The first week of Minor League Baseball since 2019 is in the books. It was a blast seeing the future of Major League Baseball in action all week. Once stats get updated on FanGraphs tomorrow morning, we’ll have a weekly “leaderboard” update, but don’t put any stock in stats this early on. Yes, they’ll be there, but that’s more for fun and record keeping than anything. For now, just appreciate MiLB being back in any capacity. Numbers will matter more in a couple of months.
AAA Omaha (4-2): L 2-8, W 6-1
Omaha started their Mother’s Day by finishing last night’s game that was suspended due to rain, and then played their regularly scheduled game, which they won, right after. In the suspended game, Grant Gavin and Mike Shawaryn combined for 5 scoreless innings in relief, striking out 7 and walking just 1. Kyle Isbel and Emmanuel Rivera each had a pair of hits, but that was about all Omaha could muster in the positives column. In game two, however, Omaha did a full 180. Jackson Kowar threw 5 innings of 1-run ball and struck out 5 for his second start of the week. Kyle Isbel finished 3-4 with a double. Emmanuel Rivera went 2-3 with his first HR of the year. Kelvin Gutierrez had 3 hits. Meibrys Viloria and Anderson Miller each had 2 hits. In total, it was a really good week for the Royals AAA affiliate. Carlos Hernandez will take the mound Tuesday.
Weekly Standouts:
– Edward Olivares: .417 BA, 1 HR, 1 3B, 2 SB
– Kyle Isbel: .385 BA, 2 2B, 1 SB
– Kelvin Gutierrez: .385 BA, 3 2B, 1 3B
– Anderson Miller: .357 BA, 2 HR
– Jackson Kowar: 10.1 IP, 0.87 ERA, 14 K
AA Northwest Arkansas (3-2): PPD
NWA was rained out on Mother’s Day. Their home opener will be on Tuesday at 7:05 PM with Jonathan Bowlan on the mound.
Weekly Standouts:
– MJ Melendez: 1.102 OPS, 2 HR
– Rudy Martin: .455 BA, 1 2B
– Angelo Castellano: .385 BA, 1 HR
– Nick Pratto: .391 OBP, 1 HR, 1 SB, 6 BB
– Alec Marsh: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 9 K
– Jonathan Bowlan: 5 IP, 0 ER, 10 K
– Marcelo Martinez: 5 IP, 1 ER, 9 K
– Josh Dye: 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 K
High-A Quad Cities (3-2): PPD
The River Bandits were also rained out on Mother’s Day. Angel Zerpa will take the mound for the home opener on Tuesday night at 6:30 PM.
Weekly Standouts:
– Nick Loftin: .400 BA, 1 HR, 1 SB
– Vinnie Pasquantino: .770 OPS, 2 HR, 1 SB (!!!)
– Seuly Matias: 2 2B, 1 3B
– Jeison Guzman: .333 BA, 1 2B, 4 SB
– Grant Gambrell: 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 K
– Garrett Davila: 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 K
– Drew Parrish: 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 6 K
Low-A Columbia (3-3): W 9-4
Columbia got a big win on Mother’s Day to finish the week at .500. Brady McConnell and Jake Means both hit their first HR of the year in the victory. 2B Herard Gonzalez hit a pair of doubles. Adrian Alcantara was fantastic in relief firing 3.2 scoreless innings with 4 K. LHP AJ Block now figures to get the home opener on Tuesday night at 6:05 PM for Columbia.
Weekly Standouts:
– Herard Gonzalez: 1.095 OPS, 2 2B
– Diego Hernandez: .400 BA, 1 2B, 3 SB
– Tucker Bradley: 1.115 OPS, 1 2B, 2 SB
– Kale Emshoff: 2 2B
– Felix Familia: 1.115 OPS, 1 2B
– Jake Means: .943 OPS, 1 HR, 3 2B, 1 SB
– Adrian Alcantara: 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 10 K
– AJ Block: 4 IP, 0 ER, 8 K
– Anderson Paulino: 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 K
Royals Farm Report 