Triple-D in Triple-A: Filling up in Phoenix
Steve Klauke, voice of the Salt Lake Bees, spends all 144 games of the Bees season with the team, home and away. Needless to say he's not getting home cooking for 72 of those games. Steve's always looking for a good spot to eat in the 15 cities throughout the league and here, he'll chronicle those visits to his favorites, which also happen to be featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
View Triple-D in Triple-A Archives >>
When the month of March rolls around, I always get pumped up about what will be my upcoming trip to spring training in Arizona and there are two things that I am most excited about. First and obviously foremost is the baseball, as it tells me that the season is around the corner. The other is the always growing list of restaurants in the Valley of the Sun that have appeared on the hit Food Network program "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives". On this trip, I was able to visit four new spots that host Guy Fieri had visited in the last twelve months.
On the first full day, the first stop was a place called The Duce. It is located just south of downtown Phoenix and just a few blocks from the homes of the Suns and Diamondbacks. The Duce is a converted boxing gym that still has a piece of its past. As you walk in, if you go to the left, you can play a variety of games, including pool, ping pong, foosball and more. To the right is a shopping area that Bees' PR Director Kraig Williams so aptly described as a Cracker Barrel for hipsters. Further back is a regulation boxing ring where for five dollars on a Friday or Saturday night, you can go five minutes with one of your buddies. Turn right from there is a DJ booth and bar and then further along is an outdoor patio and that is where you order your food, which is cooked in a 1965 food trailer named Duchess.
I went with a chicken pot pie in a jar. The crust was flaky and moist and the filling was stuffed with chicken, veggie and a thick gravy. The only negative for me was that it was a little too small for the price of $7 ($9 if you want to take the jar with you). Kraig ordered the slider sampler, which features three different sandwiches; brisket, pulled pork and chicken sausage, and he gave them all a thumbs up.
The next night was barbecue night at a place in an unusual location. Tom's Thumb is set up in a gas station in North Scottsdale, but don't let that fool you - this is world class competition barbecue. If you order a platter, which is what we did, you have a choice of two of three meats. I went with the pulled chicken and brisket and Kraig went with the brisket and pulled pork.
Once you get your meat, you have more decisions to make, as they have seven different sauces to choose from; Toto's Kansas City, Mo' Memphis Mop, Sweet Baby James, ZZ's Texas Chipotle, Javi's Habanero, Mean Mr. Mustard and XXX, the hottest of the three. I went with the more traditional Kansas City, while the more adventurous Kraig tried all of them. My sauce was just right, but Kraig said the XXX set his mouth on fire. He did, however, enjoy the mustard-based sauce.
As for the meat itself, it was smoked just right. The brisket was lean and moist, but not fatty. The pork was just the way you like it, and while smoked chicken can be dry and tough, that was not the case at Tom's Thumb - It was juicy, tender and easy to eat.
The following night, we were in for something really different. We travelled east of Phoenix to Gilbert and Sal's Gilbert Pizza. Being from Chicago, I tend to stick my nose up at New York pizza, but decided to give this a try. As you may or may not know, one of my rules for Triple-D in Triple-A is that I have to eat something that was featured on the episode it appeared on.
We decided to split a pizza that was topped with baked ziti. That's right, baked ziti - an idea I would have liked to have thought of myself. I figured it would be a heavier pizza than it was, and while it wasn't exactly light, it was a combination that seemed to work well. The ziti is loaded with mozzarella and mixed with a pink sauce, which appeared to be almost a combination of marinara and alfredo sauces. The crust was thin and crisp and I don't how it held together with the ziti on it, but it did. For me, the only thing missing was some crumbled sausage or ground beef.
On the final day of baseball and eating, not necessarily in that order, we went to a place that definitely falls into the "dive" category. Paradise Valley Burger Company is not as swanky as the name would indicate. It is located in a strip mall in north Phoenix and when you walk in, you find a rather Spartan place with just a handful of tables and chairs that have seen better days. Of course, we aren't there for the décor, but for a unique burger experience.
The Country Fried Burger is as sinful as the name would indicate. They take two burger patties, cover it in country fried steak batter and drop it in a deep fryer. When they are finished, they place the burgers on a toasted brioche bun and cover it with green chile country gravy. I am not a huge fan of green chiles, but this gravy was unbelievably good. They give you a small cup on the side, as well, used for dipping your burger. Before they are done, they top it with lettuce, tomato and crispy fried onions. The sandwich was one of the most unusual combination of ingredients on a burger that I've ever eaten, but it was one of the best, as well. It is a good thing, however, that I walk a minimum of four miles a day after eating something like that for dinner. Kraig added that they served some of the best French fries he'd ever eaten, made all the better with a side of gravy for dipping.
That was definitely a delicious and calorie-filled trip to spring training in Arizona, and I've already tried to step up my walking to prepare for next March's trip to the desert. While there were no Triple-D restaurants on the Bees' first road trip to Sacramento and Fresno, I am looking forward to checking out some new spots on trip two in Albuquerque.
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins 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
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
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
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on 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
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
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.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.