Sox Fall in Game 2 Against Pippins

YAKIMA, WA - Two big innings catalyzed the Yakima Valley Pippins’ 8-3 win over the Wenatchee AppleSox on Saturday night at Yakima County Stadium.

After the AppleSox scored first in a game for the first time this season, the Pippins scored four times in the first inning and then four more times in the sixth inning to record a five-run victory over the AppleSox to claim the series.

Wenatchee scored first thanks to a two-out home run by Ryan Altenberger in the first inning. In the third, the Sox added a run when Johnny Graham reached first on an error, went to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a single by Tyler Detloff.

An inning later, Kodie Kolden doubled in Brett Gillis after Gillis walked with one out. The Sox were down by one at this point, but the Pippins recorded a big sixth inning to knock off the AppleSox for the second consecutive night.

The two teams wrap up the series on Sunday at 6:05 at Yakima County Stadium.

Full boxscore: http://pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=501900

AppleSox Shut Down in Series Opener

YAKIMA, WA - The AppleSox were stymied by the Yakima Valley Pippins to the tune of a 4-1 loss on Friday night at Yakima County Stadium.

Pippins starting pitcher Joe Magrisi struck out seven and only allowed one hit in five innings. The Sox only run came in the first inning after Magrisi exited, when Brett Gillis tripled and Tyler Detloff plated him with a sacrifice fly.

AppleSox starter Gavin Gorrell tossed a gutsy five innings. Though the Sox defense was only charged one error, they made a couple of other decisions that led to runs. He allowed three runs, all earned, over five innings and struck out four.

The Pippins struck in the first and sixth innings with singular runs while also scoring twice in the fifth.

Owen Leonard had a successful debut for the AppleSox as he tossed the final three innings. He allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out four. Offensively, Cole McKenzie singled and walked to reach base twice.

The series continues on Saturday night when the Pippins host the AppleSox at 6:35. Trent Sellers toes the rubber for the Sox against Cameron Liss.

Full boxscore: http://pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=501899

AppleSox Hit Road for First Time in 2019

The Wenatchee AppleSox face the Yakima Valley Pippins these weekend for three games in their first three road games of the 2019 season. The Sox are fresh off a four-game homestand in which they won a non-league game against the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase before dropping two of three to the Victoria HarbourCats.

Now, the Sox are the road team in the home opener for the Pippins. Click below to get the full series notes.

Series notes

Klassen Posts Strong Debut as Sox Fall in Series Finale

WENATCHEE, WA - Blake Klassen reached base four times in his AppleSox debut, but the Sox lost to the Victoria HarbourCats, 8-5, on Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The incoming freshman at Arizona was added to the AppleSox roster on Wednesday, then started at third base on Thursday. He was hit by a pitch twice, walked, singled, scored a run and stole two bases. Klassen also made several solid plays defensively over at first base. However, his strong play was not enough to overcome an early hole.

The AppleSox allowed five runs in the second inning to get into an early hole. Due to an error, none of those runs were earned, but nine HarbourCats came to the plate in the lengthy frame.

In the third inning, the Sox scored their first two runs of the game. Johnny Graham led off with a solo home run over the right-field fence for his first of the season. After Ryan Altenberger walked, he was erased on a fielder’s choice in which Johnny Sage reached first base safely. Sage then went to second base on an errant pickoff attempt and moved to third base on a passed ball. He scored two batters later on a double to shallow left field by Hunter Montgomery.

After the HarbourCats got one run in the fifth and another in the sixth, the Sox responded in the bottom of the inning with a three-spot. Klassen walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Trent Sellers. With two outs, Graham singled and Altenberger walked to load up the bases. After a pitching change, Sage greeted the new pitcher with a two-run double to left-center to cut the deficit to two. However, the HarbourCats got a run in the eighth to expand their lead to three runs.

The AppleSox hit the road for the first time in the 2019 season on Friday as they play the Yakima Valley Pippins at 7:05 p.m.

