A Pioneer League Primer
The Pioneer League kicked off its season back in mid June, and with the season approaching its halfway mark , the Mint has got you covered when it comes to the standings, and each team’s standouts. Read on for a team-by-team breakdown on whose roster is stacked, whose is not, and which players to keep an eye on when you take in your next Pioneer League game.
Great Falls Voyagers
Record: 13-18
Analysis: The prevailing trend thus far for the Voyagers is that their pitching staff seems to be performing more consistently than their lineup. Great Falls’ hurlers have been pitching them into many of their wins this season, and it remains to be seen whether they can maintain that, or whether the offense can provide any more support.
Player to Watch: Harvin Mendoza, 1B. The left-handed first baseman hails from Caracas Venezuela and has been hitting the ball with authority on an otherwise weak offensive team.
Best Ballplayer Name: Allan Beer, RHP A right handed reliever out of Bradley University, it feels like cosmic irony that Allan Beer wasn’t drafted by the Brewers. Cheers, Allan, your fans here at the Montana Mint are pulling for you this season!
Billings Mustangs
Record: 13-21
Analysis: Billings has two first rounders on its roster, RHP Nick Lodelo, as well as Nick Travieso, who was drafted 14th overall back in 2012. Billings has played in a lot of close games, and in a lot of lower scoring games than your average Pioneer League contest, but unfortunately they have lost a lot of those. They tend to win when they score 6 or 7, but that hasn’t always been easy for the Mustangs to do. Still, their record has kept them close enough to where they’re a team that could go on a run if their offense can kick it into another gear.
Player(s) to Watch: Leonardo Seminati, 1B/3B Seminati hails from Alzano Lombardo, Italy and is putting up excellent numbers in his second year as a Mustang, leading his team in runs, RBIs, and home runs. By the way, Alzano Lombardo is near Milan in northern Italy, up near the Italian/Swiss border. Think of it as the Italian Cut Bank.
Nick Lodolo, LHP Lodolo, a southpaw out of TCU, was drafted in the 1st round, the 7th overall selection of the 2019 MLB draft. He’s only pitched in 5 games so far this season, but he’s certainly a guy to keep an eye on.
Best Ballplayer Name: Cash Case, 2B. “Wallet” was selected in the 4th round of the 2017 draft by the Reds and is having a solid season for the Mustangs.
Ogden Raptors
Record: 27-6
Analysis: This team is stacked. Ogden has the Pioneer League’s best offense, and it’s not hard to see why. While Yurchak and Pages grab the headlines, the Raptor lineup is lethal from top to bottom, with Sam McWilliams, Joe Littell, and Tre Todd all sporting an OPS over 1.000. The Raptors are off to their best start in franchise history, and have clearly separated themselves to this point as the best team in the Pioneer League.
Player(s) to Watch: Andy Pages, OF Pages has been scorching hot this season, and was just named Pioneer League Player of the Week for the second week in a row. The 18 year old has got to be turning heads in the Dodgers system. He’s not just hitting, he’s hitting for power, with more than half of his hits this season being extra base hits. He is second in the Pioneer League with 9 home runs, one more than his teammate, Justin Yurchak.
Justin Yurchak, 1B/3B Yurchak was drafted by the White Sox and played a season with the Great Falls Voyagers in 2017, hitting an impressive .345 batting average with a .968 OPS. He’s outperforming those numbers this year, posting a .359 batting average, a heady OPS of 1.191. He and Pages should be giving opposing pitchers nightmares all season long.
Best Ballplayer Name: Andy Pages, OF
Orem Owlz
Record: 12-22
Analysis: Anaheim Angels’ All-Star shortstop Andrelton Simmons played 3 games with the Owlz while on a rehab assignment earlier this year. I am surprised to see them with the worst record in the league, as they do have some top tier talent, and it’ll be interesting to see whether they can turn their season around, because they seem better than they’re playing right now.
Player(s) to Watch: Jeremiah Jackson, SS Jackson is playing in Orem for the second consecutive season and has found a groove, with 17 of his 27 hits going for extra bases, including a Pioneer League leading 11 home runs. A shortstop with power is always enticing.
Will Wilson, SS Wilson is playing his first season of professional ball after being selected in the 1st round (15th overall) in the 2019 MLB draft by the Angels.
