Game Notes: San Antonio Missions at Oklahoma City Dodgers
Published on April 4, 2019 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release
San Antonio Missions (0-0) at Oklahoma City Dodgers (0-0)
Game #1/Road Game #1
Thursday, April 4, 7:05 p.m.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
MiLB.tv/KONO 860 AM
RHP Adrian Houser (0-0, --) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-0, --)
New League, Who Dis?: After 117 years of playing the Texas League and other various leagues and 70 seasons in Double-A the Missions are in their first season as a Triple-A ball club. The Missions replaced the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the Pacific Coast League.
Part of the Brew Crew: In the offseason the Missions signed a two-year Player Development Contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. San Antonio was affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1972 and were known as the San Antonio Brewers from 1972-76. San Antonio went 53-87 as Milwaukee's Double-A Affiliate in 1972.
Crack One Open: The Missions are 5-5 in their last 10 games on Opening Day overall and 3-3 in their last six season openers on the road. Manager Rick Sweet has won five straight season openers, four with Triple-A Colorado Springs (2015-18) and one with Triple-A Nashville (2014).
Talented Team: The Missions' Opening Day roster features nine of the Brewers' Top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline and five of the top 10. The infield features Keston Hiura (No. 1), Mauricio Dubon (No. 5), and Lucas Erceg (No. 8). Jacob Nottingham (No. 16) will see time behind the plate and possibly at first base. All three outfielders are represented in the Top 30 with Corey Ray (No. 2), Troy Stokes Jr. (No. 13), and Tyrone Taylor (No. 29). The pitching staff features two top prospects with Zack Brown (No. 5) and Adrian Houser (No. 15).
Former Firsts: Five former first round draft picks are sprinkled throughout the Missions Opening Day roster. Pitcher Josh Fields was selected by Seattle with the 8th overall pick in 2008, Cory Spangenberg was taken 10th in 2011 by San Diego, Jake Hager was picked 32nd overall in 2011 by Tampa, Corey Ray was Milwaukee's first selection in 2016 at 5th overall, and Keston Hiura was the 9th overall selection in 2017 by Milwaukee.
Familiar Faces: Pitchers Burch Smith and Jay Jackson and infielder Cory Spangenberg are the only three players on the Missions' Opening Day roster to have played for the Double-A edition of the franchise. Smith made six starts for the Missions in 2013 and went 1-2 with a 1.15 ERA (4 ER/31.1 IP). Jackson made six relief appearances for San Antonio in 2015. He went 0-1 with a 1.69 ERA (2 ER/10.2 P). Spangenberg spent parts of three seasons (2013-15) with the Missions, the majority of which came in 2014 when he hit .331 with 17 doubles, 8 triples, 2 home runs, and 22 RBI in 66 games.
Every Little Thing is Gonna be All Right: Of the 13 pitchers on the roster there are no southpaws. Infielders Lucas Erceg and Cory Spangenberg and outfielder Corey Ray are the only left-handed bats for San Antonio.
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