich singled, moved to third on Kyeong Kang‘s double, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brett Nommensen. Montgomery took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Mark Thomas tripled to lead off the inning. Shawn O’Malley singled, driving in Thomas to tie the game, and came around to score on Mikie Mahtook‘s two out, two run home run. The Biscuits tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth, as O’Malley singled again, and scored on a single by Omar Luna, providing the final run in the Biscuits’ 5-2 victory. Nick Barnese picked up the win, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 over 6 innings of work. O’Malley and Kang each had 3 hits in the win.

Jupiter Hammerheads 5, Charlotte Stone Crabs 4 (Game One, 7 innings)

In the first game of a rain induced doubleheader, the Hamerheads and the Stone Crabs were tied at 1-1 through four innings. In the fifth, Jupiter took the lead as Marcell Ozuna hit a three run home run with one out, putting the Hammerheads up 4-1. Charlotte got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, as they loaded the bases with one out on a single, an error, and a hit batsman. Lucas Bailey hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Steven Tinoco to trim the lead to 4-2. Jupiter got the run back in the top of the seventh, as Christian Yelich doubled, and scored on Ozuna’s RBI single. The Stone Crabs rallied, scoring two runs in the bottom of the frame on Tinoco’s two out single, but the Hammerheads were able to hold on to the 5-4 victory. Albert Koronis took the loss, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 3 innings. Tinoco went 4-4 with a run scored and 2 RBI in the loss.

Jupiter Hammerheads 6, Charlotte Stone Crabs 1 (Game Two, 7 innings)

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Hammerheads jumped out to an early lead, and cruised to a 6-1 victory. Jupiter scored five times in the top of the second, highlighted by a two run double by Christian Yelich and a bases loaded walk for Mark Canha. Charlotte got one of the runs back in the bottom of the third, as Robbie Price tripled with two outs, and came around to score on Todd Glaesmann‘s double. The Hammerheads got the run back in the top of the sixth, as Blake Barber singled, moved to third on a single by Yelich, and scored on a sacrifice fly. Eliazer Suero was hammered in the loss, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 3 hits and 4 walks over 1.1 innings of work. Glaesmann was 1-3 with a double and an RBI in the loss.

West Michigan Whitecaps 3, Bowling Green Hot Rods 2

The Whitecaps used a two run third inning to take the lead, and held on to defeat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 3-2. The Hot Rods scored first, as Ryan Brett led off the game with a home run to put Bowling Green up 1-0. The Whitecaps got the run back in the bottom of the inning, as Chad Wright walked, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a two out single by Aaron Westlake. West Michigan took the lead in the bottom of the third, as Brandon Loy doubled with one out, and scored on a single by Eugenio Suarez. Suarez scored on an RBI double by Westlake, giving the Whitecaps a 3-1 lead. Bowling Green got a run back in the top of the eighth, as Juniel Querecuto scored on a double by Jeff Malm. With the bases loaded and one out, Nicholas Avila struck out Kes Carter and got Joshua Sale to pop out, ending the threat, as West Michigan held on for the win. Felipe Rivero took the loss, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 3 innings, striking out 2 batters. Westlake was 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI in the defeat.

Lowell Spinners 5, Hudson Valley Renegades 2

The Spinners completed the sweep of the Renegades, handing them a 5-2 defeat on Sunday. Lowell loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first, and scored a run on a double play. The Renegades tied the game in the bottom of the second, as Jake DePew drove in Luke Maile with a two out single. Lowell loaded the bases again with none out in the top of the fifth, and scored another run on a double play. Deven Marrero singled, driving in Matthew Gedman to give the Spinners a 3-1 lead. The Renegades got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, as Richie Shaffer singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on two groundouts. The Spinners scored again in the top of the eighth, as Dreily Guerrero hit a one out, two run double, giving Lowell a 5-2 victory. Sean Biermann took a tough loss, giving up 3 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks, striking out 1 in 6 innings of work. DePew went 2-4 with an RBI in the defeat.

Princeton Rays 1, Greeneville Astros 0

Scoreless into the bottom of the fourth, the Rays scratched a run across, providing the final margin of victory. With one out, William Argo was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a single by Omar Navarez. The Rays threatened to put more runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh, with runners on second and third with two out. However, James Harris struck out, ending the threat. The one run was all that Rays starter Bruedlin Suero needed, as he and three relievers combined on a five hit shutout. Suero gave up 5 hits and struck out 2 in 6 innings of work, picking up his fourth victory. John Alexander was 2-3 with 2 stolen bases.