Around the Curve | Curve in the Majors - Vol. 5
CURVE, PA. – Altoona has been a pipeline to the Major Leagues for nearly 26 years, with the current alumni count at 215 players achieving their dreams of becoming a big leaguer. This season, we want to look at some of the exciting accomplishments our alumni are achieving at the
CURVE, PA. – Altoona has been a pipeline to the Major Leagues for nearly 26 years, with the current alumni count at 215 players achieving their dreams of becoming a big leaguer. This season, we want to look at some of the exciting accomplishments our alumni are achieving at the Major League level. Every week, we will spotlight a handful of players who are succeeding at the next level and reflect on their time with the Curve, here on the Around the Curve Blog! Here is the fifth edition of: “Curve in the Majors.”
1. INF - Oneil Cruz - Pittsburgh Pirates
Season Stats: .246 AVG, 66 games, 9HRs, 30RBIs, .423 SLG
Where do we even start to describe that star power that is Oneil Cruz? From highlight reels to breaking stat cast records, very few things seem to be impossible for this young slugger. Since being acquired in the Tony Watson trade in July of 2017, he’s done everything he’s been expected to do and so much more. Since joining the Pirates in Pittsburgh that toasty October night, he’s hit a solid .240 batting average with 149 hits and 91 RBIs.
This year, Cruz has picked up where he left off after his short season last year due to an injury. Since Opening Day he’s been raking at the plate, hitting for a .246 batting average with a .719 OPS. Even as recently as the last ten games, Cruz is currently leading the team in RBIs and is constantly within the top five of the other most important categories such as OBP, SLG, and OPS.
While Cruz spent the better part of three years in Altoona, it was easy to notice the potential he had. Standing at a whopping six feet and seven inches, he towered over almost any opposing pitcher he faced in the Eastern League. From 2019 to 2021, Cruz batted a career average of .285 with 13 home runs and 57 RBIs. Unsurprisingly, he was named a postseason All-Star in the Eastern League during his time on the team.
2. RHP - Carmen Mlodzinski - Pittsburgh Pirates
Major League Stats: 1-2, 4.42 ERA, 13 Games ( 2 Starts) 18.1 IP, 9BBs, 17Ks
Former Altoona Curve starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski has become a critical piece in the Pirates bullpen, coming in during high-stakes moments and serving the purpose of getting out of any jam he’s placed in. Last year, he was considered to be one of the shining stars to make the successful jump from starter to reliever that year.
As previously mentioned Mlodzinski has been one of those relievers that would come in during the middle of the game when stakes are high. But recently he’s been given the “opener” rule when deemed necessary. His 2024 campaign so far has been a success, starting two of the 13 games he’s appeared in this season. Within that handful of games, Mlodzinski has tossed 18.1 innings allowing 12 runs on 16 hits, bringing his ERA to 4.42 overall. However, he has blossomed over his last eight appearances, allowing just one earned run over 11.2 IP with 12 strikeouts.
Mlodzinski was one of the stronger pitchers for the Curve during the 2022 season, starting 22 of the 27 games he appeared in. Within that almost full season of appearances, he came in second with six wins and eight losses. He also recorded 111 strikeouts while only walking 40 batters the entire season.
3. INF - Adam Frazier - Kansas City Royals
Season Stats: .208 AVG, 56 games, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, .595 OPS
A one-time All-Star, Adam Frazier was drafted by Pittsburgh in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He earned a spot in the All-Star game in 2021 as a Pirate. However, just a few weeks after the All-Star game, Frazier would be dealt to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Cash and Altoona Curve alums Tucupita Marcano and Jack Suwinski.
While Frazier has been in the majors for almost a decade now, he’s still finding ways to produce at the plate. Since joining the Royals in the early months of 2024, he’s been known as a reliable bench player who can pinch hit whenever necessary. This season he’s knocked a dependable .208 batting average with ten RBIs and seven doubles.
Frazier’s Curve career is often overlooked when it comes to dominant players of recent memory. While he never set or broke any record in Altoona, he still constructed a very impressive stat line. During the 103 games he appeared in, he punched an imposing .324 batting average along with a satisfactory OPS of .800. It should also be noted that during this time, he was named a mid-season Eastern League All-Star.
