Aces vs. Redbirds Series Preview
After sweeping the Nashville Sounds in a three-game series, the Aces welcome the Memphis Redbirds into Reno for the first time this season. Last year against the Redbirds, the Aces won three games and lost one (.750) and were 10-4 overall against the American Southern division of the Pacific Coast
After sweeping the Nashville Sounds in a three-game series, the Aces welcome the Memphis Redbirds into Reno for the first time this season. Last year against the Redbirds, the Aces won three games and lost one (.750) and were 10-4 overall against the American Southern division of the Pacific Coast League. The series begins Friday, June 7th and ends June 10th, including Star Wars night on June 8th.
Over the last 25 games, the Aces have hit a home run in every single game, totaling 64 which leads all of professional baseball (Majors and Minors). Their youngest player,
Another player on the Aces who has been scorching the ball,
Memphis currently sits at an overall record of 25-36 (.400) with a 3 run differential and are 2-8 in their last ten games, sitting nine games back if Iowa in the American Northern Division of the Pacific Coast League. Although they have not got off to the best start in their first 61 games, the Redbirds possess some MLB ready prospects. Memphis is the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals who enjoy the 10th ranked farm system in all of baseball. Two of their top prospects,
After signing a $950,000 contract in 2012 Reyes has had multiple issues staying on the mound. In 2015, he missed a month with shoulder soreness and served a 50 game suspension in 2016. In 2017, he underwent Tommy John surgery which caused him to miss the entire season. After recovering from his elbow surgery and four rehabilitation starts in the minors, he pitched once in the MLB but suffered a torn lat muscle on his right side and missed the season for the second straight year. Although his previous record is distressing, Reyes possesses some of the best pitching tools in the Minor Leagues. Reyes entertains a plus-plus fastball, sitting at 95-97 MPH consistently and tops out at 102 MPH. He tends to locate his fastball in the top of the strike zone and even when he misses, he will blow it by hitters. After his surgeries, he improved his body control and delivery however, he tends to struggle to locate his spots. His best secondary pitch, his curveball, which sits in the 70-80 MPH range with hard 12-6 action, but he also struggles to consistently control it. To offset his control issues he added a short slider which constantly hits 86-88 on the gun, and his fourth pitch, a plus change-up, sinks at 88-90 MPH and produces many swings and misses. His improved vigor and stronger delivery have led to more strike throwing.
O'Neill, the Cardinals number two prospect, could be mistaken as a body builder. He weighs in at 210 lbs and is only 5'11 but possesses tremendous power. On July 21, 2017, the Cardinals acquired O'Neill through a trade that sent
With the series beginning June 7th, the Aces look to improve on their overall record of 26-34 (.433), where they currently sit four games back of Tacoma in first place.