Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 6, Iowa Cubs 2 - Statcast
Double-A: Akron RubberDucks 13, Richmond Flying Squirrels 4
High-A: Great Lakes Loons 13, Lake County Captains 7
Single-A: Salem Ridge Yaks 4, Hill City Howlers 3

HIGHLIGHTS

Ben Lively (SP, Columbus): ND, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (both unearned), 2 BB, 2 K - Despite a pair of unearned runs in a top of the second that was neither his nor the defense’s finest moment, Lively’s performance represented a significant rebound from his first rough Triple-A outing of the season (4 ER in 4.2 IP last Thursday).

Jake Fox (1B, Akron): 3-5, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI - Fox followed up a Somerset road trip in which he amassed 14 total bases in only three games by coming within a homer of the cycle in his first game of the season’s final homestand at the Corner of State and Main.

Alex Mooney (2B, Akron): 2-4, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB - Mooney has put his 0-for-6 finish to August squarely behind him with a trio of doubles to start his September - including one in the bottom of the sixth last night that drove in a pair of runs and gave the Mallards of Main Street the lead for good.

Ryan Cesarini (RF, Akron):1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB - Cesarini’s three-run homer in the sixth put the RubberDucks squarely in the lead and gave him a second straight multi-RBI game, bringing his September RBI total to five in only the first two days of the month.

Anthony Martinez (DH, Lake County): 2-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K - After opening the regular season’s final week with an uncharacteristic 0-for-3, Martinez resumed normal service on Wednesday night with his sixth 3+ base game in his last seven - highlighted by his fifth homer of said stretch. Over the course of those seven contests, Anthony is slashing .387/.441/.903 with 28 total bases, eleven runs scored, and ten driven in in 31 PA/34 PA.

Jose Pirela (RF, Lake County): 1-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K - While Pirela’s late-inning hit came in a slightly lower-leverage environment than his Tuesday walk-off, his ninth-inning double extended his multi-base streak to three games and helped mitigate the inevitable return to Earth of his unsustainably stratospheric High-A OPS (from 1.091 to 1.079).

Miguel Flores (SP, Hill City):ND, 4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (earned, 3 BB, 1 WP, 7 K - Over his last three starts, Flores has been dominant, striking out 16 while only allowing two earned runs in 15.2 combined frames.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

George Valera (DH, Columbus): 3-4, 1 2B B, 1 K - Valera’s trio of singles extended his on-base streak to 14 games with this first multi-hit effort since August 23.

Blake Perkins (CF, Columbus): 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - Perkins, the oft-forgotten man in the Bo Naylor/Codi Heuer trade, Has now walked in six straight games and driven in a run in each of the last four.

Dayan Frias (2B, Columbus): 1-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI - Frias’ bat has been hot recently, with last night’s home run being his third in his last three games.

Milan Tolentino (SS, Columbus): 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K - Tolentino continues to hit the ball HARD, with his fourth-inning double topping the game’s exit velo chart at an even 104 MPH.

Jaison Chourio (LF, Akron): 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB - Chourio’s two-hit night brought his hitting streak into double digits. Over those ten games, Jaison has improved his slash line from .254/.356/.396 to .265/.362/.400 - a pretty impressive rise this far into the season.

Bennett Thompson (C, Akron): 3-4, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 BB, 1 PB - Thompson’s [air pf doubles broke a four-game extra-base hit drought on the same night he ended a five-game strikeout streak.

Braylon Doughty (SP, Akron): W (2-2), 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R (all earned), 4 K, 1 HR allowed - Doughty earned his first quality start at Double-A in his first start long enough to qualify since his last two High-A outings (both of which were also quality starts).

Magnus Ellerts (RP, Akron): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K - Ellerts hurled a scoreless frame in his first game action after an IL stint that kept him off a game mound for 97 days.

Dauri Fernandez (2B, Lake County): 1-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K - Fernandez, like Martinez, has been piling up the total bases recently, with seven doubles and a pair of homers over his last eight games, seven of which have been multi-base. During this stretch, his .361 ISO represents over 56.5% of his .639 SLG.

Lucas Moore (CF, Hill City): 2-5, 1 R, 2 K, 1 SB, 1 CS - Moore has reached safely multiple times in seven of his nine professional games so far after his second-straight two-hit game to start September.

Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 7, Iowa Cubs 6 (Statcast)
Double-A: Richmond Flying Squirrels 13, Akron RubberDucks 12
High-A: Lake County Captains 4, Great Lakes Loons 3
Single-A: Salem RidgeYaks 8, Hill City Howlers 7 (F/10)

Highlights

Kody Huff (3B, Columbus): 2-3, R, 2B, 2 BBs - The 25-year-old utility man Huff reached base four times in Tuesday’s win with two hits and two walks. Batting fifth, he set up the bottom of the order well and they came through behind him for sustained offense throughout the night. He extended his organization-high on-base streak to 19 games and hit streak to seven games right away with a single in the second inning and the pressure was off from there.

Milan Tolentino (SS, Columbus): 2-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBIs, BB, 2 SBs, DP - Both hits for Tolentino were tracked at over 101 mph off the bat and he reached base a third time on a walk. His single in the second scored a run and then a solo homerun in the sixth sparked a rally from down three to up one in the closing frames. Thanks to his 19th homerun of 2026, Tolentino now has the most total bases in a season of his six-year career with 174.

Aaron Walton (LF, Akron): 3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB, SB - Walton totaled a three-hit day in an offensive explosion in game one in Akron and was a triple away from hitting for the cycle. He now has 21 homeruns on the season and six of those have come in Double-A. Three of those longballs have come in the last four games played for the 22-year-old.

Bennett Thompson (C, Akron): 2-4, R, 3 RBIs, BB, E2T - Thompson had a pair of hits that resulted in three RBIs for the team and more impressively, he bookended a nine-run bottom of the second with singles that plated a combined three runs. Thompson is one off his pace in RBIs with 28 so far in Akron compared to 29 in 12 fewer games in Lake County this year.

