Game Info: Sunday, August 17 vs. Knoxville: 2:35 PM: Toyota Field
SL Rocket City Trash Pandas

Game Info: Sunday, August 17 vs. Knoxville: 2:35 PM: Toyota Field

Published on August 17, 2025 under Southern League (SL)
Rocket City Trash Pandas News Release


Sunday, August 17, 2025 - 2:35 PM - Toyota Field - Madison, Alabama

Matchup | Rocket City Trash Pandas - LAA (14-30, 38-74) vs. Knoxville Smokies - CHC (22-21, 54-57)

Pitching Matchup: RHP George Klassen (4-10, 5.79) // RHP Grant Kipp (6-5, 3.56)

Game: 113 of 137 - Second Half: 45 of 69 - Home Game: 57 of 69

TV/Radio: WAAY-TV "MORE" 31.6, Bally Sports Live, MiLB.TV, Talk Radio WZZN 97.7 HD-2

TODAY'S PROMOTIONS:

Sunday, August 17 | First Pitch: 2:35 pm | Gates Open: 1:30 pm | Trustmark VIP Gates: 1:00 pm

Faith and Family Day: Presented by CrossPointe Church, Faith and Family Day at Toyota Field will feature a special pregame concert from 1:15 to 2:00 pm. There will also be a personal testimony from Tras Pandas players Korey Holland and Luke Murphy, as well as a moment of prayer led by Pastor Joel from CrossPointe Church, beginning at 1:45 pm on the Berm in right field.

Pregame Autographs: Trash Pandas players Nick Jones and Walbert Urena will be available for autographs before the game, from 1:40 to 2:00 pm, located on the first-base side of the Bill Penney Concourse.

Postgame Kids Run the Bases: Kids can run the bases at Toyota Field after every Sunday home game, presented by Listerhill Credit Union! Sprocket's Kids' Club members can skip to the front of the line by presenting their ID cards.

NEXT HOMESTAND:.

August 26-31 vs. Columbus

PANDA NOTES:

FOR STARTERS: The Rocket City Trash Pandas wrap up a six-game homestand Sunday afternoon 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 10-12 against the Smokies in 2025, including 6-8 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).

NINTH-INNING RALLY FALLS SHORT AS TRASH PANDAS DROP 5-3 CONTEST: The Trash Pandas' late rally fell short in a 5-3 loss to Knoxville on Saturday night. Newcomer Ryan Nicholson went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Mac McCroskey tripled and scored to spark the ninth-inning push. Despite streaks extended by Oscar Colas, Ben Gobbel, and McCroskey, Knoxville's Brett Bateman powered the Smokies with three hits and three RBIs, including a leadoff homer and a key ninth-inning single.

OSCAR PUTTING THE 'COLOSSAL' IN COLÁS: OF Oscar Colás' has homered five times over his last eight 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).

AGAINST THE SMOKIES: In 13 games this season against Knoxville, Oscar Colás has seven home runs, 13 RBIs, a .277 batting average, and 1.124 OPS. In 11 games, Ben Gobbel is batting .333 with four doubles, and in nine games, Josh Crouch is batting .321 with three home runs, 11 RBIs, and a 1.138 OPS.

BLASTING OFF IN THE ROCKET CITY: Since July 1, the Trash Pandas lead the Southern League, and rank T-8th in Double-A with 32 home runs in 38 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 10-straight games, batting .289 with five home runs, 13 RBIs, and a 1.083 OPS. Ben Gobbel has been on base in 9-straight games batting .286 with a .390 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 .321/.441/.500 over his last eight games with a homer, two doubles, four RBIs, six walks, and a .941 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 (10th, 4.07).

FEELING CALABREEZY IN ROCKET CITY: OF David Calabrese is back for 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 212. He sits behind Orlando Martinez (296), Tucker Flint (244), and Bryce Teodosio (230). In 10 games since returning from High-A Tri-City, Calabrese is batting .278.

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.

Check out the Rocket City Trash Pandas Statistics

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Southern League Stories from August 17, 2025


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