Former Willmar Stinger Colin Poche Debuts with the Rays
Published on June 9, 2019 under Northwoods League (Northwoods) News Release
Rochester, Minn. - Former Willmar Stinger Colin Poche, made his Major League debut for the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, June 8, 2019. Poche is the 219th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Poche, who played collegiately at Dallas Baptist, played for the Willmar Stingers in 2013. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 14th round of the 2016 MLB draft.
In 13 games with the Stingers in 2013 he was 6-2 with a 2.26 ERA and recorded 59 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched. He was a mid-season All-Star and recorded two strikeouts in .2 innings.
Poche began his minor league career in 2016 with the Hillsboro Hops of the Short-Season A Northwest League. He appeared in 21 games and was 1-2 with a 3.19 ERA. He struck out 36 batters in 31 innings while walking 17.
In 2017 Poche began the year with the Kane County Cougars of the Lo-A Midwest League. He appeared in 13 games before a promotion to the Visalia Rawhide of the Hi-A California League. For the season he was a combined 3-1 with 1.25 ERA in 31 games. He struck out 81 batters in 50.1 innings pitched while walking 19 and had a miniscule .974 WHIP.
Poche started the 2018 season with the Jackson Generals of the AA Southern League. After nine appearances he was traded to Tampa Bay. He would be assigned to the Montgomery Biscuits in the same Southern League. Then after three appearances in Montgomery he was promoted to the Durham Bulls of the AAA International League to finish the season. For the year he went 6-0 with .82 ERA in 40 games. He also saved two games and had a career low .788 WHIP. He struck out a career high 110 batters in only 66 innings pitched.
Prior to being called up by the Rays, Poche had appeared in 20 games in Durham and was 2-2 with a 6.26 ERA. He had 48 strikeouts in 27.1 innings with nine walks and a 1.50 WHIP.
In his Major League debut against the Boston Red Sox, Poche entered the game in relief of Tampa Bay starter Ryne Stanek. He pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out three.
Northwoods League Stories from June 9, 2019
- La Crosse Loggers Steal Game One 10-8 - Duluth Huskies
- Bombers Win Third in Four Games at Kenosha - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Mallards Fall 4-3 to Rafters - Madison Mallards
- Kline Throws a Complete Game, Rox Bury Stingers at Home - St. Cloud Rox
- Stingers End Trip with a Loss - Willmar Stingers
- Rafters Hold on for Tough Home Win against Madison - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Errors Plague Bucks in Loss to Honkers - Waterloo Bucks
- Errors Plague Booyah in Extras - Green Bay Rockers
- Woodchucks Improve Road Record to 7-2 with Win in Fond Du Lac - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rafters Open Three-Game Homestand - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Former Willmar Stinger Colin Poche Debuts with the Rays - Northwoods
- Rafters Stroh Capitalizes on Opportunities in Baseball Career - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Mallards Hit the Road for Three Consecutive Match Ups - Madison Mallards
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
