Top 10 Hooks Moments of 2019
In a season that included seven walk-off hits, home run and srikeout records, viral plays and heartwarming moments, these are the 10 best things we saw from the Hooks in 2019:
In a season that included seven walk-off hits, home run and srikeout records, viral plays and heartwarming moments, these are the 10 best things we saw from the Hooks in 2019:
10. Arauz Blast Sets New Hooks Home Run Record
In a year when seven Hooks hitters tallied double-digit home run totals, it was late season call-up
The Hooks finished with 163 home runs, which would have set a Texas League record had the Drillers not launched 169 of their own.
🚨NEW HOOKS HOME RUN RECORD🚨
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) August 31, 2019
This game-tying Jonathan Arauz shot gives us 159 dingers on the season, breaking the previous mark from 2013! pic.twitter.com/sM4GhA6F2f
9. Sierra Skies for Double Play
Hooks infielder
The Hooks went on to win, 2-1, on a
8. Hooks Salute Longtime President on Ken Schrom Day
When Ken Schrom - one of the pioneers in bringing baseball back to Corpus Christi in 2003 - announced his plan to retire at the end of 2019, the Hooks quickly began scheming a day dedicated to their leader of 16 years.
On Sunday, September 1, flanked by family, friends and baseball colleagues, it was proclaimed Ken Schrom Day by the City of Corpus Christi. The Hooks also officially named the area outside the ballpark entrance "Ken Schrom Plaza," with his family presenting a replica of the plaque that will stand at Whataburger Field for generations to come.
7. McCormick Crushes First Career Walk-Off Homer
Trailing 4-3 in the 11th on May 23 versus Frisco, walking highlight reel
McCormick later claimed it was the first walk-off hit - let alone home run - he's hit at any level in his career.
The Blue Ghosts can't be sunk!@Chazzyfizz hit a 411-foot MISSILE to give us a 5-4 win in extras. pic.twitter.com/g82kvZVKce
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) May 24, 2019
6. An Emotional Homecoming at Whataburger Field
These moments are always the most special.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ken Dalton surprised his wife and daughter, who threw out the first pitch on April 27, with his return to Corpus Christi after a year of being stationed in the Central African Republic capital city of Bangui.
Welcome home to Corpus Christi, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ken Dalton!
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) April 28, 2019
After a year of being stationed in the Central African Republic capital city of Bangui, Gabriella and Alessandra couldn't believe the surprise.
We here at Whataburger Field thank you for your service! pic.twitter.com/8xgBtALXDz
5. Paredes Overpowers Midland for 12 Ks
Eight of Paredes' first nine outs came via strikeout as he only walked two in the contest. The Hooks went on to lose the game late, 3-1.
6 outs, 6 strikeouts. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥@enoliparedes is locked in early. pic.twitter.com/Sq4aiby5yS
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) July 6, 2019
4. Hooks Pitchers Set Single-Game Strikeout Record
Speaking of strikeouts, nothing tops the August 17 performance versus Midland when
Abreu fanned eight, Javier matched a career-high with 10 and Scrubb struck out
Teamwork!#Astros prospects Bryan Abreu and Cristian Javier combined to pitch eight innings for @cchooks tonight, and they brought the 🔥.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 18, 2019
They allowed 4 hits and 2 runs ... and picked up 18 strikeouts!@astros Top 30: https://t.co/4GdkqHjecI pic.twitter.com/QQt1YgBWAw
It was the Hooks staff's second 19-strikeout ballgame of the year, the other coming May 11 against Amarillo in 10 innings.
The record-setting outing was an encapsulation of the Hooks' 1,453 strikeouts in 2019, a mark that smashed the Texas League record of 1,319 set by the 2018 Hooks and ranked fourth in all Minor League Baseball behind Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga, Modesto and Fayetteville.
3. Springer's Dingers
Thursday, June 20 was a momentous day in Hooks history as the they hosted the first-ever Phones-Free Game at the professional level. It also marked the beginning of a rehab assignment for Houston Astros star outfielder
After lining out in his first at-bat, the 2019 AL All-Star starter crushed a 412-foot, 111 mph two-run blast to give the Hooks a 3-0 lead. He followed in his next at-bat with a three-run bomb measuring 386 feet at 104 mph off the bat.
His two-homer, four-RBI performance wowed the crowd of 6,199 and led the Hooks to a 10-2 win over Springfield.
2. McCormick Goes Over-the-Top Viral
This entire list could be made of Chas McCormick sprawling, lunging and diving for big-time catches, but this one tops them all.
On May 6, McCormick made an over-the-wall catch at Tulsa's ONEOK Field, robbing the Drillers'
The play wound up No. 2 on that night's SportsCenter Top 10 plays and was featured on Twitter by Cut4, Minor League Baseball and Starting 9 among other outlets, garnering hundreds of thousands of views.
We weren't lying earlier when we called McCormick a walking highlight reel.
We’re flipping out over this catch from @astros prospect Chas McCormick.
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 7, 2019
(via @milb) pic.twitter.com/3gBZANYSiP
1. Quintana's Walk-Off Slam
We saved our most dramatic moment of 2019 for No. 1.
The 30-year-old Cuban's first at-bat came in the eighth inning with the Hooks trailing 2-0 until he smacked a solo homer to left off
But Quintana's wasn't done yet with his heroics. After Gorman loaded the bases to begin the bottom of the ninth, Quintana made him pay by crushing a walk-off grand slam for a 6-2 Hooks win. Quintana's final line: 2-for-2, two home runs, five RBIs. It was the second of a club-record three grand slam's he hit in an eight-game span from July 3 to July 14 - another mark in a historic Hooks season.