The Fireflies were the only Royals’ affiliate to reach the postseason after a terrific first half earned them a division title. But they showed the contrast of a split season, finishing dead last in the second
half of the season. The Carolina League is a pitcher-friendly league – batters hit just .231/.335/.330, and teams averaged 4.4 runs per game. The Fireflies hit just 54 home runs, but scored runs by stealing 249 bases.
Columbia Fireflies (L0w-A): 64-65 (.496)
First half: 36-30, Division Champs
Second half: 28-35, 14.5 games back
Leading the onslaught on the bases was outfielder Asbel Gonzalez, whose 78 steals were the fourth-most in all of the minor leagues. His 82 runs scored were the second-most in the Carolina League and he led the team with a .365 on-base percentage. Catcher Ramon Ramirez was the slugger in the lineup. He finished tied for fifth in the league with 11 home runs despite missing over a month with injury. His .442 slugging percentage was third-best in the league for any hitter with at least 300 plate appearances.
Infielder Stone Russell led the team with 60 walks and drove in 53 runs. Derlin Figueroa hit .268/.353/.394 with four home runs in 63 games before being promoted to Quad Cities. Colton Becker was a speed demon, swiping 38 bases in 61 games. Jose Cerice was terrific after joining the team, hitting .302/.349/.371 in 34 games. Luke Nowak, a 2025 draft pick out of the University of Illinois-Chicago, dominated the Carolina League with a line of .446/.554/.585 with nine doubles and six steals in 19 games.
Much of the rest of the lineup was around or below the Mendoza Line. Outfielder Brennon McNair tied for second on the team with nine home runs, but hit just .196. Catcher Hyungchan Um hit .225/.337/.324 subbing for Ramirez. Infielder Josi Novas struck out nearly 40 percent of the time, the highest in the league, with the third-lowest walk rate. Slick fielding 18-year-old Yandel Ricardo hit .212 in 50 games. Infielders Angel Acosta and Jorge Hernandez, and outfielders Henry Ramos and Milo Rushford also struggled with the bat.
The Fireflies did have an exciting starting rotation with a lot of upside. David Shields, an 18-year-old left-hander, posted a 2.01 ERA in 18 starts, the second-lowest ERA among any pitcher with at least 70 innings. Kendry Chourio, an electric 17-year-old right-hander, fired five perfect innings in a win in August, finishing with a 5.16 ERA in six starts with 24 strikeouts and just four walks. Yunior Marte finished with a 2.74 ERA in 19 starts before being traded to the Giants. Hiro Wyatt had a 4.78 ERA, but with a low 8.3 percent walk rate. Blake Wolters posted a lower ERA of 3.99 in 12 starts, but struggled with control, walking 40 hitters in 47.1 innings. Jordan Woods showed promise with 63 strikeouts in 63.1 innings. Tanner Jones, Yeri Perez, and Jose Gutierrrez had mixed results.
Fraynel Nova led the team with 42 relief appearances, posting a solid 3.77 ERA. Henson Leal struck out 9.7 hitters per nine innings with a 3.69 ERA. Lefty Dash Albus also pitched well with a 3.54 ERA in 40 games. Hard-throwing Dennis Colleran struck out 39 in 31 innings with a 4.06 ERA before a promotion. Lefty Mason Miller struck out 29 percent of the hitters he faced before he moved up to High-A. Augusto Mendieta had an underrated season with 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a 3.58 ERA. College draft picks Bryson Dudley and Kamden Edge joined the team late and pitched very well. Nick Conte, Elvis Novas, and Yimi Presinal all had less positive results out of the pen.
