Minor League Recap: Kahlil Watson blasts off twice in Clippers win

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 7, Worcester Red Sox 0

Clippers improve to 8-3

All the metrics had been saying Kahlil Watson’s improved approach was going to lead to results and they proved prophetic Saturday as Watson had one of the best games of his MiLB career, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a triple a walk and a stolen base.

Travis Bazzana also had a monster game, going 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored while Nolan Jones also homered.

Starting pitcher Rorik Maltrud was sensational, tossing 6.0 shutout innings on just two hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

Dane Heuer, Franco Aleman and Steven Perez all followed with a scoreless inning of relief apiece, allowing just one hit while whiffing four combined.

Akron RubberDucks 11, Harrisburg Senators 3

*RubberDucks improve to 5-*3

Akron’s offense teed off for 11 runs on 14 hits Saturday, led by Wuilfredo Antunez, who went 3-for-5 with his second home run of the season and a triple.

Also having a huge game was Ralphy Velazquez, who blasted his second bomb of 2026 while going 2-for-5 with three runs batted in and two runs scored.

Nick Mitchell reached base safely twice, going 2-for-4 with a walk while Alex Mooney went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk and both Angel Genao and Jake Fox both went 2-for-5, with Genao also walking. Alfonsin Rosario doubled and was hit by a pitch.

Starting pitcher Cam Favors was outstanding, allowing one run on just one hit in 5.2 innings pitched. He struck out eight and walked three.

Matt Jachec closed out the victory with two scoreless innings.

Lake County Captains 0, Dayton Dragons 5

Captains fall to 3-5

There wasn’t much to say with this one. Lake County’s offense was practically nonexistent once again. No one reached base safely twice, although Garrett Howe and Jaison Chourio both doubled.

Starting pitcher Rafe Schlesinger was the tough-luck loser, giving up two runs on three hits in 4.0 innings with four strikeouts and two walks. He also hit three batters.

Cam Schuelke was the standout out of the bullpen, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.

Hill City Howlers 8, Fredericksburg Nationals 4

Howlers improve to 5-3

Hill City erupted for eight runs on eight hits with nine walks.

Catcher Tyler Howard went 2-for-3 with two walks. Jose Perela went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk and Luis De La Cruz went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Dauri Fernandes walked twice with a stolen base and Jonathan Martinez walked, was hit by a pitch and stole two bases.

Starting pitcher Harrison Bodendorf was terrific, tossing 4.2 shutout innings of two-hit ball while striking otu nine and walking just one. The 6-foot-5 22-year-old southpaw who was a 10th round pick out of Oklahoma State last year just entered my radar.