The Woodpeckers had a solid season overall in 2025, including some noteworthy performances. Let’s take a look.
2024 Record: 69-63, Carolina League North Division
The Woodpeckers got off to a solid start going 12-11 over 23 games in April. May was another solid month as the Woodpeckers went 14-13 in 27 games. They got a little better in June going 14-11 over 25 games. The Woodpeckers kept their above .500 streak going as they went 11-10 in 21 games in July. August another solid month as they went just 16-13 in 29 games. They finished the season off going 2-4 during the month of September. The overall season was solid though they just missed out on the playoffs.
Here are the team leaders (min 150 AB or 40 IP):
TEAM LEADERS
Hits – Jancel Villarroel (81)
2B – Jancel Villarroel (16)
3B – Villarroel/Brutcher/Holy (3)
HR – Caden Powell (10)
RBI – Alberto Hernandez (46)
BA – Drew Brutcher (.330)
SB – Caden Powell (32)
OPS – Drew Brutcher (.896)
wRC+ – Drew Brutcher (163)
IP – Joan Ogando (95.0)
W – Joan Ogando (8)
SV – Four Pitchers Tied (4)
SO – Joan Ogando (113)
ERA – Dawil Almonte (1.97)
NOTABLES
Jancel Villarroel, OF
Villarroel put together a nice 2024 season and followed that up with a better 2025. The 20-year-old hit .259 with 18 doubles, 8 home runs, 54 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases. In Single-A he posted a 122 wRC+ with a nice 11.3 BB% and 17.2 K%. His numbers dipped a but at High-A but it was small sample. Villarroel could be a breakout candidate in 2026.
Joan Ogando, RHP
Ogando has been in the system a few years and in 2025 he pitched the full season in Single-A. He posted a 4.07 ERA with 113 strikeouts over 95 innings. He held opponents to just a .170 batting average against which worked out to just 55 hits in those 95 innings. Walks were a bit of an issue for him but he was able to work around them for Fayetteville.
Caden Powell, SS
Powell was a 6th round pick back in 2024 out of junior college and got off to a nice start this season hitting .264 with 8 doubles, 7 home runs and a .773 OPS in 41 games before ending up on the IL. He came back off a took a while to get going again but finished strong hitting .440 over his final seven games. Overall he had a .737 OPS in 83 games with 10 home runs and 32 stolen bases.
Parker Smith, RHP
Smith was the Astros 4th round pick in 2024 and made his professional debut this season. Once healthy, the right-hander got rolling. In June he had a 1.02 ERA and in August he posted a 2.05 ERA over 30.2 innings. Overall this season he had a 3.18 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 68.1 innings. A nice step in the right direction for him.
Ethan Frey, OF
Frey was the Astros 3rd round pick in 2025 and while he only played in 26 games for the Woodpeckers, he was fantastic. The 21-year-old hit .330 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 17 runs batted in and an impressive 20 walks to 25 strikeouts. Frey could be a fast move in 2026 and has cemented himself as a top 10 prospect in the system.
Alonzo Tredwell, RHP
Tredwell dealt with some injuries early in the minors but in 2025, the right-hander turned things around. He started the year in Single-A and had a 3.94 ERA with 52 K in 48 innings. He was promoted to High-A where he had a 3.68 ERA with 30 K in 29.1 innings. Tredwell was dominant to finish the season striking out 40 batters over 22.2 innings with a 3.18 ERA in Double-A.
Drew Brutcher, OF
Brutcher was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 season. He got off to an incredible start for Fayetteville this season hitting .330 in 54 games for the Woodpeckers. This included a ridiculous .371 in May. Brutcher was promoted to Asheville for the remainder of the season where he struggled some but still showed enough in Single-A to get a note here.
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