Here are the weirdest stats and plays from the past month in the Minors
Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The edition, rounding up the month of August, features RBI explosions, epic sweeps, same-named individuals and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in
Former college roommates clash at Triple-A
College football season officially kicked off on Saturday, and at its Midwest epicenter in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the reigning national-champion Wolverines toppled Fresno State. Fifteen hundred miles away in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a pair of former Michigan athletes celebrated the victory and their own momentous occasion. Tommy Henry and Karl
The best Minor League ballpark promotions happening in September
Welcome to Promo Preview, a monthly roundup of Minor League Baseball promotions to look forward to. The season ends in September (dates vary, depending on the level of play), so don’t delay. Get out to the ballpark today and take advantage of theme nights and giveaways such as these:
Pair of Aces swat grand slams in same inning
The Reno Aces played their cards right Sunday. The Triple-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks routed the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) in an 21-3 victory at Greater Nevada Field behind an eight-run fifth inning that featured grand slams by Ronaldo Hernández and Bryson Brigman.
Soñadores howl ¡Viva la Raza! for Copa
For High-A Hillsboro, wholly embracing the values of Copa de la Diversión made a typical Soñadores game one of the best celebrations in the Minors. The club’s Copa efforts were on full display during July's ¡Viva la Raza! Night.
August's best Minor League ballpark promotions
Welcome to Promo Preview, a monthly roundup of Minor League Baseball promotions to look forward to. This month’s highlights include former presidents, sitcom shenanigans, steamed crustaceans, and of course, much more. Have a gander.
All-Star Futures Game, Skills Showcase FAQs
Forty-nine of MLB’s top prospects will compete at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday in the All-Star Futures Game. This year’s iteration, which marks the 25th anniversary of the contest, will feature the first-ever Futures Skills Showcase, a three-challenge event that will test participants’ precision and power at
The weirdest MiLB stats, plays from June
Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The June edition features a doubles deluge, oppositional surnames, way too many walks and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in touch if
Ranking the best tools in the Futures Game
Since its 1999 debut at Fenway Park, the All-Star Futures Game has showcased baseball's best prospects. Joe Mauer will become the first Futures Gamer inducted into the Hall of Fame in a couple of weeks. Mookie Betts, Miguel Cabrera, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, Justin Verlander and many others
Marvelous promos Taylor Swift fans will love
It’s Pop Girl Summer! Are you ready for it? Teams from across the Minors are celebrating pop stars, friendship bracelets and mascots reclaiming ownership of their work. And some teams are in their ERA era. Fans of all levels can enjoy these specialty games, whether they're a Swiftie or have
Reno's Lalli honored for selfless organ donation
Six times every season, the Reno Aces hold a Home Run for Life game, presented by Donor Network West, to honor a Nevada community member who has been impacted by organ, eye and tissue donation. On Friday night, the event took on even more meaning as the club had an
The weirdest MiLB stats, plays from the past month
After a multi-season hiatus, Crooked Numbers returns with a heaping portion of Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. This edition, covering the start of the season through the end of April, has a disproportionate number of items from the Triple-A level. As for why that is, who knows? Maybe
Alvarez goes wild with five K's in one inning
In a sport full of statistical oddities and eye-opening achievements, Jhosmer Alvarez found a unique path to etch his name in the annals of the game. Entering the game for Single-A Visalia in the seventh inning of an eventual 4-3 win, the right-handed Arizona prospect unleashed one of the quirkier
Road to The Show™: D-backs’ Troy
MiLB.com's Road to the Show Scouting Report series spotlights players who are just starting their professional careers, focusing on what the experts are projecting for these young phenoms. Here's a look at second-ranked D-backs’ prospect Tommy Troy. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show, click here. Tommy
These prospects rebounded in a big way in 2023
Some prospects never struggle on their way to the Major Leagues. For example, the first two guys on our Top 100 Prospects list, Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday and Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, have yet to taste failure in pro ball. They're the exceptions, however. Most prospects face adversity at some
Lawlar, Saalfrank lead D-backs' Organization All-Stars
Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the Arizona Diamondbacks. 2023 organization summary: Triple-A Reno: 88-62 Double-A
Ben's Biz eats: Best of the Pacific Northwest
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Ben's Biz: Title winners ranked for '23
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Sod Poodles win second TL crown in five years
Amarillo set up shop as a Double-A affiliate five years ago, and the Sod Poodles have scored two Texas League championships in that time. The second one was secured by D-backs affiliate in grand fashion Wednesday night. Behind a bases-loaded homer by Camden Duzenack, the Amarillo Sod Poodles routed the
Duzenack begins must-see double play for Amarillo
Tuesday night brought one of the craziest double plays that you’ll ever see in professional baseball. In a Texas League semifinal game at Hodgetown Stadium in Amarillo between Double-A Amarillo (D-backs) and San Antonio (Padres), Amarillo shortstop Camden Duzenack started a seemingly impossible play that you have to see with
Hops live out dream with Copa mascot
An alebrije is a spirit animal in Mexican culture, one with a predilection for dreams. And so with High-A Hillsboro's new Copa de la Diversión mascot, an alebrije named Bacaanda, the Hops -- whose Copa identity is the Soñadores, or "Dreamers" -- are paying homage to all their fans who
Get a Lawlar! D-backs calling up top prospect
PHOENIX -- Jordan Lawlar will be making his long-awaited arrival to the Major Leagues. The D-backs called up their top prospect from Triple-A Reno after their 12-5 victory over the Rockies on Wednesday afternoon. He will join the team in Chicago, where Arizona will play the Cubs in a crucial
Lawlar's latest firsts: Multihomer game, playing 3rd
Two home runs in the span of three innings, all while fielding an unfamiliar position. That's just the latest installment in the tale of Jordan Lawlar's tear through the upper Minors. When MLB's No. 10 overall prospect was promoted to Triple-A Reno in mid-August, Lawlar hit the ground running --
Druw Jones goes ahead and hits first homer
Just over 13 months removed from when the D-backs made him the second overall pick in the 2022 Draft, Druw Jones has his first professional home run. MLB’s No. 35 prospect notched the milestone in style. With Single-A Visalia knotted in the top of the ninth inning, Jones got an
Easier for Lawlar to play for Reno than to get there
After spending his summer demolishing Texas League pitching for Double-A Amarillo, Jordan Lawlar headed west to Triple-A Reno and wasted no time making an impression, swatting his first Aces home run in his second at-bat during the club’s 17-12 win at Greater Nevada Field on Tuesday night. Just over hours