Rookies Help Beermen to Division Lead

by Fergus McGee
Minneapolis Star Tribune
June 1, 2025

The Minneapolis Beermen find themselves in first place with a three game lead over South Carolina after the first two months of the season.  And rookies have helped lead the way once again this season.  Three years ago shortstop Ed Gutierrez was Rookie of the Year.  Last year it was third baseman Jose Flores.

This year catcher Eric Brune was named top rookie in the Heinsohn for the month of April.  Left fielder Mark Morrison won it for May.  Oddly, neither has been the team’s best rookie to date.  That honor falls to 20-year-old starting pitcher Tony De La Cruz who sports a 7-3 won-loss record and an ERA of 3.00.

The starting rotation, the team’s strong point last season, has again been up to the task and looks even better with De la Cruz in the mix.  Jose Egozcue missed a month with muscle problem, but Dan Robertson has covered nicely for him.

Newly acquired slugger Sang Higgins hit seven home runs in the first two weeks of May.  In all of April and the last two weeks of May he has hit only one additional dinger.

Tyler Funk is back from triple-A and starting at second base after rookie Felipe Perez failed to deliver in his shot at the job.  Perez is back with St. Paul.  Meanwhile Chris Downing is hitting the cover off the ball with the Smash and could be seen in a Beerman uniform before too long.

The rookie draft is upon us.  Not surprisingly New Jersey selected starting pitcher Gustavo Sabanal as the number one pick in the draft.  The Minneapolis front office has not indicated whom they may be interested in with their pick, number 15 overall.  Second base, first base, middle relief, and possibly catcher are all positions where the team might look to strengthen themselves.  Then again, the club is likely to go with the best athlete available when their pick comes up.