Other Notes:
- Braxton Ashcraft has taken like a fish to water in Triple-A Indianapolis, Since being promoted earlier this month, he has tossed just over 10 innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts.
- Cal Mitchell is still hitting a hot bat but now with El Paso Chihuahuas, who are the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. This season so far, he’s recorded a stat line of .266 Avg, 9 HR, and 26 RBIs with an 862 OPS.
- The Cinderella story continues for Drew Maggi, now with the Staten Island FerryHawks in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Maggi, who took the baseball world by storm last season when he made his Major League debut, smacked his first home run since 2021 this month and has three on the season in 24 games, showing that he still has it at 35 years old.
Stay tuned all season long for more exciting content on the Around the Curve Blog!
Bullpen Twirls a Gem in 7-1 Win
CURVE, Pa. – Altoona’s bullpen covered all nine innings in their 7-1 win over the Erie SeaWolves on Sunday night in front of 5,372 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Making his second start of the week, lefty Blake Townsend tossed four scoreless innings in the start. He allowed just
Pichardo Stays Hot in 7-2 Loss
CURVE, Pa. – Kervin Pichardo homered and tripled in a run, but Altoona dropped a 7-2 decision to the Erie SeaWolves on Saturday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field in front of 4,536 patrons. Following an hour and 57 minute rain delay to begin the game, Erie plated two runs
Pichardo, Weatherford Boys Lead Friday Night Victory
CURVE, Pa. – Kervin Pichardo rocked a three-run homer and Weatherford, Texas natives, Brenden Dixon (two hits and a walk) and Beau Burrows (two scoreless innings, save) led a 4-1 win for Altoona over the Erie SeaWolves on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. After Erie starter Carlos Pena
Bombs Away! Three Curve Homers Sink SeaWolves
CURVE, Pa. – Jack Brannigan, Imanol Vargas and Hudson Head each homered in Altoona’s 10-6 win over the Erie SeaWolves in front of 5,679 fans on Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Altoona took their first lead with a three-run third inning. After Brannigan’s two-run shot tied the game
Sixth Inning Sinks Curve
CURVE, Pa. – Despite building an early 2-0 lead, Altoona dropped a 5-2 decision to the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Curve have dropped seven of their last eight games and are now 25-34 on the season. Altoona scored the first two runs of
Erie Arms Silence Altoona Bats
Four Erie pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout of Altoona on Tuesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The SeaWolves earned a 3-0 win over the Curve in the series opener. After earning four hits in their first three innings at the plate, the Curve offense was unable to generate
Curve Blast Fisher Cats in Series Finale
MANCHESTER, NH – Altoona salvaged the final game of their six-game series at New Hampshire with a 11-5 win over the Fisher Cats on Sunday afternoon at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. The win broke a five-game losing streak for the Curve. Quiet all week, the Curve offense broke out
Curve Swept Away In Saturday Doubleheader
MANCHESTER, NH – Altoona’s losing streak stretched to five games as they were swept in a doubleheader by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 4-0 and 5-2, on Saturday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Altoona was shut out for a franchise-record fourth consecutive game in the opener of the
Bats Quiet Again in 2-0 Defeat
MANCHESTER, NH – Altoona was shutout for their third consecutive game at New Hampshire, falling 2-0 on Thursday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. It is the first time since August 2-4, 2021 that the Curve have been held without a run in three straight nine inning games. Fisher
Curve Shutout by Fisher Cats on Wednesday Night
MANCHESTER, NH – Despite another strong night from the Altoona pitching staff, the Curve dropped a 3-0 decision to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Wednesday night at Delta Dental Stadium in New Hampshire. Jarod Bayless started the bullpen day for the Curve and was touched for three runs in
Jebb, Cimillo Combine for Four Hits in Series Opening Defeat
MANCHESTER, NH – Mitch Jebb and Nick Cimillo combined for four of Altoona’s five hits in a 4-0 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Tuesday night at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Alessandro Ercolani dueled away with Fisher Cats starter Ryan Watson for the first four innings on