Jaison Chourio (RF, Akron): 3-6, R, RBI, SB - Chourio was credited with three hits in the series opening loss. The 21-year-old is now riding a nine-game hit streak and has back-to-back three-hit performances for the RubberDucks as well as a 13-game on-base streak. He is 13-for-14 (.317 batting average) in his hit streak.

Jose Pirela (RF, Lake County): 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs - Pirela had a multi-hit game and the second of which walked it off for the Captains with a homerun in the bottom of the ninth. His other hit on Tuesday was a double that scored two and put Lake County in front in the bottom of the sixth. He is on a heater since being moved up to High-A with a .323 with a 1.091 OPS in 18 games thus far.

Harrison Bodendorf (SP, Lake County): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BBs, 7 Ks, HBP, PO - Bodendorf was able to record seven strikeouts, the most in his High-A tenure, en route to five shutout innings. He erased one of the five baserunners he allowed himself with a successful pickoff move and another went away thanks to a line drive double play. The 22-year-old has been pretty successful this year even with an injury and moving up a level from Single-A to High-A.

Alejandro Garza (2B, Hill City): 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, SF - Garza netted two runs batted in, the first on an RBI double in the second and the next on a sacrifice fly in the fourth that put the Howlers up 4-0 at the time. He has now hit safely in eight straight contests and has three doubles in his last four games. He has 21 hits in 14 professional games as well as 13 RBIs.

Notable Performances

Ralphy Velazquez (DH, Columbus): 2-3, R, RBI, BB, SF - Velazquez had several productive at-bats including two singles, a sacrifice fly and a walk. The flyball out scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run for the Clippers to close a three-run bottom of the eighth.

Ryan Borucki (RP, Columbus): 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 0 Ks, HBP - The southpaw Borucki allowed several baserunners, but a key double play kept the Cubs off the board.

Daniel Espino (RP, Columbus): W (3-1), 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - Espino surrendered a one-out double, but he prevented a run as well with a popup and strikeout to end the eighth inning.

Franco Aleman (RP, Columbus): S (10), 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 2 Ks - Aleman needed just nine pitches to get through the ninth for his tenth save with the Clippers and did so with nine consecutive strikes, including two K’s.

Dean Curley (SS, Akron): 3-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, 3 E6F - Curley had three hits, but gave back some runs on three errors in the field.

Jace LaViolette (CF, Akron): 1-6, R, HR, 4 RBIs - The Texas A&M product had just one hit on Tuesday, but it was a statement piece with a massive grand slam in the midst of the nine-run second inning for Akron. It is his 24th homerun of the year and fifth with Akron in 16 games.

Dauri Fernandez (2B, Lake County): 2-3, 2B, RBI, BB, 3 SBs, CS - The speed of Fernandez with three stolen bases on four attempts put the pressure on opposing pitching throughout the evening and his double in the seventh tied the game at three.

Cam Schuelke (RP, Lake County): W (5-3), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, 2 Ks - The 24-year-old right-hander retired all six batters he faced and kept the game tied in the eighth and ninth innings despite the Loons putting up three runs in the two innings prior to his arrival into the game.

Lucas Moore (CF, Hill City): 2-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI, SB - The University of Louisville product Moore recorded multiple hits with a double in the extra innings loss and has four two-base hits in as many games.

Alejandro Blasco (RF, Hill City): 2-5, RBI, OF assist - A double in the top of the second plated a run for Blasco and he also displayed a defensive prowess with an outfield assist on a single trying to be extended to a double.

Gabriel Rodriguez (SS, Hill City): 2-5, R, SB - Rodriguez hasn’t been great with the bat in his hand in 61 Single-A games but has 20 stolen bases to his credit and has hit safely in six of the last seven games.

Ryan Bilka (RP, Hill City): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 0 Ks - The University of Miami alum was the only effective pitcher for Hill City on Tuesday with two shutout innings of work. He has given up just four hits in 7.2 innings of work in his young professional career.

Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 9, Indianapolis Indians 6 (Statcast)
Double-A: Akron RubberDucks 7, Somerset Patriots 4
High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels 5, Lake County Captains 2
Single-A: Hill City Howlers 8, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 1

Highlights

Dayan Frias (3B, Columbus): 2-5, 2 R, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, GIDP - To say Frias is not known for his power would be accurate, but on Sunday he put together a multi-homerun game. He has been a professional for the Guardians (then Indians when he arrived) since 2019 and this is his first career game with two homeruns. He got the scoring started with a solo homerun in the third that hooked around the right field foul pole and broke the 6-6 tie in the eighth with another line drive homerun towards the same spot.

Milan Tolentino (2B, Columbus): 2-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 BBs - A two-run homerun in the sixth helped to shift momentum in the game for Columbus after they had lost the lead a few innings prior and put the Clippers back in front, 5-4. It is his 18th longball of the year and he has surpassed his 2025 RBI total with the Clippers with 67 in eight fewer games. He reached base four times in total in the series finale with two hits and two walks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Toly Time<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/ClipShow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ClipShow pic.twitter.com/3uA2RIg0tJ

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nolan Schubart launches a pair of moonshots 110 mph 🚀🚀<br><br>The <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/CleGuardians?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CleGuardians&#39; No. 24 prospect leads the farm system with 32 homers and 99 RBIs after leaving the yard 7 times in his past 9 @AkronRubberDuck games. pic.twitter.com/AMZveqkrcU

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Have a week Jake Fox!<br><br>His first homer of the season marks his seventh hit of the week!<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/QuAkron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#QuAkron pic.twitter.com/GXQpxKySBh

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rafe was rocking today!<br><br>Final line: 5.1 innings, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/QuAkron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#QuAkron pic.twitter.com/0hGpAl1WRe

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sheeeeesh<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/ClipShow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ClipShow pic.twitter.com/OcXEBAzExw

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pirela puts us on the board! 🙌<br><br>José Pirela drives in the game’s first run with a 2-out RBI single! 🔥 <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://t.co/DUBHpwrSX3\">pic.twitter.com/DUBHpwrSX3

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He’s done it AGAIN! 😱<br><br>Anthony Martinez hits his 4th home run in this week’s series! 💥 <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://t.co/TlN2jvF1Ds\">pic.twitter.com/TlN2jvF1Ds

Triple-A - Columbus Clippers 6, Indianapolis Indians 3 - Statcast
Double-A - Somerset Patriots 3, Akron RubberDucks 1
High-A - Cedar Rapids Kernels 8, Lake County Captains 3
Single-A - Hill City Howlers 5, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 1

HIGHLIGHTS

Ralphy Velazquez (1B, Columbus): 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 E - While Velazquez’s first three-hit game since last Saturday’s trio of home runs only included one round-tripper, it was a big one as Ralphy’s three-run, 402-foot, 107 MPH blast to right center made the score 5-0 before the Circle City nine could even get to the plate. The potential for lost development time next year if he is on the 40-Man during a lockout is likely the main reason why Velazquez’s .357/.415/.905 August hasn’t earned him a call-up.

