Missions make San Antonio’s return to pro baseball a winner

It was this kind of night for the San Antonio Missions and for Juan Fernandez. The Missions catcher celebrates one of his three hits in Tuesday's opening night victory. - photo by Joe Alexander
It was this kind of night for the San Antonio Missions and for Juan Fernandez. The Missions catcher celebrates one of his three hits in Tuesday’s opening night victory. – photos by Joe Alexander
The 20-month layoff from minor-league baseball finally came to an end Tuesday.

The San Antonio Missions won their first game game since September 2019, beating the Corpus Christi Hooks 8-3 on opening night in Corpus Christi.

The return to action meant fun to a sold out but socially distant crowd. For minor league players, it means a return to the journey they hope leads to the major leagues.

Missions starting pitcher Reiss Knehr went five innings and allowed two runs to get the win. He gave up three hits and struck out five batters with three walks.

Robbie Podorsky, the No. 9 batter in the Missions’ batting order, led the team with four hits and scored twice. Cather Juan Fernandez had three hits, CJ Abrams, the team’s top prospect, had two. In all, seven different Missions batters had hits as the Missions out-hit the Hooks 13-4.

Reiss Khern started on the mound for the Missions and got the win in Tuesday's season opener in Corpus Christi. - photo by Joe Alexander
Reiss Khern started on the mound for the Missions and got the win in Tuesday’s season opener in Corpus Christi.
Esteury Ruiz slides into home with the San Antonio Missions' second run of the game in Tuesday's season-opening victory over the Corpus Christi Hooks. - photo by Joe Alexander
Esteury Ruiz slides into home with the San Antonio Missions’ second run of the game in Tuesday’s season-opening victory over the Corpus Christi Hooks.

UTSA baseball’s Ryan Hunt photo gallery

UTSA's Ryan Hunt tracks down a fly ball against Middle Tennessee on April 11, 2021, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA’s Ryan Hunt tracks down a fly ball against Middle Tennessee on April 11 at Roadrunner Field.
Ryan Hunt is a junior from Flower Mound, Texas.

The 5-foot-11 outfielder has played in 10 of UTSA’s first 37 games, starting seven. He is batting .318.

*stats from goutsa.com

Missions infield to include two rising Padres prospects

San Diego Padres infield prospect CJ Abrams playing at a 2021 spring training game in Arizona. - photo by Joe Alexander
San Diego Padres infield prospect CJ Abrams at the Padres’ 2021 big league spring training in Peoria, Arizona, in March. – photo by Joe Alexander

Opening day roster also includes five pitching prospects

CJ Abrams and Eguy Rosario were both part of 2021 big league spring training with the San Diego Padres.

The two young infielders spent February and March with the Padres’ stars and first team in Peoria, Arizona.

When the San Antonio Missions open the season tomorrow, things are in place for Abrams and Rosario to be anchoring the middle of the San Antonio defense.

The Missions released their 2021 opening day rosters today. Abrams, ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Padres organization, and Rosario, ranked No. 18, are both on the list.

Abrams is a 20-year-old shortstop from Georgia and a first-round pick by the Padres in the 2019 draft coming out of high school. He is 6-foot-2 and bats left-handed.

Abrams played in 32 games in rookie league and two games in Single A in 2019 and batted .393 with three home runs and 22 RBIs.

Rosario is a 21-year-old second baseman from the Dominican Republic and bats right-handed. He has played in the minors and winter league since being a 16-year-old in 2016.

Rosario spent three games with the San Antonio Missions in 2018 after being called up from High-A. In 2019, he batted .278 in High A in seven home runs and 72 RBIs in 122 games.

The Missions’ roster also includes five pitchers from the Padres’ top 30 prospects.

Right-hander Reggie Lawson is the top rated Padres pitching prospect on the Missions’ roster at No. 8.

Right-handed Missions pitcher Efrain Contreras is No. 16 on the Padres’ prospect list.

Right-handed pitcher Mason Fox is No. 22 on the Padres’ prospect list.

Right-handed pitcher Jordan Humphreys (no, not the former Longhorns receiver) is No. 24 on the Padres’ prospect list.

Lefty Osvaldo Hernandez is No. 29 on the Padres’ prospect list.

The Missions open the season Tuesday night in Corpus Christi, weather permitting.

All prospect rankings from MLB Pipeline at mlbcom

Eguy Rosario playing for the San Diego Padres during 2021 spring training in Arizona. - photo by Joe Alexander
San Diego Padres infield prospect Eguy Rosario at the Padres’ 2021 big league spring training in Peoria, Arizona, in March. – photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA baseball catcher Josh Kileen photo gallery

UTSA catcher Josh Kileen tags a Middle Tennessee base runner at the plate on April 10, 2021, at Roadrunner Field. - photo by Joe Alexander
UTSA catcher Josh Kileen tags a Middle Tennessee base runner at the plate on April 10 at Roadrunner Field.
Josh Kileen is a redshirt freshman from San Antonio. He was an all-district player at Reagan High School in 2017 and 2018.

The 5-foot-10 transfer from Wichita State has been UTSA’s second catcher this season and played in seven games so far, starting six. He is batting .267.

*stats from goutsa.com

UTSA baseball’s Shea Gutierrez: photo gallery

UTSA baseball Shea Gutierrez by Joe Alexander
UTSA infielder Shea Gutierrez puts the tag on a Middle Tennessee base runner at Roadrunner Field.
Shea Gutierrez is a junior from Pflugerville. He started his college career at Incarnate Word and moved to UTSA at the same time as Roadrunners coach Pat Hallmark.

The 5-foot-11 infielder has played in 16 of UTSA’s first 37 games this season, starting 13. He is batting a team-high .362 with 14 RBIs.

*stats from goutsa.com