Errors Cost AppleSox on Wednesday Night

WENATCHEE, WA - Defensive mistakes were the AppleSox’ Achilles’ Heel in an 8-3 loss to the Victoria HarbourCats on Wednesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The Sox committed five errors, three of which came in the first inning. Three different AppleSox batters had two-hit nights and Sam Wyatt didn’t allow any earned runs in 5.1 shutdown innings of relief, but it wasn’t enough.

Victoria sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs against Sox starter James Kulak. The HarbourCats scored another thanks in part to the AppleSox’ fourth error of the night. Despite scoring five runs through three innings, Victoria had only collected two hits to that point.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Sox scored their first run of the game. Trent Sellers and Quinn Ayers led off with singles and the back-to-back groundouts scored Sellers.

Neither team scored for the next three-and-a-half innings, but the AppleSox cut the deficit to three runs. Again, the inning began with consecutive singles as Kody Darcy and Sellers reached base to open the inning. Grant Gorrell hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in a run and make it 5-2, HarbourCats.

The Sox added their final run in the eighth following two Victoria runs in the top of the inning. Ryan Altenberger led off with a double but then scored two batters later on an RBI single by Cole McKenzie. The HarbourCats capped the scoring with a run in the ninth on a couple of base hits and a sacrifice fly.

The rubber match of the series is on Wednesday at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

AppleSox Rally Late to Top HarbourCats

WENATCHEE, WA - The AppleSox won a spirited back-and-forth game, 7-4, against the Victoria HarbourCats to win their first West Coast League game of the season on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Ryan Altenberger hit a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the AppleSox to a comeback victory. He had another successful day as the Sox’ leadoff batter by reaching base two times and scoring a run. This comes a night after reaching base four times on Monday.

Landon Schirer retired all six batters that he faced and struck out two of them in his two innings of relief. The incoming junior at George Fox picked up the save as a result of his stellar effort.

Every time the HarbourCats scored, the AppleSox had an answer for them. After Victoria struck in the top of the first inning after an AppleSox error, the Sox responded when Altenberger tripled and Sage brought him in with a sacrifice fly.

The HarbourCats took advantage of another Sox error in the fourth, but Wenatchee took the lead in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a three-hit attack. Cole McKenzie singled on the first pitch he saw and then scored two batters later on a Tyler Detloff double. Detloff scored two batter alter when Brett Gillis singled him in and the Sox took a 3-2 lead.

That lead held until the seventh inning when two runs crossed thanks to an error and an RBI single. However, the AppleSox again refused to let the deficit last long. Kody Darcy doubled to lead off the inning and then Brett Gillis and Kodie Kolden singled to load up the bases. With one out, Altenberger singled up the middle to give the Sox a permanent lead.

The AppleSox tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning to pad their lead. Hunter Montgomery reached on an error, was sacrificed to second and scored when Gillis reached on an error. After Kolden doubled to put runners at second and third, Johnny Graham drove in Gillis with an RBI single to right field.

Ryan Long didn’t allow an earned run over six innings, but the AppleSox starter left with a no-decision. Still, despite appearing in a game for the first time since April 21, Long didn’t look like he’d missed a beat, striking out six and only walking one.

The Sox go for the series win Wednesday night as James Kulak gets the ball ahead of the 6:35 game. The first 300 fans to enter the ballpark receive a free AppleSox hat, sponsored by Sunny FM. Gates open at 5:30.

Tonight’s boxscore: http://pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=501872

Sox Open WCL Play With Three Against HarbourCats

Following last night’s 10-1 Opening Night victory over the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase, the Wenatchee AppleSox now being West Coast League-play with three games against the Victoria HarbourCats, June 4-6, all at 6:35 p.m. and all at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The Sox put together an almost perfect night both on the offensive and pitching ends last night and hope to do the same the next three days.

The HarbourCats bring a relatively young roster into tonight’s game. Their Opening Day roster only includes on senior while having 19 freshmen. Rosters fluctuate aplenty over the course of the summer, but its a far cry from the AppleSox, who only have two freshman compared to eight seniors on their current roster.

