Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht.
A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the Hawkeyes and, of course, an attention-grabbing prospect ranking. But because he didn’t play in the Minors after being drafted, he was seen only on the back fields during instructional ball and Minor League camp.
After Brecht’s spotless, two-strikeout inning in the Rockies prospects' 3-1 victory over the White Sox prospects at Camelback Ranch, a wider audience should want to see more from him.
Brecht, 22, was more than eager for his breakout.
“It’s been a long offseason -- a long time without a game -- especially after not going [to a Minor League team] after the Draft,” Brecht said. “So I was really excited to go out there and play the game.”
Brecht replaced starter Gabriel Hughes (who threw two scoreless innings) and came back from a 2-0 count to fan White Sox No. 29 prospect Wilfred Veras swinging, authored another swinging K of Tim Elko and worked Chicago's No. 10 prospect George Wolkow into a fly ball to right field.
Out of the six swings he induced, Brecht coaxed four whiffs, a foul ball and Wolkow’s fly ball.
“I just wanted to establish a fastball and let everything else play off that -- let the slider work, let the splitter go to work, too,” Brecht said. “Just attack the zone, get ahead early and then everything else plays off each other.”
It’s not just Minor League fans and Rockies Nation who want to see more of Brecht.
“I absolutely loved his arm action, snapping that breaking ball really well,” said Double-A Hartford manager Bobby Meacham, who managed the Rockies' Spring Breakout club. “I could tell how happy he was to be out there healthy and pitching in a game like this. It must’ve been a ton of fun.”
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
THREE MORE TAKEAWAYS FROM SPRING BREAKOUT
• Hughes (Colorado's No. 16 prospect) rounded out the impression: Many in Rockies camp were taken by Hughes’ intellectually curious manner, and impressed by the way he has been gradually rebuilding his off-speed pitches since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023.
But after each of his innings -- the two-strikeout first inning and a second-inning that featured a double-play grounder from MLB Pipeline's No. 39-ranked prospect Colson Montgomery -- Hughes was quite animated as he left the mound. He is as competitive as he is cerebral.
“I’m never going to back down the intensity,” Hughes said. “That’s just how I play, and I was happy to be able to go out and showcase that intensity.
“It’s incredible being around guys that I’m going to be moving up with, playing with in the future. And we came out with a win.”
• Amador (Rockies' No. 7 prospect) shows his full game: Considering Adael Amador’s bat-to-ball skills and strike-zone control, it's no surprise that he boasts a .472 on-base percentage and .805 OPS in 16 Cactus League games this spring.
While Amador is more a gap hitter than a power hitter, he knocked 14 homers in Hartford last year and showed off his power with a two-run homer off Riley Gowens in the sixth inning Sunday.
But the lasting impression came when Amador ranged to his left to nab Montgomery’s grounder to start a double play in the second. Amador moved from shortstop last year, but he took much of the season to find a level of comfort.
After bulking up last year, Amador lost movement and flexibility and dealt with oblique issues. The new Amador looks the part of a second baseman.
“I love that kid,” said Meacham, who managed Amador last season and made developing him as a second baseman a personal project. “He worked his butt off and I could see that coming into Spring Training. I saw him the first day and was like, ‘Wow. He looks great, looks like he lost a little weight.’ Then the first time I saw him fielding ground balls, I was like, ‘He’s been working on some of the stuff.’”
• Remember these arms: In 2023, righty prospect Jordy Vargas (No. 14 in the Rockies' system) joined Hughes and Rockies rotation members Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela in undergoing Tommy John surgeries from Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister over one of the darkest periods in Rockies history. Now healthy, Vargas threw a clean, 13-pitch seventh inning.
“I didn’t know much about him, but I saw him pitch once earlier this spring and it was a ‘Who is that guy?’ kind of thing,” Meacham said. “It’s so fun to see guys have success after going through that full year of work coming back from surgery.”
Lefty reliever Welinton Herrera (No. 23) entered with two out and two on in the fifth and fanned White Sox No. 8 prospect Chase Meidroth.
“He’s kind of flown under the radar with people outside of the Rockies, not us,” Rockies pitching strategist Flint Wallace said of Herrera, 20, who struck out 92 in 62 1/3 combined innings with Single-A Fresno and High-A Spokane last year.
Senior Reporter Thomas Harding has covered the Rockies since 2000, and for MLB.com since 2002.
Columbus Clingstones Welcome Aflac as Cornerstone Partner
COLUMBUS, Ga., — The Columbus Clingstones, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, are thrilled to welcome Aflac as a cornerstone partner ahead of the minor league baseball team’s highly anticipated inaugural season. A Fortune 500 company and a leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S., Aflac is
Columbus Clingstones Announce Promotional Schedule for Inaugural Season at Synovus Park
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Clingstones announced today the Promotional Schedule for their highly anticipated inaugural season. A promotion-packed schedule of 69 home games at Synovus Park will feature giveaways, theme nights, special appearances, fireworks shows, and weekly promotions to deliver a fresh yet familiar experience for fans all season.
