A top prospect debut made the largest waves on Wednesday. 2023 second-round pick, Blake Wolters, took the mound as the starting pitcher for the Columbia Fireflies. The Omaha offense continued its hot streak, and plenty more. Here’s today’s daily digest:
Omaha Storm Chasers
Final: Omaha 7, Gwinnett 2
The Storm Chasers move to 7-4 on the season with the victory. As has been normal for starter Andrew Hoffmann, he got into trouble early in this one. He allowed a double and a single to the first two Stripers hitters. The next three hitters were retired in order, but not before a sacrifice fly brought in the first run of the ballgame. The Omaha offense got rolling quickly, however. Cam Devanney hit his second home run of the season in the home second and then Michael Massey doubled home another run in the third. Mike Brosseau was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to widen the lead to 3-1.
The lead would only grow from there. Andrew Hoffmann settled in nicely, in all going five full innings for the Storm Chasers. He navigated around seven hits allowed but walked just one hitter. He struck out five and allowed just one run to cross home plate. CJ Alexander and Nate Eaton each doubled home a run in the fifth and sixth respectively. By then, the game was out of reach and never got close. Sam Long pitched two perfect innings in relief. Will Klein pitched a scoreless ninth.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Final: Northwest Arkansas 2, San Antonio 6
It’s been a tough start to the season for the Naturals, who have now fallen to 1-4 on the season. Luinder Avila made his season debut and lasted four innings. He allowed two runs to score on infield ground balls. The first in the bottom of the second came on a double-play ball with the bases loaded and nobody out. Peyton Wilson tied the game with his second home run of the season in the third inning, but Avila again surrendered the lead when Connor Hollis singled on a ground ball to the shortstop. Reliever Anthony Simonelli took over in the fifth and allowed another run to pass.
Dillan Shrum hit his first home run of the season to bring the Naturals within one, but the bullpen faltered once again. Noah Murdock struggled, allowing two runs in just a third of an inning. Jacob Wallace allowed a run as well over his 1.2 innings of work.
Quad Cities River Bandits
Final: Quad Cities 3, West Michigan 4
The River Bandits fall to 2-3 on the season. Lefty Hunter Owen made the second appearance of his pro career. It was his first start, and he was fantastic all night. Owen showcased a good fastball that rode well up in the strikezone. He paired that with a good, loopy curveball and a well-spun slider. Owen pitched six innings on the night. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out six while allowing just one earned run to pass. Owen left his final inning of work with his team trailing 2-1 but the offense woke up in the top of the seventh.
Jared Dickey singled and abruptly stole both second and third base. Jack Pineda walked after before Dustin Dickerson singled them both home. The inning gave Quad Cities a 3-2 lead heading into the home seventh. Unfortunately, reliever Chazz Martinez struggled on the night. He allowed a two-run home run to Andrew Jenkins. That’s where the score would finish. Martinez was charged with the loss and a blown save.
Columbia Fireflies
Final: Columbia 6, Myrtle Beach 8
In the story of the day, starter Blake Wolters made his professional debut for the Fireflies. For a prospect who was in high school this time last year, the day went fairly well. Wolters leaned heavily on his upper-90s fastball. He sat 97-98mph early on. He mixed in a slider and potentially a handful of changeups as well on the day. By the fourth inning, Wolters had started to lose some command and the fastball had fallen to the mid-90s. Before that, he had retired nine straight Pelicans hitters.
The day ended for Wolters before he could escape the fourth inning. In all, he pitched 3.1 innings and allowed four earned runs. Although he struck out just one hitter, he generated plenty of swinging strikes and weak contact. Ethan Bosacker got the bulk of the work on the day and looked great. He pitched five scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out five. The Fireflies tried to storm back with two runs in the home eighth and another in the ninth. They tied it at three and the game went to extras. Unfortunately, Chase Isbell struggled, allowing three runs to pass in the top of the 11th inning. He came away with the loss, allowing three runs to score (although only one was earned).
Top Performers
- SS Cam Devanney: 2/4, HR, 2B, RBI
- Andrew Hoffmann: 5.0IP, 7H, 1ER, 1BB, 5 SO
- Sam Long: 2.0IP, 0H, 0ER, 0BB, 2 SO
- OF Spencer Nivens: 2/3, BB
- Hunter Owen: 6.0IP, 4H, 1ER, 0BB, 6 SO
- Brandon Johnson: 1.0IP, 0H, 0ER, 1BB, 3 SO
- 2B Peyton Wilson: 2/4, HR, RBI
- Ethan Bosacker: 5.0IP, 1H, 0ER, 2BB, 5 SO
- SS Daniel Vazquez: 2/4, 2 BB, RBI
- OF Erick Torres: 2/3, BB, RBI, SB
Farm to Fountains Top 10 Prospects today:
Carson Roccaforte (2): 1/5, HR, 2 RBI
Tyler Gentry (3): Off Day
Cayden Wallace (4): 0/4, 2K
Blake Mitchell (5): 0/4, 2 BB, 2K
Javier Vaz (7): 1/4
Blake Wolters (10): 3.1 IP, 3H, 4ER, 3BB, 1 SO