<img alt="MLB: MAR 09 Spring Training - Orioles at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dFHrAuujzpjHBh36lfMCEwl0IZ8=/0x479:2400x2079/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73417110/2064221124.0.jpg">
45 bats during the Saturday afternoon Spring Training baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles on March 9, 2024 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With a win over Greenville on Wednesday, the Emperors win their division in the first half It’s an exciting day for fans of the Rome Emperors and Atlanta Braves minor league system, and perhaps a confusing one for those of you less familiar with the minor leagues. The way the full season levels of minor league baseball works is that they are divided into two halves, with a division winner coming out of each half advancing to the playoffs. Well for the Rome Emperors it took exactly one half under their new moniker to win the South Atlantic League South division.
It was a tightly contested race down to the final week, with Rome and the second place Bowling Green Hot Rods separated by just one game. Rome fell behind last week by a game in a head-to-head matchup with the Hot Rods before winning the final two games over the weekend to retake the division lead. Bowling Green held serve with two wins to start this week, forcing Rome to need two wins to wrap up the division before the end of the first half on Thursday. Last night was a nail-biter, with Rome getting a walk off home run from Adam Zebrowski to win a 1-0 duel.
ZEBO SAID THATS ENOUGH!!!LET’S GO HOME!!!MAGIC NUMBER IS 1!!! pic.twitter.com/MqhMGbFVTa— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 19, 2024
Braves prospect Luis Vargas was on the mound for Rome on Wednesday, and he has been one of the breakout prospects for the system this season with a fastball that touches 98 mph. Vargas had a 12 strikeout game in Augusta, and in two games with Rome since being promoted had allowed only one run. Unfortunately Vargas struggled, ultimately allowing three runs to score in this game and leaving Rome with a 3-1 deficit in the fifth inning. The offense needed a spark, and it was first half MVP EJ Exposito who provided it. Exposito has been the life force of this team, acting as both a clubhouse leader and their best offensive weapon in the first half as he led the team with an .869OPS and 11 home runs. Expo would come in to score on a sacrifice fly, getting Rome a run back before the inning was over.
The inning still though, was not over. Nine hitter Nick Clarno came up with a base hit to get a rally started, flipping the lineup over to Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. and company. Kilpatrick, who has struggled down the stretch, rolled over a ball to third base but used the speed which has made him a highlight reel and game-saver as a defender in center field to beat out the play for an infield hit. Sabin Ceballos then worked a walk, bringing up the red-hot Ethan Workinger. Over the past couple of weeks Workinger has been the player to deliver big hits, but he quickly fell behind 0-2 in the count and the Drive were a strike away from sending the game to the sixth with them still in control. Workinger would come through, rolling a ball up the middle to score Clarno and Kilpatrick and giving Rome a 4-3 lead headed in the latter half of the game.
Ethan Workinger for the LEAD!#RuleTheLand pic.twitter.com/H4CCBodBI3— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 20, 2024
2023 eighth round pick Cory Wall came in to relieve Vargas in the sixth inning, and Wall has been one of Rome’s most consistent pitchers this season. Mostly pitching in multi-inning relief spots, wall came into the game with a 3.54 ERA on the season and 31 strikeouts in 28 innings. Wall did well in the sixth, but trouble brewed in the seventh when two Greenville hitters had singles. Wall would get a weak ground out that advanced the runners both into scoring position, then managed to escape trouble as a fly ball from Red Sox prospect Allan Castro fell harmlessly into Kilpatrick’s glove for the final out of the inning. Rome would add on insurance in the seventh inning, with Kilpatrick coming through again and looping an RBI double down the left field line, afterwards hitting Rome’s signature “waddle” celebration at second base to celebrate. Ceballos then clutched up with an opposite field single to score Kilpatrick and Rome began to run away with the game now up 6-3. Kilpatrick finished the game with three hits and scored a run all three times on base.
Kevo adds on!#RuleTheLand pic.twitter.com/yLFJ80U5ck— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 20, 2024
Wall would come back out to start the eighth inning, and quickly got a strikeout and a ground out. Wall ended up locked in a ten-pitch battle with Jhostynxon Garcia that ended in a base hit and ran him out of pitches, giving undrafted free agent Ryan Bourassa a chance to close out the inning. Bourassa had been stellar in short work this year, with one run allowed and ten strikeouts in seven innings. Bourassa allowed a single to the first batter then issued a wild pitch to score a run, but a deep drive to the left center field gap fell short of the track and Kilpatrick ranged over to track it down and keep the game a 6-4 Rome advantage. With three outs to go to clinch a spot, the Emperors turned back to Bourassa. Bourassa got a ground out and a swinging strikeout to get an out away, bringing up Red Sox prospect Mikey Romero and the top of the order. Bourassa fell behind 3-1, but Romero grounded over to first base and Drew Compton made a diving stab and flipped to Bourassa to clinch the first half title.
