
Game Info: Saturday, August 16 vs. Knoxville: 6:35 PM: Toyota Field
Published on August 16, 2025 under Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release
Saturday, August 16, 2025 - 6:35 PM - Toyota Field - Madison, Alabama
Matchup | Rocket City Trash Pandas - LAA (14-29, 38-73) vs. Knoxville Smokies - CHC (21-21, 53-57)
Pitching Matchup: RHP Bryce Osmond (0-1, 13.50) // RHP Tyler Schlaffer (3-1, 3.00)
Game: 112 of 137 - Second Half: 44 of 69 - Home Game: 56 of 69
TV/Radio: WAAY-TV "MORE" 31.6, Bally Sports Live, MiLB.TV, Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 HD-2
TODAY'S PROMOTIONS:
Saturday, August 16 | First Pitch: 6:35 pm | Gates Open: 5:30 pm | Trustmark VIP Gates: 5:00 pm
Youth Space Jersey Giveaway: The first 1,000 fans, 17 and under, will receive a Youth Space Jersey, presented by Nucor Tubular.
THIS WEEKEND:.
Sunday - Faith & Family Day with pregame concert, player testimony, autograph session, and postgame Kids Run the Bases.
PANDA NOTES:
FOR STARTERS: The Rocket City Trash Pandas continue a six-game homestand Saturday night at Toyota Field against the Knoxville Smokies (Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs). It's the fourth of five meetings between the North Division rivals this season, with the finale set for September 2-7 in Knoxville. Rocket City is 10-11 against the Smokies in 2025, including 6-7 at home. The Trash Pandas are coming off of back-to-back 1-5 series losses, at Columbus (August 5-10) and vs. Birmingham (July 29-August 3).
KNOXVILLE OUTLASTS ROCKET CITY 7-4 IN FRIDAY NIGHT BATTLE: The Trash Pandas dropped their second straight to the Knoxville Smokies, 7-4, on Friday night at Toyota Field. Josh Crouch led the offense with a homer, double, and two RBIs, while Oscar Colas extended his on-base streak to nine games. Despite out-hitting Knoxville, Rocket City's miscues proved costly as the Smokies took advantage of six walks, three hit batters, two errors, and five stolen bases to secure the win.
OSCAR PUTTING THE 'COLOSSAL' IN COLÁS: Oscar Colás has homered five times over his last seven games, including a two-homer game on Thursday, and an August 8 grand slam in Columbus - the Trash Pandas' second of the season and 11th in franchise history. Since May 30, he's been one of the league's power leaders, leading the Southern League, and raking 3rd in Double-A with 13 homers in that span. Overall, Colás is T-4th in the league with 14 long balls between Birmingham (1) and Rocket City (13).
BLASTING OFF IN THE ROCKET CITY: Since July 1, the Trash Pandas have led the Southern League and rank T-8th in Double-A with 32 home runs in 37 games. Oscar Colás (11), and Ben Gobbel (4) have combined for 15 of those homers. The Pandas matched a club record with five long balls on July 3 vs. Knoxville and had four on August 14 vs. Knoxville.
PANDAS STREAKING: Oscar Colás has reached base safely in 9-straight games, batting .324 with five home runs, 13 RBIs, and a 1.189 OPS. Ben Gobbel has been on base in 8-straight games, batting .267 with a .389 OBP, including four walks and four doubles. David Mershon has reached in 7-straight games, posting a .438 OBP.
NICHOLSON FINDING HIS GROOVE: Since a slow start following his August 2 call-up from High-A Tri-City, infielder Ryan Nicholson has been on a tear-batting .304/.448/.5522 over his last seven games with a homer, two doubles, six walks, and a .970 OPS.
FARRIS PACING THE SL IN STRIKEOUTS: LHP Mitch Farris leads the Southern League with 126 strikeouts over 21 outings in 2025. Farris is currently 3rd in team history in single-season strikeouts, trailing only Coleman Crow (128, 2022), and franchise record-holder Caden Dana, who struck out 147 batters in 2024. Farris ranks among the league leaders in starts (T-7th, 20), innings pitched (4th, 104.1), and strikeouts (1st, 126).
LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES CONNECTION: Trash Pandas infielder David Mershon, at 11 years old, played in the 2015 Little League World Series representing Northwood Little League in Taylors, South Carolina. David's team made history with the state's first appearance since 1950. After going 4-0 to win the Southeast Region Tournament, Northwood opened their Williamsport run with a 7-1 victory over Rhode Island, marking the first-ever LLWS win for a South Carolina team. They then dropped a nail-biter to Pennsylvania, 9-8, sending them to the elimination bracket. A 4-3 loss to Kentucky ended their run, but their debut left a lasting mark as one of the most memorable youth baseball moments in South Carolina history.
SAM'S ROLLING THROUGH STARTS LIKE FRESH PASTA DOUGH: LHP Sam Aldegheri has five quality starts in his last seven outings since July 2. The Verona, Italy native has gone 4-2 over that stretch with a 2.16 ERA (10 ER/41.2 IP), 16 walks, and 32 strikeouts. His 2.16 ERA ranks 4th in the Southern League. Aldegheri ranks among the league leaders in starts (T-7th, 20), innings pitched (2nd, 108.1), strikeouts (T-9th, 93), and ERA (9th, 4.07).
FEELING CALABREEZY IN ROCKET CITY: OF David Calabrese is back in his fourth stint in Rocket City since 2023, and is now 4th on the all-time list in games played for the Trash Pandas with 211. He sits behind Orlando Martinez (296), Tucker Flint (244), and Bryce Teodosio (230). In nine games since returning from High-A Tri-City, Calabrese is batting .323.
MURPHY MAKES HIS MARK: RHP Luke Murphy, back for his second stint in Rocket City in 2025, tossed a scoreless inning in Friday's game to extend his franchise-record 113 appearances from 2022-2025. The Vanderbilt product also ranks 3rd in team history with 10 wins, is tied for first with 21 holds, and sits T-3rd (with Eric Torres) with 161 strikeouts.
COSMIC SHAKEUP: 26 ROSTER MOVES MADE IN AUGUST: On August 6, RHP Luke Murphy and RHP Kenyon Yovan were transferred to Rocket City from Triple-A Salt Lake, OF David Calabrese returned from High-A Tri-City, RHP Bryce Osmond was reinstated from the 60-day IL, and C Yeremi Villahermosa was moved from BCA to the Development List. LHP AJ Block, RHP Endrys Briceno, INF Evan Edwards, and C Jaxx Groshans were released.
On August 2, the Angels made 16 roster moves affecting Rocket City, highlighted by the promotions of RHP Brady Choban, INF Denzer Guzman, and OF Nelson Rad a to Triple-A Salt Lake. OF Joe Redfield, RHP Jordan Holloway, and INF Evan White went to the 60-day IL, while RHP Sean Poppen was released. OF Korey Holland joined from Salt Lake, and seven players came from High-A Tri-City: INF Matt Coutney, RHP Max Gieg, INF Ryan Nicholson, RHP Roman Phansalkar, LHP Dylan Phillips, RHP Jake Smith, and INF Arol Vera.
Southern League Stories from August 16, 2025
- Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short as Trash Pandas Drop 5-3 Contest - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Columbus Throttled by Biloxi in 13-3 Loss - Columbus Clingstones
- Shuckers Juice Clingstones Behind 13-Run Explosion, Wichrowski's Strong Start - Biloxi Shuckers
- White Dominates Early, Rataczak Delivers Late in Walk-Off Wahoos Win - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Biscuits Suffer Two Heartbreaking Losses, Swept in Doubleheader - Montgomery Biscuits
- Game Info: Saturday, August 16 vs. Knoxville: 6:35 PM: Toyota Field - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Monster Encore from McCabe Not Enough in 14-8 Loss to Biloxi - Columbus Clingstones
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Other Recent Rocket City Trash Pandas Stories
- Smokies' Seven-Run First Sinks Trash Pandas in Series Finale
- Game Info: Sunday, August 17 vs. Knoxville: 2:35 PM: Toyota Field
- Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short as Trash Pandas Drop 5-3 Contest
- Game Info: Saturday, August 16 vs. Knoxville: 6:35 PM: Toyota Field
- Knoxville Outlasts Rocket City, 7-4, in Friday Night Battle

