TWitM: Jac Caglianone goes deeeeeep!

The lower minors begin the season.

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 (4-4)

The Storm Chasers had a chance to take the series against Louisville but dropped games on Saturday and Sunday to split the six games. Drew Waters went 4-for-5 on Wednesday, hitting for the cycle.

He homered again the next night (this time out of the park after Tuesday’s inside-the-parker) and overall went 10-for-15 (.667) with two steals for the week. Cam Devanney is also on a tear, smacking three home runs and hitting 6-for-16 (.375) with a steal. Harold Castro also homered and went 6-for-18 (.333). Jordan Groshans went 3-for-8 (.375) with a double.

Tyson Guerrero was perfect over five innings against the Louisville Bats with seven strikeouts. Luinder Avila struck out 16 in two starts, allowing just 7 hits and three runs over 11 ²⁄₃ innings against the Louisville Bats. Thomas Hatch had a solid two-hit start over five innings with one run and six strikeouts. Noah Cameron made his season debut on Wednesday, allowing just three hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings with six strikeouts.

Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3-0)

The Naturals not only swept the Tulsa Drillers, they absolutely destroyed the Dodgers’ affiliate, outscoring them 35-19, including a ten-run eighth inning on opening day. The Naturals hit .372/.466/.562 over the weekend, so pretty much everyone in the lineup is off to a good start, including 2024 first-round pick Jac Caglianone who went 5-for-13 (.385). But what really turned heads was his first home run of the year, a 464-foot blast that left the ballpark.

Carter Jensen had three hits on opening day, and went 7-for-15 (.467) overall, although he had seven strikeouts. Peyton Wilson went 4-for-11 (.364) with five walks and two steals. Jack Pineda went 3-for-6 with 4 RBI on Saturday, including his first home run. Spencer Nivens also went yard and was 5-for-13 (.385) overall on the weekend. Sam Ruta, who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the Army over the winter, made his professional debut by going 2-for-4 with two doubles.

On the pitching side, Ben Kudrna allowed just two runs and no walks in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings in his season debut, striking out four. Ethan Bosacker was able to go five innings and pick up a win on Saturday, giving up just two runs and three hits. Ryan Brady had a terrific relief performance with five strikeouts in three innings, allowing one run. Brandon Johnson had a pair of scoreless relief outings, locking down a save in a wild 12-11 win on opening day.

High-A Quad Cities River Bandits (3-0)

Opening Day was rained out for the River Bandits, but they made up for with a doubleheader the next day, and eventually swept the Peoria Chiefs. Carson Roccaforte was the big hitting star, smashing a double and triple in the first game on Saturday, then smacking two home runs in game two. Overall he is hitting 4-for-12 (.333) with three walks already. Carter Frederick went 3-for-11 with 4 RBI and 4 walks, stealing five bases in five chances. Sam Kulasingam went 4-for-12 (.333) with a double, triple, and three walks.

Frank Mozzicato picked up a win in his first start, giving up one hit and one run in five innings with three strikeouts. Hunter Patteson struggled with command a bit in the season opener with five walks but gave up just two unearned runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. Shane Panzini offered up three scoreless innings of relief. AJ Causey struck out four in two innings of scoreless relief and Juan Martinez struck out three in his only scoreless inning.

Low-A Columbia Fireflies (1-2)

The Fireflies lost a wild back-and-forth affair, falling to the Augusta Greenjackets 13-12 in ten innings to drop the series on Sunday. Derlin Figueroa homered twice in that game while driving in 6 runs and walking four times, bringing his average to .455. Stone Russell was the only other Fireflies hitter to homer over the weekend, and he hit 3-for-7 (.429) with a walk. Asbel Gonzalez stole five bases and was 3-for-12 (.250).

The Fireflies pitched well in a 3-1 win on Saturday but otherwise had trouble keeping runs off the board. Yunior Marte gave up just one run on two hits in 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. Dennis Colleran pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts to notch the first save of the season. Yeri Perez struck out two of the three batters he faced, and Elvis Novas had two strikeouts in 1 ¹⁄₃ innings of scoreless work.