Columbia Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes vs Lynchburg May 29
May 29, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Kansas City Royals have made the following roster move affecting the Columbia Fireflies active roster.
RHP Ben Hernandez has been activated off the development list.
There is no corresponding move. There are 30 players on the active roster with one on the injured list.
Hernandez will wear #16. RHP Shane Panzini will switch to jersey #36.
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Columbia closes out their series at 4 pm vs the Lynchburg Hillcats at Bank of the James Stadium. LHP Frank Mozzicato (0-1, 13.50 ERA) gets the nod for Columbia and RHP Will Dion (2-0, 1.91 ERA) toes the rubber for Lynchburg.
Columbia returns home for a two-week homestand June 7-19 that includes two Budweiser Thirsty Thursdays, two Freebie Fridays, two firework shows and the return of Negro League Weekend! Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.
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FIREFLIES LOSE IN WALK-OFF FASHION: The Columbia Fireflies played their longest game of the season, and lost 3-2 in 11 innings to the Lynchburg Hillcats Saturday night at Bank of the James Stadium. Luis Barroso (L, 1-2) only faced one batter before earning the loss. Victor Planchart lined a ball into right field to score placed runner Dayan Frias to decide Columbia's (13-31) fate. Neither team was able to score in the 10th, setting up the Fireflies first 11 inning game in 2022. Erick Peña played hero early for the Fireflies. With Carter Jensen on first, the centerfielder launched his fifth homer of the season to give Columbia a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
THE FUTURE STARTS NOW: Columbia Fireflies fans have now had a chance to see each of the three high school starting pitchers that the Royals selected in the first four rounds of the 2021 draft at least once. The first time through the order, the three musketeers were domineering. Frank Mozzicato spun three frames, fanning three hitters, allowing a single hit and no runs, Ben Kudrna was on the hook for the loss, allowing a single hit and a single run through 3.2 innings while punching out five hitters and Shane Panzini rocked the room with four scoreless innings, allowing a single hit and wringing up four batters. All told, the group spun 10.2 innings, allowed a single run off three total hits and set aside 12 batters via the strikeout.
THINGS COULD BE BETTER: The Fireflies have lost 14 of their last 17 games as they enter tonight with a 13-31 record. The team has a -108 run differential, which is the worst in the Carolina League by 28 runs. Their run differential is the second worst in Minor League Baseball. Visalia leads MiLB with a -122 run differential. The Rawhide took over the spot after losing their last four games by a combined 24 runs, where Columbia has dropped the same games by five.
HOME COOKING: Fireflies outfielder Darryl Collins has been markedly better at home than on the road this season. The second-year player is hitting .275 in 69 at-bats at home in 2022 with six doubles, one triple and 10 RBI, but is at .214 in 56 at-bats on the road with only three RBI.
TAKING CONTROL: Guillermo Quintana has emerged as the top bat in the Fireflies order so far this season. After winning the ACL Royals' Player of the Year award in 2021, Quintana switched positions from catcher to first base when he transitioned to full-season baseball. If that weren't enough, he's still found a way to make a significant impact with his bat. After he crushed his team-leading sixth homer to left field in the eighth inning last night, accounting for his team-leading 20th RBI, Quintana is just .019 batting average points shy of owning the Fireflies triple crown.
WILLIS THE WAYFINDER: After a rough 2021 season, southpaw Marlin Willis has been hitting a groove with the Fireflies in 2022. After three innings of work Thursday night, Willis has allowed a single earned run in his last 11 innings of work. The Georgia native has been lights out in May. Willis has tallied a 0.82 ERA in five outings, lasting 11 frames while punching out 18 hitters and holding opponents to a .086 batting average.
COMING UP: The Fireflies begin a six-game series with the Salem Red Sox Monday at 1:05 pm. The team will take their off day Tuesday before finishing the six-game set and returning to Segra Park.
Carolina League Stories from May 29, 2022
- GreenJackets' Pitching Lights-Out in Sunday Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
- Bullpen Dominates, Pelicans Fall to Augusta in Series Finale - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Bellony's Cycle Caps 'Birds Emphatic 14-6 Win over 'Dogs - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hillcats Lose to Columbia - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Strasburg Throws Five No-Hit Innings, FredNats Beat Red Sox to Split Series - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Woodies Steal Their Way to Victory - Down East Wood Ducks
- Bellony's Cycle Thwarts RiverDogs Hopes of Series Sweep - Charleston RiverDogs
- Adames and Mudcats Slug out 13-2 Finale Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Late Rally Puts Fireflies in Front 3-2 - Columbia Fireflies
- Columbia Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes vs Lynchburg May 29 - Columbia Fireflies
- INF Willy Adames Added on MLB Rehab - Carolina Mudcats
- Woodies Clinch Series Win - Down East Wood Ducks
- FredNats Split with Salem, Arias Hits Walk-off Single - Fredericksburg Nationals
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