Aberdeen Ironbirds’ Final Flight to Wilmington - Opponent Preview

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are set to host the Aberdeen Ironbirds for the team’s final homestand of the season. The two South Atlantic League North rivals have faced one another in four separate series so far. In the most recent two, a six-game homestand and a three-game July road trip, the Blue Rocks went 5-4.

Now 11 games out, it’s unlikely that the Blue Rocks will make a postseason run this year. However, Aberdeen is still in the running and just three games behind the first place Hudson Valley Renegades. Let’s take a closer look at this Ironbirds team ahead of their fifth and final series against Wilmington this year.

Batters

Throughout the entire season, the Ironbirds have managed to maintain a strong core of bats to power their offense, and Creed Willems is at the center of this group. As the top power hitter on the team with 13 home runs this year, Willems recorded a .895 OPS, .275 average, and seven RBIs in August.

Douglass Hodo III and Jake Cunningham are also highly dependable members of the Ironbirds’ lineup. The outfielders combined for 24 hits, 17 runs, and 15 RBIs this month.

Despite playing the Blue Rocks numerous times already this season, they’ll be without Tavian Josenberger this time around. The outfielder got promoted to the Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate Bowie Baysox in mid-August. Prior to this, he led the team with the highest batting average (.357), highest OPS (1.114), most home runs (two), and the most stolen bases (eight) in August.

Pitching

On the mound, Zach Fruit has been Aberdeen’s most reliable starting pitcher since the season began back in April. The right-hander boasts a 3.09 ERA through 99.0 total innings and a 2.45 ERA through 18.1 innings in August.

Right-handed reliever Cooper Chandler missed the start of the Ironbirds’ season due to a long-term injury designation and weeks of rehab assignments. He was reactivated to Aberdeen’s roster at the end of June and, after two months of play, is back on the injury list (7-day). While it is unclear whether or not he will be available for the series in Wilmington, Chandler recorded a 3.00 ERA and four saves through his 18.0 innings (12 games) back in High-A, making him a highly valued member of the bullpen.

Just days before the upcoming series, Grabiel Salazar was promoted to Aberdeen from Low-A. In 29 games and 32.2 total innings, the right-handed reliever recorded three saves and a 3.86 ERA, striking out 35 batters and allowing 14 earned runs. This Blue Rocks vs Ironbirds matchup could be a perfect showcase for Salazar to put his talent on display at the next level.

Up Next

Following the Blue Rocks’ final homestand of 2024, the team will travel to take on the Brooklyn Cyclones in the final roadtrip of the season.