Finnegan, Monarchs Hang On For Win In Fargo

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FARGO, N.D. — The American Association’s West Division might just run through the Kansas City Monarchs.

Kansas City withstood a late comeback to knock off the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 5-3 on Friday at Newman Outdoor Field. The win extends their division lead over the RedHawks to a season-high eight games.

Brandon Finnegan threw six strong innings to earn the win for Kansas City.

“For me, my thought process is I just need to go out there and just pound the zone with everything I got,” Finnegan said after the game. “The defense played great tonight. Maris made a lot of great plays behind me at third. I got a lot of weak contact.”

Gavin Collins, who earlier in the day won a fan vote for a spot in the league All-Star Game, homered in the victory.

“I’m so pumped that he made it; he should have been an All-Star to begin with, along with a lot of other guys in this locker room,” Finnegan said.

The Monarchs are now guaranteed to leave Fargo with the division lead. They’ll look to further extend their advantage Saturday night at 6 p.m. in game two of the three-game set.

“We have such a good team, and so many of these guys do not belong here [at this level],” Finnegan said. “We’ve just got to keep pushing.”

Monarchs right fielder Brian O’Grady drove in the game’s first run in the first inning with a sacrifice fly to score Odubel Herrera.

Correlle Prime tied the score for Fargo-Moorhead with a solo homer in the bottom of the first, his 10th blast of the season.

The Monarchs retook the lead in the second. LJ Hatch started the rally with a one-out triple. Odubel Herrera drove him in with an RBI single to make it 2-1.

Herrera went on to score on a Chris Herrmann sacrifice fly. It was the 50th RBI of the season for the Monarchs catcher, tied with Cleburne’s Zach Nehrir for the most in the league.

The Monarchs took a 4-1 lead on a Jacob Robson sac fly in the third inning.

RedHawks starter Kevin McGovern threw six innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He walked five and hit a batter, striking out three.

Finnegan settled in after the Prime homer in the first. He allowed six hits without walking a batter, striking out five. He threw 99 pitches.

The Monarchs took a 5-1 lead after Collins’ home run in the eighth inning.

The RedHawks plated two runs off Jordan Martinson in the eighth inning, but Kansas City closer Patrick Weigel worked a scoreless ninth to ice the 5-3 victory.

UP NEXT

Kansas City native Dalton Moats will start Saturday’s game for the Monarchs agaisnt Fargo-Moorhead’s Jake Dykhoff. Monarchs fans can tune in at MonarchsBaseball.com/Live starting at 5:50 p.m.

Monarchs’ Collins Named To All-Star Team In Fan Vote

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FARGO, N.D — One more Kansas City Monarch is heading to the All-Star Game. Catcher and infielder Gavin Collins has won a fan vote for the last spot on the American Association’s West Division team, the league announced Friday.

“It definitely makes coming to the park even more enjoyable,” Collins said during the league’s announcement. “We have a great fan base, and it makes perfect sense that they were able to come through in the clutch and get the votes in.”

Collins beat out five other players to win the spot on the West roster. He’ll join LG Castillo of the Gary SouthShore RailCats, who won the race in the East.

Five Monarchs are now heading to the All-Star Game, including pitchers Jalen Miller and Trey Jeans, catcher Chris Herrmann and second baseman Justin Wylie.

Collins has played catcher, first and third for Kansas City this year. He enters Friday’s game with a .303 average, .845 OPS, five home runs and 23 RBIs in 37 games.

He’s also on a hot streak as of late, reaching base safely in 13 straight games before Wednesday night. That included a 3-for-5 day against Winnipeg on July 2, where Collins delivered his fifth homer of the season.

The Lake Forest, California native has played a vital role in the clubhouse, as his teammates can attest.

“Gavin’s an unbelievable baseball player, unbelievable person,” Monarchs closer Patrick Weigel said. “He’s hitting in the heart of our order, and doing it defensively at catcher, first base, and second base. He’s a guy that can play anywhere on the baseball field and still get up to the plate and have great at-bats.”

Drafted by Cleveland out of Mississippi State in 2016, Collins has made it as high as Triple-A in his affiliated career. He joined the Monarchs in 2023 from the Rays organization, where he played in 16 big-league spring training games earlier this year.

