MLB

The second half of their season technically ended a little bit ago, and Major League Baseball has yet to revive the AAA All-Star Game. However, they still have a break synced up with the MLB All-Star Game.

So, with the Red Wings currently sitting at 13-5 in the second half (a game up for best record) and 51-40 overall, now is as good a time as any to hand out some mid-season(ish) awards.

Photo Credit: Rochester Red Wings

Best Player (and Best Prospect): James Wood

Is there any question? Now, with the big club, Wood was by far the best player on the Wings in the first half. Even now, after his promotion and missing time with injury, he's tied for first on the team in doubles (16) and sits fourth on the team in hits (67) and home runs (10). He doesn't lead in batting, on-base, slugging, and OPS because he no longer has enough AAA at-bats to qualify for the leaderboard! And as far as prospects, he's been called up for a reason.

Best Pitcher: Joe La Sorsa

La Sorsa came to the Nationals' organization off waivers from Tampa last season, and this year, he's been excellent out of the pen for the Red Wings. While he's not the closer (that'd be Rico Garcia) or a starter, he's been the best pitcher on the team, especially since Eduardo Salazar got a much-deserved call-up. So far this season, in 32 games and 43.1 innings pitched, he holds a 2.28 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP, allowing 32 hits and 11 earned runs. He's not the flashiest pitcher, but when the Red Wings have needed him this year, he's usually gotten the job done.

Most Improved (and Most Exciting): Darren Baker

Let's get two things out of the way here; first, Darren Baker wasn't bad last season, and he's probably going to be forever known for being Dusty Baker's son, who J.T. Snow rescued during the 2002 World Series. However, the fact is that the second baseman/outfielder can play and has been having a great year in Rochester. While his hitting performance has been relatively steady from last season (slashing .276/.345/.329 this season to .273/.338/.340 in his AAA time in 2023), he's been healthier and faster this season. He's avoided the injuries that caused him to miss a lot of time last season, and he's become a force on the basepaths: his 30 stolen bases so far this season are not only a career-high but have him in a three-way tie for the International League lead. What's more, he leads the team with good vibes: he is always smiling and having fun and has a flare for adding a spark to the team with a timely stolen base or a much-needed hit.

Best Veteran: Travis Blankenhorn

With all due respect to Juan Yepez and Alex Call, Blankenhorn has been the best of the regular veterans on the Red Wings this season, partly because Yepez and Call have had big league call-ups this season and thus haven't had as much time to accumulate some of those stats, even if Yepez probably has been the better player overall. Blankenhorn has taken a step back from last season when it comes to hitting for average and is hitting just .223 at the plate, but he remains a potent power threat, leading the team with 19 home runs and 59 RBI. What's more, he seems to be coming out of what had been a bit of a slump: he started the season with 13 home runs in the first two months but then only hit three over the next month plus change before going on a tear before the break, homering three times in five games.

Best Walk-Up Song: Dylan Crews

When last year's No. 2 overall pick comes to the plate, he does so to Journey's “Who's Crying Now”. Why is this? I haven't asked yet. But it's definitely a great bop, and at times, it feels like the whole stadium is singing along with it, although maybe that's just the echo. Regardless, if he continues using it when he inevitably one day reaches the majors, it feels destined to become a fun viral hit with fans in DC, like Gerardo Parra and “Baby Shark” or Michael Morse and “Take On Me.”

Darren Baker (Photo credit: Rochester Red Wings)

Best Promotion: Eclipse Mania

Rochester was one of the cities that was in full totality during the eclipse back in April, and the Red Wings weren't going to let such an opportunity pass. They and their opponents, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, rebranded temporarily as the Moon Rocs and Space Pigs in the last few games before Eclipse Day. The Wings were off on the day of the eclipse, but that didn't stop the team: they opened the stadium, handed out eclipse glasses, hosted a local television station, and had plenty of fun activities for people looking to see the once-in-a-lifetime. While the weather wasn't great and there were only fleeting glimpses of the eclipse in the Rochester area (although regardless of cloud cover it turned pitch-black in totality), it was still a great promotional idea.

Best Game: The Gerrit Cole Game

I've mentioned this before: Gerrit Cole threw a rehab assignment start against the Red Wings on June 14. A record 13,605 fans came to see it, and it was an all-time classic. While the Wings only managed two hits off the Yankees ace, they still notched an unearned run and later walked it off in the ninth for a 2-1 win. A historic night at the ballpark and a signature win for the Wings. It's hard to see how it can be topped in the second half, but as they say, you never know.

The Red Wings resume play on Friday at Syracuse.

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