Henderson Fans Eight as Sounds Get Back in Win Column
NASHVILLE – The Sounds got some early offense and rode the right arm of Logan Henderson to a 5-1 win over the Gwinnett Stripers on Thursday night to end a four-game losing streak. After striking out eight in his season debut Saturday night against Jacksonville, Henderson was right back to
NASHVILLE – The Sounds got some early offense and rode the right arm of Logan Henderson to a 5-1 win over the Gwinnett Stripers on Thursday night to end a four-game losing streak.
After striking out eight in his season debut Saturday night against Jacksonville, Henderson was right back to it on Thursday against the Stripers. The Brewers' no. 13-ranked prospect struck out the first man he faced in his second start and then worked around a pair of walks and single to leave the bases loaded with another strikeout and fly out to escape the first unscathed. He left two more stranded in the second after issuing his third free pass but also collecting his third strikeout of the evening.
Nashville's bats came alive in the third. With two outs in the inning, the Sounds rattled off four straight hits starting with Caleb Durbin's third double of the season. Ernesto Martinez Jr. put the Sounds on the board with a two-RBI single to the opposite field and Jorge Alfaro's second hit of the year was a two-run home run to give Nashville a 4-0 lead for Henderson to work with. The right-hander picked up another strikeout in the third and then struck out the side in the fourth. His eighth strikeout came in the bottom of the fifth during his final inning of work in which he played a part in all three outs. After allowing a leadoff single, he struck out Sean Murphy, got an assist on a caught stealing, and then covered first base for the 3-1 putout to bring an end to his outing.
Wes Clarke made it 5-0 in the top of the sixth with his first RBI of the season. Raynel Delgado doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch for Clarke to earn the RBI on a sac fly. Sam McWilliams worked a three-up-three down bottom of the sixth on just eight pitches including a pair of three pitch strikeouts. Left-hander Tyler Jay entered the game in the seventh after McWilliams allowed a leadoff single and proceeded to retire each of the next three batters.
Vinny Nittoli relieved Jay to start the eighth and allowed a leadoff double to Chandler Seagle in his first plate appearance of the night after taking over for Sean Murphy behind the plate. Nittoli was on his way to pitching around it until miscommunication by three converging Sounds defensively led to an error and the Stripers only run of the game. Nittoli made quick work of the three Gwinnett batters in the bottom of the ninth to help preserve the win for Nashville.
The Sounds will aim to even the series on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm with the Sounds set to face RHP Spencer Strider making his second rehab appearance for Gwinnett.
POSTGAME NOTES:
MAKE IT EIGHT: Logan Henderson racked up another eight strikeouts on the mound for Nashville. The Brewers' no. 13-ranked prospect has struck out eight or more batters in consecutive outings for the first time since rattling off three straight 8+ strikeout performances from July 29 - August 12, 2023, when he was with Low-A Carolina. The former fourth round selection by the Brewers in the 2021 MLB Draft had five starts with 8+ strikeouts a season ago, including his second in Triple-A after his late-season promotion. The right-hander finished his 2024 campaign with 104 strikeouts and posted 106 in 2023 which was good for the 10th most in the Brewers' farm system that season. In 46 professional starts, Henderson has 249 strikeouts in 182.2 IP, good for a 12.3 K/9 rate.
HIP, HIP, JORGE: Jorge Alfaro finished the night 2-for-4 with a HR, two RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. His single to lead off the top of the second was his first hit of the year, ending a 0-for-12 start to the season. His third-inning home run was his first in affiliated baseball since June 20, 2023, when he was with the Colorado Rockies, and his stolen base was his first since June 13, 2023, when he was with Triple-A Albuquerque. Homers aren't unfamiliar for Alfaro, who now has 134 in his career, including 48 in the big leagues. The stolen base though, that was just his sixth since 2023. Although he did not play in affiliated pro ball in 2024, Alfaro had one steal in 82 games with San Diego in 2022 and eight in 92 games with Miami in 2021. His two-high night was his first multi-hit game since also having a pair of hits against Gwinnett on September 15, 2023, when he was playing for Triple-A Jacksonville.
HIT CITY: After being held to five or fewer hits in each game during the four-game losing stretch, Nashville had eight hits on Thursday night against Gwinnett. The Sounds entered Thursday with only six total multi-hit performances through the first five games and had three players post multi-hit games in the win. Garrett Spain added his second multi-hit game and end his four-game hitless drought. Jorge Alfaro ended his three-game hitless drought with a 2-for-4 night, and Raynel Delgado picked up his first hits of the series after finishing 2-for-4 with a double. Spain and Delgado join Caleb Durbin as the only three players with two multi-hit games for Nashville so far in 2025.
BULLPEN BULLIES: The Sounds bullpen turned in yet another game without allowing an earned run. On Thursday it was Sam McWilliams (1.0 IP, H, 2 K) Tyler Jay (1.0 IP 0 H) and Vinny Nittoli (2.0 IP, H, R, 2 K) who combined to make it 16.2 IP for the bullpen without allowing an earned run dating back to Sunday's series finale against Jacksonville when Jesus Liranzo allowed a run in the seventh. Nashville's bullpen carries a 1.98 ERA through the first six games, the second lowest in the International League behind St. Paul's 1.64 ERA. St. Paul has only played in three games so far this year after having their game against Columbus postponed Thursday and has 11.0 IP compared to Nashville's six games and 27.1 IP. Of teams with six games, Nashville's 1.98 ERA is the best in Triple-A ahead of Jacksonville's 2.17 ERA.
Debating best Minor League home caps on 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
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
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.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
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: