Minor League Baseball opened their season on Thursday. Who had big opening weekends at each level?
As part of what will be a weekly feature here at Call To The Pen, we will take a look at the week’s action in minor league baseball, highlighting both teams and players who played very well, and also looking ahead to some series that could be very intriguing through the week. We’ll go level by level, starting with AAA and working our way down to each level that is active!
AAA International League
No team came out of opening weekend unscathed, as four teams finished 2-1, four teams finished 1-1, four teams finished 1-2, and Rochester and Buffalo were unable to get a single game played over the weekend, so neither has played a game yet.
Mike Gerber swung the big bat on opening weekend, hitting 2 home runs and going 7 for 12 over the weekend series with Louisville. With a career minor league line of .293/.360/.483, Gerber hitting well isn’t surprising, but to have him start off so well is definitely a positive sign for the Tigers.
Pitching was the order of the day in the IL to open the season with colder temperatures keeping the ball in the park, but Indianapolis certainly had their share of impressive pitching this weekend. Nick Kingham and Tyler Eppler combined for 10 2/3 innings in their starts without allowing a single run, allowing 7 combined hits, 4 walks, and striking out 20 between the two of them. Indy reliever Kyle Crick added 3 innings of relief on the weekend, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and no walks, striking out 5, giving the Indy trio 25 strikeouts in a combined 13 2/3 innings.
Anthony Banda had an impressive debut for the Tampa Bay system as well, going 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, no walks, and striking out 8 in his debut for Durham. Atlanta Braves top prospect Mike Soroka also showed out in his AAA debut, going 5 innings, allowing no runs on 3 hits and a walk, striking out 5.
AAA Pacific Coast League
More calm weather conditions allowed for more games to get played in the PCL on opening weekend. Memphis came out strong, with a 4-0 record, while four teams finished the weekend 3-1. Only Round Rock finished the weekend winless at 0-4.
Colorado catching prospect Tom Murphy returned from an injury that cost him his 2017 season with a fine opening weekend, going 10 for 16 with a double and a pair of home runs for Albuquerque. Teammate Raimel Tapia was on a power tear over the weekend, with a pair of doubles and three home runs. However, the home run leader in the PCL after the first weekend is Memphis’ Tyler O’Neill, who hit 4 deep flies along with a double on the weekend.
Memphis was led to their big week by a pair of dominant starters. Jack Flaherty and John Gant tossed 13 combined innings, allowing 2 runs combined on 11 hits and 2 walks, striking out a combined 16. Taylor Clarke struck out 9 over 5 shutout innings for Reno, and Zac Gallen tossed 6 scoreless for New Orleans with 4 strikeouts.
Week ahead
Top White Sox prospect Michael Kopech will make his season debut Monday for Charlotte. Braves prospect Kolby Allard will make his season debut on Tuesday against Durham in what should be a very good series. After not being able to play opening weekend, Fernando Romero will make his season debut at home against Syracuse on Wednesday.
Over in the PCL, in what seems like an unfair set up, the one undefeated team in the league is matched up with the one team without a win to open the week as Memphis and Round Rock square off Monday. Top Dodgers pitching prospect Walker Buehler will pitch for the second time this season on Wednesday against Round Rock, and Mets righty Zack Wheeler takes the mound the same day for Las Vegas against Albuquerque.
Next: AA