Hops End First Half with Win on Late Logan Longball
EVERETT, WASH. (June 20, 2024) --- Hops catcher Gavin Logan is a superb defender whom Hops coaches believe is a better hitter than this year’s numbers indicate. He’s finally getting more consistent playing time, and his recent upturn in at-bats seems to be paying off. On Thursday night, Logan homered
EVERETT, WASH. (June 20, 2024) --- Hops catcher Gavin Logan is a superb defender whom Hops coaches believe is a better hitter than this year’s numbers indicate. He’s finally getting more consistent playing time, and his recent upturn in at-bats seems to be paying off.
On Thursday night, Logan homered for the second consecutive game, this one a three-run eighth-inning no-doubter at Everett Memorial Stadium. Logan’s longball turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead, and Hops reliever Alfred Morillo snuffed out a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth in a 4-2 win. Everett had just two hits the entire game.
Hillsboro finished the first half of the season alone in second place, two games clear of Eugene. At 35-30, the Hops are five games above .500 for the first time since they were 6-1 to begin the 2023 season. Spokane (38-26) won the first half flag, 3.5 games better than the Hops. Everett (32-34) finished in fourth place, seven games out.
All teams’ records revert to 0-0 for the second-half pennant race, which begins Friday. In September, the first-half winner meets the second-half winner in the best-of-five Northwest League Championship Series. If Spokane wins both halves, their playoff opponent will be the second-place club in the second-half standings.
Right-hander Roman Angelo got the start for the Hops on Thursday in Everett. The reigning Northwest League Pitcher of the Week was greeted rudely by Everett left-fielder Victor Labrada, who tripled into the right-field corner on Angelo’s first pitch of the night. On the next-pitch, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brock Rodden made it 1-0 Everett.
Angelo, unperturbed, settled in from there, and allowed just one more hit --- an infield single by Everett catcher Andrew Miller --- in his six-inning stint. He was a little wilder than usual, issuing five walks, but only one of them scored, on a fourth-inning sacrifice fly from Gabriel Moncada. Angelo struck out six.
The Hops had several early chances to get to Everett starter Brandyn Garcia, but came up short each time. Hillsboro put runners at first and third with none out in the first inning, had a runner at second with none out in the second, and runners at first and second with two out in the third, but each time Garcia was up to the task. The hard-throwing lefty, who somehow isn’t listed among the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, worked six shutout frames, allowing five hits, walking one and striking out 12. Garcia’s career-high 12 Ks matched the most-ever against the Hops by an opposing pitcher in a single game. (Another Everett lefty, Brandon Williamson, struck out 12 Hops in Everett on June 6th, 2021.)
Hillsboro, though, was able to do damage to the Everett bullpen. With two out in the seventh, Hops right fielder Wyatt Crenshaw singled to left-center off righty Tyler Cleveland, and Manny Pena followed with an RBI double. And in the eighth, the Hops turned the game around against righty Juan Burgos.
Jack Hurley doubled off the wall in center to begin the inning, and Neyfy Castillo reached base on a fielding error by Sox third baseman Caleb Cali.
With runners at the corners and none out, Burgos snapped off a succession of quality sliders to strike out both Junior Franco and Brett Johnson. Up came Logan. Burgos jumped ahead 0-2, as Logan swung and missed at two more sharp-breaking sliders.
Burgos, though, went to the well one too many times. His 0-2 slider was obliterated by Logan to straightaway right field for his three-run homer. Remarkably, it was just Hillsboro’s third home run this season with more than one man on base, and the first since Castillo hit a grand slam at Everett on May 2nd.
Hops righty Zane Russell had worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning in relief of Angelo, but he ran into problems in the eighth. With one out, he walked Josh Hood, and with two out, he walked R.J. Schreck. Hillsboro manager Javier Colina summoned the righty Morillo from Hillsboro’s bullpen, and he promptly walked Cali on four pitches to load the bases. Morillo, however, got ahead of Moncada 0-2, and eventually finished him off with a swinging strikeout on a 2-2 high fastball to end the inning.
The bottom of the ninth was not as eventful. Morillo retired the side in order to earn his second save. Russell (2-1) picked up the win.
Pena had three hits --- two doubles and a single --- and is hitting .375 (15-for-40) against Everett this year.
Hillsboro will play their first nine games of the second half on the road --- three more in Everett, and then six in Vancouver. The Hops return home July 1-3 against Eugene.
Game five of the seven-game series in Everett will be at 7:05PM on Friday. Pregame airtime is 6:50PM on Rip City Radio 620AM and at www.RipCityRadio.com.
How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend
PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB 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.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
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
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
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
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
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.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
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