Double-A Report: A 3-HR Day Highlights a Tough Week for the Stones
Here's Josh Fuller with a recap of what you might have missed in Columbus last week
It's time for the Double-A Report, a weekly look at the Columbus Clingstones. The Stones played host to the Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee) as the calendar flipped to May at Synovus Park.
There are some weeks that we would like to just toss out the window. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there before. It was that type of week for Columbus on the scoreboard, with Biloxi taking five of six from Clingstones. Yet, as always in the minors, we need to dig in and look for the individual performances that deserve to be recognized.
Top-30 Report
One bright spot over the week was the continued dominance of Hayden Harris (30th prospect in system on MLB’s Pipeline list) out of the pen. The lefty hasn’t allowed a run over 11.1 innings in 2025 after 2.1 more scoreless frames over the week. He punched out all four hitters he faced as he grabbed a save on May 1 before showing poise to work out of a jam on Sunday. He is one of only two players in the Southern League (Mitchell Tyranski, Knoxville) to have nine scoreless appearances so far this season.
Speaking of the lone win of the week on May 1, it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the performance from Ian Mejia (#24 prospect). Meija had to jump into action early following a rough first-inning performance from Drue Hackenberg (#5 prospect). Mejia immediately stabilized things, tossing six scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 on the year. The righty showed good command and held the Shuckers to soft contact all night in his second long-relief outing of the season.
Lucas Braun (#10 prospect) showed some grit in his start to begin the series last Tuesday evening. He didn’t have the best feel of the zone, but managed to pitch around five walks to log 5.1 innings of one-run ball. He scattered two hits and punched out four to extend his team-leading total to 30 in 29.1 innings.
Other Top-30 Performers
Drue Hackenberg (5th)
Only lasted 0.2 innings (2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) in a start on May 1. He’ll be looking to rebound against Birmingham from his recent tough stretch that has seen him allow eight runs over his last two appearances.
Didier Fuentes (11th)
Fuentes’ second start in Double-A was pushed back to Sunday due to rain chances and the 19-year-old put in a workman-like performance. He flashed his mid-90’s fastball throughout the day and managed to log five innings (8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 K, 2 HBP, 0 BB).
Jhancarlos Lara (12th)
Threw 3.2 innings on April 30, allowing 3 runs on two hits. Lara continues to struggle with his command with 18 walks in 16 innings in 2025. A+ velo on his fastball though.
Blake Burkhalter (15th)
Burkhalter continues to be a steady arm in the rotation after his fourth start of 5 innings or more this season on May 2. He steadied the ship after a 3-run first and allowed just two runs the rest of the way in a 5-inning start (6 H, 4 ER, 2 K, 3 BB).
David McCabe (18th)
McCabe went 5-for-17 (.294) over the week against the Shuckers and just gets on-base. The 3rd baseman drew five more walks and sits second in the Southern League with a .442 OBP in 22 games to go with six extra-base hits.
Rolddy Munoz (21st)
Munoz had two appearances out the pen for the Stones (4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 K, 3 BB). He struck out four in a two-inning stint on Sunday but allowed three runs on four hits.
Elison Joseph (28th)
Joseph walked a pair of hitters in both outings over the week (2.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K).
From the Notebook
The two teams combined to walk 19 hitters on Friday night in a 7-4 Biloxi win. The 19 combined free passes are the most in a Double-A game this season.
Landon Harper made a spot start on Saturday when Fuentes’ start was pushed back. The righty pitched well over the 4-inning appearance (3 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 0 BB) and retired nine in a row at one point. That stretch was broken by a solo homer, the only blemish on the scoreboard while he was on the mound.
Columbus has lost nine of its last 10 after Sunday.
Highlights of the Week
Ethan Workinger opened May with a bang, hitting three homers in the 9-5 Stones win on Thursday. He hit the first grand slam in the newly renovated Synovus Park to finish the night with eight RBIs. He is the only player in the Southern League so far in 2025 to have a three-homer, eight-RBI night.
Moving and Shaking
It was quiet on the transaction front last week, with just Jonathan Hughes being moved to the active roster from the Development List for Columbus.
Upcoming
The Clingstones will take their first look at the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox) this week at Synovus Park as the season-long 12-game homestand continues. The Barons are currently 14-12 and tied atop the Southern League North Division along with Chattanooga.