The Pregame Peach

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with catcher Archer Brookman at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Brookman discussed his strong start to the season at the plate, how he has crafted his offensive approach throughout his career, joining the Braves organization following a Rule 5 Draft move from Detroit, and memories of the Montreal Canadiens' run to the Stanley...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with catcher Tyler Tolve at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Tolve discussed his three-run double that helped fuel a six-run comeback the previous night, his time at Kennesaw State and connection with Clingstones strength and conditioning coach Mike Wall, his transition from the outfield to catcher, the advice he would give to his...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with hitting coach Grant Kay at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Kay discussed the source of his greatest pride during the Clingstones’ historic home run surge to begin the 2026 season, adjustments to his coaching philosophy entering his second year as hitting coach, and the progress of players including Cal Conley, David McCabe, a...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Nestor Perez at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia. Perez recapped a road trip in which the Clingstones took three of five games from Biloxi, discussed Owen Hackman’s strong start on Mother’s Day, and highlighted the club’s ability to put the ball in play as one of its offensive strengths. He also reflected on his connection to the...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with Braves roving hitting instructor Carlos Mendez at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Mendez reflected on the pride of helping Team Venezuela capture the World Baseball Classic as an assistant hitting coach, shared his thoughts on Grant Kay and the offensive success the Clingstones enjoyed early in the season, and discussed the development...

Austin Crume visited with Clingstones starting pitcher and Atlanta Braves No. 11 prospect Garrett Baumann.  Baumann discussed his first season at the Double-A level, his grandfather’s time in Columbus while stationed at Fort Benning, the pipeline from Hagerty High School to professional baseball, and his favorite set of alternate uniforms in the game.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with catcher Adam Zebrowski at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Zebrowski discussed the Clingstones’ home run binge to begin the season, delivering the club’s first walk-off home run against Biloxi in April, and the offensive progress he has made since the second half of the 2025 season. He also shared what his routine looks like on days he...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Nestor Perez at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Perez discussed the Southern League-record 13 home runs hit by the Clingstones on May 3 against Montgomery, the club’s identity of battling until the final out, Herick Hernandez earning Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors, the emergence of Rule 5 Draft pickup Arch...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Nestor Perez inside the manager’s office at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Perez recapped the recent road trip to Birmingham, discussed the club’s powerful offensive identity, Brett Sears earning Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors, and Jordan Groshans’ game-tying home run in the ninth inning on Friday. He also praised...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitcher Brett Sears at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  Coming off a strong outing of 5.0 scoreless innings, Sears discussed how he approached sequencing his pitches against Birmingham, shared the story of a bench he built for his grandmother in high school woodshop class, reflected on his dominance at the ping pong table in Montgome...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with infielder Cal Conley at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  Conley discussed his strong start to the season at the plate, growing up as a switch hitter and playing alongside current teammate Luke Waddell as young players in Cincinnati, and his experience in Major League camp with Atlanta during Spring Training.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with infielder Jordan Groshans at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  Groshans discussed his approach on a game-saving home run in the ninth inning the previous night, his experience joining the Braves organization and the culture in place, the Clingstones’ remarkable power surge during April, and working with hitting coach Grant Kay.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with outfielder Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  Kilpatrick discussed his first home run of the season, the Clingstones’ explosive offense to open the year, adjustments he made during the offseason, playing alongside current teammate Drew Compton in summer collegiate baseball, and serving as his own grounds crew du...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Nestor Perez at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia for his first appearance on The Pregame Peach.  Perez discussed returning to Montgomery, where he played during the 2004 season, managing in front of large crowds at Synovus Park, his relationships with players throughout the Braves organization, and expectations for the upcoming se...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with infielder Luke Waddell at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Waddell discussed his strong start to the season in a return to the Double-A level, close relationships with current teammates Tristin English and Cal Conley, and his thoughts on the Clingstones’ success with the long ball to begin the 2026 season.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with infielder David McCabe at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  McCabe discussed his powerful start to the season, his background as a switch hitter, and the birth of his first child during the offseason.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with Braves Director of Player Development Kevin Hooper at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Hooper stopped by Columbus to provide a philosophical overview of the club, discuss new manager Nestor Perez, share thoughts on several players off to strong starts with the Clingstones, and highlight prospects within the Braves organization who could...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Nestor Perez at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  Perez discussed the Clingstones’ historic power surge during April, his message to the club entering the series on a hot streak, Adam Zebrowski’s walk-off two-run home run in the finale against Biloxi, and his passion for Formula 1 racing.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with starting pitcher Owen Murphy at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Murphy discussed his dominant Double-A debut on Opening Night, striking out 10 over 5.2 innings to set a new single-game record in Columbus history, how he regrouped after an early home run to settle into the outing, and the moment he realized he had his best stuff working...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Gabella discussed the potential for a Chris Sale rehab start in Columbus, David McCabe’s standout week at the plate in Biloxi, previewed an important series against Pensacola, and shared which legendary player to appear at Synovus Park since 1926 he would most like to have seen in...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitcher Tyler LaPorte at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  LaPorte discussed his journey into the Braves organization, his background in junior college and independent baseball, and his experience in the Atlantic League during the 2021 season when the pitching mound was moved back a foot.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitcher Drue Hackenberg at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Hackenberg discussed the ups and downs of his season, transitioning from the windup to working exclusively from the stretch, facing his brother Adam in a game at Synovus Park in May, growing up in a highly athletic family, and playing for Hall of Fame reliever Billy Wagner as h...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with Braves Director of Player Development Kevin Hooper at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Hooper shared his impressions of the new facilities at Synovus Park, discussed several players who have made an impact for the Clingstones in 2025, outlined the organization’s philosophy on player development, offered his perspective on how developmen...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with outfielder Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. at Toyota Field in Huntsville, Alabama.  Kilpatrick discussed his first career Double-A home run, what comes naturally to him on the field and what he has worked hardest to develop, shared a story about something he has created recently that he is most proud of, and reflected on his favorite moment of the Cl...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitcher Ryan Bourassa at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Bourassa discussed the development of his splitter and how he is working to build off it, his path to refining the pitch, growing up in North Dakota and the sports he played, and his experience in the Cape Cod Baseball League during the summer of 2022.