Click on the game notes below to get a full look at the series.

Series Notes

2016 Sox MVP Toglia Drafted 23rd by Rockies

The Wenatchee AppleSox now claim three alumni as first round picks after UCLA first baseman Michael Toglia was selected 23rd overall by the Colorado Rockies in the MLB First-Year Player Draft on Monday night.

The 6-foot-5 switch-hitter at UCLA joins Marco Gonzales (2013), James Kaprielian (2015) and Keston Hiura (2017) as AppleSox alumni that became first-round selections. As a junior, Toglia is hitting .319 with 16 home runs and 61 RBI through 60 games. UCLA defeated Loyola-Marymount on Monday to advance the super regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Toglia went 5-for-12 in the Los Angeles Regional and homered against both Baylor and Loyola-Marymount on Sunday.

Toglia was the Most Valuable Player of the West Coast League in 2016 after hitting .306 in 45 games with a league-best seven home runs and 40 RBI for the AppleSox.

The MLB Draft continues today and tomorrow with coverage on MLB.com.

Sage Shines as Sox Win Season-Opener

WENATCHEE, WA - Johnny Sage drove in four runs to lead the AppleSox to a season-opening 10-1 victory over the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase team on Monday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Sage, an outfielder and incoming senior at Purdue, reached base three times in five plate appearances and homered in the second inning. Though he played for the AppleSox last season, the long ball was his first in a Sox uniform.

Newcomer Ryan Altenberger also impressed as he reached base four times, thrice via walks. The incoming junior at Xavier also stole a base and drove in a run.

Keegan Romig, a Wenatche High School graduate, tossed five scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Brett Gillis and Trent Sellers each tossed two innings and struck out five batters apiece.

Half of the AppleSox’ offensive damage came in the second inning. After a scoreless first, the Sox sent nine men to the plate. Quinn Ayers and Kodie Kolden both drew one out walks and scored on Tyler Detloff’s double to right-center. Detloff would come around to score himself on a single by Altenberger and then Sage capped the scoring with a two-run bomb over the right field fence.

The Sox scratched across two more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, they did so without collecting any hits. Altenberger walked as did Hunter Montgomery. Cory Meyer hit a ball to third and the relay to first drove CCL first baseman Ryan Krout off the bag. Altenberger never stopped running and scored all the way from second. Montgomery went to third and would score shortly after on a wild pitch.

Sage plated a pair with a two-RBI single in the fourth after Kolden and Detloff reached on a walk and a single, respectively.

The CCL Showcase scratched across a run in the sixth inning thanks to a couple of Sox errors and the AppleSox added a final tally in the eighth after Grant Gorrell drove in Kody Darcy following Darcy’s bloop double.

The AppleSox continue their homestand on Tuesday as the Victoria HarbourCats visit Wenatchee for the first of three games. It’s the Sox’ first $2-off Tuesday of the season.. Tickets are on sale for as cheap as $5 and can be purchased here.

R H E LOB

CCL 1 6 1 13

WEN 10 8 3 12

AppleSox Face Cascade Collegiate League Showcase to Open Season

The 20th season in Wenatchee AppleSox history begins on Monday when the Sox take on the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox face a non-league opponent to open the season for the second consecutive summer. Last year, the Sox dropped their home opener to the River City Athletics.

The Sox begin their 20th season looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2013. They have won five West Coast League championships, second-most in the league’s 15-year history.

Game Notes

Tomorrow’s game can be heard live on Sunny FM in Wenatchee as well as other translators throughout Washington listed below.

93.9 FM in Wenatchee Valley
95.3 FM in Lake Chelan Valley
101.3 FM in Brewster/Bridgeport/Pateros
101.9 FM in Omak/Okanogan Valley
106.3 in Methow Valley

The home opener can also be heard online on the AppleSox website.