D’Shaun Knowles, OF The Angels organization is high on Knowles, a switch hitting outfielder hailing from New Providence, Bahamas.
Best Ballplayer Name: Zac Kristofak, RHP Kristofak is pitching in his first professional season with the Owlz after 3 years at the University of Georgia.
Grand Junction Rockies
Record: 19-15
Analysis: Grand Junction appears to be a streaky team, with an early winning streak of 5, and have most recently dropped their last 3 games. They are second in the South Division, but they also have the unfortunate distinction of sharing a division with the Ogden Raptors, whom they trail by 8 games.
Player to Watch: Eddy Diaz, 2B/SS The Cuban born Diaz has been a spark plug for the Rockies, leading his team in runs (21). Pay attention when he reaches base; Eddy has been a burner on the bases 2019, leading the Pioneer League with 15 steals (ten more than any other player in the league).
Brenton Doyle, CF Doyle was recently drafted in the 4th round by the Rockies, and despite putting up good numbers early in the year, hasn’t seen a ton of playing time lately. He’s fast, with 4 stolen bases to go with his 3 homers.
Best Ballplayer Name: Walking Cabrera, OF Cabrera, a Dominican Republic native, interestingly only has 10 walks this season, 4th among his teammates.
Idaho Falls Chukars
Record: 18-14
Analysis: Idaho Falls won their first nine home games of the season, and seem like a well balanced club, with a solid lineup and a solid pitching corps, but because everyone on this team is so good, no one really stands out, either. And that’s not a bad thing. So far their depth and consistent roster has their record in a good position as they remain atop the standings, although a recent 5 game losing streak is cause for concern.
Player to Watch: Alec Marsh, RHP The Royals took Marsh in the 2nd round in the 2019 draft, and Marsh has looked comfortable so far with the Chukars, and may get even better as the season rolls on.
Michael Emodi, C The Creighton University product has been an offensive force at backstop for Idaho Falls, pacing the team in RBIs (19) and Home Runs (6).
Best Ballplayer Name: Wyatt Mascarella, C Mascarella went to St. John’s University and has two games under his belt as a Chukar catcher this season.
Rocky Mountain Vibes
Record: 13-20
Analysis: The Vibes started their inaugural year in Colorado Springs well with a 4-1 record, but they followed that up with a 7 game losing streak that they’ve yet to dig themselves out from. 5 of their 12 wins have come against Orem, and they recently ended a 4 game losing streak.
Player to Watch: Micah Bello, CF Bello is a 2nd rounder from Hilo, Hawaii, and is currently the Brewers’ 21st ranked prospect. The 18 year old has been manning center field, and is putting up respectable, balanced offensive numbers this year for the Vibes.
Best Ballplayer Name: Nash Walters, RHP Walters, a right handed starter out of Texas, pitched in 10 games for the Helena Brewers in 2016. Just like the other several former Helena Brewers on the Vibes, Walters has forever earned himself a place in this writer’s heart.
Missoula Osprey
Record: 17-16
Analysis: The Osprey played more or less .500 ball for the first 2-3 weeks of the season, but have turned it on as of late; they are winners of 8 of their last 10 before running into the buzzsaw that is Ogden and dropping their last 3 to the Raptors. They’re currently 2 games behind Idaho Falls in the North Division standings. The Chukars come to Missoula for a 3 game series July 22-24 that should have both teams motivated, and could go a long way in deciding who wins the first half in the Pioneer League North Division.
Player to Watch: Liover Peguero, SS Peguero, a Dominican shortstop in his first season in Missoula, has led a balanced Osprey lineup this season, pacing the birds with a .371 batting average.
Patrick McGuff, SP The righthanded McGuff, a 36th round selection in 2016, leads a strong Osprey pitching staff in wins (3), innings pitched (32), ERA (4.66), WHIP (1.06) and strikeouts (39).
Best Ballplayer Name: Spencer Brickhouse, 1B Brickhouse is a 7th rounder out of East Carolina University in North Carolina, and the slugger is providing the Osprey with respectable offensive numbers. I have a suggestion for his walk up song…..am’s standouts. Read on for a team-by-team breakdown on whose roster is stacked, whose is not, and which players to keep an eye on when you take in your next Pioneer League game.
