Pro Anteaters Continue to Rise in 2023
September 04, 2023 | Baseball
Keston Hiura - Milwaukee Brewers | Hiura had a tumultuous spring training which saw him put on waivers and sent to Triple-A where he has spent the entire season for the Brewers organization on the Nashville Sounds. That hasn't stopped him from mashing hitting .310 on the season and ranking eighth in all of minor league baseball with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs while playing in just 84 games missing a good amount due to injury
Keston Hiura has hit another homer for Nashville. pic.twitter.com/I24me9wU4v
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) August 23, 2023
. @Kestdaddy just can't be stopped. pic.twitter.com/rDEQYzGB6C
— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) August 21, 2023
Andre Pallante - St. Louis Cardinals / Memphis Redbirds | The fireballing right-hander began the season in the Majors for the Cardinals for his second year and has stayed there for a majority of the season. A brief IL stint followed by five games of minor league ball is all he needed, otherwise he has made 49 appearances in the big leagues with a 4-1 record and 39 strikeouts in 54.1 innings.
why hello there fellow Anteater @ucibsb pic.twitter.com/XmXTizMGyl
— PhillieDrone (@PhillieDrone) July 8, 2023
Landed in London!#STLCards x #LondonSeries pic.twitter.com/fz4ipjvoQq
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 22, 2023
Calvin Faucher - Tampa Bay Rays / Durham Bulls | Another pro making it through his second season at the Major League level is Calvin Faucher. He was on the Rays for Opening Day for the first time in his career and has pitched 17 times including four times as an opener or starter. He's kept up with 25 strikeouts in 25.2 innings and managing a 1-1 record.
The injury bug has stung him a little as well along with options to Triple-A Durham at times. He's made a total of nine minor league appearances sporting an ERA under 1.00 overall and striking out 13 in 9.2 innings with hope that he could be including in a Rays postseason run in October.
Durham is also knocking on the postseason door tied for first as they begin September hoping to make the International League playoffs in Triple-A.
Christian Koss - Worcester Red Sox / Portland Sea Dogs | The infielder in his fourth year of pro ball and third with the Red Sox organization has had a busy year welcoming his first child into the world along with progressing through the levels. He's currently coming off a lengthy injured list stint returning to Triple-A Worcester where he's played 25 games. Along with 38 games in Double-A where he drove in 10 and stole 11 bases, Koss continues to rise up the ladder in each year he's been in the system knocking on that Major League door.
Worcester is on the outside looking in at the playoffs with seven teams and 2.5 games to make up in the standings over the next month to represent the International League.
Congrats to Christian Koss and Theo Denlinger as they are @Hertz Players on the Move...both have been promoted to Triple-A @WooSox. pic.twitter.com/VDt75zkubV
— Portland Sea Dogs (@PortlandSeaDogs) May 30, 2023
Christian Koss belts his second home run of the season cutting the Fisher Cats lead to 10-8 in the 8th inning. pic.twitter.com/MnEPU4Jp06
— Portland Sea Dogs (@PortlandSeaDogs) May 28, 2023
Brandon Lewis - Tulsa Drillers | The L.A.-native has spent the entire season with Double-A Tulsa having an off year after hitting 24+ HRs in each of his last two seasons. Just six this year with an average hovering around .200, Lewis still is in prime position for a call-up seeing many of his Driller teammates hit the Major League level straight from Double-A in 2023.
Today's @918Chiro Player of the Game goes to Brandon Lewis who had 4 RBI's today! ?? pic.twitter.com/tBIIFrrtKl
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) July 9, 2023
Brandon Lewis hit home run #6, and here's how it looked from behind home plate. Lewis has hits in 2 games in a row, 3 of his last 4 and is 6 for his last 14. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/CGMV35cZYs
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 21, 2023
Taylor Rashi - Reno Aces | Taylor Rashi was on the move being selected in the Minor League portion of the Rule 5 Draft hopping up from Double-A with the Giants to Triple-A in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Unfortunately, he was put on the 60-day Injured List at the beginning of the season, but has worked all the way back and rehabbing in the instructional league and recently joining the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles where he's back to mowing people down - 10 strikeouts, one BB, one run, three hits in five games over 7.1 innings including two wins.
The Sod Poodles have a real shot to extend their season with a three-game lead on the division and two weeks to hold it in Texas League action.
Royce Lewis - Minnesota Twins | The Anteater NLI signee again dealt with injuries, but has battled through them for a successful 2023 to this point hitting near .300 over 25 games with nine homers including back-to-back games with grand slams recently. Lewis is joined by a few Anteaters that heard the call before they followed that NLI to Anteater Ballpark which include Timmy Lopes, in pro ball since 2012, and newly-drafted Anthony Huezo who began his pro career this summer.
Lewis could have an impact on the postseason with the Twins sitting in first place by five games and still a month to play.
For the first time in his MLB career, Royce Lewis has homers in back-to-back games ??
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 25, 2023
The @Twins rookie rips one 114 mph, his hardest hit ball in The Show: pic.twitter.com/DKFhpbEN8Z
Royce Lewis with a BOMB in his first rehab game back for the @StPaulSaints
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) August 9, 2023
??109.3 mph
??20.6 degrees
??441 feet #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/fFmw7eLUXu
Peter Van Loon - Bowie Baysox | Peter Van Loon has been dug in at Double-A Bowie for the entire season with an injury stint mixed in. He's made 16 appearances with nine as a starter and 47.1 innings to his name winning twice and earning a save.
The Baysox have some work to do with just two weeks to make up two games in the standings to try and make the Eastern League playoffs.