Starting Strong

Head coach Kyle Krustangel was adamant following the 2018 season about starting 2019 strong. With 24 of the 36 signed players already in town for Opening Day, Krustangel believes that this group is poised to get off to a strong start because the majority of the players that he wants are here immediately.

View From the Other Side

AppleSox broadcaster Joel Norman spoke with CCL commissioner and CCL Showcase team head coach Ben Krueger recently about the young league. The CCL is in its first year of operations this summer. Listen to the full interview below.

CCL Commissioner Ben Krueger

Experience

The AppleSox have 17 upperclassmen on their roster. Last years’ champs, the Corvallis Knights, finished the season with nine seniors while the AppleSox currently have 11 on their roster full of 2019 summer commits. Rosters obviously fluctuate over the course of the season, but the Sox believe that they are in a good spot for 2019.

"We had good talent last year," Krustangel said in September, "but I want championship type of talent which to me means proven D1 players as the nucleus of our team. I am targeting the going to be seniors and juniors from big D1 programs with a great amount of playing time under their belt."

Opening Day Roster

Coach Krustangel has 24 of his 36 commits in town for tonight’s season-opener. Here’s a look at tonight’s full roster.

Keep an Eye on These AppleSox Ahead of Monday's MLB Draft

Michael Toglia won WCL MVP as a member of the 2016 AppleSox.

Monday is already exciting enough with it being the Wenatchee AppleSox’ season-opener, but is also notable for being the start of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Former AppleSox utilityman and 2016 West Coast League MVP Michael Toglia has a chance at being a first-round selection. MLB.com currently lists Toglia as the 40th-best prospect on its 2019 Prospect Watch. At 40, he has the potential to sneak into being a first-round pick.

In 2016, Toglia hit .306 with 52 hits, seven home runs and 40 RBI, all team-bests. The Bruins first basemen entered the weekend with a 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .315 with 14 home runs, 56 RBI and a 1.009 OPS. Last season, the Gig Harbor, Washington, native hit .336 with 11 home runs, 58 RBI and a 1.037 OPS.

AppleSox head coach Kyle Krustangel has also noted that incoming Sox pitcher Jake Saum and returning outfielder Cole McKenzie could be selected in the 2019 Draft.

Saum is a UCLA commit who posted a microscopic 0.94 ERA in 52.1 innings for St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California. Opponents hit just .159 against Saum and he struck out 97 of them.

McKenzie just completed a stellar junior year at Purdue in which lead the team with a .317 AVG, .407 OBP, 25 walks, 65 hits and 205 AB in 2019. The junior reached base safely in each of his final 22 games and ended the season on a nine-game hitting streak.

The AppleSox have two true first-round selections, meaning that they were were not selected in the Compensation Round or beyond. Marco Gonzales was selected 19th overall in 2013 by the St. Louis Cardinals and Keston Hiura was taken ninth overall in 2017.

The 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft begins with the first two rounds at 4 p.m. PT on Monday and can be seen on MLB Network. The Draft will continue the next two days with television coverage on mlb.com.

NCWLIFE Channel to Broadcast Four AppleSox Games

The Wenatchee AppleSox are expanding their television broadcasts in 2019. Last season, the AppleSox began broadcasting all home games and will continue to do so in 2019 with the exception of four Saturday night games.

June 22 vs the Highline Bears, July 13 vs the Bellingham Bells, July 27 vs the Portland Pickles and Aug. 3 vs the Yakima Valley Pippins will all be broadcast on the NCWLIFE Channel.

The NCWLIFE production crew will use four different cameras to provide unique coverage of those four games. This is the first time that AppleSox games will be broadcast on local television.

“We’re very excited to expand our television network,” AppleSox owner Jose Oglesby said. “We hope this provides another fun way for our fans to connect with us and feel like a part of the action if they can’t necessarily make it to the game.”

Fans can catch the games and other local news and sports through LocalTel: Channel 12, Charter: Channel 19 or ncwlife.com.

