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 (11-9, 2.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers took 4 of 6 from Indianapolis, so yes winning baseball games in possible. Stephen Kolek made his first rehab start on Tuesday. He went 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk and no runs, while striking out two. He also pitched the Sunday game of the series, going 4.1 innings, giving
up 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, while striking out 4. Bailey Falter threw three innings over two appearances. He gave up 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and striking out 4 hitters. At the plate, Kameron Misner continued to crush baseballs. He is hitting .317 on the year, with four homers now, after another pair of them this week. Drew Waters went 6-16, with a homer and a triple.
Jose Cuas threw 3 scoreless innings as well. The Storm Chasers are on the road this week, in Toledo. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (7-8, 4 games back)
It was a rough week for the Naturals, they lost 5 of 6 games to Corpus Christi on the road. Brett Squires had a good week at the dish, going 10-24 with a homer and seven runs batted in. Rudy Martin was 7-21 with a pair of doubles and three runs batted in.
On the hill, Caden Monke threw 5 scoreless innings, striking out seven. Frank Mozzicato went 3.1 innings in his only start of the week, giving up 4 runs (2 earned), walking 3 and striking out 4. Drew Beam went 4 innings, allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, while striking out three. Beam has struggled in AA after the promotion from Quad Cities.
The Naturals will try and get back on track at home this week against the Wichita Wind Surge. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (6-6, 2 games back)
It was a good week for the River Bandits, as they took 4 of 6 from the Cedar Rapids Kernels. David Shields threw 5 hitless innings in his lone start of the weekend. He walked one and struck out eight batters. At the plate, Blake Mitchell was 3-17 with a homer. First baseman Derlin Figueroa was 7-19 on the week, with a double and two homers. Austin Charles had a great week, hitting .563 during the week, with a homer, six runs batted in, six runs scored and three stolen bases.
The River Bandits are back home for the Lansing Lugnuts, the Athletics High-A affiliate. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Columbia Fireflies (8-7, 4 games back)
The Fireflies split a six-game series against Charleston. Kendry Chourio went 5 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, walking one and striking out 5. The 18-year-old and maybe the fastest rising Royals prospect continues to dominate Single-A ball. He is looking at a promotion to Quad Cities soon. 22-year-old Michael Lombardi threw 4 scoreless innings in relief, striking out 11 batters. Yes, 11 of his 12 outs were via the K. Lombardi was the Royals 2nd round pick last season out of Tulane.
21-year-old Blake Wolters, the Royals 2nd round pick in 2023 continues his great start, throwing 5 innings of one run ball in his start, although the run was unearned. On the season, Wolters has thrown 12 innings, giving up just one earned run, striking out 14 hitters.
At the dish, Josh Hammond had two three hit games, hitting three doubles, going 9-22 the whole series. Sean Gamble went 2-20 on the week, with eight strikeouts.
The Fireflies are back in action at home for Augusta this week, the series runs from Tuesday through Sunday.