Johnson, Ross Lead Comeback Win, 7-5
CURVE, Pa. – For a second straight game, Altoona rallied from a late-inning deficit and earned a victory against the Portland Sea Dogs. The 7-5 win for the Curve ensured a series split with the Boston Red Sox affiliate. Termarr Johnson highlighted the comeback with a massive two-run shot in
Dixon’s Walk-off Bomb Highlights 9-7 Win
CURVE, Pa. – After dropping the resumed suspended game, 9-3, Altoona rallied from a 5-0 deficit after the top of the first inning in the nightcap and earned a 9-7 walk-off win over the Portland Sea Dogs. The Curve are 2-3 this week against Portland and can earn a series
Sea Dogs and Curve Suspended in Fifth Inning
CURVE, Pa. – Altoona and Portland were suspended in the fifth inning of their game on Friday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The teams will pick up the suspended game on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and play it to its completion before playing a 7-inning game. Altoona trails the
‘Dogs Sweep Curve In Thursday Doubleheader
CURVE, Pa. – Portland completed a doubleheader sweep of the Curve on Thursday night, 3-0 and 9-6, at Peoples Natural Gas Field. After Thursday’s game, Altoona’s record stands at 22-26. GAME ONE Portland’s David Sandlin tossed a three-hit shutout to lead the Sea Dogs to a 3-0 win over the
Curve Buried At Sea By The Dogs
CURVE, Pa. – Wednesday night’s game between Altoona and Portland was postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up on Thursday, May 29, at Peoples Natural Gas Field with a doubleheader consisting of a pair of 7-inning games beginning at 5:00 p.m. Fans holding tickets to Wednesday’s
Cimillo’s Homer Leads Series Opening Win
CURVE, Pa. – Nick Cimillo knocked his second home run of the season as Altoona defeated the Portland Sea Dogs, 4-2, on Tuesday night to begin the week at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Cimillo knocked the solo shot in the seventh inning odd Sea Dogs reliever Jonathan Brand. The Curve
Curve Split Sunday Doubleheader in Akron
AKRON, Ohio – After dropping the first four games of the week in Akron, the Curve split a doubleheader on Sunday night to the RubberDucks at Canal Park, taking game one 1-0 before falling in game two 5-4. GAME ONE Altoona was held scoreless over the first five innings of
Peterson Powers RubberDucks to Second-Consecutive Shutout Win Over Altoona
AKRON, Ohio – For the second game in a row, Altoona was shutout by the Akron RubberDucks on Saturday night at Canal Park, falling by a final of 10-0. Austin Peterson was dominant for Akron, spinning seven scoreless innings and allowing just three hits with four strikeouts. He retired the
Curve Swept in Doubleheader by 'Ducks
AKRON, Ohio – After two nights of rainouts, the Curve managed just five hits over two games of a doubleheader on Friday night as the Akron RubberDucks took both games by finals of 6-3 and 5-0 at Canal Park. GAME ONE Alessandro Ercolani gave up a season-high six runs on
RubberDucks Sneak Past Curve in Tuesday Morning Defeat
AKRON, Ohio – Kervin Pichardo knocked an RBI-double for the Curve in the eighth inning, but Altoona stranded 10 runners on base in a 3-1 loss to the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park on Tuesday morning. Altoona’s offense was held to just two hits and no walks against Akron starter
Curve and RubberDucks Postponed for Second-Consecutive Night
AKRON, Ohio – The Altoona Curve and Akron RubberDucks were rained out for the second day in-a-row on Thursday night at Canal Park. The game will be made up as a doubleheader on Sunday, May 25 with game one beginning at 4:05 p.m. The night will consist of two seven
Curve and RubberDucks Rained Out on Wednesday Night
AKRON, Ohio – The Altoona Curve and Akron RubberDucks were rained out on Wednesday night at Canal Park. The game will be made up as a doubleheader on Friday, May 23 with game one beginning at 5:05 p.m. The night will consist of two seven inning games. Altoona is 20-20
Senators Snag Series Finale in Altoona
CURVE, Pa. – Jack Brannigan stretched his on-base streak to 23 games on Sunday night with a two-hit performance for the Curve, but Altoona could not hold off the Harrisburg Senators in a 6-4 loss at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Harrisburg capitalized early with a first inning grand slam from
Jarvis, Jebb Jam Senators
Mitch Jebb and Mike Jarvis each picked up three hits in an 8-4 for the Curve over the Harrisburg Senators in front of 4,737 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday night. Altoona earned a series win over the Senators, picking up their fourth win in five games this