Columbus Clingstones Enter Into Flagship Media Partnership With PMB Broadcasting
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Clingstones today announced a media partnership with PMB Broadcasting, confirming that all 138 Clingstones inaugural season games, home and road, will be broadcast on Sports Visions Radio 92.1 FM, part of the PMB Broadcasting family of stations. “We are honored to be the flagship media
Clingstones Announce Public Address Announcer Tryouts on March 16
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Clingstones announced today that the club will host closed tryouts to select their first-ever Public Address Announcer. The tryouts will take place on March 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field on the campus of Columbus State University.
Clingstones Announce Fuzzy's Kids Club presented by Chick-fil-A
Columbus, GA - The Columbus Clingstones and Chick-fil-A have teamed up to introduce a new program for the burgeoning team’s youngest fans: Fuzzy’s Kids Club presented by Chick-fil-A! Children ages 5-12 can join this exclusive club, which allows them free admission to all Sunday games and several other special perks.
Clingstones Announce Inaugural 2025 Season Coaching Staff
Columbus, GA - In conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, the Columbus Clingstones today announced the team’s coaching staff for the Inaugural 2025 season at Synovus Park. Cody Gabella will become the first manager in Clingstones history. Entering his fourth season as a manager in the Braves system, last season Gabella
Columbus Clingstones Announce Fuzzy as Official Name of Mascot
Columbus, GA (November 20, 2024) – The Columbus Clingstones, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, are excited to announce Fuzzy as the new name of its first team mascot. Outfitted with a Clingstones jersey, friendly smile and vibrant peach color, the cheerful mascot embodies the team’s pride with a
Columbus Clingstones Launch 'Crown the Clingstone' Contest
Columbus, GA (October 29, 2024) – The Columbus Clingstones, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, are excited to announce the ‘Crown the Clingstone’ contest, asking fans to help choose the name of the team’s cheerful mascot ahead of its inaugural 2025 season. Inspired by Minor League Baseball’s rich tradition
Clingstones announce game times for 2025 season
Columbus, GA – The Columbus Clingstones, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, have announced their game times for the Inaugural 2025 season. The Clingstones will play 69 home games at Synovus Park beginning with the Opening Day on Tuesday, April 15 at 7:05 pm against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos,
Inaugural Opening Night for Columbus Professional Baseball set for April 15, 2025, at Synovus Park
In conjunction with Minor League Baseball, the Columbus Professional Baseball Club has announced their home game schedule for the inaugural 2025 Southern League season. The Atlanta Braves Double-A franchise is scheduled to begin their 2025 campaign on the road before opening night at Synovus Park on Tuesday, April 15, 2025,
Columbus celebrates the next century of affiliated baseball, inks naming rights deal with Synovus
Columbus, GA – Synovus, a financial services leader rooted in Columbus, has signed a multiyear partnership with Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), the owner and operator of select Minor League clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball, to become the official naming rights partner for Columbus’ soon-to-be-renovated ballpark. A consortium of public-private
M-Braves announce move to Columbus, Georgia
The Mississippi Braves, Atlanta’s Double-A affiliate, announced Tuesday that they will relocate to Columbus, Ga., following the 2024 season. The Southern League franchise, commonly referred to as the M-Braves, have played at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss., since 2005. Previously owned by the Atlanta Braves, the M-Braves were purchased by
The weirdest MiLB stats, plays from June
Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The June edition features a doubles deluge, oppositional surnames, way too many walks and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in touch if
Hackenberg stacks up MiLB season-high 16 K's
Fresh off the All-Star break, Drue Hackenberg showed off his Sunday best. The Braves' No. 9 prospect struck out 16 -- the most K's in any Minor League Baseball game this season -- over seven innings in Double-A Mississippi's 5-1 win over Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Hackenberg bested the
M-Braves offer safe haven for Miss Rankin County
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. For David Kerr, working in Minor League Baseball means keeping the following mantra in mind:
Road trip: All roads lead Ben to Rome
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. The following ballpark road trip recap is presented by Wyndham, proud sponsor of Minor League
Waldrep strikes out 11 in return to Gwinnett
Two batters into the first Triple-A start of the season for Hurston Waldrep, it looked like it would be a day to forget. Five innings later, that could not have been further from the truth. The Braves' No. 2 prospect, who made one start at Triple-A Gwinnett last September, fanned
M-Braves' new dynamic duo twirls pair of gems
If Wednesday night's Mississippi doubleheader is any indication, the future on the Braves' hill looks scary good. As in the opposition should be scared. Two of Atlanta's top three prospects, Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach, dominated their respective starts en route to the Double-A Braves' sweep of visiting Biloxi at
The weirdest MiLB stats, plays from May
Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. This edition, covering the month of May, features reptile cameos, offensive explosions, oppositional surnames and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in touch
The weirdest MiLB stats, plays from the past month
After a multi-season hiatus, Crooked Numbers returns with a heaping portion of Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. This edition, covering the start of the season through the end of April, has a disproportionate number of items from the Triple-A level. As for why that is, who knows? Maybe