Justin Campbell (SP, Columbus): ND, 3 IP, 3 H, 5 K - It’s been a long road for Campbell, who finally took the mound in official minor league games this year after being drafted in 2022 and spending his first three professional seasons on the injured list, but the wait has been worth it as Justin has dominated in his first two Triple-A starts, hurling a quintet of shutout frames. While his four-seamer only sat 92-95, his 76-78 MPH curve drew a pair each of whiffs, called strikes, and groundouts across nine utilizations on Friday night in Indy.

Ryan Cesarini (LF, Akron): 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K, 1 SB - Cesarini continued his dominance of Double-A pitching with a pair of hits that included, surprisingly, his first double in 19 days - he’s apparently too busy hitting dingers to bother with two-baggers - bringing his overall RubberDuck slash to .348/.398/.730 and his August line to .362/.407/.831.

Franklin Gomez (SP, Akron): ND, 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R (earned), 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR allowed - Gomez came within one bad pitch of hurling a quartet of shutout frames in a sophomore Eastern League effort that saw him record half of his outs via punchout.

Tommy Hawke (CF, Lake County): 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB - Hawke remains on a roll as his multi-hit effort on Friday was his fifth in a row and seventh in his last nine games.Over the course of his two-hit streak, Tommy is slashing .455/.556/.682 with a quintet each of double and walks, a quartet of RBI, and nine runs scored - meaning that a full third of his trips to the basepaths in his last five games have ended with him crossing home safely.

Alejandro Garza (2B, Hill City): 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 SB - Garza continues to rake in the opening chapter of his professional career, with last night’s two-hit performance being the third in his last four games and sixth in eleven total pro contests - resulting in a .364/.408/.500 slash.

Deiten Lachance (C, Hill City): 2-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 E - After starting his official pro career going 3-for-21 in his first six games, Lachance is slashing .409/.435/.727 over the course of an active five-game hitting streak.

Erigaldi Perez (SP, Hill City): W (3-4), 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R (earned), 1 BB, 9 K - Perez’s streak of striking out five opposing batters in each of his August starts came to an end on Friday night in Lynchburg…because he struck out a career-best nine Cannon Ballers! His non-complex K:BB ratio now stands at 45:24 (1.88). Not quite the 3.17 (38:12) he posted in the ACL but still impressive given the jump in opposing hitter talent level.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Kyle Manzardo (DH, Columbus): 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - Manzardo extended his hitting streak to eleven games by doubling for a fourth straight game and sixth in his last seven, with his two-bagger providing the first two tallies of the contest.

Jaison Chourio (RF, Akron): 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K - Chourio extended his on-base and hitting streaks to eleven and seven games, respectively, on Friday night in Somerset, NJ.

Aaron Walton (CF, Akron): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K - Walton broke out of a six-game extra-base hit drought with a fourth-inning solo shot to left that provided the Mallards of Main Street their only tally of the contest.

Dauri Fernandez (2B, Lake County): 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 E - Since returning to the lineup last Sunday, Fernandez has amassed twelve total bases in 19 at-bats thanks to a double in each of the four games he has played on the current two-week roadtrip and his dinger in this week’s series opener.

Juneiker Caceres (starting RF, Lake County): 1-1, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP - Caceres reached in all three plate appearances before being pulled from the game defensively to start the bottom of the fifth after being plunked in the top half of the frame. No word on his condition as of this time.

Jacob Zibin (SP, Lake County): ND, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R (1 earned), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR allowed - While not Zibin’s best outing, he did keep his streak of allowing one earned run or less per August start intact, resulting in a final ERA for the month of 0.64 to go with a 0.75 WHIP, .132 opponents’ batting average, and 24:9 K:BB ratio

Melkis Hernandez (RP, Lake County): L (7-5), 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (unearned), 1 BB, 1 WP, 4 K - Hernandez resumed normal service after allowing multiple earned runs for the first time since July 5 in Tuesday’s series opener

Alejandro Blasco (RF, Hill City): 3-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 Outfield Assist - Blasco’s second three-hit game in his last five sandwich a three-game 1-for-10 stretch. The ceiling is there. The consistency is not.

Manuel Osorio (RP, Hill City): S (1), 3 IP, 1 H, 6 K - Osorio’s longest non-complex outing date was, unsurprisingly, also his best, as he nearly equaled his Howler strikeout total from his previous 5.1 Carolina League frames in only three innings en route to his first save in front of a paying crowd.

Triple-A: Indianapolis Indians 6, Columbus Clippers 5 (Savant)
Double-A: Somerset Patriots 8, Akron RubberDucks 6
High-A: Lake County Captains 11, Cedar Rapids Kernels 10
Single-A: Hill City Howlers 7, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 6

Highlights

Alfonsin Rosario (RF, Columbus): 3-4, 2 2B, SB - Rosario has had a tough time in Triple-A so far with a high strikeout rate and isn’t hitting for contact or power, but this was a good game for him.

Nolan Schubart (1B, Akron): 2-4, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 2K - Schubart cranked his 29th and 30th homers of the year between High-A and Double-A, 10 at Akron now too. And he did it the only way he could - big homers and in his other two at bats, strikeouts. It’s still a 35 K% so who knows what this really means and the ball is flying in the minors everywhere.

