This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (17-21, 7.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers split their series against the Indianapolis Indians, including playing two doubleheaders. Mitch Spence had a really good start in Thursday’s contest, he went 6.2 innings, allowing 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 walks and striking out 4 batters. Spence has started in all four of his
appearances in Omaha.
With Cole Ragans out, and Stephen Kolek already filling in for him, Spence would probably be the answer if you wanted Noah Cameron to go down and work on some mechanical things, during his sophomore slump for a fifth starter.
Aaron Sanchez looked good in his start, throwing 6 innings of 1 hit ball, striking out 8 batters. Bailey Falter, who’s still on rehab assignment threw 3.1 more scoreless innings, striking out 7 batters as well.
At the dish, nobody had a good series for the Storm Chasers, Josh Rojas hit a pair of homers but was 3-for-15 overall at the plate. Drew Waters was 7-for-17, the only Storm Chaser with more than 5 hits during the series. Waters hit his 6th homer on the season.
The Storm Chasers are back home this week, as they take on the Toledo Mud Hens. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (18-14, 1.5 games back)
The Naturals won 3 of their 5 games against Frisco this last week. Sunday’s contest was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Felix Arronde had another good start this week, he went 6 innings, allowing 6 hits and 1 unearned run, while striking out 5. The 23-year-old right hander has had back-to-back good starts. Dennis Colleran, who had some Spring Training hype, but struggled out of the gates, posted a solid week, throwing 4 innings, allowing 1 run and striking out 5.
At the plate, Jorge Alfaro had a nice week, he went 4-for-11 at the plate, blasting 3 homers. Alfaro is a 32-year-old catcher and not a prospect, but he is important to helping mentor younger pitchers and catchers. Carson Roccaforte was just 4-for-25 at the plate this week, but he hit 3 more homers this week as well. Sam Kulasingam, a 24-year-old switch hitting third baseman was 7-for-19, with a double. Kulasingam, is a 13th round pick by the Royals in 2024 out of Air Force. He is hitting .313 this season, his first chance at being in Double-A as well.
The Naturals return home to take on the Arkansas Travelers; the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (16-14, 2.5 games back)
The River Bandits lost 4 of 6 to Cedar Rapids this past week. David Shields had another good start, going 5.2 innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 run, while striking out 8. Shields lowered his season ERA to 2.70. 21-year-old right hander, Justin Lamkin went 5 innings, allowing 2 hits and no runs, while striking out 6. Lamkin, who was taken 71st overall last season by the Royals, out of Texas A&M, has been unreal this season. He has 6 starts, with a 1.27 ERA over 28.1 innings, while striking out 38.
At the plate, Ramon Ramirez, went 10-for-24, smacking 3 homers. The 20-year-old catcher is hitting .305 on the season, with 6 homers and 29 runs batted in. Tyriq Kemp was 4-for-20, which cools off the 23-year-old shortstop, who’s hitting .286 on the season. Kemp was a 6th round pick last summer by the Royals, taken out of Baylor.
The River Bandits hit the road to take on the Lansing Lugnuts. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Columbia Fireflies (15-18, 5 games back)
The Fireflies dropped 4 of 6 to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Blake Wolters went 5.2 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, while striking out 9 batters. Wolters was then promoted to Quad Cities, so congratulations to Blake Wolters, who has dominated in Columbia this season!
Hiro Wyatt went 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, no runs, while striking out 6. Wyatt’s season ERA sits at 2.16 over 25 innings. Kendry Chourio went 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 runs, while striking out 3 batters. Jordan Woods was the highlight of the week however, going 6 perfect innings, striking out 14 batters! Woods has a 1.73 ERA over 26 innings. Columbia has a pitching factory.
At the plate, Josh Hammond went just 5-for-23 on the week. Yandel Ricardo was 8-for-26, the 19-year-old shortstop is hitting .243 on the season. Ricardo hails from Cuba. Sean Gamble was just 3-for-21, as he continues to struggle, he is hitting just .111 on the season.
The Fireflies return home to take on the Hickory Crawdads, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
