June 2025 Update:
Record: 34-43 (2nd, 9 GB)
Making the playoffs seems pretty unlikely at this point, so we're likely going to be sellers as the Trade Deadline approaches this month. Interestingly, we're starting to score more runs as the first five men in our batting order (
Corella, Lizarraga, Grates, Fenty, Tapia) all have batting averages above .300.
Adan Corella in particular really turned things around, as the rookie hit .377/.415/.558 in June, receiving much more playing time after
William Lizarraga went down. Now that Lizarraga is back, we have shifted
Ron Goldman to shortstop, to get both of our speedy outfielders in the lineup.
The bullpen got absolutely destroyed in June, as we had 3 pitchers with an ERA above 5 for the month. The starters have been doing fine, but
Evan Downey has been the only one to stand out, as the 23-year old allowed just 2 runs in 4 June starts. Downey hasn't been a strikeout pitcher in 2025, but he's starting to look like someone that can stick around in our rotation.
Injury Report:
OF
William Lizarraga was activated from the IL, and we sent SS
Robert Reyes to AAA. Reyes did nothing with his shot in the starting lineup, hitting just .159/.264/.175 in 21 games.
C
Pedro Guzman has been activated from the IL, and Ivan Gonzalez has been sent down to AAA.
Gonzalez showed great plate discipline in his short time with Columbus, drawing 6 walks in just 35 plate appearances. Guzman has hit the ball well in his return, going 5-11 in his first three games back.
SP
Jared Hooper has recently started a rehab assignment after missing the first few months of the year with a ruptured finger tendon.
Around the League:
-Scorpions SS Ben Bishop is out for the year with a broken elbow. Bishop hit .321/.360/.410 with 28 RBI in his first season with San Antonio.
-The Owls traded RP John Fodor to the Vandals for a minor league pitching prospect. Fodor had an ERA of 2.25 with the Owls, striking out 42 batters in 32 innings pitched.
-The Robins traded 1B Joel Manous to the Emeralds for RP Dave Jimenez and a minor league pitcher. Manous was hitting .235/.335/.417 with 9 home runs, while Jimenez had a 3.33 ERA in 27 innings.
-Robins RP and former Classic Eric Cottle is out for the year with a torn UCL. Cottle had a 3.86 ERA with 38 punch outs in 28 innings.
-Jackals SS Kyle Buckwalter is out for the year with a fractured elbow. He finishes the season batting .341/.397/.449 with 2 home runs.
-Owls LF Ryan Fertig will miss 4 weeks with a strained shoulder. Fertig is among the league leaders with a .371 average, to go with 8 home runs in 40 games.
-Impact 3B Sean Clements is out for the season with a broken kneecap. Clements struggled to a .226 average after hitting 20 home runs a year ago.
-Vipers 3B Manny Rodriguez went 5-5 in a win against the Heroes. The 24-year old is batting .267 with 5 home runs in 2025.
-Foxes SP Jason Epperson is out for the year with a ruptured UCL. Epperson had a 3.54 ERA in 9 starts.
WL Batter of the Month: Comets 2B Salvador Rico: .396 AVG, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 23 R
EL Batter of the Month: Vipers RF Rich Pecina: .416 AVG, 12 HR, 28 RBI, 25 R
WL Pitcher of the Month: Thunderbirds SP Willie Hernandez: 38.1 IP, 1.41 ERA, 42 K
EL Pitcher of the Month: Explorers SP Ji Hsu: 44.1 IP, 1.22 ERA, 47 K
WL Rookie of the Month: Emeralds RF Jim Pierce: .383 AVG, 1 HR, 16 RBI
EL Rookie of the Month: Naturals 1B Tyler Renfro: .351 AVG, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 19 R
Columbus Organization Awards:
Batter of the Month: DH Myles Fenty: .326/.390/.609, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 14 R
Pitcher of the Month: SP Evan Downey: 20.1 IP, 0.89 ERA, 9 K, 0.93 WHIP
Minor League Batters of the Month:
CF Jimmy Batt (AA): .316/.432/.541, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 21 R, 7 SB
CF Victor Aleman (AA): .278/.412/.485, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 16 R, 7 SB
2B David Hinojsa (AAA): .294/.400/.400, 2 HR, 10 rbi, 11 R
Minor League Pitchers of the Month:
SP Shane Webster (A): 39.0 IP, 2.08 ERA, 50 K, 0.85 WHIP
SP Stephon Russel (AAA): 37.1 IP, 1.21 ERA, 32 K, 0.86 WHIP
SP Chris Rhoades (AAA): 31.2 IP, 1.99 ERA, 34 K, 0.88 WHIP