Tommy Hawke (CF, Lake County): 2-4, 2 2B, 2 SB, 3 R - Hawke has been red hot as the leadoff hitter in Lake County and is even getting some extra bases and taking extra bases when he gets on. Hard to ask for much more.

Welbyn Francisca (SS, Lake County): 2-4, 2 2B, RBI - Francisca, like much of the Lake County lineup, has been red hot too and posting some very impressive numbers. He’s had more power than everyone would have expected and the ball is just jumping off the bat in the minors, so that’s something to think about.

Anthony Martinez (1B, Lake County): 4-5, HR, 4 RBI - Martinez has legitimate pop in there he just needs to get to it more and he sure did here.

Lucas Moore (CF, Hill City): 3-4, 3 2B, RBI, BB - Moore has hit well in his brief pro career in Single-A, showing contact ability and speed that he was drafted for.

Reiner Herrera (C, Hill City): 3-4, HR, 2 RBI - Though he’s 21 and in his first exposure at non-complex ball, catchers are weird and he is hitting well so far at least.

Miguel Flores (SP, Hill City): 6IP, H, 2BB, 4K - Flores doens’t miss a lot of bats with whiffs and does walk sometimes, but he only allowed a hit in six innings.

Notable Performances

Daniel Espino (RP, Columbus): IP, 2K - His first outing since August 23 where he was pitching for the second time in three days, something he hasn’t done much of and he struggled in it. This was much better, but the key is figuring out how to get him to be good when he pitches more often.

Jaison Chourio (RF, Akron): 1-4, BB, 2B, SB, 3K - You don’t like the three strikeouts and it seems like Chourio has been consistently cool since a good start in Double-A, so this was one of his better games despite the strikeouts. He just can’t strikeout three times with a bat like his.

Juneiker Caceres (RF, Lake County): 2-4 - Just two singles but one was a hard hit solid one and he’s starting to find his swing again a little more as of late after that time missed due to injury that cooled off his bat.

Jose Pirela (LF, Lake County): 1-5, HR, 3 RBI - Pirela nailed a three pointer, his fourth of the year, in this wild one.

Joey Oakie (SP, Lake County): 2IP, 2H, 3ER, BB, 2K - Oakie made his first start since June 24 and his first in High-A, since he was out with an illness. He didn’t show any weakness in terms of strength, hitting 96-99 at times. Control as always, was an issue. But he only walked one and should have given up less damage because he got screwed on a pickoff call that should have ended an inning and he did rack up two K’s with a low 90s slider and changeup to go with his high 90s fastball. It’s encouarging at least.

Triple-A: Indianapolis Indians 4, Columbus Clippers 3 (Statcast)
Double-A: Akron RubberDucks 7, Somerset Patriots 5
High-A: Lake County Captains 8, Cedar Rapids Kernels 7
Single-A: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 5, Hill City Howlers 0

Highlights

Daniel Schneemann (LF, Columbus): 2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, RBI - Schneemann tallied six total bases with a double and homerun on Wednesday to pace the offense for Columbus. A longball as the second batter of the matinee game put the Clippers up 1-0 and the ball ended up clearing the entire ballpark. On top of the fact that he had multiple extra-base hits, he also had three of the four hardest hit balls of the game with the addition of a lineout in the seventh inning.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Schnee!<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{"url":"https://nextyearincleveland.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe","language":"en"}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM">

26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Steven Perez (RP, Columbus): 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BBs, K - The southpaw Perez was tasked with a long relief appearance and retired all eight batters he faced and did so with just one strikeout. He was able to induce mostly soft contact and left the runner he inherited stranded. He has struggled of late in his long relief appearances, with Perez’s last outing where he did not allow a run and went more than 1.0 innings was on July 21 prior to Wednesday.

Jake Fox (1B, Akron): 3-3, R, 2 2Bs, 3B, BB, DP - Jake Fox is back. In his third game since returning from the injured list, Fox was 3-for-3 with a walk and all three of those hits went for extra bases. He had previously been out since late May and acted as a much-needed boost to a RubberDucks offense that has been red hot in recent weeks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Have a night Jake Fox!<br><br>His third extra-base hit and third RBI!<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/QuAkron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#QuAkron pic.twitter.com/lvqmaIXmf8

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BT doubles!<br><br>We have some insurance!<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/QuAkron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#QuAkron pic.twitter.com/OBIXjmmdS6

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tie game! 🙌<br><br>Welbyn Francisca extends his on-base streak to 17 games with an RBI single! 🔥 <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://t.co/qijubKFRZg\">pic.twitter.com/qijubKFRZg

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CANNON CANNOT BE STOPPED! 😱<br><br>Cannon Peebles blasts a solo home run for his 7th extra-base hit in his last 6 games! 💪 <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://t.co/fR6d2mxvfr\">pic.twitter.com/fR6d2mxvfr

Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 8, St. Paul Saints 5 (Statcast)
Double-A: Akron RubberDucks 8, Harrisburg Senators 4
High-A: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 7, Lake County Captains 5
Single-A: Charleston RiverDogs 7, Hill City Howlers 6 (completion of Saturday’s game)
Single-A: Hill City Howlers 7, Charleston RiverDogs 5 (F/9 - scheduled game)

Highlights

Kody Huff (C, Columbus): 4-4, 2B, RBI, SB - Just one extra base hit for Huff but four hits in a game plus a steal, that’s quite the day. He also got two balls overturned to strikes in ABS challenges, so he played a complete game. His versatility now and performance have to mean Cleveland needs to add him to the 40 man roster this winter.

Justin Campbell (SP, Columbus): 2IP, H, BB, K - This was the first start for Campbell since June 25, after suffering an oblique injury before what was supposed to be his first Triple-A start on July 1. He was 92-94 with the fastball, so a bit down. But he was solid for that layoff and his first Triple-A outing, using the MLB ball as opposed to the minor league version of the ball, which we found out is a bit rounder and wider seams, and can make it do weird things.

George Valera (RF, Columbus): 2-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI - Big day for Valera, who hasn’t played much lately whether due to injury or just being squeezed out of priorities. Either way, I would expect him to change organizations next year.

