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.

Catcher Town

The Colorado Rockies have nine catchers in camp this spring and five of those have spent time behind the plate for the Asheville Tourists. Dustin Garneau (2011), Ryan Casteel and Will Swanner (2012), Tom Murphy (2013), and Dom Nunez (2015), are all alumni of the Asheville Tourists. Casteel, Swanner, and Nunez are all non-roster invitees and are in camp just to get some extra work in.

Barring injury, Nick Hundley will be the Rockies starting catcher going in to the 2016 season. The job to be his backup is wide open. Both Garneau and Murphy got looks at the end of last season. Garneau only batted .157 in 70 at bats before getting injured and Murphy batted .257 with three homeruns and nine RBI's in 35 at bats in a late September call up. Murphy has hit with power at all of his stops in the minors and I look for Murphy to have a strong spring for the Rockies and to take control of the backup catching job.

On A Roll

I finally got to go to my second Asheville Tourists game of the year on Thirsty Thursday, May 31st. Manager Joe Mikulik has the Tourists playing great baseball. They are getting timely hitting and solid pitching and are trying to run away with the first half title in the Southern Division in the South Atlantic League. The Tourists won this game 11-3. Tourists starter Ben Alsup (7-1) gritted his way thru 7 innings, giving up 3 runs and getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 7th inning. Delta Cleary, Jr., and Sam Mende drove in 3 runs a piece and Catcher Will Swanner hit the games only homerun, a line drive shot over the right centerfield fence.