Ridin’ the storm out
Is there any better value in America right now than minor league baseball? I think not. The stadiums are comfortable and intimate. Parking is cheap and accessible. The food and drink prices are reasonable and the talent on the field, is by and large, very good. And the ticket prices are excellent, especially considering how close you can get to the action. My only regret is not discovering minor league baseball earlier in my life.
Last Saturday, I got my first look at the 2025 version of the Omaha Storm Chasers. I can’t say I love the team name, or their jerseys, but the team is loaded with players who have spent time in Kansas City and on other major league rosters. Triple-A baseball is an interesting mix. You have guys on the way up and guys hanging on, real-life Crash Davis types, hoping for one more day in the sun.
The game was played at Principal Park in Des Moines, home of the Iowa Cubs. Principal was formerly known by its cooler name Sec Taylor Stadium prior to the financial firm writing a big check. Principal is a cozy park that can hold up to 11,500 fans for baseball. From the first base side, you can see the buildings that make up the Des Moines skyline, all three of them. From most seats, you get a good look at the beautiful Iowa state capital, which sits on a hill across the Des Moines River.
The I-Cubs, as they are known hereabouts, have five players ranked on MLB’s top 100 prospects – pitcher Cade Horton, catcher Mosies Ballesteros, second baseman James Triantos and outfielders Kevin Alcanterra and Owen Caissie. The left-handed hitting Caisse, just 22 years old, is the Cubs version of Jac Caglianone. He had a booming home run in the Friday night opener, a win by the I-Cubs.
Chandler Champlain got the start for Omaha and had a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde outing. He breezed through the first inning on just 12 pitches, before losing command of the strike zone in the second. At one point, 13 of his 17 pitches were balls, prompting a mound visit. It took him 29 pitches to get out of the inning while the Cubbies batted around, scoring three.
Champlain was nails in the third, breezing through on just 11 pitches. Dr. Jekyll showed up for the fourth. The Cubs went single, single, run-scoring single, three-run home run and a four-pitch walk, which ended Champlain’s day. Champlain, whose pitching windup will remind you of Brady Singer, threw 72 pitches over three innings while coughing up seven runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
At this point, the score stood 7-2 Iowa at the end of four. Andrew Hoffman was the next Omaha pitcher, and he looked very solid as a lanky 6’5 righty, who consistently hit 95 on his heater mixing in 86 mph breaking pitches. Hoffman’s delivery reminded me a bit of Kevin Appier. He just turned 25 and looks like he should be in the Kansas City bullpen this summer. He turned in two solid innings of work before giving way to Austin Cox, who also looked good.
Jonathan Bowlan threw the seventh and eighth innings. Bowlan is a beast of a man, listed at 6’6 and 240. He throws with an easy fluid motion, hitting 95 with the fastball. He also mixed speeds well with his breaking stuff and changeups arriving between 80 and 86 mph. Bowlan limited the junior Cubs to just a measly infield single. I liked what I saw from him, and like Hoffman and Cox, he should be in KC sooner than later, especially if any of the Royals bullpen arms falter. And the early returns from Kansas City suggest we have a couple of bullpen arms that are struggling.
Old friend Taylor Clarke pitched the ninth, and wasn’t quite as sharp as the previous three, but escaped unscathed with the help of a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.
After falling behind 7-2, the Chasers kept fighting. They picked up four in the sixth, thanks to four walks and a two-out, bases-clearing double off the bat of Nick Loftin. Loftin looked great, going 3 for 4 with two walks. The Chasers tied it up in the seventh inning when Joey Wiemer led off with an infield single. This ball was hit directly to the I-Cubs shortstop, but Wiemer has a legitimate set of wheels and beat the throw by a step. He moved to second on a balk and Omaha bunted him to third. At this, I had to ask, why? You have a racehorse at second with no outs?!? Plus, you have the heart of the order coming up. Why give up an out? With two outs, Tyler Tolbert saved Mike Jirschle’s behind with a single to left, scoring Wiemer. The Chasers blew it open in the eighth when John Rave, who had two hits, a walk and scored three times, led off with a single. With two outs, Wiemer took one off the leg and Harold Castro drew a walk, loading the bases. Luke Maile unloaded them with a booming home run over the left field wall. Omaha tacked on one more in the ninth when Cam Devanney turned on a hanging curve. The Cubs left fielder didn’t even move to chase this blast, which was a no-doubter. Final: Omaha 12, Iowa 7.
A few things jumped out at me. First, I love the challenge system for balls and strikes. It works much like the system used in tennis. It’s quick and efficient and I’m looking forward to this being used in the majors next summer. Second, Omaha has some talent. Despite Champlain’s rough outing, he had some moments. The bullpen work was outstanding.
With the bats, I was disappointed to not see Javier Vaz in Omaha. I don’t think it’s a talent issue, but a numbers issue. The Royals just have too many middle infielders in their system. Nelson Velasquez, who is a solidly built dude, drew three walks and struck out twice. If he’s going to be a three-outcome player, he needs to start hitting some dingers. Tyler Gentry had a rough day, going oh for six. Loftin was the offensive star and probably should be in Kansas City. If the Royals can’t get their corner outfielders to produce, give John Rave a shot. I’m not sure what to think about Joey Wiemer. He’s big and athletic and has speed to burn but also has a lot of swing-and-miss to his game. If he could consistently make contact, he could be dangerous. Luke Maile had a nice day, going 2 for 4 with a walk. The big blow was his grand slam, but he also picked an I-Cub off first base in the second inning with the bases loaded, which mercifully ended the inning.
The Chasers aren’t afraid to run, and I’m not convinced that’s a good thing. Loftin had a steal early in the game, which I would have challenged. Velasquez stole second and was out by a mile, but the second baseman dropped the ball. He made up for that later in the inning by trying to score on a Devanney single. The throw beat him by ten feet and the Cubs catcher did not drop the ball.
It’ll be a fun summer in Omaha watching these kids play. It will also be interesting to see how the summer plays out when some of these guys get called up to Kansas City. Tyler Tolbert is the first, getting the call on Monday March 31, so congratulations to him. These callups will open some Omaha spots for players like Vaz, Caglianone, Carter Jensen and Gavin Cross. Here’s hoping that the Royals brass gives some of the Omaha guys a shot this summer instead of depleting the farm system with trades.