College basketball is over, the NBA and NHL are winding down, but baseball is just taking off. With MLB's Opening Day in the rear view mirror we can look forward to the college World Series and the next couple months of big league and West Coast League baseball. There's a lot to be excited for if you are an avid Bellinghamster. Tickets for the Bells games this summer are on sale so let's get you some names you need to know ahead of 2025 and also check in on our alumni from this week in baseball.
Eddie Madrigal belts his 9th 💣
The future Bellingham Bell is having a great junior year with Saint Mary's College of California. The cousin of the New York Mets third baseman Nick Madrigal is set to follow in his cousin's footsteps and play in the WCL this summer (Nick played for Corvallis in 2015). The outfielder has shown great pop at the plate and hit this home run against Portland for his 9th home run of the season.
B11 | SMC 7-8 POR
The magic continues for Eddie Madrigal as he connects on his 9th home run of the season! Gaels down 9-8 in the eleventh!#GaelsRise @WCCsports @smcgaels pic.twitter.com/6qOr0o72E8
— Saint Mary's Baseball (@SMC_Baseball) April 5, 2025
Wylie Waters continues to blast home runs
After hitting the second most home runs in the WCL last season, Waters has continued to swing a powerful bat at his new school – USC Upstate. Unfortunately one of Waters' eight home runs was hit at Joe Martin Field last summer against the Bells. Luckily he's joining the good guys in Bellingham this summer. We are excited to see if Waters can continue to hit with power in his third WCL season and he's showing good signs with USC Upstate as he has hit six homers this spring.
⬆5th | UPST 2; HPU 0
THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG!
Wylie Waters deposits the first pitch of the fifth inning over the wall in left, expanding the Spartan lead!#SpartanArmy ⚔ pic.twitter.com/kRjG6cQTFw
— USC Upstate Baseball (@UpstateBSB) April 4, 2025
Colin Blanchard hits two 💣s in two days
The 2021 Bells alum went on a mini power-hitting streak, which is interesting because he only had one career home run for the University of Washington entering this week. That changed as Blanchard hit two home runs in as many games against St John's and Purdue. Blanchard had one home run as a Bell in 2021, but he got the right part of the ball last week for the Huskies.
Blanchard BOMB 💣
His second homer in as many games!
E3 | UW 1, PUR 0 | 💻 https://t.co/1bJ53wE1Vy pic.twitter.com/jC45HBbgry
— Washington Baseball (@UW_Baseball) April 5, 2025
Gabriel Hughes starts 2025's AA season strong
The 2019 Bells alum is in the Colorado Rockies system and his first AA appearance for the Hartford Yard Goats was a good one. Hughes started the game and pitched four perfect innings with three strikeouts. Hughes is only 23 and still has a bright future ahead of him and could hopefully one day become another Bell in the bigs.
Yard Goats starter Gabriel Hughes shined tonight from the first through the 4th.
Final line: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. pic.twitter.com/MI2gMxNFj6
— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) April 5, 2025
Charlie Beilenson earns 1st professional save
The 2021 Bells alum is on one of the most entertaining minor league teams in the game – the Everett AquaSox. The Sox have plenty of top-tier Seattle Mariner talent on that High-A roster and our former pitcher escaped a bases loaded jam and closed the door for the AquaSox in a 4-3 win over Spokane. Beilenson was a Mariner Spring Breakout roster member and the 25-year-old will look to move up the minor league ranks this year.
Sox win! Charlie Beilenson strikes out the last batter to earn his first professional save. pic.twitter.com/ZpQYe1Z6xX
— Everett AquaSox (@EverettAquaSox) April 5, 2025
Kyle Stowers' 🔥 start to 2025
After delivering a walk-off hit for the Miami Marlins on Opening Day, Stowers has continued to prove why he deserves his spot in the Marlins outfield. His first home run of the season came against the New York Mets on April Fools Day but his season is no joke. Stowers is hitting the ball hard and has a .258 average with a new impressive ability to draw walks with a .410 on-base percentage. Everything is at a career high for Stowers right now average wise so we are excited to see if his breakout 2025 continues.
Light tower power from Kyle Stowers ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/UGgJ6OF7AH
— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2025