The dynasty is just beginning. The Rome Emperors are your 2024 SAL South First-Half Champions!#RuleTheLand pic.twitter.com/kZIyKtKzQT— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 20, 2024
Rome’s season ends on September 8th, and I haven’t found an official schedule yet but based on last season the playoffs should begin September 10th with a three-game series against the second half winner. If they win that, they will advance to the three-game South Atlantic League championship series. The Emperors last won the South Atlantic League in 2016 with their legendary roster that featured Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Max Fried, and Michael Soroka. If you haven’t been to a Rome Emperors game this year I would highly suggest going. They’re running out legit pitching prospects every day and have been the best team in the South Atlantic League this season. Rome Braves Tickets | Emperors (milb.com)
<img alt="MLB: MAR 09 Spring Training - Orioles at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dFHrAuujzpjHBh36lfMCEwl0IZ8=/0x479:2400x2079/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73417110/2064221124.0.jpg">
45 bats during the Saturday afternoon Spring Training baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles on March 9, 2024 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With a win over Greenville on Wednesday, the Emperors win their division in the first half It’s an exciting day for fans of the Rome Emperors and Atlanta Braves minor league system, and perhaps a confusing one for those of you less familiar with the minor leagues. The way the full season levels of minor league baseball works is that they are divided into two halves, with a division winner coming out of each half advancing to the playoffs. Well for the Rome Emperors it took exactly one half under their new moniker to win the South Atlantic League South division.
It was a tightly contested race down to the final week, with Rome and the second place Bowling Green Hot Rods separated by just one game. Rome fell behind last week by a game in a head-to-head matchup with the Hot Rods before winning the final two games over the weekend to retake the division lead. Bowling Green held serve with two wins to start this week, forcing Rome to need two wins to wrap up the division before the end of the first half on Thursday. Last night was a nail-biter, with Rome getting a walk off home run from Adam Zebrowski to win a 1-0 duel.
ZEBO SAID THATS ENOUGH!!!LET’S GO HOME!!!MAGIC NUMBER IS 1!!! pic.twitter.com/MqhMGbFVTa— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 19, 2024
Braves prospect Luis Vargas was on the mound for Rome on Wednesday, and he has been one of the breakout prospects for the system this season with a fastball that touches 98 mph. Vargas had a 12 strikeout game in Augusta, and in two games with Rome since being promoted had allowed only one run. Unfortunately Vargas struggled, ultimately allowing three runs to score in this game and leaving Rome with a 3-1 deficit in the fifth inning. The offense needed a spark, and it was first half MVP EJ Exposito who provided it. Exposito has been the life force of this team, acting as both a clubhouse leader and their best offensive weapon in the first half as he led the team with an .869OPS and 11 home runs. Expo would come in to score on a sacrifice fly, getting Rome a run back before the inning was over.
The inning still though, was not over. Nine hitter Nick Clarno came up with a base hit to get a rally started, flipping the lineup over to Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. and company. Kilpatrick, who has struggled down the stretch, rolled over a ball to third base but used the speed which has made him a highlight reel and game-saver as a defender in center field to beat out the play for an infield hit. Sabin Ceballos then worked a walk, bringing up the red-hot Ethan Workinger. Over the past couple of weeks Workinger has been the player to deliver big hits, but he quickly fell behind 0-2 in the count and the Drive were a strike away from sending the game to the sixth with them still in control. Workinger would come through, rolling a ball up the middle to score Clarno and Kilpatrick and giving Rome a 4-3 lead headed in the latter half of the game.
Ethan Workinger for the LEAD!#RuleTheLand pic.twitter.com/H4CCBodBI3— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 20, 2024
2023 eighth round pick Cory Wall came in to relieve Vargas in the sixth inning, and Wall has been one of Rome’s most consistent pitchers this season. Mostly pitching in multi-inning relief spots, wall came into the game with a 3.54 ERA on the season and 31 strikeouts in 28 innings. Wall did well in the sixth, but trouble brewed in the seventh when two Greenville hitters had singles. Wall would get a weak ground out that advanced the runners both into scoring position, then managed to escape trouble as a fly ball from Red Sox prospect Allan Castro fell harmlessly into Kilpatrick’s glove for the final out of the inning. Rome would add on insurance in the seventh inning, with Kilpatrick coming through again and looping an RBI double down the left field line, afterwards hitting Rome’s signature “waddle” celebration at second base to celebrate. Ceballos then clutched up with an opposite field single to score Kilpatrick and Rome began to run away with the game now up 6-3. Kilpatrick finished the game with three hits and scored a run all three times on base.
Kevo adds on!#RuleTheLand pic.twitter.com/yLFJ80U5ck— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 20, 2024
Wall would come back out to start the eighth inning, and quickly got a strikeout and a ground out. Wall ended up locked in a ten-pitch battle with Jhostynxon Garcia that ended in a base hit and ran him out of pitches, giving undrafted free agent Ryan Bourassa a chance to close out the inning. Bourassa had been stellar in short work this year, with one run allowed and ten strikeouts in seven innings. Bourassa allowed a single to the first batter then issued a wild pitch to score a run, but a deep drive to the left center field gap fell short of the track and Kilpatrick ranged over to track it down and keep the game a 6-4 Rome advantage. With three outs to go to clinch a spot, the Emperors turned back to Bourassa. Bourassa got a ground out and a swinging strikeout to get an out away, bringing up Red Sox prospect Mikey Romero and the top of the order. Bourassa fell behind 3-1, but Romero grounded over to first base and Drew Compton made a diving stab and flipped to Bourassa to clinch the first half title.
The dynasty is just beginning. The Rome Emperors are your 2024 SAL South First-Half Champions!#RuleTheLand pic.twitter.com/kZIyKtKzQT— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) June 20, 2024
Rome’s season ends on September 8th, and I haven’t found an official schedule yet but based on last season the playoffs should begin September 10th with a three-game series against the second half winner. If they win that, they will advance to the three-game South Atlantic League championship series. The Emperors last won the South Atlantic League in 2016 with their legendary roster that featured Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Max Fried, and Michael Soroka. If you haven’t been to a Rome Emperors game this year I would highly suggest going. They’re running out legit pitching prospects every day and have been the best team in the South Atlantic League this season. Rome Braves Tickets | Emperors (milb.com)
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