David Dahl Gets The Call

Ex-Asheville Tourists Outfielder David Dahl got the call to the major leagues from the Colorado Rockies yesterday. He made his major league debut batting sixth and playing leftfield against the Baltimore Orioles. Dahl got his first major league hit, a single in the seventh inning, in four at bats. He scored the Rockies second run in the 3-2, ten inning loss to the Orioles.

Dahl played in parts of two seasons for the Tourists in 2013-14 and had a combined total of 10 homeruns and 48 runs batted in. He has spent this season at two different levels at AA Hartford and AAA Albuquerque. He only played 17 games in Albuquerque but was batting .484 with five homeruns and 16 RBI's when he got the call. He hit a combined .314 with 18 homeruns and 61 RBI's between the two stops.

Dahl is considered a five tool prospect by most scouts and he will get a chance to prove himself at the major league level for the rest of the season. Dahl's recall before the trade deadline frees the Rockies up to make some moves. The Rockies still have a slight chance at the second wild card spot as they are 5 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets. The Rockies need pitching. Dahl could potentially be trade bait.

A Story To Tell

Shortstop and former Asheville Tourist and number one draft pick Trevor Story got his chance at shortstop in the Colorado Rockies second spring training game and he responded at the plate with a three run homer. Story has the most power of any of the candidates at shortstop, including Jose Reyes. Outfielder David Dahl also got into the action and he banged out two hits and drove in a run. Christhian Adames got in some playing time at second base and he had a hit and also scored a run. Eddie Butler was the only pitcher of note as he pitched two innings and gave up two runs.

On The Road Again

The Asheville Tourists spotted Greenville a 2-0 lead last night before scoring all five of their runs in the top of the sixth inning to win 5-2. Asheville loaded the bases in the top of the sixth on a Zach Osborne single, a David Dahl walk, and two errors by Drive Shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin. Raimel Tapia followed with a bases clearing double and Ryan McMahon drove him home with his 12th homerun. The Tourists only had 5 hits in the game but made them count. Starting Pitcher Alex Blalog went 5 1/3 innings, gave up 10 hits but only two runs. He improved his record to 6-3. Reliever Trent Daniel came on next and he pitched 2 2/3 scoreless inning and Matt Carasiti pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 2nd Save on the season.

A Score Worthy Of A Video Game

Asheville had a great offensive performance last night against Greensboro pounding out 17 hits, 9 for extra bases, and scoring 12 runs but unfortunately, Greensboro had a better offensive game. Greensboro had 19 hits, 8 of those for extra bases and scored 15 runs as what could probably best be described as a Wrigley Field kind of game right here in Asheville. The Tourists battled back from a 6-2 deficit early on and a 10-5 deficit in the later innings to tie the score at 11 heading into the 9th inning. Asheville, however, ran out of gas as Greensboro scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th and Asheville could only plate 1 in the bottom of the ninth as they finally ran out of comebacks. David Dahl and Max White both had 4 hits (3 of Dahl's hits were doubles) and White drove in two runs while Jordan Patterson and Correlle Prime both had a homerun and 3 RBI's nut it still wasn't quite enough. Asheville starter Johendi Jiminian only lasted 3 innings and gave up 6 runs, 5 earned, before giving away to a bullpen that didn't fare much better. Trent Daniel took the loss (1-2) giving up Greensboro's final 5 runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Back On Track

The Asheville Tourists got back on a winning track last night with a 5-4 victory over the Greenville Drive, evening the series at one a piece. The Tourists quickly jumped on top with a four run bottom of the First inning, the big blow being a two run single by Max White. Ryan McMahon and backup Catcher Wilfredo Rodriguez had the other RBI's in the inning. Raimel Tapia drove in the Tourists final run with a forceout in the bottom of the Fourth inning that drove in David Dahl who had singled earlier in the inning. Asheville starter Zach Jemiola went six strong innings only giving up one run before giving way to reliever Jeffri Hernandez in the top of the Seventh inning. He pitched one inning, Trent Daniel pitched the Eighth inning, giving up a three run homerun, and Troy Neiman pitched the Ninth inning for his 5th Save. Neiman added a little bit of excitement to the Ninth inning when he walked the leadoff batter but he was erased by the next batter who hit into a double play, then the next batter singled, before he got the final out on a groundout to the pitcher.

