Announcer News, Alumni & 'Bratzilla': Ten Things to Know in the American Association This Week

MOORHEAD, Minn. - June 13, 2024 - PRLog -- The American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) season continues with a full slate of series this weekend, all available for free live viewing at aabaseball.tv (https://www.aabaseball.tv/).

Here are 10 Things to Know about the AAPB this week:

• Juneteenth celebrations are going on all over the U.S. next week, and the Kane County Cougars are ready next Wednesday; the team will auction off game-worn specialty jerseys from that night's game.
• Grand Forks, N.D., native Parker Stroh and East Grand Forks's Jake Osowski went from fans to players when they both signed with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks. The Grand Forks Herald chronicled their journeys to the pros in this feature (https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/east-grand-forks-jake-osowski-grand-forks-parker-stroh-sign-with-fargo-moorhead-redhawks).
• The Sioux City Journal's  features pages were focused on the concession stands, where the "Bratzilla" keeps fans' hunger at bay while they cheer on their team.
• The Winnipeg Goldeyes' Manitoba Baseball Hall of Famer Ron Arnst has been the man behind the voice greeting fans for more than 1,000 games. CTV News caught up with the affable Arnst for this piece (https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/goldeyes-public-address-annou...).
• The Cleburne Railroaders walked their way in to the AAPB books last Thursday, drawing 22 (!) bases on balls against the Gary SouthShore RailCats (https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=611495). Thomas Dillard was issued five free passes, scoring four times in the 23-4 win.
• Former Texas Rangers pitcher A.J. Alexy joined the Kansas City Monarchs last week as the sixth player on their roster with MLB experience. Alexy, who was drafted in the 11th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and later played for Texas from 2021-2022.
• Astute AA fans see former (and perhaps also future) Major Leaguers like Alexy dotting most of league rosters. And a familiar surname can spark nostalgia, as is the case with Lake Country DockHounds utilityman César Izturis Jr.
• Fans dig the long ball, and they love their home team announcers' home run calls almost as much. Which is why Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks play-by-play man Jack Michaels's "Track it Down, Marge!" is unique and so beloved, with an origin story suitable for a superhero.
• AAPB alumni continue to excel in the affiliated minors. Case in point: two-time batting champion Bryan Torres, who last year set the league mark with 71 stolen bases, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals last season.
• Speaking of AAPB alums, make it an even 15 former league players to see MLB action this year when Vinny Nittoli, a standout for St. Paul in 2017 and 2018, got the call from Oakland.

http://www.aabaseball.com