Records, firsts, Braves lineage. What Columbus Clingstones players hope to achieve in year 1
The Columbus Clingstones are just days from the start of their inaugural season, which provides the opportunity for the team’s first lineup to record a whole host of firsts and records.
What do the team’s players hope to be remembered for at the end of this first season as the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A affiliate?
Pitcher Drue Hackenberg said he hoped to set the strikeout record for the Clingstones this year and hold it as long as he can. But victories also will be important for him and his teammates.
“We wanna try and put together a really good season and we wanna win as much as we can,” Hackenberg said.
When it came to setting firsts in the new park, Hackenberg said he wanted this Clingstones team to be the first to win a championship.
“That’s the ultimate goal wherever you go, especially with the Braves (organization),” Hackenberg said.
Pitcher Blake Burkhlater said he’s not focused on records or milestones going into the season.
“I’m just trying to pitch from game to game, take every moment as it comes to me and don’t take anything for granted,” Burkhalter said.
The Braves organization has long been a powerhouse for pitchers with household names such as Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Phil Niekro throughout the years.
Burkhalter, 24, said Maddux and Glavine were a little before his time, but he grew up watching another Braves great, Tim Hudson.
“He was kind of my role model growing up. I remember, like going in there every evening hoping Huddy would pitch,” Burkhalter said.
Pitcher Hayden Harris is one of three Georgia natives to be on the Clingstones’ opening day roster. He said he grew up a Braves fan and it’s been a dream of his to work his way up through the Braves’ system.
Harris said he wouldn’t want to be in Columbus at the end of the season because the goal is to move up in the system.
“I just wanna go in, be consistent, do my job and show out for hopefully the bunch of fans that wanna come out to our games, “ Harris said.
Infielder David Fletcher is a veteran player on the team, entering his 11th pro season. Fletcher said he’d like to hit the first home run for the Clingstones. But he added, “definitely won’t be for me. I don’t know how to hit many of those.”
Fletcher said his favorite Braves player is Hank Aaron, but he modeled his game after Boston Red Sox great Dustin Pedroia and longtime major leaguer David Eckstein.
“Those are two guys I kind of grew up idolizing,” Fletcher said.
The Clingstones begin their season with a road game Friday against the Montgomery Biscuits. The first home game will be on April 15 against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
The team is set to celebrate the first home game with fireworks and commemorative tickets for a limited number of attendees.