American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier looks at the key acquisitions that the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks have made, especially in the pitching staff, which makes this team armed and ready to advance to the American Association Championship Series again.

The RedHawks Were Already Pretty Good

When the 2021 American Association Championship Series ended few would debate that the best team won. Kansas City Monarchs Manager Joe Calfapietra had built a team that was deep as any in league history, so it was not surprising that the Monarchs finished with the best record in the league and set a number of offensive records.

It was also not a surprise that the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks put together one of their best seasons in nearly a decade. The 61 victories were the second most the team had achieved since winning 62 games in 2013. Only the 2019 version of the RedHawks were better at 63-37.

This was a team built on a spectacular lineup that was incredible from top to bottom. The team led the American Association in several offensive categories and finished second in the North Division, despite the fact that they lost their two best starters, closer, and a number of other players to affiliate clubs. It was a great run in the team’s official 25-year celebration season that fell three games short of winning it all.

All Arms on Deck

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks have won 60+ games in each of the last two full seasons, making the playoffs in both of those years. However, the team was not satisfied with the results. They knew that if they were going to take the next step to being American Association champions that they had to bolster this pitching staff to make them better than new division rival Kansas City. Needless to say, mission accomplished.

Player personnel consultant Jeff Bettiger and Manager Chris Coste have made the starting staff the focus this off-season, and have added a few gems that make this staff arguably the best in the American Association, at least on paper.

What makes this staff so good is that if you polled most involved in the league, they would tell you that Ryan Flores, Mitch Lambson, and Kevin McGovern are three of the 10 best starters in the league. The trio seem like a lock for 40 combined victories and nearly 400 innings pitched. Plus, their managers have always been able to rely on them to give quality outings each and every time they head to the mound. Now the trio are together in Fargo-Moorhead, giving Coste the best 1-3 starters in the league.

No one needs to take anyone’s word for it. The numbers speak for themselves.

Mitch Lambson, LHP

Lambson opted to sit out last season, but returns with a new hunger in his belly. The left-hander had started for the Winnipeg Goldeyes for four straight seasons, going 35-18 with a 3.82 ERA in 55 starts with Winnipeg. That included a spectacular 2019 campaign that saw the left-hander go 13-4 with a 3.11 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 150.2 innings pitched. He likely moves to the top of the rotation.

Kevin McGovern, LHP

McGovern was off to a ridiculous start for the RedHawks last season, going 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in four starts before his contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals. After 10 seasons of playing independent baseball, the left-hander finally got his chance.

Things did not work out for McGovern with Springfield (AA), as he was 1-5 with a 6.33 ERA in 14 starts. However, the left-hander has established himself as an absolute gem in the American Association. In 10 seasons with Lincoln, Winnipeg, and Fargo-Moorhead, McGovern is 59-44 with a 3.92 ERA and 11 complete games. No doubt his experience in affiliate ball has only fueled his passion even more as he looks to show that he is ready to return to a Major League organization.

Ryan Flores, RHP

Flores had worked almost exclusively as a relief pitcher through his first four seasons in professional baseball. He even began the 2021 campaign in the RedHawks bullpen, eventually taking over the closer’s role. However, after a couple of tough outings, Coste moved him into the starting rotation and the rest, as they say, is history.

Flores starred in his new role, finishing 10-7 with a 3.33 ERA, striking out 129 batters in 94.2 innings pitched. That earned him the PURE Performance Pitcher of the Year honors. The scary part is that Flores may just be scratching the surface of what he is capable of. At 28, he is still learning about the art of pitching and it would not be surprising to see his 2022 numbers dwarf what he produced last season.

They Aren’t Done Yet

If that trio is not bad enough for American Association opponents, there are two other arms who are going to play a pivotal role in this rotation. Two pitchers who have already proven themselves to be superior talents in the league.

Sebastian Kessay, LHP

Kessay is the first of those. The left-hander pitched for Gateway in the Frontier League last season, where he made just three starts, posting a 2.70 ERA. However, in 2018-19 he pitched for Fargo-Moorhead, where he went a combined 12-4 in 29 starts and five relief appearances. Kessay has great stuff, striking out 162 batters in 160.2 innings pitched for the RedHawks and would be a sure No. 2 starter in most rotations in the league, but will sit at No. 4 in this talented corps.

Dylan Baker, RHP

Baker is a superior talent. The right-hander has three seasons of American Association experience, pitching for Kansas City and Milwaukee. He pitched for the then T-Bones in 2019, going 4-5 with a 3.36 ERA. In 2020, he joined the Milkmen as part of the dispersal draft. His contract was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds at the end of that season, and Baker pitched at the AA and AAA levels before returning to Kansas City where he went 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA. The right-hander has the stuff and, if he is healthy, he makes it so that there is no weakness in this starting rotation at all.

The Time Is Coming Quickly

As of this writing, there are 45 days until the 2022 American Association season gets underway. A lot of changes are going to occur between now and then. Teams are going to be making trades, players are going to be signed by clubs, and affiliate teams are going to come calling, looking for American Association pitchers to fill their needs. That will have a dramatic impact on the league before the season even gets underway.

However, on paper, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks have to feel pretty comfortable about where they sit. This team is locked and loaded in the rotation, and they have a quality bullpen returning as well. Last year the RedHawks finished as runners-up. Do not be surprised if they are pouring champagne over themselves this time around.

By Robert Pannier