Collins’ Monarchs have the best record in the American Assoiation entering Friday, and are three games clear of first-place Fargo-Moorhead in the American Association standings. Those two teams meet for a crucial three-game series this weekend.

About the Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. This year, they are celebrating their 20th year of baseball in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965. The Monarchs won ten Negro American League championships and two Negro League World Series championships in their history. The team featured numerous notable players over the years, including Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, and Buck O’Neil.

About the American Association

The American Association of Professional Baseball played its first season in 2006. It is a professional partner league that is affiliated with Major League Baseball but not specifically with any one team. The league consists of 12 teams located primarily in the Midwest and the South of the United States. Its season runs from May to September and features players who are looking to showcase their talents for a chance to be signed by a major league team.

Monarchs Fall Short After Ninth-Inning Rally

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A two-out RBI double from Sioux Falls’ Trevor Achenbach in the ninth inning was the game changer in the Canaries’ 6-5 victory over the Monarchs at Legends Field Wednesday night.

The Monarchs fall to 31-18 but maintain their top spot in the West Division and the American Association overall. Kansas City is now 5-1 against Sioux Falls in 2023.

Sioux Falls started the scoring in the second inning. A Hunter Clanin walk loaded the bases and a wild pitch scored Achenbach who walked earlier in the inning. It was 1-0 Canaries after two innings.

The Canaries continued the scoring on a solo home run from Darnell Sweeney that made it 2-0 Canaries after three innings.

In the fourth inning, Clanin would ground out to score another run to make it 3-0. Wyatt Ulrich’s RBI double made it 4-0 Canaries in the fourth.

The Monarchs came to life in the fourth inning. After loading the bases, LJ Hatch drew a walk to bring in Aaron Whitefield and make it 4-1. With the bases re-loaded, Odubel Herrera smashed an RBI double to make it 4-3 Canaries after four innings.

Jacob Robson drew a walk and stole second to set the table for Kansas City in the sixth. All-Star second baseman Justin Wylie drove him in with a leadoff single to tie the game at four.

Monarchs All-Star reliever Trey Jeans helped keep the game tied, throwing three scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out six without walking a batter.

Both teams would go quiet until the ninth inning. After loading the bases, Trevor Achenbach delivered a two-run double to put Sioux Falls up 6-4.

The Monarchs rallied in the ninth. A Chris Herrmann double and Brian O’Grady RBI single made it 6-5 with two out. But Canaries closer Charlie Hasty shut the door on the Monarchs to get his league-best 12th save in 2023.

Grant Gavin got the loss (4-2) and Jose Cruz got the win (4-1).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs begin a three-game road series versus the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks. Game one is scheduled for Friday, July 7th at 7:02 PM.

Matson Gem, Wylie Grand Slam Secure Series Win

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A one-hit, one-run outing from Zach Matson and a grand slam from All-Star Justin Wylie set the tone for the Monarchs in a 5-2 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries at Legends Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Matson had a no-hit bid going into the fifth inning. He threw six innings allowing one run on one hit. He walked three and struck out five.

The Monarchs move to 5-0 versus the Canaries in 2023 and improve to 31-17 to maintain their top spot in the American Association.

The Monarchs got the scoring started in the second inning. Wylie doubled and was given third base on an interference call after an attempted steal. Peter Maris would extend his hit streak to eight games with an RBI single that scored Wylie. It was 1-0 Monarchs after two innings.

The final runs the Monarchs would score came in the third inning. After loading the bases, Wylie unloaded them with a grand slam, his first of the season. That grand slam made it 5-0 Monarchs through three innings. It was Wylie’s fourth home run of the season.

The Canaries would get on the board in the fifth inning. Carson Clowers hit an RBI single to score Trevor Achenbach to make it 5-1 Monarchs through five innings.

Relievers Alex Valdez and Dalton Moats kept the Canaries at bay in the later innings. Moats threw the eighth and ninth frames in his return from the injured list.

The final sign of life from Sioux Falls came on a solo home run from Achenbach in the ninth inning to make it 5-2.

Moats would shut the door from there. Matson got the win (2-1) and Canaries starter Akeem Bostick got the loss (1-2).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs finish a three-game series versus the Sioux Falls Canaries Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Legends Field.