Ryan Cesarini (RF, Akron): 4-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI - Cesarini hit a leadoff homer in this game and homered later, so he’s back on his power surge again and now has 11 in Double-A and 18 on the year despite not being a real big power guy.

Caden Favors (SP, Akron): 5.1IP, 3H, 0 ER (2R), 7K - A nice outing for Favors even if his defense sort of let him down. No walks is important for him and the Senators lineup can be tricky. Good outing.

Johan Rodriguez (DH - G1 and SS - G2, Hill City): combined 3-9, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB - Rodriguez provided some late-game heroics in both ends of yesterday’s doubleheader and, while his go-ahead RBI double in the top of the ninth in game one was undone by Harrison Ruiz’s blown save, his extra-inning three-run blast to left center in the same frame of the nightcap to give the Howlers the split of a long getaway day in Charleston, SC.

Deiten LaChance (C - G1 and 1B - G2, Hill City): combined 5-9, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - While LaChance’ first professional homer (and extra-base hit of any kind) came on Saturday just before the game was halted by a thunderstorm, LaChance’s quartet of Sunday hits - including his first pro double - equaled the career total the rookie entered the day with.

Alejandro Blasco (CF - both games, Hill City): combined 4-9, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB - Blasco followed up a non-complex career-best three hits - including his first home run as a Howler - in the suspended contest with a go-ahead two -run single in the fifth inning of the scheduled game.

Notable Performances

Austin Peterson (bulk SP, Columbus): 4.2IP, 6H, 3ER, 7K - Peterson racked up 14 whiffs in just 4.2 innings and seven strikeouts, following Campbell. He did allow two homers but it was a solid effort overall.

Daniel Espino (RP, Columbus): 0.2IP, 2H, ER, BB, K, HR - Espino pitched for the second time and three days, something he’s only done a few times before this season. So Cleveland elected to challenege him and he struggled with his command and stuff overall. On Friday, he was 99-100, in this game he was 96-98 and was a little more human. So that is something he is still working on.

Ralphy Velazquez (1B, Columbus): 1-3, 2 RBI - Only one hit and it wasn’t even a homer. Velazquez is really slumping now. But he did get an RBI single and a sac fly on a “slow” day for him.

Luke Hill (2B, Akron): 2-4, HR, RBI - Hill was red-hot in Lake County before his promotion and was decent early in Double-A. The injury has slowed him and he hit a nice wall scraping homer here.

Nolan Schubart (LF, Akron): 1-2, HR, RBI, 2BB, K - A typical Schubart day - a homer, walks and a strikeout. But as long as he keeps hitting these bombs, he’ll continue to get looked at until the strikeouts become harder to overcome.

Cannon Peebles (C, Lake County): 2-4, 2 2B, 1 K - Peebles’ first professional multi-double game equaled his two-bagger output from his previous 29 games combined (90 AB).

Dauri Fernandez (2B, Lake County): 1-5, 1 2B,2 RBI, 1 K - Fernandez’s first game action in a week and a half saw him record his first double as a Captain - driving in his fourth and fifth runs in High-A in only his fourth game at the level.

Tommy Hawke (CF, Lake County): 2-5, 2 R, 1 RBI - Hawke extended his on-base streak to seven games with his third multi-hit game of the week.

Jeffrey Mercedes (DH, Lake County): 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 K - Mercedes was similarly successful against the Timber Rattlers, posting his own trio of multi-hit games.

Alejandro Garza (2B - G1, Hill City): 1-5, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 E - Garza now has seven RBI in as many professional games following a game-tying two-run single in the eighth frame of the opener of Sunday’s twin bill.

Triple-A: St. Paul Saints 15, Columbus Clippers 11 (Statcast)
Double-A: Harrisburg Senators at Akron RubberDucks (Cancelled - rain)
High-A: Lake County Captains 6, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1
Single-A: Hill City Howlers 1, Charleston River Dogs 0 (Top 2 - suspended, 8/23 finish)

Highlights

Ralphy Velazquez (LF, Columbus): 3-4, 3 HR, 4 RBI, BB, K - Ralphy was hot in the month of August with 11 homers coming into this game and now he’s just straight up nuclear. Three homers, two off changeups (though they were poorly located), but that’s a pitch he’s struggled to hit. At this point, it’s hard to know if he’s going to be challeneged by Triple-A pitching. Does that mean it makes sense in September to call him up? It’s a complicated question that seems to only be hanging on to the lockout question now. Let’s also not forget that playing left field has not hurt his offense either, so learning a new position hasn’t affected him.

Jacob Zibin (SP, Lake County): 6IP, 2H, 7K - 73 strong pitches for Zibin, who is haing a great August. He was 94-96 early and then settled in more around 92-94 and showed off a good changeup and a decent breaking ball/cutter. He was in the zone and getting whiffs and chases. Still just 21 because he was a high school pick, Zibin has recovered from early career injuries to have an incredible year and if finishing a really strong year.

Tyler Howard (C, Lake County): 2-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB - Howard should have been ruled out in the fifth inning trying to check his swing. But the umps missed it and then he went and hit a three run homer in a five run inning for Lake County.

Notable Performances

Kahlil Watson (RF, Columbus): 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB - Watson has continued to be solid in Columbus after being sent back down and doing everything he can to get another look.

Kyle Manzardo (1B, Columbus): 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI - Everyone was hitting in this one, including the Saints. Manzardo has been solid for the most part since going down but hard to know what he’s able to work on.

Jose Pirela (LF, Lake County): 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI, 2BB - Pirela has hti well since getting to Lake County despite an odd looking swing, but he’s had some past success on it.

Columbus Clippers 5, St. Paul Saints 1 - Statcast
Harrisburg Senators 8, Akron RubberDucks 7
Lake County Captains 8, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 7
Charleston RiverDogs 3, Hill City Howlers 2

HIGHLIGHTS

Ben Lively (SP, Columbus): ND, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K - After struggling mightily in his rehab stint as a Captain (17.28 ERA, 3.12 WHIP, and 7:5 K:BB ratio in four starts), Lively has held International League hitters scoreless on five hits and a walk in 8.2 combined frames in his two starts since being activated from the Clipper IL.

