Cal notes: JetHawks' Vilade gives back
Ryan Vilade has gotten off to a strong start with Class A Advanced Lancaster, batting .322 in the first 16 games with 19 hits, including five doubles, and eight RBIs.Being consistent at the plate is something the Rockies No. 8 prospect strives for daily.
Ryan Vilade has gotten off to a strong start with Class A Advanced Lancaster, batting .322 in the first 16 games with 19 hits, including five doubles, and eight RBIs.
Being consistent at the plate is something the Rockies No. 8 prospect strives for daily.
"My biggest thing is to be the toughest out at the plate," Vilade said. "Whenever I step up to the plate, just being like, 'Here we go, you're not going to get me out.' Just that kind of mind-set. That's my goal, to just be that guy that no one wants to face."
That's always been Vilade's philosophy. That's why working through a mini-slump at the beginning of his first full Minor League season last year was a little hard for the shortstop. He was hitting .209 through May 23 but had a much stronger second half, batting .310.
"It was the first full season, first season we were going to play 140 games," Vilade said. "It was just kind of a lot thrown at you, especially for a 19-year-old. I struggled early and I learned a lot from that month. With the help of a lot of coaches and even teammates I was able to have a good second half. The team also played a good second half."
Another big help was his father, James, who's coached at the Minor League and collegiate levels. He's currently an assistant coach at Oklahoma State.
"I've been with my dad on the field forever," the younger Vilade said. "He's my guy. I go to him if I ever need something. He taught me the game. I was with him from Day 1. He's been my go-to and I'm really thankful for him."
During that tough stretch last year, James was there to offer his son some sound advice.
"He was there for the mental side of it," Vilade said. "He'd just say, 'Hey, everything's going to work out, just keep doing your thing, keep working hard, keep battling.'"
Aside from teaching his son all about baseball, James also has taught him to give back to those in need.
In 2014, James Vilade started the Keeper of the Game Foundation, an organization that supports children with special needs and disabilities to share the game of baseball.
It started with a boy in the kindergarten class of Vilade's mother who was born without legs but loved baseball. James wanted to help kids like that get closer to the game.
"They do a lot of different events, bring the kids out to the ballpark, usually give them a T-shirt, let them hang out on the field, give baseballs to leagues as game balls," Vilade said.
He's always been involved with the organization along with his mom, Jennifer, brother Trent and sister McKenzie.
"It's something that our family is very proud of and that we work hard in doing," Vilade said.
New Balance donates to a charity of his choice and he's helped donate shoes, backpacks and more to Keeper of the Game.
Vilade sports a bracelet that says "Keeper of the Game" during every game he plays.
"I wear my Keeper of the Game bracelet every day. It just reminds me who we play for: the kids that aren't able to," Vilade said. "Baseball is just a game. There's so much more to life. Giving back, being able to share those moments with the kids in the stands that aren't able to be out there. We're so blessed to be able to play this game."
Vilade met a family with autistic children after a JetHawks game last week and he made sure to tell them to let him know when they're at the ballpark so he can come and say hello. He offers that invitation to all kids with special needs and disabilities.
"That day, I'll play for him or play for her, whatever they're going through or just sharing the game," he said. "They're out there on the field with me. Even though they're not physically out there, mentally, emotionally, they are. … You can't go out there by yourself, you have to have somebody to take on to the field every day. It's just something small and it's what I do."
For more information on Keeper of the Game, visit keeperofthegame.org.
In brief
Slow starts: Aside from Visalia, the rest of the California League has been slow out of the gate. The Rawhide boast the best record, going 13-4. Everyone else in the North Division is under .500: Modesto (8-9), San Jose (7-10) and Stockton (6-11). Rancho Cucamonga leads the South Division with a 10-7 record and Lake Elsinore is one game above .500 at 9-8, while Inland Empire (8-9) and Lancaster (7-10) are below .500.
Streakers: Speaking of the Rawhide, they went into a day off on Easter Sunday with a nine-game winning streak, taking three of four from San Jose and sweeping Modesto and Lancaster. Visalia has outscored opponents, 51-21, heading into a four-game series with Stockton to start the week.
Merisa Jensen is a contributor to MiLB.com.
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”