Eric Granstrom, the ‘Voice of the AppleSox’ from 2000-06, will broadcast four Sox games for the NCWLIFE Channel this summer. Here he is pictured with his daughter, Gracie, in the broadcast booth in 2003.

In addition, the original ‘Voice of the AppleSox’ Eric Granstrom will provide the play-by-play coverage of all four games. Granstrom was the AppleSox radio broadcaster from 2000-06 and is currently the program and sports director of the NCWLIFE Channel.

“We are very excited to add AppleSox Baseball to our lineup of local programming on NCWLIFE Channel,” Granstrom said. “Broadcasting local sports makes up over 15-percent of our programming, so it only makes sense to add the AppleSox to the mix.  We see the NCWLIFE Channel as a spotlight and reflection of the community in which we live and work.  We’re proud to partner with an organization such as the Wenatchee AppleSox that positively promotes good values and hard work.”

Before those broadcasts, Granstrom will toss out the first pitch before the AppleSox take on the HarbourCats on June 4 at 6:35. He’ll join AppleSox broadcaster Joel Norman on air for the fourth, fifth and sixth innings of that evening’s broadcast.

“It’s hard to believe 20-years has gone by since we broadcast the first game back in 2000!” Granstrom said. “I LOVE doing baseball on radio because it gives you a chance to paint the picture for those listening at home unlike any other sport.  I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to join Joel in the booth on June 4th.”

All four games that will be broadcast on the NCWLIFE Channel will still be broadcast on the AppleSox Radio Network. Sunny FM, the flagship station for AppleSox broadcasts since 2013, will again broadcast all 58 AppleSox games in 2019 with Norman providing the play-by-play coverage.

Download AppleSox Mobile Phone Wallpapers

With the 20th season in team history fast approaching, it’s important to know the team’s schedule. Opening Day is just five days away, so make sure that you’ve got the Sox schedule handy whether it be for a home or a road game.

You can view the two different wallpaper options for the June portion of the schedule below. Select the proper image size for your phone and have the AppleSox schedule available on your mobile phone’s lock screen or home screen at all times.

Stay tuned for wallpapers of the July and August portions of the schedule, respectively.

Also, don’t forget to add the AppleSox Facebook profile picture frame. Show off your Sox pride and add the frame to your profile today. It can be accessed here.

iPhone 6, 7, 8

IPhone 6, 7, 8 Plus

iPhone X, X Plus

iPhone 6, 7, 8

iPhone 6, 7, 8 Plus

iPhone X, X Plus

AppleSox Round Out 2019 Roster

Head coach Kyle Krustangel has finalized his roster for the 2019 season.

The full 40-man roster can be viewed at the bottom of this page. Here are the May additions to the AppleSox roster.

The 2019 season begins less than 10 days from now on June 3 when the AppleSox host the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Tickets can be purchased on applesox.com.

Fans will have the opportunity to get their first look at the 2019 Wenatchee AppleSox on Saturday, June 1, at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium from 5-6:30 p.m. The team will host its annual Fan Fest in which season-ticket holders can pick up their season tickets. While the AppleSox take batting practice, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase single-game tickets, concessions and merchandise.

AppleSox Fan Fest Scheduled for June 1

Saturday, June 1, the AppleSox will hold their annual Fan Fest at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Fans are encouraged to come out and get their first look at the 2019 edition of the AppleSox by watching a live practice. The Fan Fest will run from 5-6:30 p.m. and is free to attend.

In addition to watching practice, fans will have the opportunity to pick up their season tickets or buy tickets for upcoming games. All fans, whether season ticket holders or not, are welcome to come.

There will be food and beverages available to purchase while at Fan Fest. Merchandise will also be on sale so that fans can purchase the newest AppleSox gear.

Team mascot Coyote will also be present to meet and greet fans.

The 20th season in AppleSox history begins on June 3 with a four-game homestand. Opening Night is a 6:35 p.m. non-league game against the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase and then the Sox play three games against their first West Coast League opponent of the season, the Victoria HarbourCats.