Lights Out Pitching

The Asheville Tourists pitching in the second half of the season has been lights out. Three games played against the Augusta Greenjackets and only two earned runs allowed. The Tourists used five pitchers last night to shutout the Greenjackets for the second time in three games, 4-0. Alex Blalog started and went five innings, allowed three hits, struck out five and walked two; Jeffri Hernandez pitched one inning, two hits and a walk; Matt Carasiti went 1 1/3 with two walks, Dylan Stamey went 1 1/3 alowing a hit, a walk, and struck out two, and Trent Daniel came on to get the final out of the game with two men on for his 7th save on the season. The Asheville Tourists stole four bases on the game, two by Raimel Tapia, and both of his steals led to runs scored. The Tourists opened up the top of the first inning by manufacturing a run. Tapia was hit by a pitch, stole second, and Ryan McMahon singled him in. The second inning saw Second Baseman Alec Mehrten doubled and scored on a Emerson Jiminez triple. The Tourists put two insurance runs up in the eighth inning as David Dahl singled, was wild pitched to third, Tapia singled him in, a walk, Tapia steals third, an error by Augusta's third baseman, and Tapia scored the second run of the inning. The Tourists have done an excellent job of putting pressure on the other teams defense by showing a willingness to run with several of their players as six Tourists players have double digits in steals led by Max White's 15 against only one caught stealing. None of these players are going to lead the league in steals but knowing when to run is an important factor and having six players on the team that can run, keeps constant pressure on the defense provided they can get on base.

The 2014 Asheville Tourists

The Asheville Tourists announced their 2014 Opening Day Roster today and the Tourists have four of the Colorado Rockies Top 20 Prospects, as listed on Coloradorockies.com, on their roster to start the season. Three of the four are Outfielders as #2 David Dahl, #18 Max White, and #19 Raimel Tapia all made the roster. Dahl and White spent some time with the Tourists last season. The #15 prospect and newcomer to the Tourists, Third Baseman Ryan McMahon, was also placed on the roster. It is interesting to note that none of the Rockies top pitching prospects made the Opening Day roster. Pitchers Trent Blank and Matt Carasiti also spent time with the Tourists last season as did Infielder Zach Osborne and Catcher Jose Briceno. The Coaching staff, led by Manager Fred Ocasio, returned intact with the exception of new Pitching Coach Mark Brewer, who has 20 years experience as a Pitching Coach in various Major League organizations. He replaces the Pitching Coach from the past couple of years, Joey Eischen. The Tourists open up the 2014 season at home on a Thirsty Thursday against the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Baltimore Orioles low Class A team.

The Season Opener

The Asheville Tourists won their season opener on the road against the West Virginia Power last night 3-0 behind the pitching of First Round Supplemental draft pick out of Radford, Eddie Butler. He is the #6 Prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization according to Baseball America. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit, struckout 7 and walked only 1. He consistently stayed in the high 90's and one pitch even hit the 100 MPH mark. Relievers Roberto Padilla (1 2/3 IP), Rayan Gonzalez (1 IP), and closer Raul Fernandez, who struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his first save, finished off the shutout. The Tourists were led at the plate by Catcher Tom Murphy (the #14 prospect) and Third Baseman Jason Stoltz with two hits a piece. The Tourists did strike out 12 times but it was not the best of weather conditions. Designated Hitter Kyle Von Tungeln and Rightfielder Julian Yan (the #20 prospect) drove in a run a piece. #2 Colorado Rockies prospect David Dahl, had a rough Asheville Tourists debut going 0-4 with 3 strikeouts but every hitter is going to have games like that. I am excited about the numbers he is going to put up at McCormick Field.