The Pregame Peach

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia ahead of the final home game of the Clingstones’ inaugural season.  Gabella discussed his first impressions of the ballpark, how much he has enjoyed the fan support in Columbus, what he has appreciated most about living in the city, a prestigious award presented to his father Jim Ga...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with clubhouse manager Angel Piva at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida.  Piva, who would later be named Southern League Clubhouse Manager of the Year, reflects on his role with the Clingstones and his path in professional baseball in a conversation conducted entirely in Spanish.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella in Pensacola, Florida on the final day of the season.  Gabella reflected on the Clingstones’ inaugural year, the growth of the club over the course of the season, and how much he enjoyed the experience of leading the team through its first campaign.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitching coach Mike Steed at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia ahead of Opening Night.  Steed discussed the start for Braves’ No. 6 prospect Owen Murphy, what he worked on during the offseason, what fans in Columbus can expect to see from Murphy, and his confidence in his Michigan Wolverines ahead of their Final Four matchup with Arizona t...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with infielder Drew Compton at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Compton discussed his four-hit performance, recent swing adjustments, his recollection of the Clingstones’ first-ever win in Biloxi earlier in the season, and his time at Georgia Tech.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson catches up with manager Cody Gabella at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia following the All-Star break.  Gabella reflected on the prior series against Rocket City, discussed the progress of catcher Adam Zebrowski at the plate and the return of pitcher Drue Hackenberg from an oblique injury, tipped his cap to the work of clubhouse manager Angel Piva, an...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with catcher Adam Zebrowski at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Zebrowski discussed his recent success at the plate, his routine on off days as a catcher, working with a pitching staff that features a mix of styles and personalities, and growing up with an interest in traveling and geography.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama.  Gabella discussed a close six-game series the previous week against Chattanooga, shared his thoughts on roster changes around the trade deadline, explained his process when a new player joins the club, and revealed his go-to meal when hosting guests.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitcher Zach Thompson at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama.  Thompson discussed a whirlwind season that included time with Atlanta, Triple-A Gwinnett, and Double-A Columbus, reflected on the differences between his previous stint in Double-A in 2018 and the present day, shared which pitch in his arsenal was the toughest to learn, an...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with infielder Keshawn Ogans at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama.  Ogans previewed several new players joining the Clingstones that week, reflected on watching Matt Cain’s perfect game in 2012 while growing up in the Bay Area, and offered his take on where the true borders of the Bay Area begin and end.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with infielder Cal Conley at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama.  Conley discussed his consistency in the lineup, reflected on his Double-A debut a few years earlier, and shared the best advice he has recently received about his defense.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Gabella previewed the upcoming six-game series against Rocket City, discussed new additions to the Columbus lineup, reflected on how he approached joining a new clubhouse during his playing career, praised Elison Joseph for his recent success on the mound, and shared which manager...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with longtime baseball scout and former manager Jim Gabella at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Gabella discussed his approach to scouting, shared his pride in watching his son Cody manage at the professional level, reflected on how the role of a manager has evolved since his time in the dugout, and recalled some of the players he most admir...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with outfielder Patrick Clohisy at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Clohisy discussed delivering the first leadoff home run in Clingstones history the previous week, robbing a home run in Rome during the 2024 season, his favorite memories of the St. Louis Cardinals growing up, and his goal of reaching 80 stolen bases before the end...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with pitcher Landon Harper at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Harper discussed his transition from a relief role early in the season to becoming a regular starter, narrowly missing a seven-inning perfect game the previous week against Rocket City, and his background as an all-district goalkeeper in soccer during his high school da...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with reliever and former Major League pitcher Jose Cuas at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  Cuas discussed returning to the Double-A level for the first time in four years, his remarkable journey to the Major Leagues, embracing a mentorship role, and his perspective on his career.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with reliever Brian Moran at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Moran discussed his first appearance at the Double-A level since 2018, impressions of the renovated Synovus Park, his success with an 80-mph fastball, and why he continues to play professional baseball at age 36.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with Stephen Paolini at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Paolini discussed his first season at the Double-A level, making regular appearances as a base coach, what professional baseball was like before 2020 after being drafted in 2019, and his new passion for fishing.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama.  Gabella discussed his scheduled week away from the team and how he kept up from afar, questions he received about his role as a manager, the club’s unusual weekday and weekend win-loss splits, and the movie he is most looking forward to showing his kids.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with relief pitcher Amos Willingham at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama.  Willingham discussed his spot start in a doubleheader — just the second of his professional career — his experience in the Braves organization after growing up a fan of the club, watching the Rome Braves as a kid, how he got his first name, and the Willingham fami...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with starting pitcher Lucas Braun at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Braun discussed his family’s Fourth of July traditions, adjustments he has made to his pitching arsenal, his musical background — including winning a fiddle competition at age 13 — and reflected on childhood idol Clayton Kershaw collecting his 3,000th strikeout that week.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Gabella previewed the upcoming series against Pensacola, shared his thoughts on the veteran presence in the bullpen, touched on Geraldo Quintero’s recent power surge, and offered his pick for the best college football stadium entrance.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with Braves roving hitting instructor Garrett Wilkinson at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Wilkinson discussed his career journey, shared his thoughts on the Clingstones’ hitting corps, and outlined his philosophy and approach to teaching hitting.

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with starting pitcher and Atlanta Braves prospect JR Ritchie.  Ritchie discussed receiving the opportunity to start the All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park, interacting with Braves legends during the event, why Episode III is his favorite Star Wars film, why his mechanics have remained largely unchanged since youth baseball, and the story behi...

Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson visited with manager Cody Gabella at Synovus Park in Columbus, Georgia.  Gabella previewed the upcoming homestand against Knoxville, continued to marvel at Ian Mejia’s 5–0 start and 1.21 ERA entering the game, discussed Hayden Harris’s promotion back to Triple-A, shared thoughts on the uptick in home runs at Synovus Park, and reflected on his favorite...