Nolan Schubart (1B, Akron): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 K - Schubart’s go-ahead three-run blast in the fifth was the highlight of the evening for the RubberDucks and kept them in a game that they, quite frankly, had no business being in. In the process, Nolan extended his multi-base streak to four games - including an extra-base hit in each of the three games he has played this week.

Jace LaViolette (RF, Akron): 1-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB - LaViolette provided the other round-tripper for the Mallards of Main Street, once again giving them a short-lived lead. The homer was his second in the last three days as well as his second as a RubberDuck.

Anthony Martinez (1B, Lake County): 2-3, 2 R 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP - Martinez gave the Captains an early 2-0 lead on a pair of RBI hits, giving him his third straight multi-base and sixth in his last eight as well as his 40th RBI of the season on the first-inning double.

Jackson Humphries (SP, Lake County): ND, 4.2 IP, 6 H 2 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 6 K - Humphries kept the earned runs to a minimum for the second time, but keeping the basepaths clearer, and thus not letting the other team take advantage of defensive miscues, is a definite area of needed improvement for Jackson.

Erigaldi Perez (SP, Hill City): ND, 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R (earned), 2 BB, 5 K, 2 Pickoffs, 1 BK - Perez has allowed only one earned run in six frames in each of his last two starts. That said, much like Humphries, he needs to get better at keeping runners off the bases in the first place as he has averaged a hit allowed per inning in those outings.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Daniel Schneemann (SS, Columbus): 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 E - Schneemann extended his productive plate appearance streak to eleven games with his fourth multi-hit game in his last five - a stretch during which he is slashing .474/.565/.789.

Kyle Manzardo (DH, Columbus): 1-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K - Manzardo, who solidified the Clipper lead with a two-run double in the fifth, is slashing .300/.389/.667 during the current two-week homestand and has reached safely in all eight games he has played in that time frame,

Kody Huff (C, Columbus): 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 HBP, 1 K - Huff go the scoring started the scoring with a first-inning solo shot to left center, setting a game-high for distance 390 feet and team-high for the evening in exit velo (101.8 MPH) while also getting his slugging percentage back over .500 (currently at .506).

Milan Tolentino (3B, Columbus): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K - Tolentino bookended the night’s scoring with the Clip Show’s other round tripper in the sixth (98.0 MPH, 363 feet).

Ryan Borucki (RP, Columbus): 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K - Borucki’s 2026 Triple-A ERA remains unblemished through 5.2 innings in five relief outings.

Aaron Walton (CF, Akron): 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K.- Walton’s August SLG dropped to “only” .500 despite him providing the RubberDucks’ other RBI hit of the evening.

Bennett Thompson (C, Akron): 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB - Despite his fourth-inning single ending in a TOOTBLAN, Thompson reached twice early in the contest to extend his on-base streak to 13 games over the last two and two-thirds series.

Franklin Gomez (SP, Akron): ND, 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R (all earned), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR allowed - The best way to look at Gomez’s starts the rest of this season is as an unofficial rehab assignment - one that I would not be surprised to see continue in the Arizona Fall League.

Tommy Hawke (CF, Lake County): 2-6, 2 R, 2 2 2B, 1 K, 1 SB - Hawke, who had been in an etra-base hit drought for nearly two weeks and hadn’t hit a double since July 9, hit a pair of two-baggers last night.

Welbyn Francisca (SS, Lake County): 2-5, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB - Francisca, who is slashing .354/.427/.738 in August, now has nine multi-hit games this month.

Cannon Peebles (DH, Lake County): 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB - Peebles had a similar performance to Martinez, albeit towards the end of the contest - providing a pair of insurance runs and earning his first multi-hit game as a Captain.

Jeffrey Mercedes (3B, Lake County): 2-3, 1R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP - Mercedes rebounded from his first multi-PA 0-fer since August 8 with his fifth two-hit game since then.

Jose Pirela (RF, Lake County): 1-5, 2 RBI, 3 K - Pirela is slashing. 291/.371/.564 after his fourth multi-RBI effort of the month.

Donovan Zsak (RP, Lake County): W (5-0), 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 K - Zsak has not allowed a run (earned or otherwise) in 7.2 August frames.

Yeiferth Castillo (starting DH, Hill City): 2-3 - Castillo is raking this week with a pair of singles on his statline each of the last three days.

Alejandro Blasco (CF, Hill City): 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 CS - Blasco has now posted back-to-back multi-base performances for the first time in non-complex ball.

Erick Dessens (LF, Hill City): 2-4, 2 K, Picked Off 1 time - Dessens rounded out the trio of two-hit evenings with his first as a professional.

Jhorvic Abreus (3B-RF, Hill City): 1-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 Outfield Assist - Abreus now has one of each type of extra-base hit this week after his game-tying double in the ninth last night.

Triple-A: St. Paul Saints 10, Columbus Clippers 2 (8/19) (Statcast)
St Paul Saints 8, Columbus Clippers 2 (Statcast)
Double-A: Akron RubberDucks 2, Harrisburg Senators 1
High-A: Lake County Captains 10, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1
Single-A: Charleston River Dogs 8, Hill City Howlers 7

Highlights

Ralphy Velazquez (1B/LF, Columbus): 4-8, 2 HR, 3 RBI - Velazquez went deep in each game of the semi-double header, both came on fastballs. He did single on a changeup in game two. He’s crushing Triple-A fastballs but needs work on breaking and offspeed pitches still. And that’s where the rest of the development comes from. The two fastballs he homered on were 90-93 MPH middle middle heaters. So he handles that just fine.

Daniel Schneemann (2B/3B, Columbus): 3-7, HR, BB, RBI - The good news for Schneemann is that his homer was off a sweeper that he hit 407 feeet, so that makes it feel like he’s moving back in a better direction.

Braylon Doughty (SP, Akron): 4IP, 2H, BB, 5K - Nice to see Doughty come back and look stronger. He was just OK in his first start back from “arm fatigue” in three innings but this was a much better performance overall and got him back up in innings a little.

