COLUMBUS, GA – MAY 09: Ethan Workinger #7 of the Columbus Clingstones stands in the batters box during the game between the Birmingham Barons and the Columbus Clingstones at Synovus Park on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Columbus, Georgia. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Aside from Gwinnett and the DSL squad, it was an overall successful day for Atlanta’s minor league affiliates, as the remaining three teams came away with wins. There was plenty of action, so let’s jump into it.
(48-69) Gwinnett Stripers 0, (52-66) Louisville Bats 3
Jarred Kelenic, CF: 1-2, BBNathan Wiles, SP: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Gwinnett’s matchup with Louisville was ultimately called after five innings due to excessive rain — and the Stripers are probably somewhat grateful for that, as things were not looking promising.
Nathan Wiles got the start and managed to spin toss three scoreless innings, even working out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third. However, he ran into trouble in the fourth as Louisville tagged him for two runs before adding on an additional run in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.
Called after five innings, there wasn’t many offensive standouts in this one for the Stripers. Jarred Kelenic and Jesus Bastidas registered the only two hits for Gwinnett in this one — both singles.
(47-62) Columbus Clingstones 10, (61-51) Biloxi Shuckers 3
Drew Compton, 1B: 4-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, REthan Workinger, RF: 2-5, HR, 2B, 6 RBI, 3 RDrue Hackenburg, SP: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K
Columbus parlayed a solid start from Drue Hackenburg and a couple of banner performances from Drew Compton and Ethan Workinger into a win, beating Biloxi by a 10-3 final on Friday night.
Things got off to an excellent start for the Clingstones as they jumped out to an early lead in their first at-bat. With two outs, Ethan Workinger turned on a 1-1 pitch and launched his 16th homer of the year, plating David McCabe and Lizandro Espinoza in the process to give Columbus a 3-0 lead.
Initially, it appeared as though Hackenburg was headed for a short outing, as Biloxi tagged him for two runs in the home half of the first inning to cut the Columbus lead to 3-2.
However, Hackenburg settled in and was ultimately able to get through 5.1 innings of two-run ball before Ian Mejia came on in relief.
Overall, it was an encouraging start for Hackenburg, who came into the season with high expectations after a great 2024 campaign, but has not quite lived up to the hype thus far as he’s carrying a 7.71 ERA with him through 13 starts with the double-A squad.
Back to Friday’s action, Workinger came through with a bases-clearing double in the top of the fifth, extending the Clingstones’ lead to 6-2 on the night, and giving Workinger six RBI to his credit. Workinger later came around to score on a Drew Compton single to make it a 7-2 game.
Speaking of Compton, the 24-year-old launched his fourth homer of the year — a three-run shot in the top of the ninth — to give Columbus some insurance runs, extending the lead to 10-3, which held on as the final.
(47-63) Rome Emperors 2, (58-52) Bowling Green Hot Rods 1
Isaiah Drake, CF: 3-4, RBI, RLogan Braunschweig, LF: 2-3, RBI, BBGarrett Baumann, SP: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Rome got a solid start out of Garrett Baumann on Friday, and while the offense was outhit by a 9-8 margin, the Emperors managed to hold on for the narrow 2-1 victory over Bowling Green.
Across five innings of work, Baumann scattered four hits and issued a pair of walks while striking out three batters. More importantly, however, Baumann didn’t held Bowling Green scoreless in his outing. It’s a good sign that Baumann was able to bounce back from a rough outing last week in which he only lasted 2.2 innings while giving up thee runs on four hits and four walks.
Offensively, Isaiah Drake and Logan Braunschweig were the heroes in this one, as both tallied multiple hits and one RBI each to their credit in the win.
(59-49) Augusta GreenJackets 7, (52-60) Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 1
Joe Olsavsky, 1B: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, RHayden Friese, DH: 2-4, RBI, R, BBJeremy Reyes, SP: 6.2 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 10 K
Jeremy Reyes was simply spectacular on Friday, as the 19-year-old turned in his best performance of the season in Augusta’s win.
In 6.2 innings of work — which is also his longest outing of the year — Reyes held Kannapolis to just one unearned run on three hits while striking out 10 batters on the night. What’s more is that Reyes also only issued one walk over the course of his stellar start as well.
With his performance Friday, Reyes lowered his season ERA back under 3.00. While he has been on the brink of becoming the next up-and-coming Braves arm in the minor leagues, Reyes has struggled with his control, as in 11 of his 15 starts, he’s issued three or more walks. So the fact that he strung together his longest outing of the year while only giving up one free pass could be a sign of things to come.
At the plate for Augusta on Friday night, Joe Olsavsky led the way by going 3-4 with a double and two RBI to his credit, while 2025 20th-rounder Hayden Friese came through with his best pro performance thus far, going 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored on the night in Augusta’s win.
(20-31) DSL Braves 2, (30-23) DSL Rays 4
Angel Carmona, SS: 2-4, 3B, RJuan Elejandro, 2B: 1-3, BBWuilinyer Tovar, SP: 3 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, K
Despite the loss on Friday, there were a couple of standout performances amongst DSL players.
Angel Carmona put up a solid days work, going 2-4 with a triple and a run scored. Carmona has had arguably the best DSL season to this point, as he has posted a .814 OPS in 68 at-bats to go along with a pair of homers to his credit.
On the mound, Wuilinyer Tovar got the start and tossed three innings of one run ball, managing to work around four hits and a pair of walks while striking out one on the day.