Fireflies Game Notes: April 23 at West Virginia (Game 18)
Published on April 23, 2019 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Columbia Fireflies (7-10) @ West Virginia Power (10-6)
RHP Jaison Vilera (1-1, 6.28) vs. RHP Ryne Inman (2-0, 3.00)
Tues., April 23, 2019 - Appalachian Power Park (Charleston, WV) - First Pitch 7:05 p.m. - Game 18
LISTEN: FirefliesLiveStream.com / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn App
WATCH: MiLB.TV
LAST TIME OUT: Zach Rheams extended his hit streak to four games on Monday, but the Fireflies dropped the series opener to West Virginia, 5-0.
ROAD TRIPPIN': The Fireflies made the 354-mile trek from Columbia to Charleston, West Virginia on Sunday. When Columbia finishes its three-game series against the Power, it'll head to Charleston, South Carolina, for a four-game set with the RiverDogs before returning home. When it's all said and done, the Fireflies will have logged roughly 1,000 miles during the trip.
"HE'S NOT AFRAID": Ronny Mauricio's .323 batting average is 10th-best in the league and his 20 total hits are tied for fifth in the South Atlantic League. Manager Pedro Lopez said to The State newspaper this week that the 18-year-old Mauricio is "not afraid" at the plate.
FOLLOW THE LAW: Keith Law, senior baseball writer at ESPN, ranked Columbia's roster as the 7th-most "Loaded Roster" in all of Minor League Baseball. Law recognized the fact Columbia's roster includes the Mets' third, fourth and fifth-rated prospects (infielders Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos and Shervyen Newton, respectively), New York's past two second-round draft choices (RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson, Vientos) and the system's ninth-rated prospect, left-hander Thomas Szapucki (drafted in the fifth round in 2015). The roster also features 26th (Baseball America) and 27th-rated prospects Chris Viall and Christian James, and 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star, 21-year-old pitcher Jaison Vilera. The prospect rankings are according to MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
YOUTHFUL ENERGY: Columbia's 2019 roster features three teenagers: SS Ronny Mauricio (18), RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson (18) and 3B Mark Vientos (19). All are considered top-10 rated Mets prospects. The Fireflies roster currently includes 10 players aged 21 or younger. Columbia's opening day roster was the youngest (average age 21.6) ever. Take a look below for more information on the prospects in Columbia in 2019.
NEW STAFF: Fireflies second-year manager Pedro Lopez notwithstanding, Columbia has an entirely different coaching staff in 2019. Former big leaguer and Mets pitcher Royce Ring assumes the role as pitching coach and former Eastern League champion Luis Rivera is the new hitting coach. One-time Mets farmhand (and former player for Lopez in Binghamton in 2014) Gilbert Gomez is the team's first-ever bench coach. Daichi Arima (athletic trainer), Sam Nickelsen (strength and conditioning coach), Nicole Collins (assistant athletic trainer) and Dave Williams (mental skills coach) complete the Fireflies coaching staff in 2019.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 23, 2019
- Late Eruption Backs 'Birds in Shutout - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Braves Bats Silenced in 3-2 Loss to BlueClaws - Rome Emperors
- Rhythm Eludes RiverDogs in Second Straight Loss - Charleston RiverDogs
- Lackey Strong But Tourists Still Fall Short - Asheville Tourists
- Rheams Goes Yard, Extends Hit Streak in Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
- Legends Fall in Game Two to Grasshoppers - Lexington Legends
- BlueClaws Topple Rome 3-2 on Tuesday for Second Straight Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive and Suns Suspended on Tuesday - Greenville Drive
- Hickory Pitches Their Way to 3-2 Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
- Pair of Homers Propel 'Dads to Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Game Suspended in 3rd, Doubleheader April 24 - Hagerstown Suns
- Fireflies Game Notes: April 23 at West Virginia (Game 18) - Columbia Fireflies
- MLB Jr. Home Run Derby Saturday at Appalachian Power Park - Charleston Dirty Birds
- July 3rd Tickets Go on Sale Tomorrow at Noon - Asheville Tourists
- Rohlman Named South Atlantic League Player of the Week - Lexington Legends
- Power Set to Host Home Run Derby Saturday - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Game Notes (April 23) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
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