Ralphy Velazquez is making a serious push, and he kept it rolling in a big night for the Clippers offense.
The Clippers rolled past the Storm Chasers 15-7 behind a lineup that kept coming in waves. Velazquez, the organization’s top prospect, finished 3-for-5 with two home runs, continuing what looks like a loud arrival at the plate.
He wasn’t the only one doing damage, either. David Fry went 3-for-4 with two homers and six RBIs, pushing his AAA OPS to 1.209.
Kody Huff added a home run of his own, while Cooper Ingle and Kyle Manzardo each turned in multi-hit games.
By the end of the night, the Clippers had piled up 15 runs on 15 hits, worked 9 walks, and struck out just 5 times. Connor Brogdon, Trevor Stephan, and Daniel Espino each contributed scoreless relief innings to help finish it off.
Elsewhere, the RubberDucks made a little go a long way in a 4-3 win over the Curve. They managed only 4 hits, but three of them left the yard. Ryan Cesarini homered again, Bennett Thompson also went deep, and Dean Curley added another home run as he continues to settle in at AA after a slow start.
Ryan Degges gave the Ducks another strong outing. He tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, struck out 5, and walked 3, and his ERA with the RubberDucks remains at 0.00.
The Captains beat the Dragons 4-2, with Welbyn Francisca coming close to another homer before settling for a line-drive single off the top of the wall. He finished 2-for-4 and is now hitting .282 with a .932 OPS in High A. Jose Pirela also had a big night in his High-A debut, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a triple, and 2 walks.
Aidan Major made his High-A debut as well, allowing two runs over 4 innings while striking out 4.
The Howlers were the lone affiliate to avoid a sweep, but they didn’t do much at the plate. As a team, they had just two hits.
On the mound, Will Hynes delivered one of his better starts of the season. He gave up one earned run and struck out two over 4 innings, lowering his ERA to 8.49 since his promotion to Hill City.
In Other News...
Guardians May Be Headed For A Payroll Shift Fans Never Expected
With the current MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire after the season, the league and the players union are headed into another tense round of negotiations, and the biggest fight is already clear. Owners want a salary floor, while the MLBPA is pushing back hard against any form of cap, setting up a labor battle that could reshape how teams spend across the sport. For clubs that have long lived with tighter budgets, the stakes are especially high.
If the union winds up accepting a framework closer to the NFLs recent deal, teams such as the Guardians could find themselves under pressure to raise payroll in ways fans have not always expected. That could mean committing more money to contract extensions or making roster moves with spending in mind, a shift that would be a notable departure for a franchise that has often been built around restraint and efficiency rather than big-ticket financial commitments. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Have A First Base Decision Fans Will Watch Closely
Clevelands willingness to keep turning to young talent has already been a big part of this season, with 10 players getting promoted to make their MLB debuts, including infielder Angel Genao and second baseman Travis Bazzana, who has already broken through as an AL All-Star. That track record matters now because the Guardians are again staring at a spot where they may want to see what another prospect can do, and first base has become one of the more interesting places on the roster to watch.
Nathaniel Lowe arrived to steady the position after Kyle Manzardo struggled enough to be sent back to Triple-A, but the long-term picture is still unsettled. Ralphy Velazquez, the organizations No. 2 prospect, has put together a strong stretch at Triple-A and could be in line for his first big-league look when rosters expand in September, which would give Cleveland another chance to sort out what it really has at first base. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Espinos Guardians Absence Suddenly Feels More Complicated
Daniel Espinos first six major league outings earlier this season hinted at why the Guardians have continued to keep such a close eye on him. The fastball velocity has been there, the slider has still played, and for a while it looked like he might be pushing his way into the conversation for a bigger role before long.
August has complicated that picture a bit. His effectiveness has dipped, the strikeout rate has come down, and Cleveland also has reason to be careful with his workload after he has already piled up more innings than he has in a year since 2021, which helps explain why he is still working in Triple-A instead of the big league bullpen. [Read more 🡒]