Division Standings:
| Team | Win | Losses | GB | Run Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Cities | 6 | 0 | - | +23 |
| Des Moines | 3 | 3 | 3 | -7 |
| Omaha | 2 | 4 | 4 | -20 |
| Madison | 2 | 4 | 4 | -14 |
| Yellow Springs | 2 | 4 | 4 | -2 |
Hitter of the week: It’s usually a good thing when you have problems deciding between a few players however we will give this week to rookie Bernardo Boullosa. He had a good first week batting .318/.444/.545, hitting his first career home run and also swiping a base proving why the club elected to keep him on the roster.
Pitcher of the week: Augusto Cardenas made his first professional start and successfully picked up a win. While he lasted only 5.1 innings and gave up 2 home runs over those innings, it was good to see Cardenas go out and get the victory as he transitions from the lockdown reliever he has been.
Game of the week: Tuesday April 5th, 2039. With one out in the top of the 12th inning, Alonso Olvere hit a 2-2 sinker from Dave Walsh for a run scoring single putting Omaha ahead 7-6 and never looking back to take game 1 of the series against Boise.
4 Piece Nuggets:
1.) Jimmy Starks briefly exited the game this week with back spasms but many were thankful to see him return to the next day’s game. Starks had a good week batting .348/.464/.609 with 1 long ball, 3 doubles, and 3 stolen bases.
2.) The team had an alarming 4 errors this week in its first 6 games. 2 of those came from the hot corner with Emilio Morales struggling. Morales won the golden glove last year for his defensive work at 3rd base, so this is hopefully just a blip on the radar.
3.) It was nice to see Jose Canales go out and earn a victory in the 12th inning win over Boise. Canales struggled last season for the first time in his career and many believed when Cardenas was acquired, Canales closing day’s may have been numbered.
4.) James Monger handled shortstop duties well this week, turning 3 double plays with his new counterpart Bernardo Boullosa. Monger has dabbled at shortstop a few times in his years with the Hawks, but it appears this season it is a permanent move.
The week ahead:
Omaha has its home opener against a tough Calgary club who is currently 4-2 on the year. They then visit Seattle who is also 4-2 in the early going. As mentioned during the off-season Omaha plans to fluctuate ticket prices each week depending on who the squad visiting Omaha is. With Calgary visiting this week, single game tickets have been announced as an even $26.00, an increase of nearly $4 compared to the price season ticket holders paid during the off-season. The $26.00 is also the highest price on record for an Omaha Hawks game, including past playoff games.
Checking on the Eyas:
For those unaware, an Eya is a baby hawk. In this segment each week, we will take a peek at the minor league squads in the organization and point out any big performances, especially by any top prospects with the organization.
In Lincoln, the team sputtered to a 1-6 start despite a starters ERA of 3.31. There is no excuse for 14 runs in 7 games, especially with the offensive firepower sitting at this level. Newly acquired Conner Hamilton had a good week batting .435/.458/.652.
In Sioux City, the club is 4-3 with good performances by the starting rotation who sport a sparkling 1.38 starters ERA with each pitcher having an ERA under 2.00.
In Mankato is sitting at 3-4. Elroy Medina hit 4 home runs in those first 7 games and is batting .423/.423/.1000 on the young season.
Short A & Rookie league have not yet began.
