Royals' Van Buren records 5-K inning
While four-strikeout innings are impressive, five-strikeout frames are nearly unheard of. But that's exactly what reliever Malcolm Van Buren recorded in the seventh inning of Rookie Advanced Burlington's 7-6 win over Elizabethton on Wednesday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
While four-strikeout innings are impressive, five-strikeout frames are nearly unheard of. But that's exactly what reliever Malcolm Van Buren recorded in the seventh inning of Rookie Advanced Burlington's 7-6 win over Elizabethton on Wednesday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
Here's the moment that Malcolm Van Buren made history for @BRoyalsKC.
— Brandon Ross (@BrandonRoss99) August 1, 2019
He had 4 Ks in the inning from a pair of dropped third strikes. With two outs and the bases juiced, he gets #5.
My call of the event. S/o to @ETwinsBaseball broadcaster @BadderUpSports for the video.@MiLB pic.twitter.com/KKurULAAwU
"Honestly, I was kind of struggling with command at the time," Van Buren said.
The right-hander began the inning simply enough, when Seth Gray swung and missed at a 3-2 curveball low in the zone. Parker Phillips whiffed at a 1-2 curve in the dirt for what should've been the second out, but he reached on a throwing error by catcher Jesus Atencio.
"I didn't really realize that he struck out also," Van Buren said, "because I was trying to focus and get in the zone."
Twins No. 15 prospectMatt Wallner fanned on a 3-2 fastball, a foul tip that Atencio held on to for Van Buren's third strikeout of the frame. He said the entire inning felt like a blur as he was concentrating on retiring the next hitter.
Gameday box score
Trevor Jensen swung at the sixth offering from the 21-year-old for strike three, but the pitch got away from Atencio. Jensen reached first and Phillips advanced to second, so the inning continued, despite Van Buren's fourth strikeout.
"It wasn't very close to the zone," he said. "It bounced in front of the left-handed batter's box, so I think he was thinking straight fastball. So he just threw his hands at it and got around the curveball a little bit."
After Anthony Prato walked to load the bases, Van Buren got a visit from pitching coach Carlos Martinez. Martinez didn't mention how many strikeouts he had in the inning, focusing on getting him mentally prepared for the next hitter, who the coach said would be his last. The South Carolina native proceeded to strike out Will Holland on three pitches to complete one of baseball's rarest feats.
Van Buren was pumped as he walked off the mound, pleased that he executed his pitches and got out of a jam. But he said he still had no idea what he'd accomplished.
"I didn't realize that I struck out five guys in an inning until I walked back to the dugout," he said.
There, he got high-fives from excited teammates and was told by hitting coach Andy LaRoche that he'd just done something incredibly rare.
"I didn't really realize how good that was until I sat down and relaxed," he said.
The last five-strikeout inning by one Minor League pitcher was thrown by Andrew Kittredge of now-defunct Class A Advanced High Desert -- also in the seventh -- on July 1, 2014 against Rancho Cucamonga. Coincidentally, he started Wednesday's game for the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. James Reeves and Andrew Schwaabcombined on the feat for Class A Charleston against Augusta on April 21, 2016.
As he looked at the wrestling-style championship belt given to the Royals' player of the game, Van Buren began to contemplate his newfound place in history.
"That's pretty cool, honestly," he said. "It's definitely not something I'd ever say I expected to do."
A 2016 31st-round Draft pick, Van Buren worked four scoreless innings and allowed two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. The 6-foot-4 hurler lowered his ERA to 6.31 in nine games, including five starts, between the Appalachian League and Rookie Advanced Idaho Falls.
Burle Dixon lined an RBI single to right field with one out in the eighth that snapped a 6-6 tie. He and leadoff man Maikel Garcia had three hits apiece for Burlington, which overcame an early six-run deficit.
Shlomo Sprung is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @sprungonsports</a
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