Rochester Red Wings: A Year in Review
A deep dive into the 2023 Rochester Red Wings season.
Let’s do a deep dive into the Rochester Red Wings 2023 season.
Rochester finished the first half in 2023 with a 34-39 record and sixth-place finish, 13.5 games back of first-half winner the Norfolk Tides. The Red Wings were one of seven teams in the International League to pick up at least 20 wins at home (21-16) in the first half.
The Rochester Red Wings finished the second half 15.0 games back of first-place Durham Bulls, going 32-41 with a run differential of -109.
Writer’s Note: These stats were provided by the Rochester Red Wings.
2023 Season Notes and Stats
Eight Rochester Red Wings made their MLB debut this season. They include Jackson Rutledge, Jacob Young, Blake Rutherford, Drew Millas, Jake Irvin, Jose Ferrer, Jake Alu, and Amos Willingham. Additionally, 17 Red Wings have gone on to make their Major League debuts with the Washington Nationals since their affiliation with the Red Wings began in 2021. (Related Article: Player Profile: RHP Jackson Rutledge)
The Rochester Red Wings pitching staff recorded a total of 1,195 strikeouts in 2023, which is the third-most strikeouts in a season since 1941. Combined, the Rochester Red Wings’ pitching staff struck out at least 1,000 batters in ten consecutive seasons dating back to 2013, including the 2022 season in which they struck out a franchise record 1,341 batters.
The Red Wings scored at least one run in 139 straight games, dating
back to April 8th -G2 in Syracuse. This record marks the longest streak in the International League this season. Rochester was shut out twice this season (April 4 and April 8th -G2), the fewest in a single season for a Red Wings team since at least 1985.
The Rochester Red Wings scored a total of 713 runs this season, which is the 12th most since 1941 and the most since 2019 (790). Leading the Red Wings was Travis Blankenhorn with 67 runs scored, and Derkek Hill finished in second overall with 65, were the only two players to score more than 60 runs on the season. This was the third-straight year, and 11th total since 2003, that two or more players have scored 60 or more runs in a single season.
Rochester turned in a season-high 17 hits on April 12 vs. BUF, including seven multi-hit performances and hits from all nine starters. Left fielder Yadiel Hernandez led the way with three hits in five at-bats, scoring a run in the process. Rochester recorded ten walk-off wins this season which is the most in a season by the team since 2015.
The Rochester Red Wings pitching staff combined recorded a total of 1,195 strikeouts in 2023, which is the third-most strikeouts in a season since 1941. The pitching staff struck out at least 1,000 batters in ten consecutive seasons dating back to 2013, including the 2022 season in which they struck out a franchise record 1,341 batters. RHP Wily Peralta led the Rochester Red Wings pitching staff in strikeouts this year with 100 and posted a season-high of 10 against Worcester (BOS) on May 10th. The right-hander Peralta had not recorded at least 100 strikeouts in a season since 2014 with Milwaukee (154).
The Rochester Red Wings had a total of 659 RBI in 2023. 659 RBIs was their sixth-highest total since 1988 and most since 2019, when they drove 753 runs. Once again leading the team in RBI’s was Travis Blankenorn with a total of 75 which is also a career-high for him, which broke his previous RBI total of 69 in 2017 with Single-A Cedar Rapids. This is the second time since 2017 that a Red Wings player had 75 or more RBI in a season. Also, the Rochester Red Wings had a team total of 139 homeruns this season, which is the 10th most since 1928 and the most since 2019, when the team total was 174.
Player Profiles
Darren Baker
Darren Baker completed his third professional season, all with the Washington Nationals organization, after being selected in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of California.
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