Opponent Preview: Asheville Tourists
After securing their first series sweep of the 2019 season, the Power hits the road for their second road trip of the season with a three-game set in Asheville. But before the series gets started on Thursday, let’s take a look at the Tourists and preview the upcoming series with the Rockies’ Low-A affiliate.
Who are the Asheville Tourists?
The Asheville Tourists have been a part of the South Atlantic League since 1976, making them the longest current running member of the league. Their first five years in the league were spent as a part of the Texas Rangers organization, followed by a decade with the Houston Astros until 1994 when they became a part of the Rockies’ farm system. Asheville has raised a league banner three times in franchise history (1984, 2012 and 2014) and also lost in the league finals in 2015 as well.
The Tourists have been host to a bevy of future (and past) Major League stars under their current affiliation with the Rockies, including names like Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Dexter Fowler. Five former Tourists have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Sparky Anderson, Craig Biggio, Eddie Murray, Willie Stargell and Billy Southworth.
Asheville plays their home games at McCormick Field, one of the oldest Minor League Baseball ballparks still in use. Built in 1924, the classic park has housed all but seven seasons of the storied Tourists franchise, and was also home to the Asheville Blues of the Negro Leagues back in the 1940s. The ballpark was also utilized as one of the settings in the 1988 film Bull Durham.
The 2019 Asheville Tourists
Robinson Cancel is back for his second season as manager for the Tourists after going 64–73 in 2018. It is his fourth season as a manager in Minor League Baseball after being at the helm of the GCL Braves in 2015 and the Danville Braves in 2016. However, last year was Cancel’s first year in full-season baseball. Asheville will have to move on from last year’s South Atlantic League MVP, Casey Golden, who hit .278 with 34 home runs and 95 RBI in 124 games for the Tourists in 2018. Golden was promoted to High-A Lancaster and has already hit four home runs on the 2019 season.
Current Status of the 2019 Season
The Tourists have started the 2019 season with a 6–8 mark entering this series against the Power. To open the year, Asheville split a four-game set at home with the Augusta GreenJackets before taking two out of three from the Charleston RiverDogs on the road. The solid start slowed down, however, when the Tourists fell in three of four at Hagerstown and also lost two out of three to the Hickory Crawdads.
Asheville catcher Willie MacIver has been dominating SAL pitchers so far this season, hitting .341 with four home runs (tied for most in SAL) and 13 RBI (tied for second in SAL). His teammates, Terrin Vavra and Will Golsan, each have double-digit RBI totals (10 each) and have been solid in the Tourists’ lineup.
Ryan Rolison (2–1, 0.61 ERA) has had a great start to the year with just one run allowed over his three starts and 14 strikeouts. Also, reliever Alexander Martinez has two saves on the year and hasn’t allowed a hit over his six appearances thus far.
Series History
West Virginia and Asheville have played 115 times since 2005, with Asheville holding the series lead at 63–52 entering their April three-game set. However, the two teams played just seven times in 2018, with the Power taking five of those.
The two teams will square off eleven times in 2019, with the first series coming this week in Asheville (April 18–20), followed by a four-game series at Appalachian Power Park next week (April 25-April 28) and then a closing series back home in North Carolina (May 30–June 2).
Game Times and Broadcast Information
Game Schedule:
Thursday, April 18–7:05 PM
Friday, April 19–7:05 PM
Saturday, April 20–1:05 PM
Broadcast Information:
Listen to The Jock WJYP and WMON 1300 and 1340 AM locally in Charleston, or catch the game nationwide on our website or on the TuneIn Radio App by searching “West Virginia Power Baseball Network”. The game is also available via the MiLB First Pitch App. Pregame coverage begins 20 minutes before first pitch every night, with David Kahn and Kyle Youmans bringing you all the action.
