Baseball in the south - MiLB April Mailbag

By: Jeffrey Norris | April 22, 2025

Frisco SS Sebastian Walcott, the Rangers top rated prospect according to MLB.com.

PC: HCO Media

New Southern league team Columbus Clingstones INAUGURAL season off to rocky start.

The Columbus Clingstones replaced a long standing team in the Mississippi Braves this year, but have started off slow with a 7-8 record. Jackson MS, had been home to the Atlanta Braves AA team since the 2005 season after moving from Greenville, SC. The primary reason cited for the move was to be closer to the MLB affiliate team to cut down on travel costs and front office travel. The Clingstones logo features a cartoon-like, smiling peach, leaning on a baseball bat with a peach-like color to go along with their uniforms. The deep roots that the Braves have in the south will remain however with 50 million dollars in stadium renovations to Synovous Park in Columbus, Georgia to bring it up to minor league standards. The Braves currently have the 26th ranked farm system out of the entire MLB.

Blue Wahoos Off to Franchise-Best Start in Southern League. Montgomery Biscuits close behind.

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos have launched their 2025 season with an 11-5 record after starting 7-2, marking the best start in franchise history. Leading the Southern League in runs scored, the team's offense has been formidable. Catcher Joe Mack earned Southern League Player of the Week honors after going 7-for-16 with two doubles, two home runs, and four RBIs, while also throwing out three of six attempted base stealers. He was promoted April 22, to AAA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Wahoos were also the first affiliated team to play at the newly renovated Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia, home of the new Columbus Clingstones. The Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay AA affiliate) however, are not far behind with a 10-5 record. Only a half game back, the Biscuits enjoy the spoils of tampa Bay having the 2nd ranked farm system out of anyone, while Pensacola is slotted at No. 16 as an affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The coming weeks will be critical in the race for the better divisional record however as Pensacola faces 9-6 Knoxville (Cubs AA affiliate) and the Biscuits face the 6-10 Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee AA affiliate).

Rangers' Prospect Pipeline: Walcott and Santos Shine Early. KOhl Drake starts season slow.

The Texas Rangers' farm system is showcasing its depth early in the 2025 season. Top prospect Sebastian Walcott has been making waves with his performance at Double-A Frisco, while right-hander Winston Santos, ranked No. 5 in the organization, impressed during Spring Training with three perfect innings. Santos, along with fellow pitcher Emiliano Teodo, is expected to contribute at the major league level as soon as 2025. No. 13 prospect LHP Kohl Drake has struggled in 2 starts this season at AA Frisco posting a 0-1 record, 4.50 ERA with 9 SO, 5H, and 4BB in just 8 innings of work. He hopes to rebound soon however and will look to build upon his 9-5 campaign last year to the tune of 148 SO, and a 2.29 ERA in 106 IP. Frisco also features a plethora of top-30 Rangers prospects including No. 7 Emiliano Teodo RHP , No. 8 Alejandro Osuna OF, No. 12 Jose Corniell RHP, No. 14 Abimelec Ortiz 1B/OF, No. 19 Cameron Cauley SS/2B, No. 21 Mitch Bratt LHP, No. 22 Josh Stephen RHP, and No. 25 Skylar Hales RHP. Frisco looks to continue their division-best 11-5 record, only behind the Texas League North Division leader Arkansas Travellers (Seattle AA affiliate).

New logo and branding for the Southern League’s newest team: The Columbus Clingstones

PC: Columbus Clingstones/MiLB

Miami Marlins No. 9 prospect, Catcher Joe Mack took home Southern League Player of the week honors during the month of April.

PC: Pensacola Blue Wahoos

LHP Kohl Drake and the Frisco Roughriders hosted the Amarillo Sod Poodles last week (Arizona AA affiliate)

PC: HCO Media