On The Verge #BabyBird of the day for June 16th:
— The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@BSLOnTheVerge) June 17, 2023
Bowie Baysox RHP Peter Van Loon: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K pic.twitter.com/DtFvPMBlyC
Trenton Denholn - Lake County Captains | Denholm made the move up to Hi-A Lake County where he's been all season and put up solid numbers - 3-3 with two saves in 21 outings starting six times while striking out 59 in 69 innings to just 16 walks.
Lake County has an uphill battle back 3.5 games with a couple weeks to go if they want to continue their season into the Midwest League Playoffs.
caught one W, fishin' for another ??
— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) August 16, 2023
game two start time 6:35pm - tune in to Bally Live || https://t.co/mcN5zoUY1S pic.twitter.com/JISGZffibQ
#Guardians 23yr old RHP prospect Trenton Denholm delivered his best outing of the season Friday for @LCCaptains striking out 7 over 5.0 scoreless innings vs Fort Wayne. He lowered his ERA to 2.83 on the year.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) July 1, 2023
Line - 5.0(IP) 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 7SO (65 Pitches 46 Strikes)#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/F6kYdL8G3Z
Nathan Church - Peoria Chiefs | Church's first full season of pro ball has come in the Midwest with Hi-A Peoria. A staple near the top of the lineup, Church is hitting .280 with 127 hits in 119 games including three homers, 44 RBIs, 65 runs, and 21 steals.
Church and the Chiefs are sitting well with a three-game lead on a playoff spot in their Midwest League division. Division leaders Cedar Rapids won the first half and cannot claim the second half title.
THE CARDIAC CHIEFS ARE CARDIAC CHIEFING
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) August 27, 2023
NATHAN CHURCH RBI DOUBLE PUTS THE CHIEFS ???? IN THE B8? pic.twitter.com/wWVVs1J39K
TAKING THEM TO CHURCH ??
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) July 21, 2023
NATHAN CHURCH STARTS THIS PARTY EARLY WITH A SOLO SHOT TO PUT THE CHIEFS UP 1-0 IN THE T1? pic.twitter.com/pF2VLLGjlN
Taishi Nakawake - Winston-Salem Dash | Nakawake continues to grind in Hi-A for Winston-Salem playing 78 games with 69 hits, 10 for doubles, and his first pro home run along with 28 RBIs
Taishi!! First pro ?? #RipEm pic.twitter.com/ChBWe6mjKp
— UCI Baseball (@UCIbsb) June 16, 2023
Taishi Nakawake lines a single up the middle and Goose puts the pedal to the metal. Tie ballgame in the 10th at 2 for the 10,200 fans in attendance. #Dash #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/hmSlVu7jpl
— White Sox Daily (@dailywhitesox) July 5, 2023
Taishi Nakawake doubles into the LF corner to bring around Shawn Goosenberg (E5). #Dash up 3-1. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/Or9LfwT1uG
— White Sox Daily (@dailywhitesox) June 20, 2023
Troy Taylor - Everett Aquasox / Modesto Nuts | In his first full season of pro ball, Taylor has already earned a promotion. Beginning and pitching 32 games of relief for Hi-A Modesto, Taylor flashed 51 strikeouts in 35 innings to go with a 4.11 ERA, three holds, three saves, and a 1-1 record. He recently made the jump to Hi-A Everett where he's earned three more holds in five appearances already allowing seven baserunners in seven innings.
Everett looks good to make the postseason with five games up on Eugene and a couple weeks remaining. Division leaders Vancouver won the first half and cannot claim the second half title and Everett the next in line to punch their ticket to the championship series as things stand.
Troy Taylor is making the move!
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) August 16, 2023
The right-handed pitcher has been promoted from @ModestoNuts to the @EverettAquaSox. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/CsgjIclRpt
Troy Taylor closes it out. What a game. pic.twitter.com/nEGubJVjCs
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) July 3, 2023
3 strikeouts in the 9th for Troy Taylor. pic.twitter.com/jsxjqxnqXF
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) June 26, 2023
Mike Peabody - Inland Empire 66ers | The free agent signing has played close to home in the Cal League for Single-A Inland Empire. After two seasons in Hi-A, Peabody has fared well in 62 games hitting six home runs, driving in 32, and posting a .238 average with his usual gold glove defense.
Inland Empire leads the Cal League South trying to hold off Lake Elsinore by two games. If they can, they will enter the playoffs in two weeks against first-half winner, Rancho Cucamonga.
Mike Peabody solo HR for Single-A Inland Empire: pic.twitter.com/pwRejskxqj
— AngelsMiLB (@AngelsMiLB) July 19, 2023
Dillon Tatum - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels | Tatum touched Double-A near the end of 2022, but has been a rock in Single-A Fort Myers for a second season. One home run for the UCI HR king while platooning behind the plate and some at first base clocking in for 50 total games and 18 RBIs
Dillon Tatum blasts one out in Bradenton to extend our lead!!
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) June 13, 2023
Bot 4 | Mussels 6, Marauders 2#MusselUP1 pic.twitter.com/Jo2ZcB5Xy5
Jacob King - Rookie Twins | The freshest Anteater face is Jacob King who was signed to the Twins in early August. He made his debut in the instructional league in Florida striking out a batter and allowing a run in 0.2 innings. He pitched a perfect frame on the 19th for his only other appearance this year in his young pro career.
Ben Fitzgerald - Glacier Range Riders | One Anteater is still roughing it in independent ball and that's Ben Fitzgerald playing in the Pioneer League, a partner league for the MLB with many formet Minor League ballclubs in action. Fitzgerald is hitting bombs for the Glacier Range Riders, named after nearby Glacier National Park, up in Kalispell, Montana. In 74 games, he's hitting right at .300 with 13 home runs, 22 doubles, 55 RBIs, and five steals to top it off. Just one week left in the Range Rider season with the playoffs likely out of reach.