Monarchs Win Pitchers’ Duel To Open Series

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Another day and another 100-pitch outing for Monarchs starting pitcher Jalen Miller. The All-Star righty fueled the Monarchs to a 2-1 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries at Legends Field Monday night.

A big fifth inning from the Monarchs gave them a 2-0 lead and they never looked back to improve to 4-0 versus Sioux Falls in 2023.

Kansas City improves to 30-17 to maintain their top spot in the West division and the American Association overall.

This was a pitchers’ battle between Miller and Canaries starter Ty Culbreth. Culbreth held the Monarchs scoreless through the first four innings. Miller held the Canaries scoreless through six innings.

Aaron Whitefield started the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff double. Peter Maris continued his hot start as a Monarch with an RBI single that made it 1-0. 

After an LJ Hatch single and an Odubel Herrera fielders choice, Maris scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Monarchs after five innings.

The Canaries’ only run of the game came after Wyatt Ulrich made his way to third after a throwing error on Chris Herrmann. Trevor Achenbach knocked in Ulrich with an RBI double and it was 2-1 Monarchs after seven innings.

Sioux Falls would load the bases in the eighth but Monarchs reliever Grant Gavin ended the Canaries rally. Patrick Weigel threw the ninth to shut the door and secure the victory.

Miller got the win (6-2), Culbreth got the loss (2-5) and Weigel got the save (4).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs continue a three-game series versus the Sioux Falls Canaries. Game two of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Legends Field.

Four Monarchs Make All-Star Team, Collins Last Man In Candidate

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KANSAS CITY Kan. — Four Kansas City Monarchs are heading to the American Association’s All-Star game, the league announced Monday.

Catcher Chris Herrmann and second baseman Justin Wylie both made the starting lineup for the West Division. Pitchers Jalen Miller and Trey Jeans also made the squad.

Additionally, Monarchs catcher and infielder Gavin Collins is one of six candidates for the Last Man In, a fan vote to determine the final roster spot on each division’s All-Star team. Fans can vote for Collins here. Voting is open until Thursday at 5 p.m. Central time.

Dylan Rosa was also named to the West Division team as their starting designated hitter, but was traded from the Monarchs to the Chicago Dogs shortly after the announcement was made.

The American Association All-Star Game is set for July 18, 2023 at 6:35 p.m. from Franklin Field, home of the Milwaukee Milkmen.

The Monarchs enter Monday’s action with the best record in the American Association at 29-17. They play the Sioux Falls Canaries on the Fourth of July Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Herrmann leads the Monarchs and is second in the league with a .360 batting average. He leads the Association with 49 RBIs and ranks second with a .622 slugging percentage. His 11 home runs pace Kansas City.

A former major leaguer with the Twins, Diamondbacks, Mariners and Athletics over eight seasons, “The Herrmannator” is in his first year with the Monarchs.

Wylie sports a .311 batting average and .855 OPS on the season, both best among West Division second basemen. He leads the Monarchs with 25 walks against just 24 strikeouts in 39 games.

This is Wylie’s second straight All-Star appearance after playing in the Frontier League All-Star Game in 2022 as a member of the New Jersey Jackals. Wylie represented Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.

Miller makes the team fresh off of perhaps the best outing of his career: a 133-pitch complete-game shutout Wednesday night at Kane County. The performance lowered his season ERA to 3.83 with 42 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched.

A former Orioles prospect, Miller has experience in nine different professional leagues. This is his second year with Kansas City after posting a 2.52 ERA over five appearances (regular season and playoffs) in 2022.

Jeans is one of Kansas City’s most dependable bullpen arms. He owns a 4-0 record and 3.38 ERA. The left-hander has allowed more than one run in just one of his 15 appearances on the season.

The Texarkana, Arkansas native is in his fourth professional season and first in the American Association. He spent three years as a Chicago White Sox prospect, reaching Double-A in 2022.

Collins owns a .306 average and .848 OPS on the season. He’s coming off a 3-for-5 performance in the Monarchs’ thrilling 12-11 victory over Winnipeg Sunday afternoon.

Drafted by Cleveland out of Mississippi State in 2016, Collins has made it as high as Triple-A in his affiliated career. He joined the Monarchs in 2023 from the Rays organization, where he played in 16 big-league spring training games earlier this year.

