Opportunities

Spring training got cranked up with the first game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and several ex-Tourists are getting the early opportunity to state their case for making the opening day roster. Ramiel Tapia, who played at high A Modesto last season, had the best performance of the ex-Tourists getting two hits and scoring a run. Will Swanner got some time in at first base and also banged out a hit.

Former Tourist hurler Tyler Matzek had a rough first outing as he faced five Diamondbacks hitters and didn't retire any of them. He gave up three hits and walked two before he was lifted. Tyler Anderson fared a little better as he went two innings and gave up four hits and three runs. He struck out three. Matt Carasiti pitched one inning gave up a hit and struck out one and Carlos Estevez struck out the side in his one inning pitched.

Former Tourists Scheduled To Pitch

Two former Asheville Tourists, Antonio Senzatela and Carlos Estevez, are acheduled to pitch in the Colorado Rockies intrasquad scrimmage on March 1. Antonio Senzatela spent 2014 with the Asheville Tourists going 15-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 26 starts. Senzatela is the Rockies #13 ranked prospect according to MLB.com. Relief pitcher Carlos Estevez also spent 2014 with the Tourists appearing in 33 games, going 1-3 with a 4.72 ERA.

Two left handed starting pitchers and candidates for the Rockies starting rotation, Tyler Matzek and Tyler Anderson, are scheduled to appear in the Rockies Cactus League Opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Matzek pitched for the Tourists in 2010 and 2011 going 10-5 in 30 starts over the two seasons. He has started 24 games for the Rockies over the past two seasons with an 8-12 record and a 4.06 ERA. Anderson pitched for the Tourists in 2012 and had a 12-3 record with a 2.47 ERA in 20 stars. He missed all of 2015 due to an elbow injury.

South Atlantic League Champions

The Asheville Tourists went to Greensboro and won two straight games, 9-0 and 10-4, to bring home the South Atlantic League Championship. This is Asheville's first championship since 1984. The Tourists hit four homeruns in the 9-0 win and Tyler Anderson threw 7 innings of shutout baseball. Jordan Ribera was the hitting star in the second game as he drive in four of the ten runs. A five run top of the seventh put the game away for the Tourists. It was quite a season for the Tourists. They had the best overall record of any team in the minor leagues. I believe this may have been Manager Joe Mikulik's last year with the Tourists. He has spent thirteen seasons with the Tourists, which is unheard of at this level of baseball, and he intimated in an article in the Asheville Citizen-Times earlier in the season that he was thinking of trying to move up in the organization or entertaining other job offers in baseball. He has developed so many players that have made the Major Leagues but he also became an important part of the Asheville community. If and when he does decide to move on, he will be greatly missed. I am glad that he was able to win his first championship.

Great Pitching

The Tourists have gone 11-5 since July 1st enabling them to catch Charleston for first place in the Southern Division in the second half. This hot streak has been due in large part to their great pitching. Ben Alsup and Chris Jensen lead the staff with 10 wins, Daniel Winkler has 8, but the most impressive of the bunch has been left-hander Tyler Anderson, the #7 ranked prospect in the Rockies organization. He has posted an 8-2 record with a 2.64 ERA to this point in the season. He doesn't have overpowering stuff (44 K's in 78 IP) but his ability to pitch out of tight spots in his first professional season has been remarkable. Left-handers are worth their weight in gold and I hope to see him progress thru the Colorado Rockies system over the next few years.