Anthony Martinez (1B, Lake County): 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2BB, K - A strong game for Martinez who ripped a big homer to the opposite field. He’s a big dude at 6’3 230 and is having a nice run this season so far hitting and finding some power he didn’t have in college.

Notable Performances

Kyle Manzardo (DH/1B, Columbus): 2-8, HR, 4 K - Manzardo too has no issues with Triple-A fastballs but also is striking out on changeups still and it is something he needs to reconcile.

Jace LaViolette (DH, Akron): 1-2, 2B, 2BB, K - Getting more of the LaViolette three-true-outcome experiences now in Double-A, extra base hits, walks, strikeouts. He’s at a 39 K% in Double-A, but some of that has been due to passivity as well, so we’ll keep an eye on how many whiffs he is racking up.

Dean Curley (SS, Akron): 2-4, 2K - Two singles but Curley is having a good run recently in Double-A, though the two whiffs are worrisome. He’s quite passive and takes a lot of pitches but also has swing and miss in the zone.

Welbyn Francisca (SS, Lake County): 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB - An inside the park homer for Francisca who is continuing a solid bounce back year.

Harrison Bodendorf (SP, Lake County): 4.2IP, 2H, 3BB, 5K - A solid effort keeping the scoreboard clean for Bodendorf, who was his usual 90-91 from the funk low left side but also runs into walk issues because of it. Makes him look like a reliever long term.

Jonathan Martinez (CF, Hill City): 2-4, 2B, BB - Martinez, 20, continues to do a good job getting on base this year despite little power.

Jhorvic Abreus (3B, Hill City): 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K - Just the third homer this year for the 20 year old switch hitting utiltiy infielder.

Triple-A: St. Paul Saints 2, Columbus Clippers 0 - SUSP. to 8/20 B3 (rain) - Statcast
Double-A: Harrisburg Senators 10, Akron RubberDucks 6
High-A: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5, Lake County Captains 3
Single-A: Hill City Howlers 4, Charleston RiverDogs 3

Highlights:

Jace LaViolette (LF, Akron): 2-5, R, HR, 3 RBIs, OF assist - LaViolette has had several instances of hard-hit balls, but for the first time in Double-A, one of his flyballs left the yard. He put the RubberDucks up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning and then in the seventh, he drove in a third run via an RBI single. The 22-year-old hasn’t had the strongest start in Akron, but getting the first homerun at a new level out of the way might open him up for success in the near future. Along with his efforts at the plate, LaViolette recorded an outfield assist for the second consecutive night.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jace LaViolette&#39;s first Double-A homer is a 2-run shot! <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{"url":"https://nextyearincleveland.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe","language":"en"}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM">

19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jace is having a night!<br><br>His second hit and third RBI of the game!<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/QuAkron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#QuAkron pic.twitter.com/wiQA5KVdDA

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Mooney stays 🔥<br><br>He drives in two with a double down the line!!<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/QuAkron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#QuAkron pic.twitter.com/dFM9aJZNxn

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Schubart 💣<a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/hashtag/QuAkron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#QuAkron pic.twitter.com/B2iOohFLyS

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hawke extends the lead! 🙌<br><br>Tommy Hawke gives the Captains a 2-0 advantage with an RBI single! 🔥 <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://t.co/lmHWkhwecb\">pic.twitter.com/lmHWkhwecb

Triple-A - Omaha Storm Chasers at Columbus Clippers CANCELLED - Wet Grounds
Double-A - Akron RubberDucks at Altoona Curve POSTPONED TO 9/10 - Rain
High-A - Dayton Dragons at Lake County Captains CANCELLED - Rain
Single-A - Hill City Howlers 2, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 0 CANCELLED TOP 2 - Rain

NOTABLE UNOFFICIAL HOWLER PERFORMANCES

Jonathan Martinez (CF): 1-1, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB - Martinez, who reached safely in both plate appearances, lost his 32nd steal of the year to the South Carolina rain.

Erick Dessens (DH): 1-1, 1 R, 1 SB - Speaking of stolen bases, Dessens - who drove in the first run on a first-inning fielder’s choice, had his professional career total cut in half by the precipitation.

Yeiferth Castillo (LF): 1-1, 1 RBI - Castillo’s 45th RBI of the 2026 campaign was another casualty of the downpour as his first-inning single was erased from the record books.

Johan Rodriguez (SS): 1-1, 1 2B - Rodriguez led off the top of the second with a double and was left stranded on the bases when the deluge hit.

Gabriel Rodriguez (2B): 0-0, 1 HBP - The rawest deal from the rainout has to belong to Hill City’s other Rodriguez, who was plunked hard enough that the trainer had to come out to check him and he doesn’t even get the OBP boost from it.

Miguel Flores (SP): ND, 1 IP, 1 H - Flores threw two-thirds of his pitches (14 of 21) for strikes in a shutout frame that he, officially, never pitched.

Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 7, Omaha Storm Chasers 2 (Savant)
Double-A: Altoona Curve 12, Akron RubberDucks 3
High-A: Dayton Dragons 6, Lake County Captains 5
Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans 5, Hill City Howlers 1
Rookie: DSL Astros Orange 9, DSL CLE Mendoza 0

Highlights

Daniel Schneemann (SS, Columbus): 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, SB - Schneemann hasn’t been ‘hot’ at Triple-A since his demotion but he’s played well and has moved all over. He and Fry will probably compete for who comes up in Spetember.

Rorik Maltrud (SP, Columbus): 6IP, 5H, ER, BB, 7K - A very good outing for Maltrud who had a stong start to the year and has been up and down a bit, but had 19 whiffs, six on his fastball that was 92-94 and he threw the kitchen sink at Omaha.

Blake Perkins (CF, Columbus): 2-2, 2 BB, RBI, 2B, SB - Perkins has been pretty good since getting to Columbus and remains on the 40 man roster as an outfield option.

Ryan Cesarini (LF, Akron): 2-5 - No homers for Cesarini, so he’s in a slump with just two singles. He did also make a fielding error.