Whitefield Walk-Off Hit Secures Series Win

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By Nolan Brooks

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In a marathon game, the Kansas City Monarchs’ only lead was on a walk-off. Center fielder Aaron Whitefield delivered a 10th-inning single to win the game 12-11 over the Winnipeg Goldeyes Sunday.

The Monarchs faced three deficits and overcame all three to keep it close. In the end, the 10th inning comeback sealed the victory for the Monarchs.

Newcomer Brian O’Grady continued his hot start as a Monarch. O’Grady finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs including a solo homer in the sixth inning.

The Monarchs improve to 29-17 to maintain the best record in the American Association. The Monarchs are now 5-1 against Winnipeg in 2023.

Winnipeg got the scoring started in the second inning. After loading the bases, an error on Peter Maris scored a run. A throwing error on Jan Hernandez scored two more runs. RBI singles from Tra Holmes and Max Murphy made it 5-0 Goldeyes in the second.

O’Grady hit an RBI double in the second to make it 5-1 Goldeyes. A Jacob Robson groundout also scored a run. It was 5-2 Winnipeg after two innings.

The Monarchs would continue to drive in runs in the third inning. Peter Maris knocked an RBI triple to cut the Goldeyes lead to two. A Chris Herrmann RBI double then scored Maris, making it 5-4 Winnipeg after three.

Maris would continue to make an impact with an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. It was all tied 5-5 after five innings.

Winnipeg retook the lead on an RBI single from Andy Armstrong in the sixth. A three-run home run from Hidekel Gonzalez pushed the Goldeyes lead to 9-5 later in the frame.

But the Monarchs did not quit once again. Back-to-back home runs from O’Grady and Gavin Collins made it 9-7. Whitefield would then single and steal two bases before a LJ Hatch RBI sac fly scored Whitefield. It was 9-8 after six innings.

Winnipeg got their lead back to two in the seventh on a solo home run from Jackson Smith, his second of the year.

The Monarchs rallied again in the eighth inning. After hits from Collins and Hatch put men on first and second, a wild pitch scored Collins to make it 10-9. Odubel Herrera singled to tie the game at 10.

The game headed to extras, and the Goldeyes would add a run in the top of the 10th on an RBI single from Dayson Croes. That made it 11-10 before the Monarchs final comeback of the contest.

Collins hit an RBI single to tie it 11-11 on the first batter of the inning, plating bonus runner Brian O’Grady Then the Whitefield RBI single brought in Collins to walk it off for the Monarchs.

Matt Hartman got the win (1-1) and Samuel Adames got the loss (0-2).

UP NEXT: The Monarchs begin a three-game series versus the Sioux Falls Canaries. Game one of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Legends Field

Goldeyes Pull Away From Monarchs To Level Series

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Winnipeg Goldeyes outscored the Kansas City Monarchs 8-1 over the final seven innings in an 8-3 win at Legends Field Saturday night.

Chris Herrmann drove in his league-best 48th RBI in the defeat, which levels the teams’ three-game series with a rubber game set for Sunday at 1 p.m.

Tra Holmes drove in four runs for Winnipeg, including a three-run homer in the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Goldeyes starter Travis Seabrooke got the win, tossing six innings of two-run baseball.

The Monarchs (28-17) remain in first place in the American Association West despite the defeat.

Brandon Finnegan had the start for Kansas City, allowing four runs on nine hits in five innings of work. He walked two and struck out six, throwing 109 pitches.

Kansas City took the early lead on a Herrmann sac fly in the first inning. Gavin Collins scored on a wild pitch in the second to make it 2-0.

The Goldeyes plated two in the third and two in the fourth against Finnegan. Hidekel Gonzalez delivered an RBI single in the third, part of a 3-for-5 performance. Holmes hit an RBI double in the fourth.

Najee Gaskins made it 5-2 Winnipeg with an RBI double off Grant Gavin in the seventh inning. Holmes gave the Goldeyes a six-run lead with his blast in the ninth.

Peter Maris hit an RBI double to make it 8-3 in the ninth, but that was all the Monarchs could manage against Winnipeg closer Samuel Adames.

UP NEXT

Kansas City will look for the series win Sunday at 1 p.m. Overland Park, Kansas native Miller Hogan will get the start for the Monarchs against Winnipeg’s Luis Ramirez.