Louisville Bats Notes: April 21

THUNDER AT SLUGGER: The Louisville Bats and Syracuse Chiefs square off in the middle game of a three-game series on "Thunder at Slugger" Day at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats look to avoid dropping to a season-worst four games under .500, while the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate looks to climb to a season-high six games over the .500 mark.

SCHOFIELD NAMED INTERIM MANAGER: The Cincinnati Reds announced today that Dick Schofield has been named interim manager for the Louisville Bats. Schofield, who was serving as Louisville's bench coach, replaces Pat Kelly , who managed the first 10 games of the 2018 season for Louisville, compiling a 4-6 record. Kelly was recently promoted to Major League bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds also announced Darren Bragg will take over Schofield's previous role as Louisville's bench coach. Bragg is in his 12th season in the organization and was in his 10th as outfield coordinator at the time of his transfer to Louisville.
BATS' THUNDER RECORD: "Thunder Over Louisville at Louisville Slugger Field" is home to one of the biggest firework shows in the world and is a staple to the city of Louisville. Last season, the Bats lost to Durham 7-1 in 7 innings on Thunder Day. Since 2011, the Bats own a 3-4 record on Thunder Day, last winning 7-6 in 11 innings in 2015.
Thunder Heroes Back in Town: In that game on April 18, 2015, current Syracuse Chief Chris Dominguez hit a grand slam for the Louisville Bats in a win that was capped off by another current Chief, Irving Falu's walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th.
CANCELLATION NATION: Two of the Bats' games this season have been outright canceled due to inclement weather in Buffalo. Of the three-game series that was supposed to take place April 16-18, one was postponed to late July when the Bisons come to Louisville Slugger Field, and two will not be made up this season. The Bats will play, at most, 138 regular season games this season. It's the first time LOU will not play a full season's slate of games since 2014, when its August 30 game vs. Toledo was canceled due to rain. It's the first time Louisville has had to cancel multiple games in a season since 2009 (6/5 at PAW; 8/26 at TOL).
TRANSACTIONS: The Cincinnati Reds acquired right-hander Zach Neal and infielder Ibandel Isabel from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for right-hander Ariel Hernández , who was designated for assignment last Friday to make room on the 40-man roster for right-hander Dylan Floro . Hernandez threw 17.0 innings in 15 relief appearances for Louisville last season. Cincinnati also traded catcher Tony Sanchez to the Texas Rangers on April 16 for a PTBNL or cash. Sanchez appeared in 2 games for Louisville this season, going 1-for-5 with a double and starting at catcher on April 12 at Lehigh Valley. Yesterday, the Reds also optioned left-hander Cody Reed to Class AAA Louisville, who is not active today, to make room on the Major League roster for outfielder Scott Schebler , who recently returned from a rehab stint with Louisville and Class AA Pensacola.
TOP PROSPECT: The Bats have the No. 7 ranked prospect (Baseball America) in baseball on their roster in infielder Nick Senzel . He blasted his first career Triple-A home run for Louisville on April 14 at Lehigh Valley, a solo blast in the ninth inning. Senzel, who was selected #2 overall in the 2016 MLB Draft, is the first Top 10 B-A prospect to appear in a Louisville uniform before making his MLB debut since LHP Aroldis Chapman in 2011, and the first position player since OF Jay Bruce in 2008.
HELLO, GOODBYE, MR. KELLY: Pat Kelly's 10 games as manager of the Louisville Bats are third-fewest in franchise history. Only Dyar Miller (went 0-5 for the 1986 Redbirds) and Mack Jenkins (1-0 for the 2003 Bats) have managed fewer games in a Louisville uniform. Coincidentally, Jenkins was recently dismissed as Reds pitching coach in a flurry of moves that sent Kelly to the Majors.