Welbyn Francisca (SS, Lake County): 2-4, 2B, BB, K - Francisca has a 10 game hitting streak going and has been impressive the last two months in Lake County despite starting the season with an injury.

Alejandro Blasco (DH, Hill City): 2-4, 2B, 2 K - Blasco had a strong ACL season and got his first extra base hit at Single-A.

Erigaldi Perez (SP, Hill City): 6IP, 6H, 3R (1ER), BB, 5K - The 20 year old was a bit let down by his defense but had a strong game otherwise.

Notable Performances

Ralphy Velazquez (1B, Columbus): 1-3, 2BB, SB - No homers, but the walks are a nice thing to see from Velazquez and he even added his first steal of the season.

Daniel Espino (RP, Columbus): IP, K - A 14 pitch outing for Espino with a 98 MPH fatball average and three whiffs. The efficiency at this point is what is most important for Espino.

Jaison Chourio (RF, Akron): 0-2, 3 BB, PO, E - Tough day for Chourio who did have three walks but he also got picked off and made a fielding error.

Jonathan Martinez (CF, Hill City): 1-2, RBI, 2BB, K, Sb - Martinez hasn’t had a ton of hits, but his OPS is .813 and 31 steals, so he’s put up an interesting season so far.

Carson Lane (RP, Hill City): IP, K - The 2026 draft pick had a steallar outing with just 12 pitches and eight strikes.

Hiverson Lopez (DH, Mendoza): 1-3 - Lopez extended his August-long hit streak to ten games on a rough day for the Mendoza offense as a whole with a hit that kept the damage to his OPS at seven points (dropped from 1.011 to 1.004).

Sebastian Puche (C, Mendoza): 1-3, 1 E - Puche’s productive plate appearance streak now stands at 22 games dating back to July 6 at Padres Gold after his Saturday single.

Wilber Reinoso (CF, Mendoza): 1-3, 1 K - Reinoso extended his hitting streak to five contests yesterday.

Sebastian Espinoza (RF, Mendoza): 0-2, 1 BB - On a day like yesterday, getting on base and an outfield assist on a play at the plate makes for a notable performance.

Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 6, Omaha Storm Chasers 2
Double-A: Akron RubberDucks 7, Altoon Curve 1
High-A: Lake County Captains 5, Dayton Dragons 1
Single-A: Hill City Howlers 11, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 7
DSL Guardians Mendoza 8, DSL Tampa Bay 6 (F/7 - Scheduled)
DSL Padres Gold 13, DSL Guardians Goryl 5

HIGHLIGHTS

David Fry (C, Columbus): 2-4, HR, 2 RBI - Both Fry and Manzardo have seen some good results since their demotions overall and Fry got his first look back behind the plate. Perhaps he makes sense as a September callup for versatility, but judging his “rebound” in Triple-A over 10 days would be irresponsible and not predictive of anything.

Ben Lively (SP, Columbus): 4IP, 2H, 3K - By far the best start during Lively’s “rehab” tour even though this wasn’t a rehab start. His 30 days of rehab are over and he is on the Triple-A/minor league active roster. He’s not on the 40 man since he signed a minor league deal. His velo showed up at 91 on average, up from his 89 in 2025, which is good. He got some whiffs on his changeup too. Overall a nice night during his comeback.

Ryan Cesarini (RF, Akron): 3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB, SB - Cesarini had 7 homers in 34 games in High-A and now has 8 in 20 games at Double-A. 6 of these homers have come in the last 3 days (3, 1, 2). One of those homers was off a position player. I don’t want to disparage what Cesarini has done. I think he’s interesting and maybe developing a bit, but between the offensive explosions we are seeing across the minors this year and how bad Altoona’s pitching staff is, I’m pumping the breaks on anything that says some kind of unpredictable breakout and serious power surge. It’s a fun week, and he’s playing great and we are paying attention. But evaluating his performance is going to require a deeper look than this post.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You cannot be serious, Ryan Cesarini!<br><br>He launches his second homer in two innings and his SIXTH in the last three games 🤯 <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://t.co/qHmfphp1jF\">pic.twitter.com/qHmfphp1jF

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jacob Zibin fans seven across six solid innings for the <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/LCCaptains?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LCCaptains 💎

6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K pic.twitter.com/sFjRovp6Pe

Triple-A: Columbus Clippers 15, Omaha Storm Chasers 7 (Statcast)
Double-A: Akron RubberDucks 4, Altoona Curve 3
High-A: Lake County Captains 4, Dayton Dragons 2
Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3, Hill City Howlers 1
Rookie: DSL Guardians Goryl 12, DSL Rays 8

Highlights

David Fry (RF, Columbus): 3-4, 3 R, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, SF - David Fry was one of a few catalysts of an offensive explosion for Columbus on Wednesday for 15 runs on 15 hits. Fry left the yard twice and had four separate at-bats that delivered runs for the team. He singled home the first run of the contest followed by a sacrifice fly in the second inning, a three-run homerun in the sixth and a solo shot in the eighth. He now has nine RBIs in the last three games with the Clippers.

Ralphy Velazquez (DH, Columbus): 3-5, 3 R, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs - The hot streak continues for Velazquez with his ninth homerun in the last 12 games and this time it came with a season-high five RBIs. The 21-year-old connected for a three-run shot to cap off a five-run bottom of the first inning and then gave the Clippers an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the fifth with his second homerun of the night. Columbus would not relinquish the lead from the moment the 422-foot blast landed. Three times did Velazquez hit 105 or more on the exit velocity on Wednesday.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ralphy Velazquez can&#39;t be stopped 🔥<br><br>His second bomb of the night puts the <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://x.com/CLBClippers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CLBClippers back on top! pic.twitter.com/wdo9g8gPsm

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ralphy Velazquez sends a three-run blast deep into the Columbus night 🤯 <a href="/__u/nextyearincleveland.substack.com/%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cdiv%20class="twitter-embed" data-attrs="{"url":"https://t.co/LdD7qgywuB\">pic.twitter.com/LdD7qgywuB