Professional baseball is back

The minor league baseball season is underway. The Birmingham Barons kicked off their 2024 season with a win over the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Birmingham scored one run in the first inning and then exploded for five runs in the fourth inning. The blowout victory was sealed in the sixth inning with another six runs.

Wilfred Veras had a monster first game for the Barons. He had three hits in his four at bats including one home run and two RBIs. Veras is only 21 years old and appears to have enormous potential.

Tim Elko also hit a home run for the Barons. 7 Barons had hits on Friday.

Drew Thorpe got the start for the Barons. He pitched 5 scoreless innings. The 23-year-old from Utah was drafted by the Yankees in 2022. He attended college at Cal Poly.

The win is the first for new Barons manager Sergio Santos. Santos was briefly a former Baron in his playing days with the White Sox organization.

"I am excited to be managing the Barons," said Santos. "I want to bring my style of baseball, which will be a competitive culture. We will play good, hard, fundamental baseball."

Santos began his playing career with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a shortstop; but eventually made a career change to pitcher. He eventually made the Major Leagues with the White Sox after a stop with the Barons. He pitched for six seasons with the White Sox, the Blue Jays, the Dodgers, and the Yankees in the major league.

Birmingham plays Chattanooga again on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Tickets start at just $10. There will be a fireworks show following Saturday's game. The Barons will also play the Lookouts on Sunday. The Barons play at Regions Field near Railroad Park and I-65.

The Barons are the White Sox AA affiliate.

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