Pranks, Tears, and Pure Joy: How Bats Players Got the Call
It’s the moment that comes right before the one they dreamed about as kids. Stepping onto a Major League field is the culmination of decades of work and sacrifice. But before the bright lights and roaring crowds of tens of thousands, the journey often begins in a cramped Minor Leauge
Bats Walked Off by Stripers in Finale
The Louisville Bats couldn’t finish off the Gwinnett Stripers on Sunday, blowing a two-run lead late in the ballgame to drop the series finale in walkoff fashion by the score of 6-5. The Bats wasted no time getting going against Gwinnett rehabber Chris Sale. Three straight singles by Blake Dunn,
Bats' Offensive Binge Buries Stripers In 14-2 Win
Behind their biggest offensive inning of the season, a dominant night from one of their hottest young stars, and a strong all-around pitching performance, the Louisville Bats crushed the Gwinnett Stripers 14-2 in the second game of a six-game series on Wednesday night at Coolray Field. Starters Davis Daniel and
The Toughest Job in Sports: How Will Banfield Embraces the Challenge
Playing catcher in professional baseball is not for the faint of heart; it is arguably the most challenging position in all of sports. Not only is it physically taxing to squat for nine innings every day, but it also requires mental toughness, as a catcher must call pitches, direct the
Bats Fight Back In Ninth, Rally For 3-1 Victory
The Louisville Bats stormed back to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, rallying for three runs while down to their final three outs to defeat the Indianapolis Indians 3-1 in a thriller on Saturday night at Victory Field. Trailing 1-0 in the ninth, the Bats offense finally came to
Bats Take Early Punches, Fall 11-3 to Indians
Playing from behind from wire to wire, the Louisville Bats dropped game three of their six-game set with the Indianapolis Indians by a score of 11-3. It was a game to forget for the Bats, who had to use seven different pitchers in the loss. Jose Franco (L, 1-1) drew
Bats Twirl One-Hitter in Game Three Victory
The Louisville Bats took game three of the six-game series with the Gwinnett Stripers by winning 5-1 on Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field. Five Louisville pitchers came in and threw a combined one-hitter, the 11th time in franchise history that the Bats given up one hit in a nine-inning
Bats Rally For 7-4 Win Over Clippers
The Louisville Bats stormed ahead with a big fifth inning and held on at the end, defeating the Columbus Clippers 7-4 to earn a split of their six-game series on Sunday afternoon at Huntington Park. Trailing 1-0 after four, the Louisville offense was finally able to get their bats to
Johnston leads Marlins' Organization All-Stars
Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the Miami Marlins.
State of the System: Miami Marlins
Starting in October and running through the end of the year, MiLB.com's State of the System series will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each Major League organization, highlights prospects who've made the biggest strides in 2020 and offers a peek at 2021. The Major League season was barely underway
Banfield's Double Powers Clinton to 4-2 Win
LANSING, MI (July 22, 2019) - Will Banfield doubled home two runs and the Clinton LumberKings dropped the Lansing Lugnuts 4-2 at Cooley Law School Stadium on Monday night. The win gave the LumberKings (21-9, 54-45) the series win over Lansing (15-15, 47-52) and brought to an end a six-game
Banfield's Slam Leads to Rout of Loons
MIDLAND, MI (July 18, 2019) - Will Banfield hit the Clinton LumberKings first grand slam of the season and the Great Lakes Loons were routed 16-7 on Thursday night at Dow Diamond. In total, Clinton (18-8, 51-44) slugged three home runs to set season highs for runs scored and hits
Late Rally Leads to Series Opening Win
CLINTON, IA (June 25, 2019) - The Clinton LumberKings rallied late for four-runs in the eighth for a come from behind 4-2 win over the Peoria Chiefs on Tuesday night at NelsonCorp Field. Clinton (2-3, 35-39) starter Tanner Andrews struck out a professional career high nine batters and Will Banfield
Banfield, Scott Homer in LumberKings Win
BURLINGTON, IA (June 10, 2019) - Will Banfield and Connor Scott each homered for the Clinton LumberKings in a 4-2 win over the Burlington Bees on Monday night at Community Field. The pair of home runs were the decisive blows in a LumberKings (31-32) win that closed out a five-game
Four Home Runs & A Triple Play in LKings Win
BURLINGTON, IA (June 8, 2019) - Marcos Rivera, Christopher Torres, Jerar Encarnacion, and Sean Reynolds each homered for the Clinton LumberKings who turned a triple play in a 9-5 win over the Burlington Bees on Saturday night at Community Field. The home runs were the most in a game by
L-Kings turn unconventional triple play
Any triple play is rare, but Class A Clinton found a particularly unique way to pull off the feat on Saturday.The LumberKings flung the ball all around the field to escape the eighth inning unscathed in their 9-5 win over Burlington at Community Field. It was the team's first triple
Scott Walks Off Cougars in 10th
CLINTON, IA (May 31, 2019) - Connor Scott homered into the Lumber Lounge in right field in the bottom of the 10th inning for a Clinton LumberKings 5-3 win over the Kane County Cougars on Friday night at NelsonCorp Field. The walk-off win was the second of the season for
Biggest Comeback of Year Ends Skid
CLINTON, IA (May 18, 2019) - The longest losing streak of the season came to an end with the largest come from behind effort of the year as the Clinton LumberKings dropped the Cedar Rapids Kernels 8-7 on Sunday afternoon. Down by six, the LumberKings (20-21) stormed back to avoid
Late Rally Falls One Run Short
CLINTON, IA (May 16, 2019) - Late offense by the Clinton LumberKings fell one-run short in a series opening loss with the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Thursday night. Home runs from Thomas Jones and Will Banfield were not enough for Clinton (19-19) to overcome early offense by the Kernels (18-22).Chris
Jones Homers in Offensive Break Out
BURLINGTON, IA (May 13, 2019) - Thomas Jones homered and the Clinton LumberKings offense broke out for a 7-3 win over the Burlington Bees on Monday night at Community Field. Jones joined teammates Sean Reynolds, and Will Banfield with three hits on the night as the LumberKings (18-17) combined to
Early Lead Erased by 7-run Fifth
DAYTON, OH (May 8, 2019) - An early lead for the Clinton LumberKings was erased in a seven-run fifth inning that propelled the Dayton Dragons to a 9-5 win on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Field. Will Banfield drove in the three runs for the night to bring his series
Clinton Pitching Coughs Up Four Home Runs
DAYTON, OH (May 6, 2019) - Four home runs by the Dayton Dragons proved too much to overcome for the Clinton LumberKings in a 5-4 series opening loss at Fifth Third Field on Monday night. LumberKings' (15-14) pitching allowed a season high four home runs with the last erasing an
Six-run Fifth Sinks LumberKings
CLINTON, IA (May 2, 2019) - Sean Reynolds homered in his third straight game for the Clinton LumberKings but it was not enough as they fell to the West Michigan Whitecaps 4-7 in the series finale on Thursday night. West Michigan (12-13) beat the LumberKings (13-12) with a six-run fifth
LumberKings Hold On for Third Straight Win
CLINTON, IA (April 19, 2019) - The Clinton LumberKings rode early offense to a 4-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Friday night. Will Banfield slugged his first home run of the year as Clinton (8-7) captured their sixth win over their last seven games and their third straight
Banfield Walks It Off for LumberKings Win
CLINTON, IA (April 18, 2019) - Will Banfield singled to deep right with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning for a Clinton LumberKings 5-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Thursday night. Clinton's (7-6) first walk-off win of the year was came about following by