Baumann Goes For 3rd Triple-A Title Tonight

After winning Back-to-Back Triple-A National Championships with the Omaha Storm Chasers, left-hander Buddy Baumann will have a chance to secure his third Gildan Triple-A National Championship ring on Tuesday night at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee.

Baumann, now a pitcher with the El Paso Chihuahuas, has been outstanding in postseason play with the Chihuahuas through four outings, earning a win while allowing a lone unearned run in four appearances, adding five strikeouts. The southpaw in his career has been strong in the PCL postseason, combining for a 3-0 record and 1.15 ERA (2 ER/15.2 IP) in nine total outings (one start), along with 14 strikeouts and a 1.28 WHIP. That included a scoreless frame in the 2014 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game versus the Pawtucket Red Sox in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Over 104 combined appearances by Baumann in three seasons with Omaha from 2013-15, the lefty combined for an 8-8 record and 3.04 ERA (73 ER/216.0 IP) with six saves and 218 strikeouts. He was also the recipient of the Storm Chasers' Johnny Rosenblatt Community Service Award at the end of the 2015 season. Baumann also drew national media attention for his haircut wager with Brett Eibner during that season.

After becoming a free agent following the 2015 campaign, Baumann was signed by the San Diego Padres to a Major League contract, and made his Major League debut on July 16, 2016 versus the San Francisco Giants. In seven appearances with the Padres he has tallied a 1-0 record and 6.75 ERA (4 ER/5.1 IP), adding seven strikeouts. In 24 outings with the Chihuahuas he has recorded a 1-1 mark and 3.14 ERA (10 ER/28.2 IP) along with 31 punchouts.

The 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game will take place on Tuesday evening at Autozone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, home of the Memphis Redbirds. The contest pitting the Chihuauhas against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will be televised live nationally on NBC Sports Network beginning at 7:05 p.m. CT. The Pacific Coast League has won each of the last four Gildan Triple-A National Championship Games, with the Fresno Grizzlies (2015), Storm Chasers (2013-14) and Reno Aces (2012) earning those victories.

A preview of tonight's game from MiLB.com can be found by clicking here.