Dwyer deals Chasers to Triple-A title
Bad luck seemed to follow Chris Dwyer during the season as rain delays and postponements made it tough to maintain a regular start pitcher's routine.
"If it was going to rain this summer," Omaha manager Mike Jirschele said, "he usually was the starter."
Dwyer pitched for the Storm Chasers on Tuesday night and, like clockwork, everybody wound up soaked. This time, however, the precipitation was limited to the Storm Chasers' clubhouse as Omaha team celebrated with champagne and beer after edging Durham, 2-1, to claim the Triple-A Baseball National Championship.
Dwyer, the Royals' No. 11 prospect, retired the first 20 batters he faced. His bid for a perfect game was spoiled when Tim Beckham's ground ball snuck through the right side of the infield with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Beckham, who had been stellar for the Bulls during their postseason run, took second on a wild pitch but was stranded as Dwyer fanned Vince Belnome for his eighth strikeout.
The strikeout was Dwyer's last pitch of the night. He allowed just the one hit and did not issue a walk over seven innings, marking his first outing without a free pass since June 13 -- except for a rain-shortened two-inning start in Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League Championship Series. Dwyer allowed a run on three hits in his only other postseason appearance before Tuesday.
"Sometimes when you have a lot of rest, it can hurt you," Dwyer said. "Sometimes it can help you, too, because you can rest your whole body.
"I had like nine days off and then just those two innings that were rained out and then I had a few more days off until this start, but I felt great. I was throwing my [side sessions] in between. I knew everything would be on if I relaxed and did my thing."
The Boston native was coming off a strong run at the end of the year, albeit one tainted by control issues. He limited opponents to one earned run in three of his final four starts, but his command was iffy -- he walked 13 batters in his final two outings. Still, Dwyer managed to work into the sixth inning in eight of his last nine appearances.
"It's mechanical sometimes," Jirschele said of Dwyer's command. "Just his arm slot, he doesn't feel free and easy. Most of the time, he might go through that for a few pitches, then he makes the adjustment. Tonight, I never really saw him get out of it."
The outing was a rewarding one for Dwyer, who spent 2013 trying to rebound from a season marred by health issues, specifically a thyroid problem.
"He just kept going out there and he didn't have his fastball," Jirschele said of his 2012 struggles. "But he kept going right at people and challenging people and he battled through. It was outstanding to see him back at full strength and throwing the ball like he is."
"I knew I'd be fine and work hard and everything would hopefully turn around, and it looks like it," Dwyer added. "Just continue to work hard and do what I do best."
Omaha gave Dwyer a lead in the second when Lane Adams doubled and scored on Manny Pina's single up the middle. Adams, who finished 2-for-4, made his Triple-A debut in the PCL playoffs.
"I've seen a guy that can run," Jirschele said. "Offensively, he had a little short stretch there where he didn't swing it well, but he got himself back into it and started driving the ball. He's just a threat because you get him on base, he can take the extra base. He can steal bases and in the outfield he runs it down, too."
The run was the first allowed by Durham in 30 2/3 innings, dating back to Game 2 of the Governors' Cup Finals against Pawtucket. It also snapped a scoreless streak for Bulls starter Jake Odorizzi, who hadn't given a run in 23 2/3 innings over three-plus starts.
Odorizzi, the Rays' second-ranked prospect, logged four innings and limited Omaha to a run on five hits with eight strikeouts. He logged 18 innings in the postseason, breaking Jeremy Hellickson's 2009 team record.
J.D. Martin followed Odorizzi and also worked four innings, yielding a run on fivehits.
The Bulls avoided the shutout in the eighth when pinch-hitter Leslie Anderson homered off reliever Michael Mariot. Durham threatened in the ninth, but Zach Jackson came out of the bullpen and struck out Belnome with two men on.
Jake Seiner is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Jake_Seiner.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the 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
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
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.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
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
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
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