Follow the Wenatchee AppleSox on Twitter and Instagram and ‘like’ them on Facebook for the latest team news and updates.

Sign Up for 2019 AppleSox Youth Baseball Camps

The Wenatchee AppleSox Youth Baseball Camps are back for 2019. Kids six-and-up are eligible to partake in three different camps this July.

AppleSox instructional clinics are for kids who want to enhance their baseball skills. Participants will learn techniques to improve hitting, fielding, pitching and catching from AppleSox players and coaches. The AppleSox camps are led by our head coach, Kyle Krustangel, and assisted by his coaching staff and players. AppleSox players come from a wide range of nationally renowned college baseball programs and are among the best players in their class. They are still developing their skills and techniques, which creates a tremendous learning atmosphere.

Below are the camps offered this summer…

Pitching/Catching Camp, July 2

All-Skills Camp, July 9-11

Hitting and Defense Camp, July 29-31

AppleSox head coach Kyle Krustangel

Each camp goes from 9 am until noon, except for the Pitching/Catching Camp, which goes from 9 am until 1 pm.

We are proud of the quality instruction in all the fundamentals of the game that the AppleSox clinics provide. We look for self-improvement with each player. The coaches will be dedicated to helping young players come closer to reaching their baseball dreams. Our goal is for each player to walk away with a positive experience, better baseball fundamentals, and a smile on their face.

All three of the camps take place at the AppleSox homefield, Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, at 1300 5th Street in Wenatchee.

Visit applesoxcamps.com today to sign up.

AppleSox Owner Oglesby Excited for 2019 Season To Begin

Wednesday afternoon, AppleSox owner Jose Oglesby appeared on The Don West Show and chatted about many of the exciting events surrounding the AppleSox. With Opening Day quickly approaching on June 3, Oglesby detailed some of the exciting 2019 initiatives as well as some of the giveways the team has in stores this season.

Oglesby, who purchased the AppleSox in May, 2018, also detailed how he never planned to become a baseball owner. However, he’s thankful that the opportunity and arose and has found the AppleSox to be a perfect fit for him.

“It was the farthest thing from my mind until a year ago. I knew I wasn’t going to buy a major-league team or even a Single-A team, but this was the right opportunity for me. The AppleSox are all about the purity of the sport. We’re trying to help the players become stars in the sport.”

The two also chatted about 2015 AppleSox alum Keston Hiura, who debuted for the Brewers earlier this week. Hiura became the 13th player in AppleSox to play in an MLB game.

“It’s not just the AppleSox, it’s the whole West Coast League,” Oglesby said. “I was looking at the list of all the 13 AppleSox players who have played in MLB and the thing I noticed is that it takes them four or five years after they play here to make their major-league debut. The kids you’re going to see this year, look for them in a few years.”

In addition to talking about their love of baseball and its history, Oglesby and West discussed how important host families are to the AppleSox.

“The host families,” Oglesby said, “are the heart of the operation because they are the ones that make it possible.”

If you’re interested in becoming an AppleSox host parent, contact the AppleSox at 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com.

Listen to the full discussion between Oglesby and West below.

AppleSox owner Jose Ogleby on The Don West Show 5/16/19

2015 AppleSox Alum Hiura Makes MLB Debut

Last night, the highest-drafted player in Wenatchee AppleSox history made his MLB debut as Keston Hiura started at second base and batted seventh in his major-league debut for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hiura becomes the 13th AppleSox alum to appear in a major-league game and the second this season after Griffin Canning made his major-league debut on April 30 for the Los Angeles Angels. This marks the second year in which multiple former Sox have made their MLB debut after Blaine Hardy, Chad Smith and Marco Gonzales all debuted in 2014.

In his major-league debut, Hiura went 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk. He singled up the middle off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff on a 2-2 pitch in the second inning to pick up a base hit in his first major-league at-bat.

After being summoned to the big leagues late Monday night, Hiura overcame a lack of sleep and jitters to record a successful MLB debut.

