HI NOTES: Recruit Ranked, Zagone Released, Gator Done

Great day for the great game! Come out and support! twitter.com/Sego_OneFour/s…
— Shane Segovia (@Sego_OneFour) April 19, 2013

♦ MU hitters looking for solutions (Columbia Tribune)

Under the guidance of Coach Tim Jamieson, Missouri had a reputation for frustrating Big 12 opponents by taking a lot of pitches and getting runners on base by any means necessary.

The Tigers have found that in the Southeastern Conference, the pitchers hit the strike zone early and often. And they don't make many mistakes.

"It's tough going up there trying to make them work the count when these guys are taught to pound the zone," outfielder Case Munson said. "And these guys are throwing harder than normal, upper 90s. All they gotta do is throw it in there. It's like, 'OK, I'm gonna wait till this guy throws a bad pitch,' and they're not really throwing bad pitches."
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MIZZOU BASEBALL RECRUITING

#Mizzou signee Jacob Brentz tabbed the #37 MLB Draft prospect this summer by ESPN >> insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id…
— Shawn Davis (@ShawnDizzle77) April 18, 2013

♦ MIZZOU BASEBALL IN THE MINORS & MAJORS

♦ Orioles release pitcher Rick Zagone and other minor league moves (MASN)

There were a few moves in the Orioles minors today. Double-A Bowie reinstated lefty pitcher Rick Zagone off the disabled list and released the club's sixth-round pick from 2008 out of Missouri.

The release of the 26-year-old Zagone is a bit surprising and perhaps an indication of the pitching depth at the higher level of the minors. He went 9-5 with an ERA of 3.41 in 28 games and 22 starts last season between Single-A Frederick, Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk...

♦ Aaron Crow called on for save (CBS Sports)

Royals relief pitcher Aaron Crow was asked the get the final outs of Monday's home-opening win over the Twins. With Greg Holland, who remains the team's closer, having pitched in two straight games, manager Ned Yost turned to Crow.

Unlike Holland in recent games, Crow didn't have too much trouble getting the job done for his second career save. The only base runner he allowed came via the walk and he added a strikeout to secure the win. Crow needed 16 pitches and 10 went for strikes.

The 26-year-old Crow has already appeared in four games for the Royals and has allowed just two hits and a walk with three strikeouts over four scoreless innings. He'll go back to his job as a middle reliever going forward...