Fargo Dinosaurs News and Notes June, 16th, 2025

[Dinosaurs]

Hot after the PEBA draft, the Fargo Dinosaurs have kept things going in a positive direction lately, playing above .500 for the past couple weeks. Though the last week has a few down notes due to a rash of injuries to the outfield.

• Starting RF/DH Luis Mercado will miss 4 weeks with a fractured rib that he recently suffered in a game against Okinawa. The power hitting rookie was hitting .230/.292/.479 with 14 HRs, which led the team to this point in the season. It's a tough blow to the team and Mercado, hopefully he can pick up where he left off when he returns.
• Young stud CF (and possibly the team MVP this season) Pat Watson suffered a strained groin muscle in a game against Neo-Tokyo this past week as well. Right now the team trainers are saying it should only be for 2-3 weeks, but with the injury to Mercado and the team still a week away from Matt Carter LF/RF returning from his own DL stint.
• Another area of the team that has experienced some turnover is the starting rotation that lost team ace Ernesto Molina to a season ending injury last month. With the loss of Molina it was fair to wonder if anyone could step up into that team ace role or if it would be simply to much to ask. In the past few weeks one starter has risen up to the challenge and is currently on his way to a career year if he can keep this up. And that is the 25 year old, Manuel Hernández. The 6'7 hard throwing righty has put a 2.52 ERA in 12 starts, with a 1.38 WHIP and 3.15 FIP so far this season. He's struggled somewhat with walks, giving up a little over four walks per 9 innings, but he has balanced that with only giving up two homeruns in those 12 starts, a recipe to keeping runs off the board.