Pitcher Anthony Kay Impressive in Fireflies’ 5-0 Victory Over Hickory

By Jerry Del Priore

If the way Anthony Kay has pitched early in the season is any indication of things to come, the New York Mets may have a gem in the making.

Kay, the Mets first round pick in the 2016 MLB draft, fired six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, surrendering just three hits, as the Columbia Fireflies (11-6) shutout the Hickory Crawdads, 5-0, Sunday afternoon at Communications Park in a South Atlantic League (SAL) game.

 With the impressive performance against the Crawdads (6-10), Kay, 23, is now 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 14 punch outs in 16 frames in three contests thus far this year.

Columbia’s outfield continues to produce. Left fielder Matt Winaker and center fielder Quinn Brodey all drove in a run apiece, with Brodey tallying his eleventh of the season.

First baseman Jeremy Vasquez and catcher Scott Manea accounted for the other RBI, while Rigoberto Terrazas scored on an error from Hickory third baseman Justin Jacobs.

Tiberi and Vasquez each walked three times in this game. Vasquez has garnered 18 free passes this season, which leads the South Atlantic League. The Floridian has been on base all 16 games he has played in this year. Meanwhile, Tiberi has reached base in every home tilt (11).