Double-A Report: Clingstones pitching was as good as advertised last week

Columbus' official scorer has a new weekly feature for you on the Clingstones

(Thrilled to introduce a new weekly feature to the newsletter - The Double-A Report! Josh is a passionate baseball fan who’s worked as an award-winning Sports Information Director in college athletics and now serves as the official scorer for the Columbus Clingstones. He’ll be bringing you weekly reports on the Clingstones as well as special dispatches from Synovus Park - Lindsay)

Welcome to the Double-A Report, a weekly look at the Columbus Clingstones. Minor League baseball made its long-awaited debut in Columbus on April 15 with the Clingstones opening a series with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Miami).

Top-30 Report

While Columbus finished just 2-4 in the series, that record doesn’t accurately reflect the quality of the performances from the roster. Take a glance at last week’s box scores and it shows that Columbus has a stable of arms. In fact, seven pitchers are inside the top 30 of the organization’s MLB Pipeline’s top prospect rankings. The starting rotation leads the Southern League in quality starts, including two this week by RHPs #10 prospect Lucas Braun (6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 0 BB) and #24 prospect Ian Mejia (6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 2 BB).

However, fellow righty Blake Burkhalter (#15 prospect) might have had the best week of all, striking out 17 Pensacola hitters over 10.2 innings in two starts last week, allowing just one earned run. Opponents are hitting just .183 against him so far in 2025 and the decision to stretch him out is looking wiser and wiser every week.

(Photo courtesy of Mike Haskey/Ledger-Enquirer)

Burkhalter’s eighteen whiffs on Sunday came in second for all minor league pitchers on the day behind just AAA’s Jake Bloss and came on the heels of putting up nineteen whiffs in Tuesday’s home opener, tied for the day’s minor league lead with Double A’s Duncan Davitt.

The fifth-overall prospect in the system, Drue Hackenberg (5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 5 BB), posted another performance and now has allowed just 3 earned runs over his last 11.2 innings. Flamethrower and 12th-ranked prospect Jhancarlos Lara (5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB) quickly became a crowd favorite after punching out nine over five innings on Friday. Here’s a supercut of several of Lara’s strikeouts, several of which came on his breaking stuff.

(Video courtesy of

BravesStatsFarm

)

Reliever Elison Joseph (#28 prospect) stretched his scoreless appearance streak to four after 2.2 innings of work against the Wahoos this week. He has six strikeouts in five innings as he begins his first season at the Double-A level. 21st-ranked prospect Rolddy Munoz (3 IP, 1 ER, 3 BB) also continues to be a reliable arm out of the pen with three appearances over the week (3 IP, 1 ER, 3 BB).

No. 30 Hayden Harris (2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 0 BB) is one of two lefties on the roster and features a deceptive motion to keep hitters guessing. With Triple-A experience already under his belt, his time in Columbus could be coming to an end, especially if he continues to be unhittable. Harris hasn’t allowed a hit over 6.2 innings to begin the year.

(Video courtesy of

BravesStatsFarm

)

Third baseman David McCabe (#18 prospect), now fully recovered from his late 2023 Tommy John surgery, is the only Columbus position player currently cracking the top 30. The third baseman made a few slick plays in the field and is off to a .282 start with five extra-base hits and 13 RBIs.

From the Notebook

• Craig Kimbrel appeared in three games over the weekend for the Stones to make his return to the organization. He is still ramping up the velo, but overwhelmed hitters with six strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Look for a move to Gwinnett soon.

• Cal Conley is a smooth operator at shortstop and always seems to be on the bases. He has reached in all but one game so far and holds a .406 on-base percentage with seven stolen bases.

• Lara reached the 100-mph mark on Friday night and can be a huge asset to the Braves if the command issues are worked out - he had a 6.5 BB/9 last season and has walked eleven batters in his first ten innings this season.

• Columbus retired 17 Pensacola hitters in a row on Sunday. I don’t think it will be the last time the Stones throw up a streak like that over the next month or so.

Highlights of the Week

You can’t write about this team’s home opener without mentioning the renovated 99-year-old Synovus Park (formerly Golden Park). The park, built in 1926, underwent a major facelift and is seeing Minor League Baseball games for the first time in nearly two decades. Don’t let the time away fool you, this cathedral has seen some of the game’s greats like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Mickey Mantle roaming the dugout steps throughout the decades. The developers did a fantastic job of maintaining the park’s charming and intimate feeling while also providing first-class amenities. It’s a must-visit for all baseball fans.

Moving and Shaking

After a torrid start, Carlos Rodriguez was promoted to Gwinnett on Friday. The outfielder was hitting .342 in 10 games with three stolen bases. Cody Milligan made his way to Columbus in the corresponding move. Milligan is known for his speed with 75 stolen bases over the last four years at the Double-A level and was immediately inserted into the leadoff spot on Saturday.

Upcoming

The Clingstones head to Chattanooga to see the Reds’ Double-A affiliate. The Lookouts might have the best middle infielder duo in the Southern League with Sal Stewart (#80 overall MLB Pipeline) and Edwin Arroyo (#88). The six-game series begins at 7:15 on Tuesday.