“I was kind of speechless and at a loss for words,” Hiura said. “It was amazing. I didn’t get much sleep.”

Hiura’s 2015 AppleSox headshot.

Hiura posted a historic season in his sole summer with the AppleSox; 2015. He hit .356 with 68 hits, 21 doubles, six triples, 42 RBI, nine HBP and 13 steals for the AppleSox in 2015, leading them in all of those categories. He set franchise single-season records in doubles, triples, extra-base hits and total bases and reached base in his final 41 games. In total, he reached base in all but one of his 49 games played. Hiura was named to the Perfect Game Summer Collegiate All-America First Team and the All-WCL First Game.

In three seasons for UC Irvine, Hiura slashed .375/.466/.581 with 22 home runs and 135 RBI. As a junior, Hiura led the nation and broke a 46-year school record with a .442 batting average while also leading the country with a .567 on-base percentage.

Hiura was selected ninth overall in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Brewers. Ranked as the 15th-best prospect in MLB, Hiura is slashing .333/.408/.698 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI in 37 games for the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions. This is Hiura’s first year at the Triple-A level after slashing .293/.357/.464 while splitting last season between Advanced Single-A and Double-A.

Below is a list of AppleSox players who have appeared in an MLB game and when they made their debut.

Player Year of MLB Debut Year with AppleSox

Jason Hammel 2006 2001

Clayton Mortensen 2009 2005-06

Cole Gillespie 2010 2004

Tommy Milone 2011 2006

Steve Ames 2013 2008

Blaine Hardy 2014 2006

Chad Smith 2014 2008

Marco Gonzales 2014 2010

Trevor Brown 2015 2010

Pat Valaika 2016 2011

Zack Weiss 2018 2010

Griffin Canning 2019 2014

Keston Hiura 2019 2015

Canning Becomes 12th AppleSox Alum to Reach MLB

Tuesday night, Griffin Canning made his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Angels, thus becoming the 12th former member of the Wenatchee AppleSox to appear in an MLB game.

Canning, a member of the 2014 AppleSox, tossed four-plus innings in the Angels’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays last night. He allowed three runs (all earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out six batters across 4.1 innings.

Drafted 47th overall in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Canning went 1-1 with a 1.61 ERA in five appearances (four starts) in his lone season with the AppleSox. In each of his final two starts with the AppleSox, June 2 and 11, Canning tossed six scoreless innings and struck out eight and 10 batters, respectively.

Canning’s 2014 AppleSox headshot

Canning joined the AppleSox prior to his freshman year at UCLA and carried that summer success to the Bruins. The righty went 19-13 with a 2.99 ERA in his three years with UCLA and was a Golden Spikes Semifinalist as a junior.

Following his debut, Canning’s teammates lauded the rookie when speaking to the media. Mike Trout said that Canning “obviously has got a lot of heart” and that his ceiling is “going to be unbelievable.”

Canning’s catcher, Jonathan Lucroy, also had high praise for his battery mate. While speaking to reporters after the game, the 10-year veteran backstop praised the rookie right-hander for calming his nerves after bouncing a few balls in his pregame bullpen session.

"Being blunt and honest, that’s probably one of the best debuts I’ve ever caught," Lucroy said. "I’m calling it right now -- I think he’s going to throw a lot better next time, which is pretty amazing because he threw pretty good tonight.”

Canning becomes the first former AppleSox player this season to make his major-league debut. He is also the most recent former member of the Sox to appear in an MLB game. Below is a list of AppleSox players who have appeared in an MLB game and when they made their debut.

Player Year of MLB Debut Year with AppleSox

Jason Hammel 2006 2001

Clayton Mortensen 2009 2005-06

Cole Gillespie 2010 2004

Tommy Milone 2011 2006

Steve Ames 2013 2008

Blaine Hardy 2014 2006

Chad Smith 2014 2008

Marco Gonzales 2014 2010

Trevor Brown 2015 2010

Pat Valaika 2016 2011

Zack Weiss 2018 2010

Griffin Canning 2019 2014

Youth Abundant in AppleSox Latest Roster Additions

With temperatures soaring and the Apple Blossom Festival in full swing, residents of the Wenatchee Valley can nearly taste the upcoming summer.

