Minor League Recap: Justin Campbell is not supposed to be this good

Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Columbus Clippers 1, Iowa Cubs 8

Clippers fall to 8-8

Columbus jumped out to a 1-0 lead and then gave up eight unanswered runs to get blown out.

Petey Halpin and C.J. Kayfus led the way, both going 2-for-4, with Halpin scoring the team’s lone run.

No one else reached base safely twice, although Travis Bazanna and Kahlil Watson both doubled.

Starting pitcher Pedro Avila allowed three runs on four hits in 3.2 innings with an impressive eight strikeouts and two walks.

Tommy Mace then came in for attempted long relief and it did not go well. Mace was tattooed for five runs on two hits with four walks in just 0.2 innings.

The rest of the bullpen was solid, with Jack Leftwich tossing 1.2 scoreless innings. Cody Heuer also had a scoreless frame and top bullpen prospects Andrew Walters and Franco Aleman both had 1-2-3 scoreless frames with Walters striking out two.

Akron RubberDucks 2, Harrisburg Senators 9

RubberDucks improve to 6-4

Akron made the most of its opportunities, scoring eight runs on seven hits Tuesday while terrorizing Binghamton on the basepaths with seven stolen bases.

Alfonsin Rosario was the top offensive performer, going 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk, also stealing a base.

Wuilfredo Antunez went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, Angel Genao went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base, Nick Mitchell went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases, Alex Mooney walked twice and stole a base, Joe Lampe went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base and Jacob Cozart went 1-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly.

Starting pitcher Matt Wilkinson was flat out impressive, allowing one run on six hits in 4.1 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Through two starts at Double-A, he’s boating a rock solid 2.16 ERA.

Both Jack Jasiak and Matt Jachek allowed three runs in their relief appearances, but Alaska Abney saved the day with a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

Lake County Captains 13, Fort Wayne Tincaps 4

Captains improve to 5-5

As ecstatic as I am about Lake County’s offense erupting for 13 runs, let’s start with Justin Campbell.

He was Cleveland’s first round competitive balance pick in 2022, the same year they drafted Chase DeLauter, but due to a pair of surgeries, he did not make his pro debut until this season. You never know what to expect with players who have extended delays in their development, but Campbell has passed all tests with flying colors. Cleveland named him Lake County’s opening day starter for 2026 and he’s lived up to the hype with dominant pitching. He’s pumping his fastball in the mid-90s, commanding the strike zone well and utilizing all of his secondaries.

On Tuesday, he flat out dominated Fort Wayne hitters, tossing 3.0 shutout innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts and no walks. At this point, he may not be long for Lake County’s rotation because he needs a bigger challenge. He has a 1.23 ERA through three starts and is rocketing up my Guardians prospect rankings.

On the offensive side of the equation, Lake County racked up 13 hits and 11 walks, with every player on the team reaching base at least twice.

Jaison Chourio blasted his first home run of the season, going 2-for-6.

Dean Curley was nearly perfect at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a double and three walks to reach base a whopping five times.

Bennett Thompson also continues to impress with his bat, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two walks while Nolan Schubart went 2-for-5 with his first home run of the campaign.

Aaron Walton reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk, while Jace LaViolette went 1-for-5 with a walk. Luke Hill went 1-for-3 with a walk, a sacrifice fly and three RBIs while Anthony Silva went 1-for-4 with a walk and Maick Collado walked twice.

Melkis Hernandez earned the win in long relief, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings pitched.

Kendeglys Virguez impressed with three strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning while Cam Walty finished off the win with 1.2 scoreless inings.

Hill City Howlers 5, Wilson Warbirds 7

Howlers fall to 6-4

The youngsters teed off for their first home runs of the season in this one.

Juneiker Caceres went 2-for-5 with a bomb, while Dauri Fernandez went 1-for-5 with a three-run blast that almost brought Hill City back into the game.

Other offensive standouts included Robert Arias, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, and Luis De La Cruz, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and two more stolen bases. They need to move De La Cruz up in the batting order at this point. He’s batting .407 with a 1.012 OPS on the young season.

Starting pitcher Aiden Major allowed two runs on two hits in 3.0 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Unfortunately, reliever Wes Burton simply could not get out of the fourth inning, surrendering five runs in just 0.2 frames on three hits and a pair of walks.

Will McCausland gave the Howlers a great chance to make a comeback with 4.0 scoreless innings of long relief, striking out five and walking two while allowing just one hit.