Hot Rods feel effect of Tampa Bay’s deadline deals
Published 9:08 am Wednesday, August 5, 2026
The Bowling Green Hot Rods’ Tony Santa Maria bats during Tuesday’s game against Hub City at Bowling Green Ballpark.
(Savannah Philpot/Bowling Green Hot Rods)
Perhaps no minor league team felt the effect of Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline like the Bowling Green Hot Rods.
While the parent club, the Tampa Bay Rays, made moves to get pitcher Freddy Peralta and catcher Liam Hicks – the cost came at the expense of a lot of familiar faces to Bowling Green.
Outfielder Aiden Smith, pitcher Jon Kisting and shortstop Adrian Santana were all members of the Hot Rods roster who were traded away by the deadline. Throw in infielder Émilien Pitre and pitcher Gary Gill Hill and a total of five players on the Hot Rods’ opening-day roster were moved within a 24-hour period.
Brayden Taylor, who played for the Hot Rods in 2024, was also part of the Freddy Peralta deal.
“It was a little bit different,” BG manager Rafael Valenzuela said. “From the years I have been here we have usually been on the other end where we get a lot of prospects. It was a little different to speak to these guys, let them know that, ‘Hey, you have a chance to play in the big leagues, but sadly it’s not going to be with us.’ You wish them good luck and you always tell them if you need anything to reach out. Hopefully we will get to see them in the big leagues someday.”
Even though the Rays were expected to be buyers at the deadline, Valenzuela said the moves still were bit of a surprise.
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“We all kind of knew we were going to make some moves,” Valenzuela said. “We didn’t know where those moves were going to come from. That speaks for the work that the staff has done with all these players. From Charleston all the way to Durham, every coach that has been able to touch them, that is a credit to them for developing these players into potential big leaguers and potential pieces that we could use to go out and get some big league help.
“At the end of the day if we can help the big league team, that is what it’s all about. Obviously you spend so much time with these guys. You see them from the first day they come in. You work with them. You see them blossom and you hate to see them go. But like I said, at the end of the day, we are at the mercy of what the big league team needs and I believe we made some impactful moves that are going to help us out – hopefully help us win the World Series.”
Bowling Green returned to the field for the first time since the deadline on Tuesday, dropping the opener of a six-game series to Hub City 4-1 at Bowling Green Ballpark.
Both teams finished with seven hits, but Hub City (46-56 overall, 12-24 second half) took advantage of three homers to pull away late.
Paxton Killing got it going with a leadoff homer in the first inning and scored on an RBI single by Casey Cook in the third. Bowling Green (72-30, 25-12) got its only run on an RBI single in the fourth to cut the deficit to one. Hub City was able to get some insurance in the eighth with solo homers from Gleider Figuereo and Marcos Torres.
Ryan Cermak, making his 2026 debut with Bowling Green, led the offense with two hits.
“It wasn’t our day on the offensive side,” Valenzuela said. “I thought we competed well. Coming off a road trip it is always tough to bounce back, but I think tomorrow we will have a little more energy and have a good game.”
Valenzuela said the emotions of Monday could have been a factor in Tuesday’s loss.
“A lot of these guys came up together,” Valenzuela said. “A lot of their friends got moved. I’m sure they are still in the initial shock of it. It was a little bit expected on my end. I don’t know if they did, but it was on my end because it is a tough day when you see your friends go to another team. We competed well today. Our pitcher did a nice job. Obviously we left some pitches up that they took advantage of, but I am looking forward to us bouncing back tomorrow.”
With the deadline in the rear view mirror, Bowling Green can now focus on closing the regular season strong and preparing for the postseason which begins Sept. 8. The Hot Rods clinched a spot by winning the first half in the South Atlantic League South Division. BG currently leads the division by five games in the second half and has the best record in the league overall – 10 1/2 games better than Frederick and Greensboro.
“I think the guys know that we have the potential to do something really special,” Valenzuela said. “The vibes are always high. The whole energy in the clubhouse is phenomenal in the dugout. It speaks volumes to the staff.”
About Micheal Compton
I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.
