Gatewood helps Biloxi stave off elimination
Jake Gatewood has been an important presence in Double-A Biloxi's lineup throughout the Southern League playoffs, and he came through again Saturday night. The Brewers prospect launched his fourth home run of the postseason to lead the Shuckers to a 4-2 victory over the Generals at the Ballpark at Jackson to
Jake Gatewood has been an important presence in Double-A Biloxi's lineup throughout the Southern League playoffs, and he came through again Saturday night.
The Brewers prospect launched his fourth home run of the postseason to lead the Shuckers to a 4-2 victory over the Generals at the Ballpark at Jackson to force a winner-take-all Game 5 in the Championship Series.
"It's awesome. We're being competitive out there and it almost feels like we're all playing back in high school ... how you play to win all the time," Gatewood said. "It's so much fun being around this group of guys. We've had a couple of special teams here over the last two years. Different teams in a lot of ways, but the same type of chemistry."
The corner infielder came into the game with three long balls, eight RBIs and a .333/.333/.606 slash line across eight postseason games. In the 2016 Midwest League playoffs with Class A Wisconsin, he went 0-for-8 at the plate over two contests.
In the opener of the Southern League Finals, the 2014 first-round pick posted a two-hit, two-RBI night. But across the next two contests, Gatewood went hitless as Jackson took an edge in the series.
Gameday box score
But with the Shuckers up, 2-1, in the fourth inning Saturday, the 23-year-old reversed course with one swing of the bat. He ambushed the first pitch from right-hander Bo Takahashi, sending it deep over the wall in left field. The two had plenty of regular-season experience against each other as Gatewood has gone 3-for-16 with two doubles against the hurler since the 2015 season. This time he added a homer to his ledger.
"I've faced him a lot. I've been facing him since he was in [Rookie Advanced] Missoula," said Gatewood, who went yard 13 times in the regular season. "He's a really good pitcher. He's got really good stuff -- he's nasty. He kind of throws like one of my old teammates, Jordan Yamamoto. I took the same approach as if I were to face [Yamamoto]. They're both really good pitchers, so I was just trying to be aggressive.
Complete playoff coverage
"I squared it up pretty good. I didn't really feel it coming off the bat. I know it's a good thing as soon as I feel that."
Ninth-ranked Brewers prospectMario Feliciano singled in two runs in the third and finished the game with two hits and a run scored. The 20-year-old has batted .400 with a .900 OPS in the Championship Series.
Right-hander Tyler Spurlin (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing a walk over 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Nate Griep picked up his second save of the series after fanning one in a perfect ninth.
Biloxi sits one win away from the Southern League crown after falling to Jackson in the Finals one year ago. Gatewood, who suffered an ACL tear in 2018, missed last year's playoffs.
"I got to watch the last couple of games of the series in Biloxi, so I was with the team. Man, that was a heartbreaking loss to Jackson, because we felt we were the best team in that league," he said. "It was tough to lose at the end there. We do have some of the same players from last year's team, so it's kind of motivated us to keep everyone's energy up and lead this team to a victory. It's crazy that it ended up being the same thing as last year, but that's just a testament to both organizations."
Takahashi allowed three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts over four innings.
Game 5 will be Sunday in Jackson.
Andrew Battifarano is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter, @AndrewAtBatt.
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