The Wenatchee AppleSox continue their long preparation for the historic 20th season in team history by adding to their roster. After a flurry of additions across the past two weeks, the AppleSox have now increased their roster size to 22 members. Over the last two weeks, head coach Kyle Krustangel announced 11 new players from six different schools. The coaching staff is excited about the talent coming to Wenatchee this summer.

“We’ve got a super talented roster,” AppleSox assistant coach Cash Ulrich said last week on KOHO 101. “It’s hard to know who’s going to be your guys before the season but there’s a ton of talent. It kind of always works itself out through the summer. The guys that really stick with the process and show up every day ready to work throughout the summer seem to be the guys that have a lot of success.”

Only three of the newest additions to the AppleSox 2019 roster are at-or-above junior status. The rest are all freshman or sophomores.

Brett Garcia (UC Irvine)

Freshman, 2019: Has yet to appear in any games.

Ryan Gallegos (Biola)

Sophomore, 2019: Batting .286 with three home runs and 16 RBI in 28 games… Has been hit by a team-high nine pitches.

Freshman, 2018: Hit .348 with with 10 home runs, 13 doubles and 55 RBI in 28 games (25 starts)... Led all freshman in the PacWest in batting average, slugging, runs scored, RBI, doubles and homeruns… Second Team All-PacWest selection and NCCAA All-American.

Larson Kindreich (Biola)

Freshman, 2019: Is 2-2 with a 7.97 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 11 appearances (nine starts) across 40.2 innings… Struck out a career-high 10 batters on April 20 vs Hawaii Pacific.

James Kulak (Purdue)

Freshman, 2019: Is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA and 20 strikeouts in seven appearances (five starts) across 14 innings… Struck out a career-high six batters on April 10 vs Indiana.

Grant Brunt (Purdue)

Freshman, 2019: Has yet to appear in any games.

Henrik Reinertsen (Pacific)

Sophomore, 2019: Is 3-1 with a 3.63 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 17 appearances (one start) across 22.1 innings.

Freshman, 2018: Went 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 17 appearances across 16.2 innings.

Andre Granillo (UC Riverside)

Freshman, 2019: Is 0-0 with a 19.73 ERA in six appearances across 8.2 innings.

Sam Wyatt (Northern Colorado)

Junior, 2019: Is 0-0 with an 8.24 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 10 appearances (one start) across 19.2 innings… Struck out a season-high eight batters on March 26 vs Metro State.

Sophomore, 2018: Went 3-0 with a 2.91 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 13 appearances (two starts) across 24.2 innings for Edmonds Community College.

Freshman, 2017: Went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and nine strikeouts in seven appearances (one start) across 14.2 innings.

Quinn Ayers (Northern Colorado)

Junior, 2019: Batting .196 with eight runs and three RBI in 23 games (15 starts).

Sophomore, 2018: Hit .285 with 29 runs in 50 games for Salt Lake Community College.

John Graham (Northern Colorado)

Freshman, 2019: Batting .136 in 14 games (eight starts).

Brennen Lauffenburger (Northern Colorado)

Junior, 2019: Is 0-3 with a 7.14 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 10 appearances (five starts) across 29 innings.

Sophomore, 2018: Went 8-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 11 appearances (10 starts) across 50 innings for Linn-Benton.

Freshman, 2017: Went 2-1 with 0.86 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 10 appearances in 31.1 innings.

For the most up-to date roster additions, please follow the AppleSox on Twitter and Instagram and like them on Facebook.

The 20th season in Wenatchee AppleSox history begins on June 3. With promotions like cap night, two bobblehead giveaways and fireworks night, this promises to be a season you won’t want to miss. Single-game tickets are on sale now at the team’s office at 610 N Mission St #204 in Wenatchee. The full schedule can be viewed below.